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2A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
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Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 3A
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NEWS BRIEFS - SEPT. 1
NEWS TIPS
UMich Board of Regents confirms C. Cybele Raver as 17th president Raver is set to make the highest base salary of any public university president — $2 million
ALEXA CHEANEY AND KYLIE HARMALA Daily News Editor & Daily Staff Reporter The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents confirmed the nomination of C. Cybele Raver as the University’s 17th president Tuesday morning. Raver’s five-year tenure will begin Dec. 1, succeeding University President Domenico Grasso, who was appointed on an interim basis in May 2025. According to a contract agreement obtained by The Michigan Daily, Raver is set to make the highest base salary of any public university president at $2 million. Raver, who received her undergraduate education from Harvard University and a doctoral degree from Yale University, has worked in higher education since 1994. She began her current position as provost of Vanderbilt University five years ago in July 2021. Prior, she spent 13 years at New York University, where she began as a professor before rising to be deputy provost. The Board voted unanimously to confirm Raver at their Sept. 1 special meeting. Regent Mark Bernstein (D), chair of the Board, said Raver stood out during the selection process because of her
leadership in higher education and vision for the University’s future. “All of us on the Board during this process were struck by her clear vision, sense of purpose, her success as a leader in higher education,” Bernstein said. “She is more than ready to be a university president, and most importantly, she’s ready to be our president.” In his outgoing message during the meeting, Grasso expressed confidence in his successor. He described the presidential duties as both rewarding and rigorous, highlighting the national attention the University often receives. “Being president of (the) University of Michigan is both the best job in higher education and most challenging,” Grasso said. “The spotlight on Michigan always burns bright, because society looks to us for answers, cures and leadership. When the search began, we were looking for the very best, and we found her in Cybele.” At the meeting, Raver said she intends to be a quick-acting and decisive leader with a long tenure at the University while accepting her nomination. “You can also expect me to take swift and decisive action after weighing your input and the evidence,” Raver said. “I carry that style of decision-making from my
life as a researcher to my career as a university leader. Equally importantly, I lead by investing in people and ideas that undergird the University’s greatness.” The University has a strong connection to surrounding communities, especially through recent land purchases, including the former Concordia University campus and Ypsilanti land for projected data center construction. In an interview with The Daily, Raver said she views her new role as a leader for all the communities inside the University and for neighboring cities. “One of the beauties of this presidency is that I serve as the president for all of the communities that are part of the system of the University of Michigan,” Raver said. “My same approach will be true, which is to listen carefully to everyone’s input to be able to make decisions that are really balanced and thoughtful in meeting the needs of the community.” Raver’s confirmation concludes a 15-month search for a new University president following the departure of former University President Santa Ono. The Board previously selected Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverund as the next president. Syverund stepped down shortly after his confirmation due to a cancer diagnosis.
NEWS BRIEFS - AUG. 19
LSA announces pilot program making first-semester grades pass/fail, beginning 2027
“Our goal is to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys.” CALEB OBICO Daily Staff Reporter The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and the Arts announced a pilot program Aug. 5 which, beginning fall 2027, will designate first-semester grades for first-year LSA students’ transcripts as either Pass or No Credit. In an announcement to the LSA website, the college clarified students will still receive grades on each assignment, as well as feedback based on their performance. “While LSA students will still receive grades and instructor feedback in every course as they always have, final grades will not be recorded on their external transcripts and will not be reflected in their GPAs,”
the statement read. “LSA students’ official transcripts will state that all grades in the first semester are automatically designated as P/NC.” The college wrote the change was implemented in order to help incoming students better acclimate to the academic and personal demands of campus. The program will be automatically adopted for every first-year student. “Our goal is to help firstyear students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys —core elements of a liberal arts and sciences education,” the statement read. “For example, they can explore a subject that may not come easily to them or take a course in a new field without the fear that
a low grade may have long-term consequences.” Letter grades will be recorded on LSA students’ transcripts during their second semesters, and first semester grades will be retained by the University for academic and professional purposes, such as crosscampus transfers or internship applications, in addition to extracurricular purposes. “The University will retain internal records of the grades LSA first-year students earn during their first semester for purposes of compliance, academic advising, potential academic awards and scholarships, and for students’ use as they apply for internships, majors outside of LSA, or other academic and professional opportunities,” the statement read.
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4A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
GOVERNMENT - JUNE 13
The Daily breaks down the indictment against eight pro-Palestine activists
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Explaining the General Allegations The indictment states the alleged crimes occurred after Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas initially attacked the state of Israel. The attack killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 more being taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 75,000 people and was classified as a genocide by the United Nations last September. Following the Oct. 7 attack, pro-Palestine protests erupted at several college campuses throughout the country. The first U-M protest was a sit-in at the president’s residence on Oct. 10, 2023, following a statement from then
University President Santa Ono. The statement disavowed violence in the Middle East, but did not specifically mention violence against Palestinians. Following six months of protests, on April 22, 2024, University students began a month-long encampment on the Diag in solidarity with Palestinian people in Gaza. The encampment was later forcibly removed by the University on May 21, 2024, citing concerns raised by the University fire marshal. Throughout the protests, a core demand of proPalestine activists has been that the University divest from Israel.
The federal government seeks to charge the defendants on counts which fall into three categories: conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, witness intimidation and destruction of property to prevent seizure Students walk past tents at the encampment on the Diag on the way to class.
ALEXA CHEANEY Daily News Editor
Eight pro-Palestine activists — six of whom are associated with the University of Michigan — were detained by the FBI Wednesday morning. An unsealed indictment from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, details charges brought upon them, such as conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, witness
tampering and destruction of property to prevent seizure. A press release published by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan Wednesday identified and provided information on the eight defendants indicted by the Department of Justice. These arrests follow an attempt by Attorney General Dana Nessel to prosecute pro-Palestine activists at the request of the University’s Regents. Nessel dropped all charges against seven of the protesters related to the 2024 Gaza solidarity encampment on May 5, 2025.
The Michigan Daily has thoroughly examined the counts, defendants and victims named in the indictment — providing our summary of the document by section.
Meleck Eldahshoury/DAILY A protester waves a Palestinian flag at the SAFE-organized encampment’s second day on the diag as pro-Israel protesters enter the encampment.
AAPD blocks off Diag after the removal of the encampment.
The front steps of the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse.
Alum Jenna Hickey/DAILY
Photo Courtesy of Elena Nicholson
The indictment alleges that after the encampment was removed, the defendants and other alleged conspirators began to target specific individuals. It references vandalism directed toward the alleged individual victims, as well as to several businesses and institutions — such as Maersk, Rolls-Royce and the Jewish Federation of
Alum Ruby Klawans/DAILY
Detroit — with ties to the state of Israel. The federal government now seeks to charge the defendants on ten counts, each of which fall into one of three felony charge categories: conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, witness intimidation and destruction of property to prevent seizure.
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Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 5A
The Counts The first charge — a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; 875(c), Conspiracy to Transmit Threats in Interstate and Foreign Commerce — occurs when two or more individuals communicate about threatening or injuring another person across state lines. There are eight counts relating to this offense.
According to the indictment, Count One states Victim One, also known as V-1, had their residence vandalized in May 2024. The indictment alleges dismembered and bloody baby dolls, broken cribs and fake body bags were placed in V-1’s lawn, and states V-1 is a member of the University’s Board of Regents. Regent Sarah Hubbard (R) reposted an X post from Steve McGuire, Paul & Karen Levy Fellow in Campus Freedom, on Wednesday, stating she is V-1. Hubbard’s house was vandalized in a manner identical to the indictment’s description in May 2024. The indictment does not say that V-1 or any members of their families were physically harmed. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Count Two claims the defendants, alongside unidentified co-conspirators, allegedly vandalized the law office of V-2 — who the indictment states is another Regent at the University — on June 3, 2024. The indictment states V-2 also served as an equity partner at a law firm in the Eastern District of Michigan. V-2 is likely Regent Jordan Acker (D) — while several regents are partners at law firms, only Acker is an equity partner at his firm. Acker’s law office was vandalized in June 2024, with spray paint graffiti reading “DIVEST NOW,” “FUCK OFF,” “FUCK YOU ACKER” and “UM KILLS.” The indictment further alleges defendants exchanged threatening messages about V-2’s family and left a list of demands on the front door of V-2’s personal residence in May 2024. However, the indictment does not state any physical harm was done to V-2 or their family. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Count Five alleges defendants vandalized the personal residence of and threatened V-3. The indictment identifies V-3 as the chief investment officer at the University during the times of all incidents. Since the position was established in 1999, it has been occupied exclusively by CIO Erik Lundberg. As part of his duties, Lundberg manages the University’s investment portfolio and oversees the endowment. According to the document, several defendants sent Signal messages over several months alluding to their planned vandalism. On Oct. 7, 2024 at 2:00 a.m., conspirators allegedly taped demands for divestment on V-3’s garage, as well as spray-painted the Jewish Federation of Detroit with pro-Palestine, anti-Zionist messaging. The indictment does not state V-3 or any members of their families were physically harmed. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Count Six claims several defendants exchanged messages expressing a desire to harm V-4 from May 2024 to October 2024. The indictment states V-4 served as University president during the time of all incidents. Santa Ono, the 15th president of the University, occupied the position from 2022 until 2025. In October 2024, the words “coward” and “intifada” — an Arabic term meaning uprising and signifying Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation — were spray-painted onto Ono’s residence. The defendants allegedly discussed supplies necessary to carry out the act and expressed concern that law enforcement would discover their plans. The indictment does not state any physical harm was done to V-4 or their family. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Count Seven claims several of the defendants trespassed at the Jewish Federation of Detroit and confronted staff members. The indictment states the defendants allegedly spray-painted antiIsrael messaging on the building and sidewalk, in addition to painting over surveillance cameras on the morning of Oct. 7, 2024. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Counts Three and Four allege defendants vandalized and threatened Rolls-Royce and Maersk facilities and executive employees. Count Three alleges several defendants spraypainted anti-Israel graffiti and broke the front window of a Rolls-Royce Solutions America, Inc. building at approximately 2:00 a.m. on June 30, 2024. Count Four claims another group of defendants defaced a Maersk Shipping Company building with similar messaging at approximately 2:00 a.m. on July 8, 2024. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Count Eight claims several defendants vandalized the residence of V-5 with anti-Israel graffiti and threw glass jars at the house, which allegedly broke a window and contained an unspecified noxious chemical. V-5 is identified in the indictment as a member of the University’s Division of Public Safety and Security. The indictment does not state V-5 or any members of their families were physically harmed. The Daily was unable to obtain further information regarding the identity of this individual. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
The second charge — a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(3); (k), Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness — states that preventing law enforcement from receiving information about a federal offense by hindering, delaying or preventing communication warrants a fine or imprisonment up to 20 years. Those found guilty of preventing communication to law enforcement face the same charges as those who committed the actual offense.
Count Nine claims two defendants intimidated V-6 — identified in the indictment as an unnamed U-M student — out of concern they were cooperating with federal authorities. The relationship between V-6 and the defendants was not specified in the indictment. According to the indictment, the defendants believed V-6 was wearing a wire and confronted them at a coffee shop. The Daily was unable to obtain further information regarding the identity of this individual. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(b) (3) and (k).
The third charge — a violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 2232(a), Destruction of Property to Prevent Seizure — states if one attempts to dispose of property, in order to impair federal intent to take it into custody during or after a search for seizure of that property, they will be fined and imprisoned up to five years.
Count Ten claims two defendants — alongside unidentified co-conspirators — allegedly smashed a window in V-7’s personal residence on March 15, 2025, and threw glass jars containing an unknown blue substance and food compost. V-7 was identified in the indictment as the Provost of the University during the time of all incidents. The current provost, Laurie McCauley, assumed this position in May 2022. V-4’s residence was also allegedly vandalized with pro-Palestine messaging. Law enforcement executed a search warrant for the home of D-6 April 23, 2025. The defendant allegedly attempted to erase evidence of conspiracy related to the offenses against V-7 and V-4 from his phone and laptop before, during and after the seizure of property, in an attempt to impede law enforcement from taking it into custody. The indictment states all actions were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2232 (a).
Photo Courtesy of Elena Nicholson The entrance to the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse.
The Defendants In the indictment, the DOJ provided information on eight defendants — six with specific ties to the University, and two with ties to Southeast Michigan.
- Zainab Hakim Defendant one is Zainab Hakim of Canton, Mich., a 23-year-old U-M class of 2024 graduate. Hakim is a known member of Students Allied for Freedom and Equality. Hakim is charged with seven counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce and one count of witness intimidation.
- Paige Feyock Defendant three is Paige Feyock of Ann Arbor, Mich., a 26-year-old Michigan Medicine researcher. Feyock is charged with six counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce and one count of witness intimidation.
- Ahmet Kerem Korkaya - Amatullah Hakim Defendant two is Amatullah Hakim of Ann Arbor, Mich., a 21-year-old U-M student expected to graduate in 2027. According to the indictment, Hakim is also a member of SAFE. Hakim is charged with seven counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
Defendant four is Ahmet Kerem Korkaya of Milwaukee, Wis., a 28-year-old former medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin Medical Scientist Training Program. Korkaya previously resided near the University and, according to the indictment, returned frequently. Korkaya is charged with five counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
- Jonathan Zou Defendant five is Jonathan Zou of Ann Arbor, Mich., a 22-year-old U-M engineering student, SILS and TAHRIR Coalition member according to the indictment. Zou is charged with three counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
- Alexander Sepulveda Defendant six is Alexander Sepulveda of Chicago, Ill. Sepulveda is a 23-year-old U-M class of 2026 graduate and the co-president of Students for International Labor Solidarity and activism chair of Jewish Voice for Peace. Sepulveda is charged with two counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce and one count of destruction of property to prevent seizure.
- Mariam Odeh Defendant seven is Mariam Odeh of Dearborn, Mich., a 24-year-old U-M class of 2024 graduate. The indictment states Odeh previously served as SAFE president. Odeh is charged with one count of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
- Colin Weger Defendant eight is Colin Weger of Ann Arbor, Mich. Weger is 24 years old and never attended the University. The Daily was unable to obtain further information regarding the identity of this individual. Weger is charged with two counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
What comes next
Pro-Palestine protest signs outside the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse.
Photo Courtesy of Elena Nicholson
The eight defendants are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and fines of $250,000 per count. Sepulveda also faces one count of destruction of evidence, which carries another five-year charge. Feyock and Z. Hakim are additionally charged with federal witness intimidation, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Three of the defendants — Korkaya, Sepulveda and Odeh — were released shortly after their detainment. Sepulveda will return to Michigan and appear before court in Detroit June 14. The status of the other two defendants’ legal schedules is currently unknown. One defendant — A. Hakim — is currently visiting
India through a U-M sponsored program. At the June 12 bond hearing, defendants Z. Hakim, Weger, Zou and Feyock were released under the conditions of $10,000 unsecured bail — paid only if they violate their release conditions — and are prohibited from leaving the Eastern District of Michigan. Z. Hakim, Weger and Feyouk are also on home detention, meaning they cannot leave their primary residence except to attend work, school and other authorized locations. None of the defendants may contact each other or any of the victims — with the exception of the Hakim sisters. All defendants will be GPS monitored. Though dates are unspecified, all defendants will face trial against the United States Government.
6A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS BRIEFS - JUNE 14
Four pro-Palestine activists released on bond after FBI arrests The activists allegedly vandalized homes and businesses by spraying graffiti, breaking windows and throwing butyric acid
GLENN HEDIN
Daily Staff Reporter
Four pro-Palestine activists previously detained by the FBI Wednesday were released on bond Friday afternoon. The four defendants — Zainab Hakim, Jonathan Zou, Paige Feyock and Colin Weger — belong to a larger group of eight activists, most associated with the University of Michigan, who were indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for an alleged campaign of vandalism and threats against the University and other local groups. The activists allegedly vandalized homes and businesses by spraying graffiti, breaking windows and throwing butyric acid, a food additive known for its strong odor. Additionally, they allegedly expressed a desire to directly harm University officials and their families in private messages. The eight defendants have been charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, which carries a maximum sentence of five years
per count. Two defendants have been charged with intimidating a federal witness, which could carry a 20-year sentence, after allegedly confronting an individual they believed was a police informant. Pro-Palestine activists have disputed the validity of these charges, arguing they are part of a broader trend of anti-Palestine repression at both the state and federal level. During the bond hearing Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maggie Smith argued the four activists should be indefinitely detained, claiming they posed a significant flight risk and would attempt to flee the country if released on bond. “Will these defendants follow any court ordered bond conditions?” Smith asked. “The answer is no.” Smith directed particular focus towards Hakim and Zou, noting that Hakim previously booked a flight that was scheduled to depart for Montreal Saturday morning after the hearing. She also cast suspicion on Zou who, while an American citizen, previously lived in and frequently travels to the People’s
Republic of China, where his parents reside. These points were heavily contested by Hakim and Zou’s defense attorneys, Amanda Bashi and Arthur Weiss. Bashi, representing Hakim, said Smith misrepresented her client’s plane ticket to Montreal, which was one of multiple tickets purchased prior to her arrest for the purpose of a vacation. These included a ticket for a return flight to the United States, where Hakim planned to return to her job of over a year. Weiss, representing Zou, pointed to previous FBI raids carried out against the group in 2025, arguing Zou could have easily chosen to flee the country at that point. Zou did visit his family following last year’s arrests, but voluntarily returned to the United States to complete his studies at the University, despite the risk of increased FBI surveillance. “This has been going on for years,” Bashi said. “They comply every time.” Smith also argued that the four posed an ongoing threat to the local community, claiming they share “an extreme, violent view in support of terrorism.” This
argument was supported by a victim statement from the Jewish Federation of Detroit, which was vandalized on Oct. 7, 2024 — allegedly by some of the indicted individuals. “When a building is targeted with violent and antisemitic symbols it sends a message,” the statement read. “You are being watched, you are being targeted, you are not safe.” Smith argued the behavior of the four defendants extended beyond vandalism, pointing to messages allegedly sent by Feyock expressing a desire to poison one University official and firebomb an anti-abortion group on campus. Weger was harshly criticized for various items he purchased over the past two years — including an AK-47, a collection of “terrorist” patches and glow-in-the-dark paint, which Smith argued would be used for aiming the firearm at night. Weger also allegedly expressed a desire to sabotage Caterpillar industrial machinery at certain manufacturing plants with ties to Israel. Smith’s arguments were contested on the grounds that there was no evidence the four
had acted on these threats or made realistic plans to do so. Some of these criticisms were made by U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti, who presided over the hearing. When Patti asked if Weger ever actually planned to destroy a CAT machine, Smith said he was “very eager to start the research project,” but did not ever carry out the action. “Did he actually destroy a CAT machine? I don’t have evidence of that today,” Smith said. The defense attorneys spent large portions of their time arguing in favor of their client’s character. They emphasized the defendants’ academic accomplishments, including Hakim’s graduation from the University with a 4.0 grade point average, Zou’s engineering achievements, Feyock’s medical school acceptance and Weger’s work schedule and plans to attend Washtenaw Community College in the fall. Attorneys also repeatedly emphasized the four defendants’ lack of any prior criminal record. Smith attempted to minimize the four’s ties to their communities, taking particular aim at the large crowd of University-affiliated proPalestine activists who appeared in
Detroit to support the defendants — some of which sat silently inside the courthouse while others protested loudly outside. Smith disparaged this group, claiming they were characterized by a “groupthink mentality” that supported terrorism. Patti reproached this idea, saying the political views of those who showed up to support the four were “not the concern of the court.” Although Patti was not convinced by Smith’s arguments, he also criticized the four defendants. The judge said the defendants failed to respect civil discourse and expressed concern over their alleged language and actions, describing them as “misguided” and “full of hate.” Patti also said he was disturbed by the defendants’ open animosity towards the American state, and encouraged Weger to take a WCC class on American government, which he previously taught. “I have read some incredibly difficult things (in the indictment),” Patti said. “I have read distasteful statements, and I have read distasteful actions.”
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
NEWS BRIEFS - JUNE 15
Two additional pro-Palestine activists released on bond following FBI arrests The activists were accused of multiple counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce for their alleged participation in acts of vandalism
GLENN HEDIN
Daily Staff Reporter
Two pro-Palestine activists detained by the FBI Wednesday were released on bond Monday afternoon. They join four of their co-defendants, who were released on similar terms during a set of hearings Friday. The two defendants who appeared in court Monday, Ahmet Korkaya and Alexander Sepulveda
— currently live in Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively. They belong to a larger group of eight pro-Palestine activists, most associated with the University of Michigan, who have been federally indicted by the Department of Justice for an alleged campaign of vandalism and threats against the University and other local institutions. Local pro-Palestine groups have disputed the validity of these charges, arguing they are part of a broader trend of
government repression against pro-Palestine activism. Korkaya and Sepulveda are accused of multiple counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce for their alleged participation in acts of vandalism, such as spraying graffiti, breaking windows and throwing noxious chemicals into the homes of University officials. If convicted, they could face up to five years in federal prison for each count. Sepulveda also faces one count of
destruction of property to prevent seizure for allegedly clearing his phone and laptop history during a previous FBI raid, a charge which could carry an additional five years in federal prison. The two previously appeared before federal courts in their respective home states of Illinois and Wisconsin, and were released on bond shortly after their detainment. However, both were required to reappear before federal court in the Eastern District of
Michigan, which presides over the case. The pair’s bond hearing was the first to occur without an accompanying protest. The judge ruled that both defendants be released on an unsecured bond. The two are unable to contact their co-defendants or any other individuals involved in the case as alleged co-conspirators or victims. They will also be unable to travel outside of the Eastern District of Michigan and the federal districts
encompassing their homes in Wisconsin and Illinois, and will be subject to GPS monitoring. Korkaya will be subjected to a curfew. The four defendants who appeared before court on Friday received similar conditions for their bond. Sepulveda and Korkaya, along with all others named in the indictment, will eventually appear in court to be tried against the United States Government. A date for this trial has not yet been specified.
The other Ann Arbor institution. Look for the line out the door on game days. That’s us. Students will be there. The ESPN crew, too. We hope you’ll want to visit us — often. Get sandwiches for your family. Take home a haul of cheeses, chocolates, breads and other deliciousness. When you’re not here send a care package to your student. The Munchies is our longtime classic. We can’t guarantee it’ll get them A’s on midterms. But it won’t hurt.
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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 7A
NEWS BRIEFS - JULY 9
Nurses’ union reaches tentative contract agreement with Michigan Medicine Bargaining was marked by disputes over safe staffing ratios, workplace protections, nurse compensation and unfair labor practice complaints GLENN HEDIN
Daily Staff Reporter
On Thursday morning, the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council announced a tentative contract agreement with Michigan Medicine. The agreement comes after nine months of negotiations, which have continued past the expiration of the union’s previous contract on March 31. Bargaining has been dominated by disputes over safe staffing ratios, workplace protections, nurse compensation and a number of unfair labor practice complaints filed against Michigan Medicine by the union. UMPNC announced a strike authorization vote during a protest outside the University’s Board of Regents meeting June 25, largely due to allegations of unfair labor practices. The strike vote — previously set
to occur between July 13 and 18 — has since been canceled in favor of a pending contract ratification vote. Details on the agreement were provided to The Michigan Daily in a press release from the Michigan Nurses Association, the statewide nurses’ union UMPNC is affiliated with. According to the press release, the new contract includes sequentially increasing raises for nurses over the next three years — starting at 4%, rising to 4.5% and culminating at 4.75%. The contract also includes a bonus for nurses upon ratification, improved staffing ratios, stronger workplace violence protections and gains for advanced practice registered nurses, among other benefits. In the press release, UMPNC President Kara Ayotte wrote the agreement represents a significant victory for the union’s 7,500 nurses.
“This agreement delivers on members’ priorities, including competitive wage increases to recruit and retain excellent nurses, better staffing ratios, and stronger workplace violence protections,” Ayotte wrote. “Our success is a testament to not only countless days at the bargaining table, but also to the collective solidarity by MNAUMPNC members.” In a statement from Michigan Medicine, Julie Ishak, chief nurse and operations executive, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, and thanked those involved in the bargaining process. “We appreciate the dedication and professionalism of both bargaining teams in reaching this tentative agreement,” Ishak wrote. “This agreement aims to support our nurses, strengthen our workforce, and ensure the highest quality care for the patients and families we serve.”
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For more information: Dental Hygiene Academic Office 734.763.3392 | hygiene.info@umich.edu Evan Krummel/DAILY Protesting healthcare workers and community members gather outside the University Hospital, holding signs to draw attention to staffing and workplace issues Sunday, July 5.
CAMPUS LIFE - JUNE 17
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Hadley Family Recreation Center opens after more than 3 years of construction
The long-awaited recreation center features an aquatic center and climbing walls SOPHIA JAYASEKERA Daily Staff Reporter
The Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center opened its doors Wednesday morning to begin summer recreation operations before the fall semester. The soft opening includes limited daily hours from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with all five floors open — excluding the aquatic center and the climbing wall areas. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Mike Widen, director of campus recreation at the University of Michigan, said the vision for the Hadley Center began in 2011 with the founding of the student organization Building a Better Michigan. The organization’s advocacy called for improvements to the Michigan Union and Michigan Recreation facilities, which prompted the University to institute a $65 fee on tuition payments to fund renovations for U-M Unions and recreational sports facilities. “Their goal was to advocate and help build demand for investments into those two types of spaces,” Widen said. “A fee in 2013 was implemented for $65 per term that students now pay that will help support the renovations and projects for unions and Michigan Recreation.” Past projects partially funded by the fee include renovating Mitchell Field in 2014, the Intramural Sports Building in 2016, and the North Campus Recreation Building in 2018. Student members of Building a Better Michigan joined the design team for the Hadley Center, helping decide on desirable amenities and layouts by visiting other Midwest institutions’ unions and recreation centers. “We take students on an annual benchmarking trip every year, so every year in January, we take them to another campus recreation facility or University Unions facility at other campuses,” Widen
said. “They could come back and say, ‘We saw this feature at X institution and we don’t like it’, or, for example, ‘We saw the way the University of Wisconsin branded their facility with lots of red and white for their school colors, and we want that’.” The Hadley Center’s amenities include a 25-yard, 12-lane lap pool; a recreation pool; a recovery pool; a 220-yard indoor track; a sauna; and a steam room. There are four basketball courts, six volleyball courts, three racquetball courts, two squash courts, and three wallyball courts. There are also 127 weight machines and 135 cardio machines throughout the facility. The center is named after Philip and Nicole Hadley, whose two children attended the University. The family made a $20 million donation to support construction of the facility. Upon entering the building, visitors are greeted by the climbing center’s 52-foot toproping wall, which sits right next to the check-in desk. Widen emphasized the facility’s size and variety of terrain. “The climbing center has three climbing components: top roping, speed climbing and bouldering,” Widen said. “This is what we believe to be one of the tallest and one of the most comprehensive climbing experiences in any campus recreation facility in the country. We have a climbing club that we sponsor on campus, and then we’ll open it up for opportunities for drop-in climbing.” The bouldering area is expected to open later during the summer months, while the full climbing facility is slated to open in the fall after Michigan Recreation employees are trained to certify climbers. In an interview with The Daily, LSA rising sophomore Shaan Mullick said he is excited to use the climbing center and have a free, accessible bouldering wall. “I’m really excited for the climbing,” Mullick said.
“Everywhere (for) climbing you could go, you usually need a car or a lot of money for a membership. All this comes free. I’ve been bouldering for the past four years, and I haven’t been able to boulder anywhere in Ann Arbor.” The bottom level of the Hadley Center features squash and racquetball courts, the main weights area and the aquatic area, which features three pools, a steam room and a sauna. In an interview with The Daily, Kinesiology rising senior Reva Ignaczak, a Michigan Recreation personal trainer, said she looks forward to using the facility’s new machinery. “I think I’m most excited for some of the new lowerbody machines that are in the basement, like the belt squat machine, and definitely the treadmills, where you can change the surface you’re walking on,” Ignaczak said. According to Widen, the smaller fitness areas spread across all five floors were an intentional design feature to help students with differing preferences and fitness goals feel comfortable. “We didn’t want to create a single space that had hundreds and hundreds of students working out together,” Wilden said. “We wanted to create smaller spaces, because we know not everybody is in the same place in their fitness journey.” Wilden said the second floor of the Hadley Center is expected to be the most active. The floor features an indoor futsal turf court; a functional fitness room; turf spaces for dynamic circuit training; a single basketball court; personal training studios; strength and fitness areas; and multipurpose rooms. Ignaczak said she looks forward to having a gym with more space and designated private areas to work with her personal training clients.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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GOVERNMENT - AUG. 5
Abdul El-Sayed wins U.S. Senate primary in Michigan, will face Mike Rogers in November The former public health official earned 48.5% of the vote, defeating U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens by less than percentage point
ZAHRA KAGAL Daily Staff Reporter
Abdul El-Sayed, former Wayne County health director, won the Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary Wednesday, Aug. 5, defeating U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham. With 99% of precincts reporting as of 9:54 a.m. on Aug. 5, El-Sayed earned 48.5% of the vote to Stevens’ 47.5%. In his victory speech Wednesday morning, El-Sayed told the crowd the tensions they observed during the primary are minor compared to what Democrats will face in the general election. “I know it was a bitter end to this very long primary,” El-Sayed said. “Whatever differences that we might’ve had in the primary, they pale comparison to what unifies us: a recognition that so long as we want to keep our
democracy, that democracy better be working for people and all of us have to come together to make sure that we never let Mike Rogers see the inside of the U.S. Senate.” Following the campaign suspension of state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, on July 5, El-Sayed and Stevens engaged in a contentious race for the party’s nomination. El-Sayed, a progressive, campaigned on expanding healthcare access through Medicare for All, supporting working-class Michiganders and reducing the influence of money in politics. El-Sayed built his campaign through grassroots donations and emphasized his record of refusing contributions from corporate political action committees. El-Sayed was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY; and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Bridgette Bol/DAILY United States Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during the Abdul ElSayed Student rally in the Central Campus Classroom Building Aug. 4.
Stevens conceded the race on Aug. 5. In a press release, she congratulated El-Sayed and offered her full support. “I want to congratulate Abdul El-Sayed on winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate,” Stevens said. “He is a doctor, a community health official,
a Rhodes Scholar and a dedicated Michigander. I am proud to offer my support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election.” El-Sayed will face former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in November’s general election to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich.
“Michigan finally has a president who stands up for Michigan auto workers and puts America first.” Daily News Editor
Surrounded by car manufacturing equipment at the General Motors Proving Grounds — which serves as a testing site for GM vehicles — in Milford, President Donald Trump took the stage for a rally Monday afternoon. During the rally, he spoke about the American auto industry, and began his speech by praising workers in the automotive industry. “Thank you to the autoworkers, the technicians, the mechanics, the welders, the
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Rabhi is not facing a challenger and is slated to be the city’s next mayor Daily News Editor
Trump claims auto industry is ‘stronger than ever before’ during rally at GM Proving Grounds engineers of General Motors, because there’s no finer group of people,” Trump said.“For decades, the auto workers and manufacturers of this great state were sold out and betrayed by globalist politicians and corrupt special interests who let other countries steal your jobs. … But now at long last, Michigan finally has a president who stands up for Michigan auto workers and puts America first.” Trump claimed his 25% tariff on imported automobiles has caused a surge in the American auto industry, with relevance to Michigan’s extensive automotive history.
Yousef Rabhi ousts Taylor in Ann Arbor mayoral primary DOMINIC APAP
GOVERNMENT - JULY 30
DOMINIC APAP
ANN ARBOR - AUG. 4
However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the motor vehicles and parts industry has decreased since the beginning of the president’s second term. Trump highlighted General Motors $6 billion investment in American factories, while Ford Motor Company is dedicating $3 billion to Blue Oval Battery Park, a manufacturing plant for electric vehicle batteries announced prior to Trump taking office in 2024. Trump claimed the country’s trade deficit has decreased by 71% due to his implementation of tariffs, though reports indicate
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it has remained steady since the beginning of his second term. Trump also claimed the electric vehicle industry is harmful because it takes away from the automotive industry. He said he believes his decisions to reduce fuel efficiency standards has saved companies, such as General Motors, from bankruptcy. “On day one, I ended Biden’s insane electric vehicle mandate that would have crushed the U.S. auto industry forever,” Trump said. “I terminated Biden’s disastrous CAFE fuel standards. You know what that is?”
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-District 8, is projected to defeat incumbent Christopher Taylor in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary election for mayor of Ann Arbor. With all precincts reporting, Rabhi received 55% of the vote, while Taylor received 45%. Taylor conceded the race at about 11 p.m. Tuesday night. Rabhi does not currently face a challenger in the Nov. 3 general election and will be the city’s next mayor, barring an independent or write-in campaign. Rabhi served as a Michigan state representative from 2017 to 2023, between two terms on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, to which he was first elected while a student at the University of Michigan. He was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, the Huron Valley Area Labor Association and the Ann Arbor Education Association. Throughout his campaign, Rabhi emphasized increasing affordability, listening to residents and strengthening city unions. He criticized Taylor and
City Council’s efforts to increase housing density, claiming developers have changed the city landscape too drastically. Rabhi has also pushed for more cooperatives and affordable housing developments for residents making at or below 60% of the area’s median income. Taylor and his supporters argued Rabhi’s platform was too idealistic and that Ann Arbor had already reached its practical capacity for subsidized affordable housing. At his election night watch party, Rabhi said he wants to uplift Ann Arbor’s working class. “What we have built over the last several months is a movement for change in this community,” Rabhi said. “It is a movement that believes that the voice and the power of the people is what should be in charge in this town. It is a movement that believes that the working people of Ann Arbor deserve a voice at the table too. It is a movement that believes that yes, we can stand strong for our teachers and our municipal workers and our bus drivers who deserve fair contracts. … The working people of Ann Arbor deserve a champion that is gonna stand with them each and every way.”
Varun Tandon/DAILY Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-District 8, speaks at the Inter-Cooperative Council Winter Annual Meeting in the Union March 27.
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News
GOVERNMENT - AUG. 4
Jocelyn Benson wins Democratic governor nomination
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 9A
GOVERNMENT - AUG. 4
Trump-backed John James secures Republican gubernatorial nomination
The race was declared with 17% of votes counted after Benson obtained 83.2% compared to The U.S. Rep. received 50.1% of votes compared Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson’s 16.8% to businessman Perry Johnson’s 35.2% GIA VERMA Daily News Editor
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, secured the Democratic gubernatorial primary nomination, defeating Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson Tuesday. The Associated Press declared Benson the winner at 9 p.m. on Aug.4. The race was declared with only 17% of the votes in, and Benson obtained 83.2% of the vote to Swanson’s 16.8%. Benson has served as Michigan’s Secretary of State since 2019. She has campaigned on expanding affordable housing and healthcare, strengthening public education and promoting responsible data center development. Swanson has served as the Genesee County Sheriff since his election in 2020. His platform
consisted of aiding the working class, investing in early education and improving public safety. He received endorsements from several labor unions and The Detroit News. Benson received endorsements from several prominent Democrats, including former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, U.S Representative Hillary Scholten, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as well as several labor organizations, including United Auto Workers and Michigan AFL-CIO. In her victory speech Tuesday night, Benson thanked her supporters and emphasized her goal of putting everyday Michiganders first as she heads into the general election. “I am so thrilled to stand before you as the Democratic Party’s nominee to be the next governor of
Michigan,” Benson said. “Tonight the general election begins. Tonight marks our opportunity to grow our coalition to include citizens in every corner of our state who believe, as we do, that the power of the people must always be greater than the people in power.” During a speech at the Garden Theater following Benson’s victory, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield congratulated her and highlighted Benson’s commitment to Detroit and the state. “We need leaders like Jocelyn,” Sheffield said. “Who will fight for the people, we will stand with the people, and who will deliver for the people. Not just for the wealthy and the well-connected but every hardworking Michigander.” Benson will face Republican nominee in the Nov. 3 general election to determine Michigan’s next governor.
Bridgette Bol / DAILY Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State of Michigan, discusses hopes for her gubernatorial campaign during the Mackinac Policy Conference March 28.
GIA VERMA Daily News Editor U.S. Rep. John James, R-Mich., won the Republican gubernatorial nomination against businessman Perry Johnson Tuesday. James received 50.1% of the vote to Johnson’s 35.2% with 99% of votes counted. The race was called at 10:24 p.m. last night with only 27% of precincts reporting. James has represented Michigan’s 10th Congressional District since 2023, building his campaign on a “Freedom agenda,” aimed at restoring
freedom and opportunity for every Michigan family. Johnson, a businessman and an author, also ran for governor in 2022, but failed to make the ballot. His platform focused on government efficiency, fiscal discipline and eliminating Michigan’s income tax. James has received several notable endorsements from key republicans, including President Donald Trump, who James supported at a Trump rally in Milford last week. Following Trump’s endorsement, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Van Buren,
suspended their campaigns and endorsed James as Michigan’s next governor. During his acceptance speech Tuesday night, James thanked supporters and pledged to attempt to earn the trust of those who didn’t vote for him. “To those who supported me, thank you,” James said. “For those who did not, I’m going to work every single day to earn your trust. To every Michigander who feels politically homeless, who loves this state, works hard, and believes in common sense, and wonders whether anyone in government still sees you. I see you.”
Bridgette Bol / DAILY U.S. Representative John James discusses hopes for his campaign during the Mackinac Policy Conference March 28.
10A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
RESEARCH - JUNE 25
UMich Nursing study finds increased creatine use among teens, researchers discuss negative impacts of social media on body image
A study of over 800,000 adolescents found consumption increased by 90% among males and 168% among females between 2019 to 2024
Ella Flores Brosnan/DAILY
MICAYLA HORWITZ Daily Staff Reporter
On May 1, the University of Michigan School of Nursing published a study analyzing survey responses from over 800,000 adolescents, which found the amount of past-year creatine consumption increased by 90% among males and 168% among females from 2019 to 2024. The study also found perceived risk and availability of steroids — a category creatine does not fall into — among adolescents has decreased, more so in males than females. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Philip Veliz, associate research professor at the Nursing School’s Applied Biostatistics Lab, said he was motivated to conduct the study due to the increase in gym-related content he saw on social media. “I noticed on social media there is a big following of people who are gym influencers,” Veliz said. “On TikTok or any type of social media, you just see things about fitness … a lot of them are discussing what they take before the gym, or what they take after the gym.” Various social media algorithms may be cultivating deeper psychological pressures for young, impressionable viewers. In an interview with The Daily, LSA rising senior Karam Mattar said
he believes social media content consistently promotes unrealistic body images. “I think social media has always been a platform that pushes negative images for people and shows unrealistic body standards or manipulates its audiences,” Mattar said. “For guys and girls, I feel like they’ve been tricked by social media into being shown one thing, while in reality it’s a completely different story.” Some medical professionals share Mattar’s concerns. In an email to The Daily, Susan Woolford, medical director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center, wrote social media can act as an enabling mechanism for workout-enhancing substance use in adolescents. “Social media that portrays idealized, often digitally enhanced and largely unobtainable images and the pressure for adolescents to receive positive feedback for their posts creates a perfect storm for the development of negative self image,” Woolford wrote. “Adolescents with body dissatisfaction have been shown to be more likely to use (workoutenhancing) substances, and for boys in particular this includes anabolic steroids.” Unlike anabolic steroids, creatine has been proven to be a safe substance in numerous studies, and illegal substance
use has decreased among adolescents. However, Veliz said he is still worried creatine usage could be indicative of further illegal substance usage. “We know that substance use (among adolescents) in general has tanked,” Veliz said. “However, we see increases in things like creatine use, we see massive increases in energy drink use … they do kind of set the stage of where they may be going in their future substance use.” Veliz also said ultimately, he believes there should be restrictions on what adolescents can view on social media. “I really see social media being a problem,” Veliz said. “There should be restrictions on what’s being put out there to developing adolescents because they’re still learning appropriate behavior and basically how to be healthy.” Woolford agreed with limiting social media use among adolescents, saying its influence is at odds with maintaining a positive body image. “Decreasing the time adolescents spend on social media has been associated with improvement in body image,” Woolford said. “In addition, it is important to help teens become critical consumers of digital media with an understanding of the fact that images are often distorted to promote unrealistic idealized versions of beauty.”
CAMPUS LIFE - AUG. 27
Move-in begins at brand-new Wolverine Village dorms
The $649 million residence hall adds another 2,300 beds and introduces unique sustainability features to University housing CHRISTINA ZHANG Managing News Editor
General move-in at Wolverine Village began Wednesday, with students traveling from across the country with their families to move into the University of Michigan’s newest residence hall. The $649 million residence hall, which is located on the former Elbel Field site on Hill Street, is split between five buildings with a courtyard in the middle. Engineering freshman Caroline Ward moved in early Monday. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Ward said Wolverine Village was her first-choice. “We did the self-selection, so we got to choose here, and I was very happy we got here,” Ward said. “I wanted to be close to (Central Campus), and I wanted to have AC in the new dorms.” Wolverine Village stands out from other residence halls for its unique sustainability features. As the University’s first housing facility to feature geo-exchange heating and cooling, it uses the Earth’s moderate temperature as an energy source to warm and cool buildings. The dorm also has solar panels, covered bicycle parking and a bicycle repair room. Jose Pizarro, the father of an LSA freshman, was visiting
from Puerto Rico for move-in. In an interview with The Daily in the dorm’s courtyard, he said he feels the dorm was well thought-out. “I like that you have this central open space right here — creates that sense of community,” Pizarro said. “And then you have your own private space for activities and all that, and then you have the dining hall right here, so I think it was very welldesigned and thought about.” The residence hall adds another 2,300 beds to on-campus housing, providing additional space for both first-year and returning students to live on Central Campus. Wolverine Village is farther away from the Diag than most other residence halls on Central Campus. To assist students with their commutes, the University will double the frequency of Commuter North and Commuter South bus routes starting this fall, in addition to new weekend service and bus stops near the complex. LSA freshman Madeline Quint told The Daily she requested to live in Wolverine Village because it was the newest residence hall. Quint said she remains positive about the distance. “Honestly, I was dreading it at first,” Quint said. “But now, looking on the positive side, I’m
going to get my steps in, just get to see more of campus, so honestly I’m really glad.” The Wolverine Village Dining Hall has more than 800 seats, and is the first on campus to use all-electric culinary appliances. The dining hall’s second floor has private event rooms and a teaching kitchen, which provides interactive learning experiences about food, culture, and sustainability in a partnership between LSA and Michigan Dining. LSA freshman Anish Kulkarni told The Daily he was fond of the new dining hall. “The dining hall is awesome,” Kulkarni said. “I think it’s the best one on campus. It’s better than South Quad for sure.” Wolverine Village is home to two living-learning communities: the Michigan Sustainability Community — which is also housed in Oxford Houses — and the Bridge Scholars Plus program. Last month, the University sent an email notifying Building 4 residents that construction delays might lead them to be temporarily assigned to another residence hall. However, construction was ultimately completed on time, and all Wolverine Village residents are able to move in on their scheduled move-in date.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 11A
NEWS BRIEFS - AUG. 11
UMich selects Textile Road as preferred data center site
The $1.25 billion facility will be built on the 144-acre site in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The University purchased the site in March ZAHRA KAGAL Daily Staff Reporter The University of Michigan announced Tuesday that it has chosen the 144-acre Textile Road site as its preferred location for the research computing center in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The announcement comes five months after the University finalized the site’s purchase, and resolves the dispute over the center’s site — which has defined the project since last year. The $1.25 billion facility will pair an academic computing center for U-M researchers with a federal computing
center supporting Los Alamos’ work, which includes nuclear stewardship modeling. University officials say the center will use only about 10% of the electricity required by a typical hyperscale commercial data center. In the announcement, President Domenico Grasso framed the decision as part of a
broader institutional obligation. “Universities like Michigan are built by generations willing to invest in discoveries and opportunities they may never live to see,” Grasso said. “We have that same responsibility today — to build for the students, researchers and communities who will follow us. And as we move this project forward,
we are equally committed to listening to our neighbors, answering their questions and working with the community to ensure we develop this site responsibly.” The decision effectively ends consideration of the Willow Run alternative site that Ypsilanti Township officials pushed for. The University
said a second review of Willow Run — conducted at township leaders’ request — found the site’s brownfield redevelopment requirements and real estate complications made it unusable. According to the University, building on the land would have required an unachievable level of local governmental partnership and support.
NEWS BRIEFS - JUNE 19
ICE drops Romulus detention plans, prepares to sell warehouse
The decision follows a lawsuit filed by AG Dana Nessel and the City of Romulus against the proposed project JONAH FELDMAN Daily Staff Reporter United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security have abandoned plans to convert a Romulus warehouse into a large immigration detention center, according to a Thursday press release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The decision comes following a lawsuit filed by Nessel alongside the City of Romulus against the proposed conversion. DHS purchased the warehouse for $34.7 million — 57% more than the property’s previous sale price — in February without notifying the state, city or public. The warehouse was one of 23 sites identified as part of the Trump administration’s goal to expand detainee capacity nationwide. The FY 2026 budget provides for a $501M increase in detention capacity spending. The increase supports the Trump administration’s plan to operate 1,000,000 removals per year and 100,000 detention beds. ICE is now planning to sell many of these sites, including the one in Romulus. The lawsuit — filed March 24 in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Michigan — deems the site unsuitable for a detention center, highlighting the warehouse’s location. The warehouse is within a mile of schools, lies adjacent to residential neighborhoods and sits in a floodplain which experienced flooding as recently as last year. The lawsuit also argues both ICE and DHS violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to conduct an environmental review and not considering existing detention facilities as alternatives. It also argues DHS failed to coordinate with state and local officials before the purchase. Nessel filed for a preliminary injunction one week after initiating litigation, aiming to halt any construction until the case was resolved. The agencies did not appear at the preliminary injunction hearing, and instead pushed back the intended construction date. In a video published to Youtube Thursday, Nessel said her office will continue legally challenging the Trump administration with the hopes of protecting Michiganders. “DHS and ICE have officially folded,” Nessel said. “This marks the 41st win over 56 total cases
Protesters march for the ICE Out for Good protest on State Street and North University Avenue July 18.
against this administration by my office. Following the lawsuit filed by my department alongside the city of Romulus, the federal government is now abandoning its plans and is putting the warehouse up for
sale. Today’s decision to sell the facility is not just a victory for the residents of Romulus, whose day to day life would have been upended by its presence, but it’s a victory for the entire metropolitan Detroit region.”
In a post to X Thursday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed the detention center, praising Nessel’s efforts to halt the project. This is the first time Whitmer has publicly addressed the detention center.
Isai Hernandez-Flores/DAILY
“I commend the efforts of Attorney General Nessel, Romulus Mayor McCraight, and our state and federal lawmakers for putting a stop to this facility,” Whitmer wrote.
News
12A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
NEWS BRIEFS - AUG. 29
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
AAPS teachers set to vote on new contract
“Reaching this moment took hard work, good faith and shared commitments.” DOMINIC APAP Daily News Editor
As Ann Arbor Public Schools students prepare to return to school Monday, the Ann Arbor Education Association — the city’s public school teachers and staff members’ union — reached a tentative contract agreement with the district earlier this week.
AAPS teachers have been working according to the exact terms of their previous collective bargaining agreement, which expired Dec. 31, 2025, without completing any unpaid tasks outside of scheduled hours like grading and responding to emails. The AAEA will present the agreement to its members
Monday and receive feedback. Teachers will then vote between next Wednesday and Friday on whether to accept the new contract, which the Ann Arbor Board of Education must also approve. In an email to The Michigan Daily, AAEA President Fred Klein wrote that, per the organization’s bylaws, he cannot share details of the
agreement until after the voting period. The union previously reached a tentative agreement with the district on April 14, which would have maintained a 1.5% annual salary increase for educators. 99.6% of voting AAEA members rejected the contract, as the AAEA claimed salaries would not keep up with the rising cost of living or the
wages offered by nearby school districts. It would have also decreased elementary school teachers’ allotted planning time, increased class sizes by three students and capped how much the district could increase its health insurance contributions each year. In a letter to AAPS families Monday, Superintendent Jazz Parks wrote that she is excited
both sides are negotiating and moving forward. “Reaching this moment took hard work, good faith, and shared commitments,” Parks wrote. “As we prepare to welcome students back next week, we are grateful to both negotiating teams for remaining engaged in the process and invested in coming to an agreement.”
RESEARCH - JUNE 19
UHC Addiction Clinic partners with Collegiate Recovery Program to support student in substance use recovery The CRP, which provides clinical support, therapy and abstinence-based peer networks, has expanded its resources through partnership with the UHC Addiction Clinic
SOPHIA JAYASEKERA Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan’s Collegiate Recovery Program began in 2012 as a result of student advocacy for founding a substance use recovery program on-campus. Since its founding, CRP has provided clinical support, therapy and abstinence-based peer networks. The program recently expanded its outreach during the fall 2025 semester. CRP is a service through Wolverine Wellness that supports U-M students in addressing their concerns with substance use. Often, this includes harm reduction wellness coaching and collaborative mental health support from Counseling and Psychological Services. CRP has expanded its resources by partnering with the University Health and Counseling Addiction Clinic, which assists students in managing their recovery through balancing peer and clinical support. Additionally, CRP recently expanded its partnership with CAPS to provide dialectical behavior therapy — a combination of behavioral therapy techniques with mindfulness practices.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, CRP senior program manager Matthew Statman said the program prioritizes peer support within the abstinence-based recovery program. This approach incorporates a student’s holistic identity into their recovery — acting not as a clinical service, but instead focusing on students building community. “The idea is that there are people on campus who are in abstinence-based recovery,” Statman said. “Campus culture, in a lot of ways, marginalizes that piece of their identity, and they benefit from peer support. They benefit from having … an important part of their social identity affirmed and recognized and supported in the midst of a culture that often feels difficult to be in that kind of recovery.” In an interview with The Daily, UHC Medical Director Christopher Frank said substance use recovery support is a team effort, and collaboration between the Addiction Clinic, CRP and other services is crucial to provide holistic care. “Caring for — in this case, students — but patients in general who have struggles with substance, it’s kind of a team
sport,” Frank said. “There are lots of different pathways for recovery for people, and people need lots of different things at different times in their recovery. We try to provide that full spectrum of care on campus, even if not all of it is at UHC or UHS.” The clinic provides a variety of services for those with substance use disorders, such as medical evaluations for health complications, interventions and prescribing medication used for recovery programs. The clinic works closely with the U-M Addiction Treatment Services in the Department of Psychiatry, with both the clinic and CRP utilizing evidence-based practices for addiction treatment. Frank said there is evidence that group support models are successful for abstinence-based programs, although the addiction clinic primarily focuses on harm reduction approaches. “Lots of people will benefit from group support,” Frank said. “CRP is one form of these mutual support groups, but there are lots of other forms. Similarly, (Alcoholics Anonymous), Refuge Recovery, Smart Recovery, all of these are kind of peer-led support recovery services that are really valuable.”
Frank said there has been a shift to harm reduction practices for high-risk substance use in the past decade among recovery programs. He believes there has been an increase in harm reduction efforts on campus as well, such as the Naloxone distribution system and health and wellness vending machines through Wolverine Wellness. “We get to really meet people where they’re at,” Frank said. “We certainly know there are lots of people that are going to use substances … on the spectrum from not at all harmful to potentially harmful — harm reduction is just the idea of helping people find ways to decrease the risk of behaviors that they are not quite or not able to give up or don’t want to give up.” In an interview with The Daily, Public Health rising senior Lila Harris said she has previously utilized services from CRP. Harris said she feels CRP’s partnership with other addiction support resources helps allow for students to take the first steps towards recovery. “Access to (recovery) services is the main issue with all of this,” Harris said. “CRP, for me, and for a lot of people I’ve seen, removes
Audrey Rosenberg/DAILY
that one really tedious step.… I personally don’t think I would have found recovery if it wasn’t for CRP.” Statman said he refers CRP students to physicians for support with addressing substance use, co-occurring mental health concerns and for help navigating medication options to improve the recovery process. “I often have students who come to my office and who are looking for recovery or looking to think about their substance use differently, and it’s pretty evident that they could benefit from seeing a physician,” Statman
said. “Because we’re in the same building, I can often walk them upstairs and get them connected.” Even with the growing network of support options on campus, Statman said stigma and misinformation still prevent students from seeking help, especially if they aren’t seeing other young people in recovery. “It’s pretty easy to hide a substance use disorder on a college campus, especially if it’s alcohol or pot,” Statman said. “There’s also a lot of stigma around help …If you’ve never seen a person in their early 20s or late teens in recovery, you just don’t even think it’s an option.”
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 13A
ADMINISTRATION - MAY 2
School of Public Health lays off lecturers, staff amid budget shortfall “I’ve been here for 10 years, first as a student and then as a lecturer — it just feels disrespectful.”
EDITH PENDELL Co-Editor in Chief Lex Eisenberg, a lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, told The Michigan Daily they received notice that they had been laid off midcontract on March 13. “What sucked about losing my job was also that I had to tell all of my students,” Eisenberg said. “I’ve been here for 10 years, first as a student and then as a lecturer — it just feels disrespectful.” Eisenberg isn’t the only one — during the winter semester, citing financial strain from reduced federal research funding and declining international enrollment, the Public Health School fully laid off two lecturers and partially laid off two others — meaning they will have reduced teaching loads or a hiatus. Two of the impacted lecturers are from
the Health Behavior and Health Equity department, one of six departments in the school. The Public Health School also eliminated or will no longer fill 15 staff positions, though it is unclear what roles have been eliminated, and from which departments. Funding cuts, instability pressure Public Health School budget In an April 28 email to the Public Health School community, Interim Dean Lynda Lisabeth wrote that the reduction in faculty and staff was challenging, and that the administration is working to minimize the impact on students. “These are deeply difficult decisions,” Lisabeth wrote. “The individuals affected are valued members of our community, and these actions in no way reflect their contributions or capabilities. Out of respect for privacy, we will not
share identifying details, though individuals may choose to do so.” According to the email, some courses will be reassigned to other faculty members, while certain electives with lower enrollment may be offered less frequently or paused. The Public Health School relies primarily on two revenue streams: tuition revenue from student enrollment and indirect cost recovery from research — funding from federal grants that helps cover overhead costs like facilities and administrative support. According to an email sent to faculty and staff, both revenue streams are under pressure, and the school is predicting a budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027, which begins in July 2026. Declining enrollment, particularly among international students, has contributed to strain on tuition revenue. While
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overall enrollment has declined only slightly since 2022, the school saw a 65-student drop in international enrollment between 2024 and 2025. That decline is expected to continue nationwide amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban affecting 19 countries and increased scrutiny of student visa issuance. Enrollment figures are a key component of the school’s general fund allocation — the core operating budget allocated by the University from state appropriations and tuition revenue. The allocation peaked at $57.7 million in fiscal year 2024 and declined by 5.8% and 10.7% in each subsequent fiscal year. Applications to the Public Health School’s master’s program have decreased by 22.8%. Public Health lecturer Kirsten Herold, Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs vice chair, told The Daily that uncertainty at the
federal level has dampened interest in public health — a field she says has diversity, equity and inclusion principles “baked into” it. “The master’s program is where the big hit is,” Herold said. “It’s a lot of money to pay right now for a degree that is — you know — who knows? We have an administration in Washington D.C. that doesn’t believe in public health.” At the same time, research funding has become less reliable. Although the school’s total research expenditures have remained relatively steady, awarded research dollars fell from $120.8 million in fiscal year 2024 to $63 million in 2025. Federal policy shifts have contributed to the uncertainty. Trump’s proposed 12.5% cut to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health funding, along with the cancellation or suspension of thousands
of NIH and U.S. National Science Foundation grants in 2025, have disproportionately impacted public health research — particularly in social and behavioral sciences and studies focused on underrepresented groups.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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14A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ANN ARBOR - AUG. 5
Ann Arbor elects 3 new City Council members, both incumbents defend seats None of the five Democrats will face a GOP opponent in the general election
NIKO WILSON
Daily Staff Reporter
With 100% of precincts reporting across all five wards, Washtenaw County’s unofficial results show three new faces joining the Ann Arbor City Council following Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, while both incumbent councilmembers, Cynthia Harrison and Jenn Cornell successfully defended their seats. Ward 1 – Cynthia Harrison (D) Incumbent Cynthia Harrison is projected to defeat challenger Rebecca Arends for Ann Arbor’s Ward 1 City Council seat. Harrison received 61% of the vote to Arends’ 39%. Harrison will continue to serve alongside Councilmember Lisa Disch, D-Ward 1, to represent the northwest portion of Ann Arbor, including Kerrytown and the Argo Cascades. Harrison served one term on City Council starting in 2022. She led a reelection campaign focused on strengthening transit and city services and building more housing. Harrison also serves as the director of innovative reentry at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office,
working to integrate previously incarcerated individuals back into society. Harrison was endorsed by all Ann Arbor City Councilmembers and Mayor Christopher Taylor, the Ann Arbor Education Association and the Huron Valley Area Labor Federation. Rebecca Arends, a social worker and frequent public commentator at City Council meetings, led a campaign focused on building more affordable housing options, such as cooperatives, and improving communication from City Councilmembers to residents. Ward 2 – Sandy Aldrich (D) Sandy Aldrich, an Ann Arbor resident of 28 years, is projected to defeat Teesha Montague for Ann Arbor’s Ward 2 City Council seat. Aldrich received 62% of the vote to Montague’s 38%. Aldrich will replace incumbent Councilmember Chris Watson, D-Ward 2, and serve alongside Councilmember Jon Mallek, D-Ward 2, to represent eastern Ann Arbor, stretching from the University of Michigan campus to U.S. Route 23. Aldrich’s campaign focused on improving city government communication and building a variety of housing options. She
leads the consulting firm Aldrich & Associates Group after previously working in marketing for Intel and T-Mobile. Mayor Christopher Taylor and eight incumbent City Councilmembers endorsed Aldrich, along with the Ann Arbor Education Association. Montague led a campaign focused on providing more housing options for low-income residents and protecting the city’s parks. Montague was supported by the Huron Valley Area Labor Federation and newly elected Mayor Yousef Rabhi. Ward 3 – Ryan Bartholomew (D) Ryan Bartholomew, legislative director for state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, is projected to defeat Ashley Hall, director of board operations for the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, for Ann Arbor’s Ward 3 City Council seat. Bartholomew received 53% of the vote to Hall’s 47%. Bartholomew will replace Councilmember Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, who is not running for reelection, and serve alongside Councilmember Travis Radina representing southeast Ann Arbor. Bartholomew, a democratic socialist, led a campaign focused on
RESEARCH - JULY 31
UMich psych lab finds strong link between ultra-processed foods and addictive behavior
Psychology professor Ashley Gearhardt said ultra-processed foods are engineered to intensify feelings of reward SONIA ALIZADEH Daily Staff Reporter
A study done by the University of Michigan’s Food and Addiction Science & Treatment Lab found roughly one in seven adults — or 14% — in the United States are addicted to food. Since the study was released in 2023, the FAST Lab has been investigating the addictive properties of food and how eating behaviors are shaped by the modern world. One of the FAST Lab’s most prominent findings is that ultra-processed foods are associated with overeating, intense cravings and loss of control around food. In an email to The Michigan Daily, psychology professor Ashley Gearhardt, founder of FAST Lab, explained ultra-processed foods are engineered to elicit flavors that intensify feelings of reward. Conversely, whole foods — such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains — hardly trigger the same responses. “Our work suggests that many of the struggles people experience around eating aren’t simply about willpower,” Gearhardt wrote. “They reflect the interaction between highly engineered products and brains that evolved in a very different environment.” Gearhardt, who testified to the U.S. House of Representatives about ultra-processed food addiction in 2024, said food addiction is also linked to physical and mental health complications. “It’s associated with significant physical and mental health challenges and appears to overlap with many of the same brain and behavioral processes that we see in other addictive disorders,” Gearhardt wrote.
In an interview with The Daily, Rackham student Lucy Loch, a FAST Lab member, said the lab is currently conducting a study observing how individuals respond to ultra-processed food consumption versus minimally processed foods, and how each diet influences mood, sleep and daily life. Loch said ultraprocessed foods can create alluring sensory experiences, allowing large food corporations to take advantage of individuals. “Ultra-processed foods in particular are engineered to be hyper-rewarding,” Loch said. “So these big food companies are putting a lot of thought into the smell, the texture, how it feels in your mouth and how much the taste lingers on your tongue. They’re capitalizing on these sorts of cues that entice us and make us want to eat more. Food can be tied to our emotions.” The FAST Lab collects data through neuroimaging, behavioral phenotyping, surveying and observations through a simulated fast food restaurant. The mock restaurant is set up to mirror a real one, where volunteer participants sit down and order from a menu that includes items such as burgers and milkshakes. Gearhardt wrote that the mock fast food restaurant allows those in the lab to observe real-world decision making around fast food. “We want to understand not just what people say they would choose, but what they actually choose when they’re making real decisions in an environment that looks familiar,” Gearhardt wrote. “We can examine how different menu designs, food formulations, labels, and other factors influence behavior.The FAST Lab has also influenced how its members think about food.
In an interview with The Daily, LSA rising senior Ian Kuentz, a FAST Lab undergraduate research assistant, said working in the lab has changed his own eating habits. “Since doing this research, being involved in the field and learning more about policy, I’ve totally switched up how I eat,” Kuentz said. “I eat a lot more home-cooked food now. My snacking behavior has changed — what I eat, how I eat, how I plan my meals — and different health-focused behaviors.” Kuentz said cooking and eating healthy requires effort, making the convenience of processed foods especially alluring. “If you want to do homecooked (food), if you want to do health-oriented stuff in a way that removes processing and removes a lot of the less natural added sugars and fats, it is a time cost,” Kuentz said. “That’s why (processing) is a big thing: Processing is supposed to make food easier to consume and easier to get to. So you kind of have to rework your priorities a little bit to maintain a positive diet.” Gearhardt said she believes there is a need to reconstruct the current food climate in the U.S., shifting away from individual blame and focusing on systemic changes such as food affordability and refined policy. “I’d love to see us shift the conversation away from blaming individuals and toward improving the food environment itself,” Gearhardt wrote. “I would like to see much greater investment in making real food affordable, accessible, and appealing. I’d also like to see stronger protections for children, greater transparency about how foods are designed and marketed, and more independent science to guide policy.”
building affordable public housing, protecting renters and reducing the cost of living. To address rising childcare costs, Bartholomew has proposed a city-run childcare program. Bartholomew’s campaign was supported by multiple labor unions and newly elected Mayor Yousef Rabhi. Hall’s campaign focused on developing a wide variety of housing and expanding sustainable energy. Hall received endorsements from Mayor Christopher Taylor, all 10 sitting City Councilmembers and the United Auto Workers labor union. Ward 4 – Aidan Sova (D) Aidan Sova, president of the Ann Arbor District Library Board, is projected to defeat University of Michigan lecturer Dave Zeglen for Ann Arbor’s Ward 4 City Council seat. Sova received 57% of the vote to Zeglen’s 43%. Sova will replace incumbent Councilmember Dharma Akmon, and serve alongside Councilmember Jen Eyer representing southwest Ann Arbor. Sova currently works for Google, and has been serving on the AADL Board since 2022
after being elected at 23 years old. His campaign focused on increasing housing supply and affordability, providing effective city services and modernizing the city’s public transit. Sova received endorsements from the entire current City Council, Mayor Christopher Taylor, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak. In a post to X Wednesday morning, Sova thanked voters for believing in him, and pledged to serve their best interests. “Last night, the Fourth Ward chose progress and collaborative leadership,” Sova wrote. “We built this people-powered campaign together to deliver results for our neighborhoods. I offer my deep gratitude and firm promise to faithfully serve every resident as a member of City Council.” Zeglen, a democratic socialist, led a campaign focused primarily on affordable housing and better compensation for union workers. Zeglen was supported by multiple labor unions and newly elected Mayor Yousef Rabhi. Ward 5 – Jenn Cornell (D) Incumbent Jenn Cornell is projected to defeat challenger
Greg Monroe for Ann Arbor’s Ward 5 City Council seat. Cornell received 56% of the vote to Monroe’s 44%. Cornell will continue serving alongside Councilmember Erica Briggs to represent portions of downtown Ann Arbor and the Old West Side neighborhood. Cornell served one term on City Council starting in 2022 and also works as the executive director of the Ann Arbor Art Center. She led a reelection campaign focused on increasing sustainable energy and supporting small businesses, and she was endorsed by the entire City Council and the Ann Arbor Education Association. During his campaign, Monroe, a product manager working in technology, expressed concern about the council’s direction. His campaign focused on building affordable housing, lowering the cost of living and increasing transparency in decisionmaking. There are currently no Republican candidates for City Council. The winners of the Aug. 4 Democratic primary are expected to begin their four-year terms after the Nov. 3 general election.
NEWS BRIEFS - AUG. 13
Much of Baits II dorm to close for 2026-2027 school year
The residence hall will be closed for the upcoming school year based on recent housing occupancy trends and maintenance needs EDITH PENDELL Co-Editor in Chief
Four out of five buildings in the Baits II Residence Hall on the University of Michigan’s North Campus will be closed for the upcoming school year. In a June 19 email provided to The Michigan Daily, Housing Director Rick Gibson wrote the decision was made based on recent housing occupancy trends and the need for maintenance and facility upgrades. “Returning residents assigned to other Baits II buildings will be reassigned to Coman House in effort to maintain their North Campus experience and original room type where possible,” Gibson wrote. “Residents may also request assignments to another returning student space, subject to availability, or choose
to terminate their contract without financial penalty.” It is unclear when the dorms will re-open. According to the email, students and staff in impacted Baits II buildings will be reassigned to other residence halls and continue their duties as assigned. In a statement posted to Instagram by the Residence Halls Association — a student government made up of residence hall leaders — the organization’s executive board wrote they were not made aware of the decision in advance. “Despite having recently met with Michigan Housing senior officials, the Residence Halls Association had no prior indication of any intention to alter their residence hall availability,” the statement read. The RHA also said they were pursuing further information from the housing department.
“We understand that this announcement may cause confusion among our residents and greater North Campus community, and we are committed to gaining further transparency from MHousing as to the specific hall updates and improvements that inspired this decision,” the statement read. Michigan Housing declined The Daily’s request for comment. Baits II was built in 1967 as part of the University’s Cedar Bend Project. The complex was named after Vera Burridge Baits, a former member of the University’s Board of Regents. It was constructed to house graduate students, but its most recent occupants have been first-years. Wolverine Village, the University’s newest 2,300-bed dorm project on Central Campus, is set to open this fall. However, construction delays on one of the new buildings may push some residents into temporary dorms.
Soyeon Kim/DAILY
Baits II was build in 1967 as part of the University’s Cedar Bend project.
ADMINISTRATION - JULY 8
Grasso announces two-year appointment of Patty Petrowski to University vice president and general counsel
Petrowski has served as associate vice president and deputy general counsel in the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel since 2014, and replaced Timothy G. Lynch in late August KYLIE HARMALA Daily Staff Reporter
University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced the two-year contractual appointment of Patty Petrowski to University vice president and general counsel Wednesday morning. Petrowski has served as the associate vice
president and deputy general counsel in the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel since 2014, and will replace Timothy G. Lynch, who recently accepted a position as vice president and general counsel for Stanford University. Petrowski’s general counsel term will begin Aug. 26. The two-year appointment awaits approval from the
University’s Board of Regents. In the press release announcing the appointment, Board Chair Michael J. Behm (D) wrote Lynch has navigated a series of complex legal affairs since the beginning of his tenure in 2013. “(Lynch’s) deep legal expertise, professionalism, and steady leadership have helped guide the university through some of its most consequential moments at a
particularly challenging time for higher education,” Behm wrote. Petrowski’s experience with the OVPGC includes providing legal guidance for policy surrounding University research and administrative actions — such as issues related to Title IX, Title VI, federal research guidelines and compliance with federal orders on higher education.
Pending regent approval, Petrowski will enter her appointment amid several ongoing University affairs requiring legal counsel, including U-M athletics investigations, the indictment of pro-Palestine student activists and the development of a data center in Ypsilanti Township. In the press release, Petrowski wrote that representing the University as general counsel is a
critical role for protecting access to higher education. “As a first-generation college graduate, I have experienced firsthand the transformative power of higher education,” Petrowski wrote. “That experience motivates my commitment to advancing the University of Michigan’s mission and building on the remarkable momentum Tim and our team have created together.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 15A
Sports
16A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
SPORTS W
elcome to the wide world of Michigan athletics! The Daily Sports section covers all 27 Wolverine varsity teams, with dedicated beat coverage for football, men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, baseball and softball. All other sports do not require any prior experience — our writers are free to sign up for home and away events
MEN’S BASKETBALL - JULY 10
Mike Boynton Jr. named head coach of Michigan men’s basketball program
each week during our Sunday afternoon meetings. The Sports staff doesn’t just write about games, either! From player profiles to fiery columns, there are a ton of amazing stories that come alive in the Sports section.
DREW LENARD Daily Sports Editor
Audrey Rosenberg/DAILY
SPORTS - JULY 20
Warde Manuel to step down as athletic director, University will commence search for replacement
JAXSON KAPLAN-RUDOLPH Daily Sports Writer
University of Michigan president Domenico Grasso announced Monday morning that Warde Manuel will step down from his role as athletic director at the end of the 2026 calendar year. “Today, I am announcing that Warde Manuel has told me that he would like to step down,” Grasso said. “I have the deepest respect for Warde and his countless contributions to Michigan and have asked him to stay on until the end of the calendar year. I have asked him, along with one of my trusted vice presidents, to serve as a special advisor to the president and help implement these reforms, and I will be launching a national search for our next athletic director.” The impending change in leadership coincides with the University’s release summarizing the Jenner & Block investigation that began in Dec 2025 following the firing of former football coach Sherrone Moore. In a statement released by the Office of Public Affairs, the University wrote it had found faults with the department’s internal management.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
“The culture review found that Warde Manuel demonstrated important leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes,” the statement read. “At the same time, it identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees.” Manuel’s future was called into question last week by reports of his potential dismissal at last Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting. However, the regents did not discuss the athletic department during the proceedings. Following the meeting, Grasso affirmed that Manuel is “one of the best athletic directors in the country.” Previously, Manuel had publicly expressed his wish to remain with the University athletic department. Hired as athletic director in Jan 2016 after serving in the same position at Connecticut for four years, Manuel experienced both success and controversy in his 11 years at the helm of Michigan Athletics. The Wolverines won four national championships under his tenure, including in April when the Michigan men’s basketball team defeated the Huskies for its second-ever NCAA title.
The University athletic department faced numerous scandals under Manuel’s leadership. He came under fire in 2022 for retaining former hockey coach Mel Pearson for several months after an investigation revealed Pearson’s pattern of misconduct within the program. In Oct 2023, the Michigan football team underwent an investigation by the NCAA for sign-stealing allegations in connection with former assistant Connor Stallions. The NCAA accepted self-imposed sanctions on former coaches Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore, before imposing further penalties on the program in Aug 2025. Amid the controversy, former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss and Moore were each fired for cause following violations of the University’s personal conduct policy. Manuel became a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee in the 2022-2023 season, before being promoted to chair last year. The CFP confirmed to The Daily that Manuel’s term ended following the 2024-2025 season.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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The Mike Boynton Jr. era is officially underway in Ann Arbor. Less than three weeks since Dusty May left to become head coach of the Dallas Mavericks and Boynton was promoted to interim head coach of the Michigan men’s basketball team, the word “interim” has been dropped from the title. Athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday afternoon that Boynton agreed to a two-year contract as Wolverines head coach. “Mike is a veteran assistant with strong head coaching experience and a clear understanding of the standard we expect at Michigan,” Manuel said Friday. “Over the past two seasons, he has been an invaluable member of our staff, bringing stability, leadership and perspective during an important period of success. Our players and staff believe in his vision, are committed to his leadership and are excited for the opportunity to pursue great success together this season.” The move follows a general pattern of retention within the program in the wake of May’s departure. Prior to the Boynton announcement Friday, all but one athlete — junior guard L.J. Cason — on the incoming 2026-2027 season roster had already publicly announced their decision to stay with Michigan. Now they’ve got a leader who’s done the same. The promotion of Boynton to interim head coach can certainly be credited in part for this Michigan roster staying put. Boynton has been with the Wolverines as an assistant coach for two seasons. Across those two seasons, four Michigan athletes were selected as first-round NBA Draft selections, the Wolverines a 64-13 record, and the Wolverines claimed a Big Ten Tournament, Big Ten regularseason and national championship title. There’s no denying Boynton’s role in the development, coaching and recruitment of the athletes that
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made it all possible — especially from the athletes themselves. “Coach Boynton has been there for me since day one,” former Michigan forward and current Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg said Friday. “He challenged me, believed in me and always pushed me to be my best. He played a huge role in everything we accomplished this season. Seeing him become the head coach is awesome because I know how much he cares about Michigan and everyone in this program. I know he’s going to do a great job.” This is not Boynton’s first gig as a Division I men’s basketball head coach. Boynton was at the helm of Oklahoma State’s program for seven years from 2017-2024. He accumulated a 119-109 record with one NCAA Tournament appearance during his tenure in Stillwater. The tournament appearance came in 2021, the same season Boynton coached and developed Cade Cunningham, future first-overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Detroit Pistons. There is no doubt that Boynton’s past experience at
the head of a program with highprofile players also factored into Michigan’s decision. “Coach Boynton has demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering integrity, and a deep commitment to the development of student-athletes throughout his career,” Michigan president Domenico Grasso said Friday. “I am confident he will build on our winning tradition, strengthen our culture of excellence, and lead our program in a way that reflects the very best of the University of Michigan’s values.” Amongst Boynton’s first duties as full-time head coach will be the filling of current vacancies on his staff left behind by his own promotion and the departure of former assistant coaches Drew Williamson and Mody Maor. The filling of player vacancies, however, won’t be nearly as much of a problem. With the Wolverines looking to uphold the standard of championship basketball set during May’s reign in Ann Arbor, they’ve turned to a man who was part of it all.
Those interested in purchasing a copy of ‘Conquered,’ The Daily’s Men’s Basketball National Championship edition, can visit the Student Publications store. Managing Sports Editors Graham Barker and Lyra Sharma can answer any further inquiries at sports@michigandaily.com.
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Sports
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 17A
SOFTBALL - MAY 6
Michigan offense runs riot in 9-0 win against Ohio State in first round of Big Ten Tournament DANNY HUANG Daily Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The Michigan softball team kicked off its Big Ten Tournament run with a matchup against a bitter rival. And despite not doing so during the regular season, the Wolverines showcased why they are the defending champions. Michigan (34-19 overall, 11-13 Big Ten) relied on hot batting to dispatch Ohio State (26-27, 13-11). While stranding runners at times, the Wolverines rode their hot offense en route to a 9-0 win over the Buckeyes. “It’s innate in a Wolverine to want to beat Buckeyes, right?” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “It’s who we are. … I think that taking (Game 3) the way they did from us in Ann Arbor didn’t sit right with us, and it didn’t sit right with the players.” From the start, the Wolverines’ tenacity was on full display. Despite scoring only one run in the first two innings, Michigan forewarned a dominant offensive
showing. Capitalizing on sloppy defense from Ohio State, the Wolverines routinely found free bases — persistently threatening to blow the game open. “We came out swinging, we were in the moment the first pitch was thrown. We were aggressive,” Tholl said. But just as the offense foreshadowed an offensive riot, the defense provided the stability Michigan needed as the bats warmed up. Junior right-hander Gabby Ellis leaned on the defense behind her, comfortably neutralizing one of the best extra-base hitting offenses in the nation. And while the Wolverines were unable to make much of the free bases they were given, the combination of the potent offense and secure defense was a good indication of what was to come. In the third, Michigan finally found success. Though its regular contributors remained relatively quiet, the Wolverines looked to other sources of offense to supplement its lead. Seeing just one previous pitch,
redshirt junior catcher Lilly Vallimont’s violent swing made strong contact with Buckeyes right-hander Laurin Boutte’s fastball — sending it sailing over the center field fences for Michigan’s second run of the game. From there, everything seemed to click. The Wolverines’ bats unleashed a torrent of hits from the bottom of its lineup, adding two more runs in the third to take a commanding 4-0 lead. “I think (the bottom of the lineup) does a pretty good job of trying to turn the lineup over to get to our best hitters,” senior second baseman Janelle Ilacqua said. “We were seeing the ball really well today, and I think it went back to our preparation.” This Michigan onslaught continued into the fourth, as Vallimont and junior center fielder Jenissa Conway worked through early counts to get on base to put pressure on the Buckeyes. After an errant throw to first from Ohio State shortstop Abbie Wilheim, Conway plated the Wolverines’ fifth run of the
game. And after disciplined batting from freshman shortstop Kiley Carr, Michigan once again loaded the bases. This time, the Wolverines capitalized. Following singles from Ilacqua and junior two-way player Erin Hoehn, along with an error from Wilheim, Michigan brought the game into run-rule
territory — scoring five runs to extend the lead to 9-0. And as Ellis and the Wolverines’ defense continued to tighten their grip on the Buckeyes’ bats, Michigan remained firmly in the driver’s seat in the fifth inning. And though its offense didn’t provide the same firepower it did
previously, the outfield ensured the game ended early — plucking fly balls out of the sky to conclude the 9-0 beatdown. On Wednesday, the Wolverines looked like a new team. From start to finish, Michigan’s offense reminded everyone why the Wolverines are back-to-back Big Ten Tournament champions.
Esther Tirat-Gefen/DAILY
BASEBALL - MAY 21
No. 7 seed Michigan gets over the hump, shuts out No. 6 seed Ohio State 3-0 to advance to Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals
GABE MILLER Daily Sports Writer OMAHA, Neb. — In the final weekend of conference play, the Michigan baseball team was trounced by archrival Ohio State, who dropped a total of 28 runs in Ann Arbor. But entering the bright lights of postseason play, the Wolverines outshined all of their past performances. Locking down defensively against the 11th-seeded Buckeyes (30-25 overall, 18-12 Big Ten), No. 7 seed Michigan (34-23, 17-13) gave up no room for offensive firepower. Stamping down the Ohio State hitters that once plagued them, the Wolverines worked to their
strengths to secure a 3-0 shutout win over the Buckeyes on the back of a masterclass mound performance. The showdown between the two teams began intensely defensive-minded, and stayed that way throughout. Freshman left-hander Shane Brinham ironed in on the zone, accruing four strikeouts in the first two innings. Starting out strong, he ensured that Ohio State was in trouble when trying to reach. The Buckeyes matched the Wolverines’ defense, allowing no hits through the first two innings, but cracks gradually began to form. After giving up two walks and a HBP, redshirt sophomore catcher Noah Miller launched a single to send two
Michigan runners back to home plate, bringing them up 2-0. “No matter who we were playing, we had to win the game,” Miller said. “It’s a little sweeter that it was Ohio State, especially after they swept us and did it in a commanding way. It didn’t matter. We just were ready to go and play Michigan baseball.” After the burst, both teams barred up even more. Brinham kept on pounding the zone, and out in the field, he was backed up by redshirt sophomore centerfielder Evan Haeger, who caught six flyouts by the final inning. The Wolverines stayed on top of the blasted-out balls far better than their first three games against Ohio State, keeping the
latter’s run-count much lower in turn. Slugging wasn’t the only thing the Buckeyes were diminished in — getting hits in general was a struggle for them. The best bats of the Ohio State order, shortstop Henry Kaczmar and first baseman Dane Harvey, both finished hitless at a combined seven at-bats. “I definitely learned a lot from the last outing against them,” Brinham said. “ … Being able to make small adjustments from hitter to hitter was really helpful. Honestly, I think it’s a pretty good thing that we got to face them pretty fresh, and have a fresh mind as well.” Shutting out Harvey, the top slugger in the Big Ten, is no easy feat, but Brinham has gradually built his
way up to excellence. Pitching a seven-inning shutout in a breakout game against then-No. 15 Oregon on the heels of a lackluster first start against Oakland, Brinham earned the trust of Smith, and the coaching staff has never looked back. “He’s got some toughness to him, doesn’t let things bother him. And he’s going to continue to get better and better,” Smith said. “And he’s not a complete project yet, he’ll tell you that (too).” “There’s nobody we wanted on the mound more tonight than him.” In the shadow of the lights-out defensive showing, Michigan’s batters sealed the deal. Miller stepped into the batters box as soon as the Buckeyes turned to the bullpen, and once again billowed
an RBI single through right field, notching the Wolverines up to 3-0. While Michigan’s offense scored in small blips, Brinham remained ironclad. He ended the game with 11 strikeouts, pitching a completegame shutout — the second the Wolverines have pitched in the tournament so far, making them the first team to do so in tournament history. Ohio State was never able to overcome the Michigan defense, finalizing a decisive victory. Over the series against the Buckeyes, the Wolverines didn’t even come close to victory. But the postseason pressure sharpened Brinham into a diamond on the mound, spinning the gem the Michigan needed to advance.
18A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Sports
GYMNASTICS - MAY 27
Anna Liao: Learning how to backflip, break the rules and make an impact with Fred Richard
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Photo Courtesy of Fred Richard
As the foam pit swallowed me up, I could only think about how it hadn’t looked so deep from my phone screen. ANNA LIAO It wasn’t the first time I had seen the interior of the Newt Loken Gymnastics Training Center. The foam pit I fell into appears as the backdrop to many of senior Fred Richard’s videos. The adjacent Park Family Wall of Fame, however, only became discernible to me when I stepped onto the mats, showcasing a long list of names from Michigan men’s gymnastics history. Richard himself appears on those banners more than once, as part of the 2024 Olympic bronze-winning team, a member of the 2025 NCAA Championshipwinning Wolverines team and with three NCAA All-Around titles to his name. None of the background noise, even his achievements, is typically addressed in Richard’s videos, though. His most popular shortform content, peaking at 52.9 million views on a single post, includes a series where he teaches non-gymnasts how to backflip. There, he stars influencers and other Michigan athletes in the name of showcasing men’s gymnastics to new audiences. It was my turn to learn to backflip from FrederickFlips himself — and I left the training center with many other lessons than that. *** The setup was simpler than a full-fledged lesson. Richard had thirty minutes before the Wolverines began practice, and his backflip workshops typically take at least two hours. My lesson wouldn’t become a video for Richard’s social media; otherwise, he would’ve hired a videographer, usually a student from Michigan’s film program. We started by testing my standing vertical jump height. According to Richard, the most successful of his students get over a foot and a half off the floor. I passed, so Richard moved me to a block of mats about as high as my waist. To prepare for the tucked form of a backflip, I jumped and curled up while falling backward onto the stacked mats. I received the green light on the general form of a backflip with the jump and tuck exercises, which covered the positions that I’d take midair. The final drill tested my ability to roll backwards on the floor from standing and complete the backflip motion. But somewhere between Richard’s initial explanation and my first attempt, I confused the drills we’d done and jumped to a tuck position, falling backward not onto the pile of mats, but instead on the spring-loaded floor. On the same floor, redshirt junior Landen Blixt was stretching, and he could barely contain his amusement. “That was not the drill,” Richard said to him, laughing. “I did not tell her to do that.” My fall was impressive enough that it broke through Blixt’s focus — he hadn’t looked up at us from the moment I walked in. He and the other Wolverines are more than used to Richard’s content creation in the gym, and the team often features in Richard’s videos. “You’re aiming for this big goal of the NCAAs,” Richard told The Michigan Daily. “But to make
fun content outside of it, to stay an extra hour after practice and have fun together making a video brings you closer.” The closeness of the team was palpable as we moved to the foam pit, where Richard told me to let myself fall in to acquaint myself with the landing. As I clawed myself out of the soft blocks, my instructor ran off to a TV monitor mounted on an adjacent wall. “Did he just do it?” Richard says. “Hold on, I gotta see this.” I couldn’t bring myself to be mad at Richard for leaving me in the pit as he replayed a recording of senior Robert Noll hitting a triple backflip just moments before, while Richard spotted me for my single backflip. The two gymnasts troubleshot the landing and rotation, trying to find the right amount of power to put into the jump. I watched their backand-forth not through the lens of a gymnastics writer — but with the awe of someone who just flailed through a single backflip. When Richard tells Noll that there’s no time in a triple back, I laugh to myself. There’s hardly any time in a single back, either. Single backflips — or backward tucked saltos, in the verbiage used by the Code of Points — don’t typically feature in college gymnastics routines, but star in Richard’s social media. Although they’re not as complex as other elements in Richard’s repertoire, single backflips earned a spot in his content for a reason. They’re nowhere as difficult as the triple-rotated backflip Noll was practicing, so Richard can realistically teach someone to do a backflip in a single session. And they’re a cool party trick: Richard even landed a backflip when walking the stage at graduation. As a bonus, they’re flashy enough to capture viewers’ and the algorithm’s attention — one of Richard’s priorities for putting eyes on men’s gymnastics. “(Social media) is a game, and kind of like gymnastics, there’s a code book,” Richard said. “The algorithm is the code book. You do have to follow the rules, you do have to hook people within the first couple seconds. You do want to use the right songs or trends. And just like gymnastics, you have the freedom to do whatever you want within those rules.” For Richard, freedom within the rules means featuring other athletes and influencers in his challenges. Special guests in Richard’s backflip lessons include the likes of Michigan’s freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and online streamer Darren Watkins Jr., commonly known as IShowSpeed. But his self-professed favorite student was Southern California track and field athlete Ezra Frech, a two-time Paralympic champion who was born with one leg. In just a few hours in the gym at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Frech successfully landed a backflip under Richard’s guidance. It’s these guests who haunt the periphery of my mind as I line up by the foam pit for my first official backflip attempt. Richard reassures me that he’ll spot me, or support my rotation to ensure I land safely. With that, I count down to signal my start and jump. I see Wolverines coach Yuan Xiao wander closer as I leave the pit. He greets me, then asks if Richard is trying to get me injured. Gymnastics is as demanding physically as it is mentally, Xiao reminds me, as if he’d told me during practice all year. He smiles as he tells me about IShowSpeed
— Xiao calls him Speed — and his almost unnatural knack for the sport when he visited Michigan. After just 20 minutes, I’m ready for a break. It’s not the physical battle of flying upside-down, although that was one of the reasons I quit gymnastics at the age of 5. Instead, my perfectionism is getting to me. Richard overhears me saying this will ruin my credibility as a gymnastics sports writer, but he won’t have it. “Honestly, I believe if we did this for an hour, you’d get it,” Richard says. “That’s our sport. It’s not easy. I see you’re a great student.” I thank him for his optimism and kindness. *** Richard is always transparent about the effort that gymnastics takes. While Xiao lauded Speed for his talent and athleticism, even Richard himself needed time, practice and resources to get his first flips. Before Richard became the Olympic-sized giant that intimidated students like me, he found his own competition. The older kids at his childhood gym — around 8 to 10 years old, by Richard’s estimates — could do back handsprings. Naturally, 4-year-old Richard went back home and threw back handsprings in his parents’ beds. He’d fall on his head, but it was almost as soft as the foam pit I fell into. Soon, his parents’ furniture couldn’t support his dreams in the sport. If he wanted to progress as a gymnast, he’d have to find a gym with the right equipment to support him. “(Coach Tom Fontecchio) used to take me on the weekends to gyms with better equipment and better resources in order for me to get better,” Richard said. “We’d drive one hour to that training gym and drive an hour back. He never asked for anything, he just wanted me to reach my full potential. He’s made gymnastics so fun for me, and now I just want to give back and get other kids those experiences.” When the social media platform TikTok gained recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard, then 16 years old, jumped at the opportunity to represent men’s gymnastics on the Internet. Two posts in, he logged 5,000 views. Richard’s virality only bloomed from there. Now, he has over 912,400 followers and 41 million likes on TikTok — along with another 835,000 followers on Instagram and 424,000 subscribers on YouTube. “His concern (entering college) was, ‘I’m going to continue TikTok,’ ” Xiao told The Daily. “I told him, ‘Yeah, I’m supporting you.’ That’s the big part. I’m 100% supporting you to make your own story and to share it with people.” A desire to write and share his own story drives Richard’s brand. Like many sports, men’s gymnastics is historically white-dominated. Richard, of Haitian and Dominican descent, published a children’s book in 2025 tackling his struggles with racism and bullying as a Black male gymnast. His philosophy of representation in the sport diffuses into his content, where he stars athletes of all builds and backgrounds. It shows when the Newt Loken Gymnastics Training Center hosts Asian-American sports writers and GhanaianAmerican streamers alike — and all of us learn to backflip with Richard’s help.
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Sports
20A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
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WOMEN’S TENNIS - MAY 11
Piper Charney takes down NCAA champion Reese Brantmeier in final match of the season
AMANDA BERGMAN Daily Sports Editor
Piper Charney refused to lose. From the moment the Michigan women’s tennis team’s No. 8 junior stepped onto the court, she couldn’t miss. North Carolina star senior Reese Brantmeier couldn’t keep up in her last appearance in Chapel Hill, as Charney outplayed the national No. 2 in every area of the court. Although the Tar Heels won the dual match, Charney’s defeat of the NCAA singles champion left its mark. “There was no reason to be tight,” Charney said. “She
had all the pressure, all the expectations.” In Brantmeier’s first service game, Charney set up break points with a perfectly placed lob that floated just above Brantmeier’s reach and landed well within the baseline. Charney found the break on a deciding deuce point, and although she didn’t consolidate, it was a sign of things to come. “She was gonna hit good shots and I couldn’t let that deter me,” Charney said. “She’d probably get hot for a while and have confidence, but I’ve played at that level before and beaten people of that level, so I shouldn’t let one week in November dictate my mindset.”
TRACK & FIELD - JULY 21
JAXSON KAPLAN-RUDOLPH Daily Sports Writer
This isn’t Trent McFarland’s first run at Ferry Field. He’s ran this storied maroon track at early sunrises where the infield grass is still glistening with morning dew, on late nights when it’s bracketed by the watchful lights of Revelli Hall and Ray Fisher Stadium. He’s ran here alone and with teammates, as a wideeyed incoming freshman on his official visit and as the fourthfastest 1500-meter runner in NCAA history. In fact, this isn’t even McFarland’s first run of the day, he tells me as he drags his feet across the lane lines with an air of familiarity. He already came earlier this morning — just in case I wanted our scheduled workout to be relaxing and low-distance. But when I asked where to meet up for our late afternoon jog, he couldn’t think of anywhere else. The defining performance of McFarland’s career may have been down in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he ran the 3:33:17 1500 that etched his name into the collegiate
Charney soon found a rhythm on her serve, and Brantmeier couldn’t get her returns in play. While Brantmeier expressed her frustration, hitting an extra shot after a point ended, Charney stayed steady. Going up a break for 5-3, Charney gave herself the chance to serve out the set. She did it with ease, and not just with one type of point. Charney opened the game with a powerful unreturned serve, ending the point quickly. In the next point, she hit a drop shot, mixing up the pace with her variety as she came to the net. Brantmeier chased down the drop shot and attempted to hit a pass, but Charney’s reflexes
shined as she batted a volley back over the net. Nothing Brantmeier tried worked, and Charney overwhelmed her with powerful forehands to hold to love and take the first set. Brantmeier has shown throughout the season that she’s capable of bouncing back after dropping sets, but Charney didn’t let her. Finding break points in the opening game of the second set, Charney rushed to the net as soon as she returned, ratcheting up the pressure and forcing an error from Brantmeier. Charney then fended off break points in the next game to hold and was in complete control of the match.
“I just made every ball,” Charney said. “I was at everything, whether she was hitting it hard, getting it high, slicing it, I was just hitting it back to her. I’d probably say that my willingness to adapt was what kept me in it.” Expanding her early lead, Charney broke Brantmeier’s serve again and stayed strong on her own serve to consolidate for a 4-0 lead. Brantmeier countered with strong serves of her own, but as soon as points went more than a few shots, Charney held the advantage. On a deciding deuce point, Brantmeier ran Charney all around the court, but Charney
got to everything and broke for 5-0. She had the chance to be the first person to ever take a 6-0 set over Brantmeier in college tennis, but Brantmeier held on a little longer, staving off Charney for two more games. Charney eventually emerged victorious, though, serving out the set to love and completing the 6-3, 6-2 upset. Charney didn’t shut out Brantmeier in the second set, but the win wasn’t any less monumental because of it. The match was Brantmeier’s final home appearance of her college career, a space she’s dominated for four years, but on that day it was Charney’s court.
Trent McFarland isn’t chasing anyone
record books. Or maybe it was in Eugene, where he stood atop the Hayward Field podium with a national silver medal. Maybe he’ll be remembered most for his antics at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, gunning for the breakaway banner on the sport’s ultimate stage, his bedazzled block ‘M’ chain sparkling under the spotlight. But it’s here — in the fateful patch of grass that saw the dawn of the Michigan track and field team 120 years ago and everything since — where McFarland builds the mindset of a champion. This is his center stage. *** McFarland leisurely walks down the straightaway of lane one, stopping intermittently to lift his ankles for quad stretches. The outfit for his easiest run in years is nearly indistinguishable from his traditional race attire: a navy blue team shirt and matching athletic shorts. The kids tossing around a football in the infield show no indication of recognition. It makes sense: McFarland is not rippling with muscle or seven feet tall — he is not, at first glance, blessed with the eye-catching look of a superstar athlete. These kids have
never seen him race; they don’t know he’s faster than billions. His appearance will never emit the trappings of fame. His celebrity can only come from achievement. Trent McFarland wasn’t supposed to become one of the greatest runners in collegiate history. It just kind of happened. *** When McFarland was a toddler, his father recorded everything from Christmas celebrations to birthday parties, uploading videos of McFarland and his sister to a private YouTube channel for posterity. Even in diapers, McFarland loved the cameras. He’d run across his bed and sing maniacally, making a scene of every moment just to make his dad laugh. “I was loud and obnoxious and just this crazy kid, but in ways I was similar (to how I am now),” McFarland told The Michigan Daily. “I like to be in the spotlight, and I like to show off a little bit.” McFarland didn’t get much bigger by the time he was 13. As a guard for the Utica High School basketball team, he knew he’d always play second fiddle to more talented teammates. But just because he wasn’t the best hooper
Photo Courtesy of Trent McFarland
didn’t mean he couldn’t be the most memorable. He was pretty quick on the court, and he knew he could shoot. So after a certain scrappy Michigan guard got drafted to the Warriors, McFarland turned every 3-pointer into his own Jordan Poole moment — a splash heard ‘round the world. “He was my favorite Michigan athlete ever,” McFarland says in between lunges, mimicking Poole’s celebrations. “Every shot, I was letting people know that ‘I
did that!’ and getting in their face. I was a decent bit of a trash talker, even for how little I was.” Initially, McFarland was fairly uninterested in running. It wasn’t glamorous. He joined the team his sophomore year, but wanted to go to Michigan on an academic scholarship — track wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities. He recalls mentally checking out of cross country after he didn’t run well at the state meet and the Chieftains placed just 25th.
By senior year, McFarland was the fifth-best cross country runner in Michigan. Utica placed ninth. McFarland may not have been the fastest, but from all those full-court sprints and marathons around his bed, he possessed a superb second gear. At the final stretch, in the most memorable part of the race, he was unmatched. If he kicked too early, he would fade out and lose. But he was never out of the running.
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Sports
LACROSSE - APRIL 22
‘I’ll die for this school’: How Henry and Jackie Weller tackle health and lacrosse from Maryland to Michigan PAUL ANGLADE Daily Sports Writer
Fourteen years ago, Henry and Jackie Weller never thought they would be starting alongside each other for the Michigan men’s lacrosse team. Not just because the program wasn’t even in existence when they were young — but because at one point they were unsure if they would continue playing to get to the point they are at today. From family battles to on-field perseverance, the Weller brothers bring a unique perspective to the Wolverines on and off the turf. Despite growing up in Potomac, Md. — a noted lacrosse hotbed — the Weller brothers’ first love was not with the grass, but rather, with the ice. The boys enjoyed ice hockey more than anything early on thanks to their father, Marc Weller, a hockey fanatic. Their mother, Eileen Weller, loved how her sons integrated themselves in sports so early, from hockey to lacrosse to wrestling. “They started learning how to skate when they were 3 years old,” Eileen told The Michigan Daily. “By first grade they were playing ice hockey and lacrosse.” Eileen and her sons felt the skillsets from ice hockey and wrestling translated well into lacrosse. Henry attributed his ability to handle a lacrosse stick from his days wielding a hockey stick, while Jackie believed wrestling helped him with handeye coordination and building a strong core. When eighth grade rolled around, Henry and Jackie decided to put down the hockey sticks, feeling lacrosse was the sport they wanted to focus on. “I played hockey my whole life,” Jackie told The Daily. “I stopped playing when I came to the realization that it was more realistic for me to pursue lacrosse.” All four of the Weller brothers played ice hockey, as well as their
younger sister, Bridie, a high school freshman. Danny, who is currently also committed to Michigan for lacrosse, was the youngest brother in a house of controlled chaos. When asked who was most responsible for causing mischief and headache for their parents, Danny’s name was immediately brought up by Jackie and Henry. The brothers’ journey to lacrosse began at a small, cramped lacrosse facility in Bethesda, Md. Henry remembered getting out of his car to what vaguely resembled a parking lot and fiddling with a small plastic beginner stick, struggling to pick up ground balls — something which has now become his bread and butter. It came to a point for Jackie in fourth grade when he quit for a while, feeling his skills were not good enough. It is safe to assume Jackie has fallen back in love with lacrosse despite some initial setbacks he and Henry faced early on. A major reason both of the Wellers did not stand out early on was the fact they were not playing the positions they play today. Jackie, now a junior and currently the Wolverines’ faceoff man, was a defender, while Henry, now a sophomore, started off playing
with a short stick like most kids. Jackie credits his club team coach, Matt Rienzo for MadLax DC Dogs, for seeing what he could do at the faceoff dot and engineering the switch from long stick midfield. Jackie flipped positions with teammate and friend Mac Christmas, who is now one of the best long stick midfielders in the country for Duke. “I was a long stick midfielder until eighth grade when I switched,” Jackie said. “Mac was a faceoff guy and I was LSM. Then coach Rienzo switched us, and I guess it worked out for both of us.” Henry first decided he would make the permanent change to long stick midfielder after going to a clinic under Boh Mitchell who coached him up until college in the club circuit. Mitchell runs Next Level Lacrosse based in Bethesda, one of the premier club lacrosse organizations in the country. “When he came to our first workout with Next Level, I knew he was special because he wasn’t one of those guys who was super flashy,” Mitchell told the Daily. “He was what you want in a college defender, being extremely disruptive.”
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Harper King/DAILY
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 21A
LACROSSE - MAY 8
Masterclass in resilience: How Ava Class beat the odds to get drafted 12th overall
MACKENZIE KASIOREK Daily Sports Writer The cruelest irony for Ava Class is that lightning can, in fact, strike twice. She knew this nightmare well. After a grueling year of rebuilding her body from a freshman ACL tear, she was finally standing on the precipice of her junior season. Then, in an instant, the floor fell out again. Another injury. Another season stolen before it even began. To anyone else, it would have been a signal to walk away—a clear sign that the game was finished with them. But Class was just getting started. She didn’t just recover — she transformed. She came back stronger than ever before, and while she may not have fully expected the result, she earned her place in the Women’s Lacrosse League supplemental draft and heard her name called as 12th overall. The girl who couldn’t stay healthy had become the woman the professional ranks couldn’t ignore. *** Class, a graduate midfielder and captain for the Michigan women’s lacrosse team, has spent six years developing into a remarkable athlete and leader. And even with the odds stacked against her, Class earned a spot at the next level — a testament to the determination exhibited throughout her time with the Wolverines. Growing up in Baltimore, Md., a lacrosse hotspot, Class made lacrosse her life. As the youngest of four siblings who all played lacrosse, it was a ‘no-brainer’ for Class to follow in those footsteps. She was especially drawn to the dynamic blend lacrosse has, fusing many different sports such as hockey, soccer, basketball and football.
Despite her growing devotion, she frequently wrestled with whether a career in the sport was a legitimate pursuit. But her passion continued to win out. “There were some times that I was like, ‘Oh, do I really want to do this?’ ” Class told The Michigan Daily. “But once I made it to high school and started playing with my high school team at McDonough, I really knew that I loved lacrosse and it was something I wanted to pursue.” With that assuredness, she started the college recruiting process. Upon entering high school, Class put feelers out for many colleges — one being Michigan. In her freshman year, she visited Ann Arbor and met with former coach and founder of Michigan’s D1 women’s lacrosse program, Jenny Ulehla. That introduction was an important driving factor in Class’s transition to college. But before she could commit, a rule change put a brief pause on the recruitment process. The NCAA approved a proposal to combat early recruiting, shutting off all contact with collegiate lacrosse teams until a prospect’s junior year of high school. So Class held out until then, when she was able to commit to Michigan — the selling point being current coach Hannah Nielsen’s plan to build off the foundation Uhlehla’s set. They made the decision easy for her, and for the past six years, she has brought grit and dedication. Despite all the obstacles in the way, she could endure. *** Class’ time at Michigan was filled with distinctions and triumphs, but her journey to the record books was anything but linear. Her freshman season ended before it even began with a torn ACL, and while she recovered in time for her sophomore season, she was limited to a reserve role.
She was eager to come back stronger the next season and prove herself among the ranks. But she wasn’t able to, instead facing another injury — being sidelined for her entire junior year. Two major injuries in three years is often a career-ender for an athlete, but Class used the time away from the field to sharpen a different weapon — her mind. “I was sitting out, watching every game, every practice, and trying to just absorb as much as I could,” Class said. “So that really grew my IQ, and when I came back from each injury, yes, there’s a learning curve, but it wasn’t as steep, which was really awesome and a relief, because it is stressful coming back.” That mental preparation fueled a massive 2024 turnaround. Class went from the sidelines to starting all 20 games and recording 20 points, 18 ground balls and six caused turnovers. She was a key piece behind the record-breaking 16-4 season that saw the Wolverines reach the NCAA quarterfinals and achieve a program-high No. 5 ranking. “While you never want (injuries) to happen, they have shaped me so much, building resiliency and persistence, and sports are a grind, and working to get to the skill level to be a collegiate athlete, that’s a grind,” Class said. “But going through the rehab process is almost even tougher, because it’s so tough mentally. So I just learned so much about myself and what I was able to handle.” Class achieved a career-best 31 points in her senior year, further advancing her name in the world of women’s lacrosse. By the time she reached her graduate years, Class had proven that her injuries didn’t just bring setbacks — they provided crucial lessons.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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Sports
22A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
SOFTBALL - MAY 6
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
The Michigan Softball Academy: Behind the scenes of the Wolverines’ 17th annual cancer research fundraiser
HADLEY ZANN & LEA BODIFORD Daily Sports Editor & Daily Sports Writer
For the past 20 years, the Michigan softball team has been raising money for cancer research. For the past 17, the Wolverines have done so by helping people play softball. By doing what they love with the community that supports it, the team and its coaches directly contribute to the fight against cancer. Michigan’s coaches and players gather annually in late April at Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium to play softball with members of the community as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Former Wolverines softball coach Carol Hutchins began the fundraiser when she was in charge, and although she isn’t
on the coaching staff anymore, she still runs the show every year. The softball program’s involvement began in 2010 with community work alongside the ACS. The team started by raising money and participating in ACS’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer run but didn’t have an event of its own. So when Hutchins saw an opportunity to have a bigger impact on the community, she took it. “I got to talking to the person in charge, who was the ACS person running that event, and I said, ‘I’d love to see us do something like an adult softball clinic,’ ” Hutchins told The Michigan Daily. “And here we are. Then at summer camp that year, while they were registering all the little kids, I was standing with a group of moms, and the moms said to me, ‘We never got to do anything. I’d love to go to camp.’ I said, ‘Well, if you went to camp,
what would you want to do?’ ‘Well, we’d want to run the bases and we’d want to pitch, and we’d want to drink wine,’ and we do it all. And it’s just been a hit.” The Academy draws numerous Michigan softball fans, many of whom are season ticket holders, to participate in the event each year. Despite not yielding the Academy’s highest numbers, the 130 participants at this year’s event on April 23 were still more than enough to support cancer awareness. The first year, there were 84 participants, and some years, that number has vaulted above 200. The social mixer to follow the on-field event can attract over 400 people dedicated to fighting cancer. The event begins with participants gathering on the field with the Wolverines to play ball. After brief introductions of the coaches and the year’s co-chairs
— this year, that included former Michigan women’s gymnastics coach Bev Plocki and University first lady Susan Hull Grasso — the athletes break into stations to run drills. Groups of two or three players lead each station, and the participants rotate between the stations in their teams. This year, participants got to field ground balls from senior shortstop Avery Fantucci, watch film with redshirt junior catcher Lily Vallimont and hit pitches off senior third baseman Madi Ramey. After a tribute to cancer survivors following the activities, the big sluggers come out for the Home Run Derby. Donors who raise over $5,000 get the chance to hit homers out of Carol Hutchins Stadium, and Michigan’s own educational studies professor Greg Dooley swung the bat alongside former Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge.
The evening ends with a social mixer that includes a silent auction and guest speakers. This year’s auction featured items such as a pickleball match with Wolverines coach Bonnie Tholl, lunch with Domenico Grasso and pink Michigan softball jerseys. The auction generates a substantial amount of money — before the first pitches were even thrown at the event this year, the Academy had already raised $180,000. By the end of the night, $216,397 had been put aside for cancer research. “The very first year we probably made just shy of $50,000, and then the last few years, we have been close to $200,000,” Tholl told The Daily. “We marched through a million, and then we marched through $2 million, and then we’re on our way to $3 million, and we are the largest fundraising effort by any college team for the American Cancer Society.”
While the couple hundred thousand dollars raised nearly overnight have an immeasurable impact on funding the ACS’s research, there are other less tangible effects of the Michigan softball team’s annual fundraiser. The familiar faces that return each year — and the new faces that discover the Softball Academy — create an invaluable community shared by the team and its supporters. “We have a lot of true Michigan softball fans,” Tholl said. “People that are season ticket holders, and then those who have come to the clinic and have become enthralled with what this event is all about, and then they now have become season ticket holders. They have become Michigan softball fans because of it. So it truly is a community event.”
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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — 23A
FOOTBALL - AUG. 30
SportsMonday: Michigan doesn’t need to be a great team right away, but it should be a fun one GRAHAM BARKER Managing Sports Editor
Before Sherrone Moore was a disgraced, international headline-making, convicted criminal, he was just a disappointing football coach. On the field, judged by Michigan’s historical prestige and especially by the years immediately preceding his tenure, Moore’s teams were not good. His 8-5 season in 2024 was just barely salvaged by an end-of-season rivalry upset, and last season’s 9-4 sounds better than it was: four sizable losses in five games against quality opponents while squeaking by with several narrow victories. More than the results themselves, though, it was the way in which the Wolverines won and lost that made Moore’s on-field tenure especially frustrating for Michigan. Moore’s teams were patently old-fashioned — an identity that worked with top-tier talent, but floundered without it. They were characterized by competent defenses but middling and conservative offenses, and were oftentimes full of unforced errors. Moore’s signature win — 13-10 in 2024 against No. 2 Ohio State — was a slog and a comedy of errors. The Wolverines threw for just 62 passing yards and the win was more an indictment on the Buckeyes than a credit to Michigan. The upgrade from Davis Warren and Alex Orji to five-star freshman Bryce Underwood at quarterback in Moore’s second year prompted an uptick in pass attempts, but only from 17th to 15th in the Big Ten. And Underwood’s evident running ability never became a significant part of the offense, as if Moore was saving that page of the playbook for some game
BASEBALL - AUG. 30
Arushi Sanghi /DAILY
of heightened consequence that never came. That playstyle fostered some resentment around Moore and the state of the football program even before his firing. But now there’s a clean slate. In coach Kyle Whittingham’s first season, the Wolverines likely won’t be a championship-level team. But there’s one thing Michigan can do to reignite the program right off the bat and flip the narrative: be a fun team. If the Wolverines’ comments from fall camp are any indication, Whittingham has his team on that track. “Lightning in a bottle,” senior tight end Zack Marshall said Aug. 7 when asked to describe his team’s new offense. “I mean, it’s out of nowhere. You’re not going to know where the ball is. … If I was gonna use one term, it’d just be expect the unexpected.”
On paper, Michigan has the pieces to be a fun team this fall. Underwood enters his sophomore season as a dualthreat quarterback with a full season as starter under his belt. Sophomore wide receiver Andrew Marsh was already a matchup problem for defenses as a freshman, and he’ll be joined in the receiving corps by a new jump-ball target in sophomore wide receiver JJ Buchanan. The contrast of freshman running back Savion Hiter’s speed and senior running back Jordan Marshall’s power should give the Wolverines plenty of versatility in the backfield as well. It’s just a matter of how those pieces are utilized. Overall, Whittingham’s style with Utah wasn’t all that different from Michigan’s under Moore. Whittingham emphasizes physicality, stout defense and a
run-centric offense, evidenced by the Utes running for the most yards in the Big 12 in 2025. But what Utah did have under Whittingham — and the handful of assistant coaches that followed him to Ann Arbor — that the Wolverines lacked is a quarterback run game. Utes quarterback Devon Dampier rushed for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, roughly double Underwood’s freshman year totals. Being more intentional about integrating Underwood’s legs into the offense would add another dimension to Michigan’s offense, while opening the door to more of those exciting, explosive plays that were virtually absent from Moore’s teams. That freedom to let Underwood run should extend to his options from the pocket, too. As a freshman, Underwood
didn’t get a ton of opportunities to throw the ball downfield, and the chances he did take weren’t perfect. But that doesn’t mean that same guard rail should restrict him in his sophomore season. There’s too much upside on the table and anticipation around the five-star phenom’s performance to not give it a try. “I think we’re gonna be able to push the ball down the field, I really do,” quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer said Tuesday. “I think we have a talented group of receivers and tight ends around us. We obviously have the backs to be able to be a threat in the run game and open up stuff down the field. And Bryce can throw it around and he can put it anywhere on the field … There will be some similarities to last year (at Utah) just because of the run game that we were able to have last year and the quarterback being
a threat with both his arm and his legs.” The Wolverines aren’t lacking in exciting defensive pieces either. Senior defensive end John Henry Daley is coming off an 11.5-sack, All-American season. Michigan’s secondary is loaded with experience and playmakers of its own in junior safety Chris Bracy, senior cornerback Smith Snowden and returning cornerbacks graduate Zeke Berry and senior Jyaire Hill. Signs point toward new defensive coordinator Jay Hill’s scheme playing to those strengths. “I would say fun,” senior defensive end Cam Brandt said Thursday when asked to describe the new scheme. “It wasn’t really too hard to pick up as a defensive lineman, and that’s honestly something you want. It’s not too much thinking for us, and that just allows us to pin our ears back and go make plays.” Whittingham took over the Wolverines amid both great scandals and disappointing on-field performances, but he also took over a program that had gotten far more used to 14-10 final scores, sub-100yard passing performances and error-filled dogfights than one of Michigan’s stature should. Moore’s teams were riskaverse, playing to avoid mistakes and to not lose — both of which happened regardless. Those will come under Whittingham, too, but with that should come freedom to take risks as an occasional underdog and let his talented players make good on some of them. Michigan has talked the talk to that point so far. But come Saturday, if the Wolverines want to start the season with a bang and reignite a program on a downswing, they’ll have to turn those words into action.
‘Use baseball’: How Tracy Smith made the most of his summer
ANNA LIAO
Daily Sports Writer
There aren’t many new experiences for Michigan baseball coach Tracy Smith after 30 years of coaching. Yet in mid-July, Smith sat in a hotel room in Taichung City, Taiwan for the first time. He’d barely recovered from the jet lag spurred on by a 13-hour time difference. While his players ran down the street to McDonald’s for dinner, he enjoyed the hotel’s buffet options. And in the early morning hours, he returned to an old routine: listening for his players’ names in the MLB Draft. Baseball gave Smith opportunities like this — enjoying an evening in a foreign country — and he intends to give back to the fullest. *** Smith doesn’t have a lot of time on his hands. Paradoxically, it gets worse as the Wolverines’ season winds down. Some players need to be placed into summer leagues while others prepare for the draft. When the portal opens, prospective transfers need to be courted. Smith has 30 years of experience in all of these responsibilities — at this point, the postseason routine is natural. So when Smith got the call to join USA Baseball as an assistant coach for the Collegiate National
Team, he never predicted it’d become one of the most taxing commitments of his career. Still, he dedicated himself to the job from the moment he got the call. One of the first people to know about Smith’s appointment was Michigan hockey coach Brandon Naurato, who also had the opportunity to serve as an assistant coach for USA Hockey in 2026. Naurato offered some advice: The role takes up a lot of time, but goes by fast. While the goal for the summer is to win, there’s plenty of opportunity to learn in that time, too. With USA Baseball, Smith had more space to watch and learn, too. Typically, he would see highcaliber coaches from across the diamond while he managed his own teams. But for the first time in 30 years, Smith took the role of assistant coach. From his place in the dugout, Smith observed the seasoned cast of coaches over two weeks of games. “It made me a better coach,” Smith told The Michigan Daily on July 28. “It’s going to make Michigan baseball better because of the coaches and the experience. For example, being down in Cary, North Carolina, picking a roster. Mike Scioscia, longtime successful player and manager in the big leagues, was a part of that staff. Spending over a week’s time daily with someone of that stature, of that knowledge base, you can’t help
but take things away from that experience.” It’s not like Smith is limited in his exposure to high-level coaches. Illinois coach Dan Hartleb, who Smith knows from years of conference play, led the USA Baseball team. But the organization also introduced Smith to new faces and ideas from other nationally competitive teams. Wake Forest coach Tom Walter, Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs and Bethune-Cookman coach Johnny Hernandez collaborated with Smith on refining their players’ technique. They shared their favorite methods of getting players to “buy in” to advice. They bounced ideas to address the challenges that the transfer portal and NIL created. When they made it to Taiwan for the World Collegiate Baseball Championship, they all tuned in to the MLB Draft together in the middle of the night. Every summer for the past few decades, Smith has been all in on baseball. Although 2026 took him overseas, it wasn’t all that different from his typical routine. *** To understand why Smith is so committed to the opportunities he’s given, you’d have to go all the way back to his high school years. “My mom told me a long, long time ago, ‘Use baseball more
than it uses you,’ ” Smith said. “I never really understood that at the time, but what it has meant to me over the years is I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool things because I’m a baseball coach. I make no apologies for that.” Opportunities like USA Baseball, while timeconsuming, are too good for Smith to pass up. But part of the reason Smith switched from playing to coaching was to spend more time with his family. Now, with two more sons and five more grandchildren than the day he retired, family is more important than ever. “I want to win, and I want to work hard to win,” Smith said. “But I also love having my grandchildren come down to the dugout or sit on my lap during a press conference. We can still be competitive and we can still value these things. … Brandon Naurato and I talk about this a lot. The one thing I can tell you as a young coach is make sure you’re not killing yourself in doing this.” For Smith, giving advice on anything — from work-life balance to baserunning drills — comes easily. With those tips, he used baseball to create a community reaching farther than his teams alone. *** Before the Collegiate National Team traveled internationally, team selection
and training took place in North Carolina. Smith made calls and joined meetings between the Wolverines’ own games between April and May. Then, toward the end of June, the Stars and Stripes squads faced off against local collegiate summer teams before a fivegame Stars vs. Stripes series. When Smith landed in North Carolina in late June, he hadn’t met many of the players in person. Still, he was a familiar face to some of the athletes. “It’s funny, because (the players’) mechanism of communication is social media now,” Smith said. “They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, you’re that coach from Michigan. Aren’t you that guy on TikTok?’ ” On his social media accounts, Smith posts drills or words of wisdom to an audience of 59,100 followers on Instagram, 44,000 on X and 39,100 on TikTok — a reach he never would’ve amassed when he had less baseball experience. His advice spans a lifetime around the sport and is often recorded impromptu based on conversations he has with parents or players. Experiences like USA Baseball also give him new opportunities to reconnect with former players and reinforce his community. One of the most accomplished products of Smith’s career is four-time All
Star, World Series champion and Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. The slugger trained under Smith at Indiana and played on the Collegiate National Team after his sophomore season. While this year’s national team trained, Smith invited players to pick his former player’s brain and posted Schwarber’s response online. Although the lessons Schwarber shared were originally Smith’s own, it helped the team to hear it from one of Smith’s earliest proteges. “I’m 60 years old,” Smith said. “I’ve still got a lot to offer the coaching profession, but I’m also looking at all of (my social media) as my gift back to the profession. This is kind of a somber reminder, but longtime coach John Anderson from the University of Minnesota just retired a couple years ago, and died of a massive heart attack last week. You just look at things differently.” While the details may change, Smith works for a single purpose every day — his baseball community. The reason Smith learned so much with USA Baseball is the same reason he teaches on social media. It’s why he prioritizes his family and even why he confides in Naurato. After a decades-long career, Smith uses baseball in everything he does.
VOLLEYBALL - AUG. 30
Michigan locks down Miami behind freshman phenom Meredith Martin
JAXSON KAPLAN- RUDOLPH Daily Sports Writer
Saturday’s match was billed as a thriller. The Michigan volleyball team loves to rack up the tempo, and with Miami’s fastpaced system coming to town, the Wolverines were bracing for fireworks. “They’re a very different style of team historically than LIU in terms of the speed that they run and just the tempo of their offense,” Michigan coach Erin Virtue said Friday about the Hurricanes. “So that’s going to present some challenges. It’s actually more similar historically
to what we run, so we’ll see how we adapt.” The Wolverines, however, were a step ahead of the visiting squad from wire-to-wire. They thrashed Miami by a 10-point margin in each of the first two sets, holding the Hurricanes to a negative hitting percentage for the vast majority of the match. As Michigan rolled its way to a second consecutive sweep to open the season, freshman libero Meredith Martin was everywhere. And it was her leadership in the back row that helped the Wolverines (2-0) churn out a defensive masterclass to sweep Miami (0-2). By laying on pressure from behind the service line, the Wolverines kept Miami out of system. The Hurricanes finished the match with
just 19 assists on 86 set attempts, while Michigan created 48 points on fewer opportunities. In its trip to Ann Arbor, Miami was missing a key cog in its powerful system, as setter Ariana Rodriguez — who led the nation in service aces last season — was out on Olympic duty. So when the Wolverines could sustain pressure on Rodriguez’s inexperienced backup, it scrambled the Hurricanes offense. At the center of the stifling serve game was Martin, who provided consistent delivery all match while chipping in with a pair of aces. Because of the freshman’s aptitude from behind the line, Virtue kept Martin on the court to bolster the Wolverines’ defense without sacrificing their
aggressive gameplan. Martin looked like a far cry from a player who’d made her collegiate debut less than 24 hours prior. She made the most of her enhanced time on the court, churning out a match-leading 14 digs while the Hurricanes’ liberos combined for just six. After Maddi Cuchran’s departure, libero should have been a weakness for Michigan just as much as setter was for Miami. But thanks to Martin, the Hurricanes’ offensive opportunities were few and far between. “It’s definitely been pretty nervewracking,” Martin said Saturday about adjusting to collegiate play. “But I’m so blessed and so lucky to be surrounded by such great teammates. When I first got here, I
never felt like, ‘Oh, she’s a freshman.’ I always felt supported and I always felt encouraged. And my coaches give me great feedback. My teammates give me great feedback. So I’ve just been able to learn super, super quickly and elevate my game.” Although Martin showed signs of growing pains with three reception errors, her teammates were there to minimize the impact of mistakes. On multiple occasions, her counterparts in the back row came up with acrobatic second touches to turn an inaccurate pass into a solid attacking opportunity. As Michigan’s offense started to surge, Miami struggled to put the ball to the floor. The Hurricanes’ 23 team kills were matched on the other side of the net by junior
outside hitter Ella Demetrician and junior opposite hitter Cymarah Gordon alone. “I mean, it is neat to see the growth of the returners, and then adding Meredith Martin to that mix, she’s coming in at a really nice level, and I’m excited to see her get better,” Virtue said. “The more matches and practices she has under her belt, she’s only like 30 days into her college career so far and playing at a really nice level, and that’s just gonna keep getting better.” The Wolverines’ efforts to silence Miami positioned an untested freshman into a demanding role. But just six sets into her Michigan career, Martin has already shown why she’s earned the starting spot.
24A — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
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Opinion
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OPINION T he Opinion section seeks to uplift campus voices and stimulate productive and empathetic dialogue regarding issues that matter both on campus and in the Ann Arbor community. Our writers provide a wide range of diverse viewpoints
— from national politics to online trends and social theory. Opinion also holds weekly Editorial Board meetings where we discuss and author pieces about events important to University students. Community input is also vital for those outside of The Daily who would like their voices to be
heard. Most importantly, we remain dedicated to improving the quality of the rhetoric and arguments that are affecting the academic community.
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com
ELENA NICHOLSON Editor in Chief
AVERY ALLEN AND MAGGIE BERLING Editorial Page Editors
MAISIE DERLEGA AND SARAH PALUSHI Managing Editors
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Zachary Ajluni Avery Allen Mateo Alvarez Maggie Berling Hayden Buckfire
Willem DeGood Gabe Efros Seth Gabrielson Jovanna Gallegos Gunnar Hartman
Elena Nicholson John Rogan Jack Verrill Sarah Zhang
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of The Daily’s Editorial Board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
From The Daily: The bond hearings for pro-Palestine protesters were about more than pretrial release THE MICHIGAN DAILY SUMMER EDITORIAL BOARD
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n June 10, eight proPalestine activists — six with ties to the University of Michigan — were detained by the FBI. The federal government is charging them with eight counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, one count of witness tampering and one count of destruction of property to prevent seizure. On June 12, the bond hearings for four of the defendants — Zainab Hakim, Paige Feyock, Colin Weger and Jonathan Zou — occurred in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti presided over the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maggie Smith served as the lead courtroom prosecutor during the proceedings. At any bond hearing, the prosecution’s role is to argue that the defendants are either f light risks or a danger to the community. Smith attempted to establish that the defendants were both of these things. However, Judge Patti ultimately ruled that all four defendants should be released on a $10,000 unsecured bond, with varying stipulations attached. This Editorial Board attended the hearing and analyzed the subsequent court transcripts. We found that while both the prosecution and defense stated that global affairs should not play a role in the hearing, the proceedings were rife with charged political statements. Many of these were inf lammatory, falsely framing the entire proPalestine movement as antiAmerican. The hearing began with the prosecutor laying out the evidence against the defendants, then making her arguments as to why these individuals should not be released on bond. She reiterated a lot of the information included in the indictment, but also called attention to other details, including the defendants’ political beliefs. “They believe that the government is fascist and have absolutely no respect for the law that they don’t believe in.
They believe we are fascists, we are colonialists and the law just does not apply to them.” The defendants’ views on the government and colonialism are irrelevant in Smith’s role as prosecutor given that they provide no evidence for determining flight risk or potential danger. Yet Smith repeatedly mentioned them, signifying she believed those who share similar beliefs — though it is their first amendment right — would pose a danger to the public. This unwarranted commentary extended even further. A written character testimony was provided for Zou, in which a University professor corroborated their diligence and responsibility in a classroom setting. Rather than focusing on the content of the testimony, Smith noted the professor’s area of study: colonialism and imperialism. She went on to suggest that Zou had been indoctrinated after taking the professor’s course. Claiming course material about the United States’ extensive history of imperialism would be a negative inf luence on students is a problem in and of itself. But more importantly, commenting on the testimony in this way was an irrelevant addition to what was supposed to be a character witness — not an evaluation of the professor or defendant’s political beliefs. Instead of taking the statement for what it was, Smith decided to stake an abrasively political claim. Smith’s comment seems to also imply that any criticism of the U.S. government — such as an examination of its colonialist past — would play a role in establishing an individual’s f light risk or danger to the community. Critiques of the government are a vital part of democracy, not inherent cause for concern in a court of law. Smith’s commentary extended beyond the indicted to those who came to court to support them. “The fact that the protesters are here and there’s many in the courtroom, these are not supporters for following the court’s orders. These are supporters who have the same groupthink mentality.” “And you combine that with a number of people who are willing to drop everything and
From The Daily: Despite the Regents’ pardon, Acker must resign THE MICHIGAN DAILY SUMMER EDITORIAL BOARD
O Audrey Rosenberg/DAILY
show up at a courthouse for a case they’ve likely never read the indictment for should be of concern to this court.” The claims she made about these attendees were replete with assumptive generalizations — all of them do not believe in following orders, all are members of groupthink and all have probably never read the case indictment. Smith also associated the supporters with the ideation of groupthink — a term that suggests conformity and concurrence without proper logic or reasoning. Though only a select few are being tried, Smith made a blanket statement about the entire movement the defendants support and associate with. This was an intentional effort at tying together all of those who participate in pro-Palestine protests — most of which have been peaceful — with the defendants’ alleged crimes. These statements were completely irrelevant to the purpose of a bond hearing. While Smith’s primary objective should have been to establish f light risk for the defendants, she chose to target others in the courtroom that day. The supporters were not charged or on trial, yet Smith drew substantial attention to their support for the defendants and their cause. Judge Patti found this unrelated — pushing back on Smith’s arguments. He affirmed that the attendees were obeying all orders and were merely sitting quietly in support. Moving into the future, there is no date set for trial, but the bond hearing has set a precedent for how the prosecution — and by extension the federal government — is planning to handle the case. Rather than sticking to facts and legal analysis, they are also utilizing political controversy around a global issue to misconstrue the defendants and their alleged actions. This is no longer about simply charging the defendants; it’s a case about which political views are acceptable and the length to which all citizens are able to criticize the government. The manner in which the prosecution portrayed the defendants spans beyond the courtroom — it has detrimental effects for all protesters and the pro-Palestine movement.
2026 New Student Edition — 1B
n April 22, the University of Michigan launched a formal investigation into Regent Jordan Acker (D), following a report by The Guardian alleging he had sent obscene sexual messages in a business Slack channel. Some of these messages included explicit statements about a Democratic Party strategist, whose identity remains anonymous. “Buddy banged [redacted] on election night 2018 and we literally discussed this yesterday. Said it was the most insane experience of his life.” “An absolute freak in bed.” “Likes it extremely rough and very very very much into props.” He also made sexual comments regarding a female U-M student. After discussing the student’s medical issues — recurring urinary tract infections — with her parent, Acker sent a picture of her in the channel and made crude remarks. “Like maybe he doesn’t realize that his daughter fucks, apparently a lot.” On June 25, the University Office of Public Affairs and Internal Communications released an investigation update via their website, in which they confirmed the authenticity of the messages and stated the University’s Board of Regents decided to close the matter without further action. Initially, Acker denied the allegations. Later, he made a public apology at the board’s June 26 meeting. It is important to note that this apology was issued only after the board confirmed their validity. “For those who have been hurt, disappointed, frustrated, or angry, I understand why. I do not ask for sympathy. I do not ask anyone to excuse my mistakes. I only ask that my apology be heard as sincere.” Regardless of this apology, this Editorial Board firmly believes Acker’s actions were deplorable and inexcusable, warranting much more than a weak expression of regret and complete inaction from his peers. Acker must be held responsible. So should the rest of the regents. Instead of acknowledging Acker’s wrongdoing or holding him accountable, his fellow regents chose to sweep the issue under the rug. Their pardon sent a
message: They would rather protect one of their own than recognize the harm that Acker caused to his victims and the rest of the Ann Arbor community. When they should have called for Acker’s resignation — or at the very least, formally condemned his actions — they thanked him for apologizing and moved on. Regent Denise Illitch (D) did something worse. “It’s really a teachable moment for our students to be able to see that when you make a mistake, you own it, you’re accountable, you apologize, and you carry on with the work. That’s the best example you could ever, I think, help to give our students.” Suggesting that Acker’s vague apology — which was delivered after he repeatedly denied the accusations — provided students with an exemplary display of accountability is appalling and absurd. These are not mere mistakes. His actions were deeply offensive and inappropriate, and this reaction diminished the severity of the comments he made. Regent Paul Brown (D) also praised Acker for being a leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ individuals and cited the Slack messages as a momentary lapse in judgement. Acker’s previous policy record is irrelevant to the lewd comments he made, and suggesting otherwise implies his political alignment somehow outweighs his harassment. These responses contribute to warranted erosion of public trust in academic institutions. Students are right to mistrust leaders who harass students they are supposed to represent, and those who excuse such behavior. Beyond the apparent immunity provided by his colleagues, Acker seems to also be protected by a political shield. When the allegations surfaced, media outlets brought attention to completely unrelated factors of Acker’s term. CBS News concluded their coverage on the matter by explaining that Acker’s home was previously vandalized by pro-Palestine student activists after he repeatedly refused demands for divestment. While vandalism is a serious matter, it holds no relevance to Acker’s sexual misconduct. This unnecessary inclusion portrays him as a victim, rather than focusing on the accusations at hand. The correlation between
political orientation and University protection is evident when Acker’s current situation is compared to how University administration targeted Derek Peterson, former Faculty Senate chair, following his May 2026 commencement speech. Hours after Peterson mentioned the pro-Palestine protests on campus in his speech, University President Domenico Grasso issued a harsh public rebuke, stating Peterson’s words caused pain and attempted to tear down goodwill on campus. Meanwhile, Grasso and the regents have neglected to condemn Acker’s remarks. Sexual harassment is cause for serious concern, especially coming from within the University’s governing body. A lack of response is therefore unacceptable. The University’s silence is also worrying because under previous, similar circumstances, they held perpetrators accountable. In 2021, former Regent Ron Weiser was reprimanded for calling several state leaders “witches” and saying they should be burned at the stake. As a result, the regents voted to call for his resignation. Weiser refused to resign, but at the very least, the Board did the right thing and took a strong stance against him, immediately condemning the behavior. Today, Acker’s actions have been met with silence — and even praise — from his colleagues. If the regents truly believed in accountability, they should have met Acker’s actions with a call for his resignation. In the absence of this response, this Editorial Board believes Jordan Acker should resign from his position as regent immediately. As the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs has already done, those in positions of power within the University must denounce Acker. Those who have endorsed him, like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, should similarly and quickly revoke their support. This is the only way to take steps toward mending what damage has already been done. Acker is the one at fault, but those who continue to enable him should also be held accountable. His actions should not be pardoned as a learning moment. The regents’ condemnation and his resignation are absolutely necessary to demonstrate that degrading others is reprehensible behavior — no matter who you are.
Georgia McKay/DAILY
2B — 2026 New Student Edition
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Opinion From The Daily: For a different kind of politics, vote El-Sayed on August 4
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
THE MICHIGAN DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD
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n Aug. 4, Michigan primary voters will decide who should become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. The race has drawn significant national attention for good reason: Michigan is a swing state. Democrats must defend the seat if they hope to take back the Senate, and Republicans are looking to secure it to maintain a majority. Because the Republican primary was uncompetitive, this Editorial Board chose to exclusively weigh in on the Democratic primary race. In order to make a wellinformed endorsement, we reached out to the three Democratic candidates. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, currently represents Michigan’s 8th state senate district. Propelled to national political fame by her notable 2022 speech condemning hateful politics, she is campaigning on her ability to combine progressive values with a mindset geared toward pragmatism and passing legislation. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed,
former gubernatorial candidate and Wayne County health director, has rallied support for progressive policies, even securing an endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., is a four-term congresswoman representing central Oakland County. Her campaign is defined by political centrism and consistent advocacy for Michigan’s auto and manufacturing industries. El-Sayed and McMorrow both agreed to an interview. Stevens did not respond to our request. After a thorough interview process and months of significant discourse, a majority of Editorial Board members voted to endorse El-Sayed for Michigan’s Democratic Senate nomination. From a policy standpoint, El-Sayed’s broad, sweeping vision is best for all Michiganders. He is the only candidate who is running to pass Medicare for All, and his public health background equips him with the necessary experience and vision to improve the U.S. healthcare system. Moreover, El-Sayed is adamant about the importance of narrowing income gaps. El-Sayed is the only candidate in this race to call for a billionaire tax to make the distribution
Hollywood is experiencing a skinny epidemic SOPHIA BARCZAK Opinion Analyst
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’m an avid lover of award shows. I tune in for the delivery of every Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe — partly due to my love of media and partly to watch the commentary that ensues afterward. Each award show and celebrity event brings on a plethora of social media content as fans break down attendee attire, acceptance speeches and who was or wasn’t invited. In the 2026 awards season, the expected discussions of fashion, movies and celebrity drama made way for voices of concern and repulsion at the scenes on the red carpet. Onlookers noticed a striking difference in many public figures that they know and love — many noting the skeletal nature of celebrities as they smiled brightly for paparazzi pictures. These images were impossible to ignore. Celebrities are championing the trending ‘Ozempic skinny’, their fragility and weakness on display for the world to scrutinize in comments across social media platforms. Within the discourse on media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, there are two prevailing voices: those who believe people need to stop commenting on women’s bodies and those who find it vital to speak up about harmful trends resurfacing in popular culture. I side with the latter — in a world where eating disorders are normalized and unrealistic body standards are perpetuated, society’s unwillingness to address the movement of malnourished celebrities only reinforces disordered relationships with food. When society protects emaciated celebrities, we minimize and normalize visible patterns of unhealthy eating in the name of being thin. Celebrities like Lily Collins, who has publicly addressed her struggle with disordered eating, and Kelly Clarkson, who has spoken about using weight loss drugs to address her autoimmune disorder, have very legitimate reasons for weight concern. This is often the exception to the rule; while we can never truly know what an individual is going through, claiming that the majority of those who have lost weight are suffering from the same afflictions blatantly ignores the central issue. There is a widespread trend of celebrities who are visibly shrinking themselves to fit modern beauty standards, and by refusing to address how harmful this trend is, we are harming and influencing young viewers who look up to them. Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder and bulimia are dramatically rising,
with college students at high risk. These trends are directly correlated to popular media, as a 2024 study revealed the damaging relationship between internet usage and tendencies towards body dysmorphia. For young adults, especially girls, it is nearly impossible to exist without exposure to a culture that perpetuates disordered eating. On social media, onceinnocent posts, like the “What I eat in a day” genre, become competitions, with the “winner” showcasing the fewest calories on their plates. Popular influencers such as Liv Schmidt popularize subcultures like #SkinnyTok and profit off of insecurities through their pro-eating disorder content. This trend has become so damaging that the hashtag and other key phrases connected to the movement were banned from TikTok. Scrolling through any social media feed, influencers are wrapping pairs of sunglasses around their waist as a form of compulsive ‘body-checking,’ a trend that is correlated with increased depression among college students. As people become fixated on social media and influencer culture, one thing becomes clear: social media is inextricably tied to body dissatisfaction. The normalization of eating disorders is woven into our modern-day culture, and our silence on the matter reinforces a harmful cycle in both celebrities and ourselves. Extreme skinniness has been a prominent issue for many years in Hollywood. The rise in weight loss drugs, like GLP-1s, has exacerbated the issue beyond discussions of healthy weight loss. Celebrities formerly known for pioneering self-love movements, like Lizzo and Meghan Trainor, are now showing off their newly slim bodies on Instagram after using weight-loss medication. Inspiring female athletes, like pro tennis player Serena Williams, are posing in commercials promoting Ozempic and other prominent weight-loss medications. Society is stuck. Influencers are pressured to conform to skinny culture, and the highly influenced populations of children and young adults suffer from harmful and unachievable beauty standards. Celebrities deserve empathy and privacy, just like anyone else. Eating disorders affect everyone, celebrities being no exception. It is no small issue that women’s bodies have become commodified in popular culture, but the argument that commenting on women’s bodies in any context does more harm than good is a protection that we can no longer afford.
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2026 New Student Edition — 3B
of wealth more equal. In this political moment — defined by hesitation and incrementalism — big solutions are needed, and a wealth tax certainly meets that need. Above all else, El-Sayed is the only candidate in this race who has never taken corporate money. With spending on elections ballooning, he wants to curtail donations from political action groups and large corporations that currently plague our politics. We believe this is a step in the right direction toward rejecting corporate spending in all elections. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, El-Sayed also spoke about his beliefs on one of the most contentious foreign policy questions in politics today. “I called the circumstance in Gaza a genocide, because, well, that’s a genocide, right?” El Sayed said. “Words have meanings, and there is no other word for decimating tens of thousands of kids.” His assessment of genocide in Gaza is an example of the broader message of El-Sayed’s campaign: On tough issues that many leaders in the Democratic Party would like to ignore, El-Sayed takes an unwavering position. This no-nonsense approach would establish
Varun Tandon/DAILY
El-Sayed as a stalwart fighter for Michigananders in the U.S. Senate. To college students frustrated with the tumultuous nature of American politics, El-Sayed goes further than Stevens and even McMorrow, addressing both day-to-day and systemic issues that the next generations will undoubtedly face. This Editorial Board felt his authenticity — an important pillar of his campaign. In fact, he has worked to reach all of Michigan, explaining in his
interview that he has appeared at 300 public events and visited 90 cities. He emphasized his concern that President Donald Trump has been a “fixture” in politics for many young people’s entire lives and conveyed strong optimism for what a different future can look like. “We don’t have to fight endless wars,” El-Sayed said. “We can live in a world where everybody has healthcare. We can live in a world where we are a proponent of peace and
not war, we can live in a world where everybody gets to have the basic dignities of life.” His policy goals, alongside his unabashed hope for a better future, are the reason why this Editorial Board believes El-Sayed is the best candidate for Michigan. At times, the Democratic Party can get caught up in platforming candidates who appeal to a wide voter base. El-Sayed deviates from that thinking.
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We built a world that avoids each other SOPHIA FRANCO Opinion Columnist
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omewhere out there, a crowded subway car is dead silent, filled with passengers wearing noise-cancelling headphones, saving each other from an unsolicited conversation. Or, there’s a college student sitting in a darkened bedroom listening to the muffled thud of a delivery driver dropping a brown paper bag onto the welcome mat outside. They didn’t have to share eye contact, risk a smile or bear the mutter of a small ‘thank you’; they successfully bought their way out of human interaction, unaware that the social friction they just avoided is exactly what their brain starves for. We have built a world that systematically removes the need for human interaction — and it’s making us miserable. In our rush to automate everything, we have significantly removed social interaction from our daily lives. We’ve ousted casual human connection out of our routine, depriving our brain of the small yet crucial interactions that anchor us to reality by reinforcing our sense of community and connection to others. With rapidly advancing technology, we can avoid human interaction more easily than ever before. For example, our generation transformed headphones from music players into a universal symbol of “do not disturb.” They allow us to move through public spaces without the expectation of engaging with the people around us — social withdrawal — because the idea of unplanned interaction with an acquaintance, or even worse, a stranger, on the sidewalk feels too unpredictable now. Even when no music is playing and noise cancellation is turned off, simply wearing these social shields signals unavailability to the outside world before a single word is exchanged. Disturbing a person with headphones on is now widely considered intrusive, often prompting an apologetic “sorry” from anyone who dares to tap a headphone user out of their trance.
Additionally, our phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature allows us to engage with people only when it’s convenient, making conversation and communication controlled rather than natural and spontaneous. This feature is especially enticing to our generation, with many employing it as a tactic to diminish social interaction on their phones. Following this trend, Gen Z consistently avoids phone calls due to our “telephonophobia” — the irrational fear or intense anxiety of answering or making phone calls. The “Do Not Disturb” feature was introduced to ensure we’re less distracted by excess notifications, and instead, engaged in real-life social interaction. But it allows us to communicate entirely on our own terms, stripping us of the unpredictability that comes with spontaneous conversation. It’s become another tool for filtering and controlling our social connections. We are using technology to escape uncomfortable social interaction, meanwhile we are losing the social skills that would make us more comfortable in these interactions. Gen Z is less able to engage in social interaction without anxiety, which is directly correlated with our increasing technology use. As more of our communication takes place through screens, we spend less time practicing the spontaneous face-to-face exchanges that once filled everyday life, and without regular exposure to these encounters, ordinary conversations can begin to feel awkward or anxiety-inducing, pushing us further toward the very technologies that contributed to that discomfort in the first place. This mindset doesn’t end when we put our technology away — the same desire to avoid social friction has been built into the spaces and services we interact with every day, too. Entire industries have emerged around the promise of reducing human interaction. We have self-checkouts, which 43% of consumers now prefer over traditional staffed registers. In fact, to accommodate this preference, grocery stores
Natasha Eliya/DAILY
have made a notable increase in self-serving kiosks, further encouraging this socially avoidant behavior. Apart from self-checkouts, food and grocery delivery services are also active contributors to our social disconnect. By selecting the “leave at door” option, we escape communication with the person who did your errands for us. Human interaction, once an unavoidable part of daily tasks, is now an inconvenience worth bypassing. Cashiers are now touchscreens, and waiters are now delivery drivers. These things are marketed as time-savers to make up for them being more expensive; we are so insistent on avoiding interaction that we are willing to pay more money to do so. So, in this, what they are truly providing is distance. In normalizing these systems, society reinforces the idea that interaction is exhausting and something to dread, rather than something meaningful. Consistently opting for these amenities is incredibly harmful. Their growing popularity coincides with an unprecedented loneliness crisis among Gen Z, a generation that is more digitally connected than any before it yet reports unprecedented levels of social isolation. We’re actively digging ourselves in this hole of isolation as opportunities for connection further shrink. Humans thrive on a spectrum of social connections, which includes close relationships and casual interactions. These can come from small, passing interactions
with strangers throughout your day. Referred to as “weak ties” by psychologists, moments like a smile from a barista or a shared eyeroll with a stranger in line when you’ve both been waiting forever, cause a boosted dopamine release, consequently reminding your brain that we are connected to other people. These brief, seemingly insignificant interactions create tiny moments of recognition and comfort that we are wired to need. By eliminating these interactions from our routines, we are also removing an entire layer of social connection that helps people feel embedded in a community. In some ways, these technological features and contactless options are simply accommodating our generation’s prevalent social anxiety. But, while these additions may increase comfort, comfort isn’t always psychologically healthy in excess. We grow through unpredictability, spontaneity and small moments of shared experience. We need to embrace the psychological value of human interaction, because if we keep letting these features popularize and conquer, the future of human connection could be diminishing. Use these technologies in moderation. Remember to occasionally remove your headphones in public to appear more approachable, or speak to a cashier instead of using selfcheckout. Even as technology continues to reshape how we connect, human interaction is always worthy of preservation.
Wolverines yearn for diag squirrels EMILY QUINTEROS — Opinion Cartoonist
Opinion
4B — 2026 New Student Edition
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
President Grasso’s apology violated institutional neutrality GABRIEL MENDLOW, KRISTINA DAUGIRDAS, DAN CRANE & MICHELLE ADAMS Opinion Contributors
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e write as Law School professors who served on the University of Michigan committee that recommended the current policy of institutional neutrality. This policy protects open inquiry and debate by barring the University from taking an official position on any political or social issue, except one directly related to how the University is run. We want to clarify how the University’s policy of institutional neutrality applies to Interim President Domenico Grasso’s May 2 statement apologizing for the Spring 2026 Commencement speech by history professor Derek R. Peterson, the outgoing chair of the Faculty Senate. The episode is a useful case study in what neutrality requires and a chance to highlight
the difference between genuine neutrality and the “both-sides” approach with which it is often confused. Peterson’s speech described several historical examples of student and faculty activism at the University of Michigan. Near the end, he praised “the pro-Palestinian student activists who have over these past two years opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza.” This line is what prompted Grasso’s apology. Calling Peterson’s remarks “hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community,” President Grasso apologized for “the pain this has caused on a day devoted to celebration and accomplishment.” He also said that Peterson’s address had “deviated from the remarks he had shared before the ceremony.” Peterson later acknowledged that he had “extemporized” but insisted he had only “changed a few words.”
In itself, it is not a violation of institutional neutrality for the University president to reprimand a commencement speaker who departs from an approved script and delivers remarks that are predictably divisive. University leaders may comment openly on matters of internal governance, such as the norms and procedures guiding official ceremonies. They may also admonish a speaker who treats those norms and procedures with disregard — especially when the speaker’s official title might lead listeners to think he speaks for the University. Institutional neutrality does not require the University to treat commencement as a forum for unrestricted individual expression. The audience is captive and speakers are expected to celebrate and inspire the graduating class. As a result, the University may require commencement addresses to be inclusive rather than divisive. And it may object when speakers skirt
the process for reviewing remarks in advance. But Grasso went further. He did more than criticize a breach of commencement norms and clarify that Peterson had spoken only for himself. He asserted that Peterson’s comments “do not represent our institutional position. Nor do they represent the diversity of views across our entire faculty.” Given its tone and framing, Grasso’s apology could easily be taken to suggest that the University holds an “institutional position” opposed to proPalestine activism — rather than no position at all. In his statement, Grasso mentioned institutional neutrality only in a five-word footnote, and said nothing about its meaning or importance. Genuine neutrality requires more than a cursory footnote. As we wrote in our report recommending institutional neutrality, “University leaders may show compassion by acknowledging the intensity of emotions among community
File Photo /DAILY
members, but they should avoid expressing empathy in a way that explicitly or implicitly takes sides on a social or political issue.” University leaders must always be crystal clear: The institution has no official position on the IsraelGaza War or any other controversy unrelated to how the University is run. This point requires explicit emphasis whenever University leaders speak for the institution. It matters most of all when they
criticize a professor for his speech, as Grasso’s statement did. Institutional neutrality means little if it allows the University to signal official disapproval of deeply held views on matters of utmost public concern. Official statements must leave no doubt that the University remains strictly neutral on social and political questions unrelated to its internal governance. Only then can the University sustain an open community of competing perspectives.
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A warm welcome ANYA SINGH — Opinion Cartoonist
2026 New Student Edition — 5B
Prediction markets can be a force for good
HAYDEN BUCKFIRE Opinion Columnist
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A law built to be ignored SETH GABRIELSON Opinion Columnist
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n May 1, the United States passed the 60-day mark of an unauthorized war with Iran. Under the War Powers Resolution — the law written specifically to prevent this situation — the president is legally required to withdraw American forces unless Congress authorizes the mission. On that same day, President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress declaring that a ceasefire he ordered in April meant hostilities were already over, rendering the deadline moot. Congress left town. The War Powers Resolution does not fail because it lacks the right language. It fails because the right language has no enforcement power behind it. In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, a conflict that dragged on for years while presidents of both U.S. political parties treated military force as a purely executive decision. The law was an attempt
to take that authority back. Under its terms, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces. From that point, the clock runs 60 days. If Congress does not declare war or pass a specific authorization by that marker, the president is legally required to terminate the use of forces. Now in 2026, that requirement is being ignored in plain sight. On paper it is a serious constraint, but the problem is that it exists only on paper. No president since 1973 has complied with the 60-day withdrawal requirement. The standard move is to dispute the clock, question the law’s constitutionality or, as Trump does now, declare that the conflict has ended on terms favorable enough to avoid the question. This is not creative lawyering. It is an entirely predictable consequence of a law that gives the executive branch every incentive to run out the clock and avoid taking concrete action. The War Powers Resolution also gives Congress a separate tool under Section 1544(c): a concurrent resolution directing
the president to withdraw forces. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., employed that tool four times between March and April of this year. All four resolutions failed 47-52, largely along party lines, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the only Republican to cross over and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., the only Democrat to oppose. Even if one passed, a 1983 Supreme Court decision called INS v. Chadha cast serious doubt on whether concurrent resolutions without presidential signature carry legal force, meaning that Trump could likely ignore it anyway. The law has a withdrawal requirement and a congressional override mechanism. Neither one is being followed, and more importantly, neither one can compel compliance. The War Powers Resolution depends entirely on presidential cooperation and has no way to produce it. A president who wants to continue a war past 60 days can dispute the timeline, claim a ceasefire, invoke authority as commander in chief or simply ignore the deadline.
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f you watched the Golden Globes recently, you may have noticed something curious alongside the broadcast: real-time betting odds accurately spoiling the winners before the envelopes were even opened. Those odds came from a rapidly growing type of platform known as a prediction market. While many markets focus on innocuous topics like the Golden Globes, others concern global affairs, like the price of oil at the end of 2026, or weather, like the amount of rain in Denver this month. The two largest prediction markets, Kalshi and Polymarket, are nearly inescapable. While the idea behind prediction markets has existed for decades, court decisions and regulatory approvals allowed Kalshi and Polymarket to offer politics and sports contracts in the United States, and trading volume exploded. Today, both companies routinely run advertisements during major sporting events, in basketball arenas, on screens in Times Square and on social media. These platforms’ meteoric rise has been met with controversy. Minnesota politicians, led by Gov. Tim Walz, went so far as to ban prediction markets effective Aug. 1. Critics typically say prediction markets are particularly susceptible to market manipulation, insider trading and conflicts of interest. Serious concerns about these platforms are reasonable, and opposition to them is wellintentioned. However, prediction markets are not only here to stay — they may ultimately prove to be a force for social good. It’s important to understand the mechanics of prediction markets. Polymarket and Kalshi serve as marketplaces between buyers and sellers. Each contract exchanged is structured as a binary question — the event will either happen or it won’t. Prices are between $0 and $1. If the event happens, you’d receive $1; otherwise, you’d receive nothing. If enough contracts are
bought and sold, the market will settle on a price that accurately reflects the probability of the event occurring. For example, suppose you buy a contract that says President Donald Trump will be impeached by 2028. If the current price is 60 cents, that means the crowd thinks there’s a 60% chance the event occurs. If Trump is impeached, the market would resolve to “yes,” your contract becomes worth $1, and you’d net 40 cents. These odds are down from 66% in late April; you could presuppose users are “pricing in” Democrats’ lower odds of taking back the House of Representatives in that timeframe. These markets function as a social tool of information, not just of “betting.” People are motivated by incentives, particularly financial ones. Because people have money on the line, they are driven to make more accurate predictions and correctly price contracts. Financial accountability makes markets more efficient, so they more closely resemble the true likelihood of an event’s occurrence, accounting for all publicly available information. This is in contrast to television or social media pundits who are motivated by ratings or likes instead of accuracy. Technology has amplified the amount of negative, untrue and sensationalist headlines on both traditional and online media sources. It’s difficult to discern what is important or even relevant. Even polling, a hallmark of political punditry, has become increasingly unreliable. During the 2024 election, Polymarket priced Trump’s election odds higher than other predictors in the days leading up to the election. One “whale” bettor who made more than $80 million on the election conducted an obscure form of polling where he asked people how they thought their neighbors would vote. This indicated Trump had a much better chance of winning than public polling suggested. The markets’ aggregation of many sources, both public and arcane, took advantage of the “wisdom of the crowds,” rather than any single method of
prediction, and subsequently was more accurate. Beyond politics, these crowd-sourced forecasts offer extraordinary value. They may be able to provide early warnings about crises, like a pandemic or a geopolitical conflict. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, bureaucratic and economic systems were too slow to react to worrying signs about the virus’s spread in Asia. By aggregating information from thousands of participants in real time, prediction markets can rapidly incorporate new evidence into prices. Just like previous advancements in forecasting, prediction markets have the potential to make the world better informed and more prepared for future risks. The global supply chain is extraordinarily complex, spanning several continents and accounting for trillions of dollars of consumer spending. Supply shocks, such as pandemics or conflicts in the Middle East, can exacerbate inflation, shortages and put companies out of business. Prediction markets, and the realtime odds they provide, can help logistics companies flag risks ahead of time or hedge against them. They also serve as an interpreter of news — for example, Trump’s tariff policy announcements were quickly met by increased inflation expectations. While Trump’s allies insisted his tariffs weren’t inflationary, markets suggested otherwise. Markets are also interpretable in conjunction with each other. By comparing a candidate’s odds of winning a party nomination with their odds of winning the presidency, we can estimate how electable traders believe that candidate would be in a general election. For example, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears stronger than Vice President JD Vance among Republicans, and Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, appear to be stronger candidates than California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rahm Emanuel.
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Arts, Interrupted: Stranger Rivalry: A Comparative Analysis of Queer TV THE MICHIGAN DAILY PODCAST SECTION Unless you live under a rock, you’ve most likely been invested in either the final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things or the premier season of Crave’s Heated Rivalry.
Here at Arts, Interrupted, we couldn’t help but notice the two shows received very different reactions for their portrayals of the queer experience. Join us as we explore what went wrong, what went right, and what big TV can learn when it comes to doing their queer characters justice.
Might I Add: The University must tolerate Myron Gaines THE MICHIGAN DAILY PODCAST SECTION In this episode, Senior Opinion Editor Jack Verrill talks with Opinion Columnist Lucas Feller about free speech on
college campuses. Feller makes the argument that if free speech is to be protected, the University must tolerate objectionable voices, such as Neo-Nazi provocateur Myron Gaines, who made an appearance on campus earlier this semester.
ACROSS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1. "Swing and a ___!" 1. "Swing and a ___!" 14 15 16 5. South American barbecue 14 15 16 5. South American barbecue 17 18 19 10. Study like a procrastinator 17 18 19 10. Study like a procrastinator 14. Regarding 20 21 22 23 14. Regarding 20 21 22 23 15. "Coming along?" 15. "Coming along?" 24 25 26 27 28 16. ___ fide 24 25 26 27 28 16. ___ fide 17. Appetizer successor 29 30 17. Appetizer successor 29 30 19. Wasn't buoyant 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 19. Wasn't buoyant 34 35 36 37 38 39 20. Wood for a model airplane 31 32 33 20. Wood for a model airplane 40 41 42 21. Entr'___ 40 41 42 21. Entr'___ 23. Casino cube 43 44 45 23. Casino cube 43 44 45 24. Ligament responsible for 46 47 48 49 24. Ligament responsible for many a season-ending injury 46 47 48 49 many a season-ending injury 25. Satin ones are supposed to be 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 25. Satin are supposed to be 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 goodones for hair good for hair 58 59 60 29. Clean or distorted, for a guitar 57 58 59 60 29. Clean or distorted, for a guitar 57 30. Ye ___ Shoppe 61 62 63 64 65 30. Ye ___ Shoppe 61 62 63 64 65 31. "To ___ their own" 31. "To ___ their own" 66 67 68 34. Lots and lots 66 67 68 34. Lots and lots 70 71 37. Lemonade and iced tea drink 69 70 71 37. Lemonade and iced tea drink 69 inventor, familiarly inventor, familiarly DOWN 33. Rewards for a kitty 40. Competitions where you see DOWN 1. ___ Mentality (philosophy coined 33. Rewards for a kitty 40. Competitions where you see eye to eye? 1. ___ (philosophy coined 35. Pumpkin-carving mo. by Mentality Kobe Bryant) eye to eye? 35. Pumpkin-carving mo. by Kobe Bryant) 43. Eat or be ___ 36. "Come Away With Me" singer 2. Calculus connoisseur Newton 43. Eat or be ___ 36. "Come Jones Away With Me" singer 2. Calculus connoisseur Newton 44. Other, in Oaxaca Jones 3. Sparkling alternative 44. Other, in Oaxaca 38. Hairy cousin in "The Addams 3. Sparkling alternative 45. Furry housemates 38. Hairy cousin in "The Addams 4. Steinway & ___ (piano maker) Family" 45. Furry housemates 4. Steinway & ___ (piano maker) Family" 46. Salty streaker 5. Edebiri of "The Bear" 39. Letter before tee 46. Salty streaker 5. Edebiri of "The Bear" 39. Letter before tee 48. Picnic invaders 6. Insignificant amount 41. Flabbergasted 48. Picnic invaders 6. Insignificant amount 41. Flabbergasted 50. One who's a fan of cardinals 7. Kind of training done by music 42. Zilch 50. One a fan andwho's orioles, say?of cardinals 7. Kind of training done by music 42. Zilch majors and orioles, say? 47. Deep, narrow valley majors 54. Prohibit 47. Deep, narrow valley 8. Music genre associated with a 54. Prohibit 49. Weeping willow, e.g. 8. Music genre associated with a 57. Juice suffix mirrored ball 49. Weeping willow, e.g. 57. Juice suffix mirrored ball 50. It's flashed by an officer 58. End-of-semester feedback 9. Pair of socks? 50. It's flashed by an officer 58. End-of-semester feedback 9. Pair of socks? form, for short 51. As good as it gets 10. "The Amazing Race" network form, for short 51. As good as it gets 10. "The Amazing Race" network 59. Sidestep 52. Some have carne asada or al pastor 11. Good judgement while driving, 52. Some 59. Sidestep have carne asada or al pastor judgement while driving, 61. Hand out cards for a game of 11. Good e.g. 53. Chin indentation 61. Hand out cards for a game of e.g. 53. Chin indentation Euchre, say 12. Musical that's always playing 54. Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Euchre, say that's always playing 54. Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet 63. College orientation question, 12. Musical "Tomorrow"? 55. Singer of "19," "21," "25" and "30" 63. College "Tomorrow"? perhapsorientation ... or a hintquestion, to what 55. Singer of "19," "21," "25" and "30" 13. Whips up perhaps ... or a hint to what 56. Passionate about niche topics, the answers do in 17-, 25-, 40- 13. Whips up the do in 17-, 25-, 4018. Guitar gadget that raises the pitch 56. Passionate perhaps about niche topics, andanswers 50-Across 18. Guitar gadget that raises the pitch perhaps and 50-Across 22. Dazzling display 60. Play a looping musical section 66. Airport boarding area 22. Dazzling display 60. Play a looping musical section 66. Airport boarding area 62. "Do The Right Thing" director and 67. Like ATM withdrawals from 26. "Back ___ hour" (shop sign) 62. "Do The Right Thing" director and 67. Like from 26. "Back ___ hour" (shop sign) actor Spike yourATM own withdrawals bank 27. Stop holding on actor Spike your own bank 27. Stop holding on 64. Honey maker 68. Fuse together 28. Ones selling spots on TV, 64. Honey maker 68. Fuse together 28. Ones selling spots on TV, informally 65. Restaurant booking, for short 69. "So what ___ is new?" informally 65. Restaurant booking, for short 69. "So what ___ is new?" 29. Type of glasses for a movie 70. ___ Park, Colorado (home to 29. Type of glasses for a movie 70. ___ (home to thePark, hotelColorado that inspired "The 31. U-turn from WNW the hotel that inspired "The Shining") 31. U-turn from WNW Shining") 32. One day ___ time 71. Mice, to cats 32. One day ___ time 71. Mice, to cats
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Michigan in Color is The Michigan Daily’s section by and for People of Color. In this space, we invite our contributors to be vulnerable and authentic about our experiences and the important issues in our world today. Our work represents our identities in a way that is both unapologetic and creative. We are a community that reclaims our stories on our own terms.
AMANY SAYED MiC Senior Editor
The romantic struggle of my generation’s diasporic experience has been forever immortalized. It is in the articles we write, the conversations we have and the longing in our hearts. I wish I were there, in the homeland, instead of here, we think. But who, I wonder, will tell the story of our parents? Who will write about my mother, who left everything she knew in Lebanon behind for a life here, just to feel the guilt of being the only one in her family who doesn’t have to flee a war? Who will cry the tears of my father, who must watch with his hands tied as his family home is bombed a thousand miles away? We have forgotten the quiet pain of our parents. We have grown so used to our own complaints, a litany of ungrateful cries, as if coming here was a choice made without consideration for our future. In the same breath, I wish to be in Lebanon and thank God that I am not. And what about my parents? I claim to feel the tie of the jnoub, swear that it is the direction of my heart’s compass, but I will never hold the same claim to it as they do. I do not have childhood memories of swimming in the nahr like my mother, nor of playing soccer in the se7a like my father. It is not the home I grew up in that is being bombed.
A couple of months ago, among the many casualties in yet another one-sided ceasefire, journalist Amal Khalil was killed in the south of Lebanon. My sister’s name is Amal. In the midst of a million headlines, of death tolls and prayers and vivid descriptions of all the vile things happening around the world, it is her name that held my attention. I could not stop reading and rereading it, imagining my own family name replacing “Khalil,” imagining all my relatives’ names instead of Amal. How many names are forgotten? How many people perished, buried beneath rubble or too broken to be recognized? On the phone with my Tata, I dance around wishing her a “Eid Mubarak” while she tells me how, although she is safely evacuated, there is nowhere like home. I write messages to my Khalo and listen to his harried recorded message back, his voice the heaviest it has ever been. I send condolences to my friends, whose relatives were killed or who, if they were to go to Lebanon, would no longer have a home there. I wake up daily to new pictures of people sent around, some I recognize, many I don’t, halos pasted above their foreheads. Every WhatsApp status update is like a stab to the heart. Is this what it means to be Arab? I can’t help but yearn to be from a people that are called anything but brave. To come from a country that doesn’t have to be spoken about in hushed tones and furtive glances. I’m so sorry sits on the tip of my
tongue in every conversation, like those three words will magically make everything else go away. Like a child, I feel the urge to cry out, to kick and scream — I want to go home. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of home. I think of my parents, up and leaving Lebanon for a better life, starting from square one in a foreign land with nothing but hope and ambition to keep them going. I think of my relatives in Lebanon, so close yet so far from everything they have ever known. I think of myself, born in one state, living in another, always with one foot some 6,000 miles northeast. Maybe my parents and I have this in common: we don’t understand what separates us from those suffering besides the distance. We don’t get why the rest of our family must brace themselves for each unfolding horror while I sit in my room and write about it. I have sat down to write this article more times than I can count. I place my fingers on the keyboard and beg the words to come. Nothing feels right. No words feel strong enough to describe either the constant ache in the center of my heart or the catch in my breath when I check which cities are being told to evacuate. What is home, for the immigrant? For the refugee, the survivor, the escaper? If it is a place, what do you do when it is ripped away from you? And if it is a feeling, how do you find it again in the midst of despair?
And her hand is in mine. In my dreams, I exist with her. I am not forced to be nothing but an idea to them — “I exist; I exist; I exist; I exist” — I am not their oliveskinned fantasy, caged to fulfill their unspoken desires and needs. I exist with them, not for them. I am not their loyal Filipina wife, expected to declaw my fangs and soften my gum-smacking glamour and armor up, just to keep their oppressive white hands on mine. My roots don’t wither for them. She helps me stand up. They don’t tell me to wash my mouth; their lips — a dampened sponge — glide across my body until my skin is bleached clean into their design. They don’t suck the sacred language from my tongue, trapping inelegant noises beneath them as they make me listen to their clever talk about color and inclusion. I am not their concept, their idea or their wish — something they must protect on a high pedestal so I can shine conveniently for their friends. They don’t leave me as “some
brown cow best left in darkness” if I tell them, “No.” She helps me stand up. In my dreams, she was holding my hand; she was holding me close. We were lying beneath the dancing stars. And then I wake up. Her hand was still in mine. And it’s just us — only us. We are lying in bed together, and she whispers, “good morning,” and I can breathe next to her. It’s so nice to finally breathe. Perhaps we let the hours pass, talking endlessly through the dawn. She whispers all the things she loves dearly to me, and the words flow out of her mouth like poetry. We talk about our tasks for the day, the mundane list of what we need to complete. We talk about our future goals, our dreams, our passions — all the things we strive to achieve. We listen to each other. We understand one another deeply. She is holding my hand; she is holding me close. And I am at ease.
In my dreams
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RIVER STRASNER MiC Columnist
In my dreams, I am not afraid to hold her hand. I hold it in delight and pride. I am not afraid of her warmth upon my body. The tenderness of her touch, the delicacy of her fingers, the softness of her skin against mine. In my dreams, we stay like this forever. Perhaps we lie beneath the sunny sky in a vast meadow, among vibrant peonies or violets or sweet-smelling roses. Perhaps we lie beneath the moonlight, too, blessed by the constellations in the heavens. The fields of stars are watching us, only us. She is holding my hand; I am not afraid of it. In my dreams, I can breathe next to her — it feels so nice to finally breathe — and I am weightless in the airflow. I fall into it; I glide through the peaceful breeze. I fall into her embrace.
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Sharp tongue RIVER STRASNER MiC Columnist There’s so much we have to catch up on since you moved away. I want to start first: Theater became a battlefield. My tongue became a sword slathered in poison. And then my sharp tongue was dull. After you left, the memory of you in the classroom distorted over time. False stories spread fast. This was nothing new to us. But I know you carried a different experience. This war was nothing new to you, either. Eventually, you faded into the background noise. And I was suffocating. Hostility rose between classmates; betrayal hung in the air. Bitter rivalries took center stage during rehearsals. Our theater teacher’s favoritism remained unwavering, and the Thespian Council President held the crown. Her deference to the white students was nothing new to us. Friends became foes. Friends stabbed each other in the back. They lied, praising scenes they had already torn apart backstage.
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And among their cliques, they whispered malicious words. False stories spread fast — I’ve lost count of the rumors I’ve heard. I can’t remember all the menacing words I used to
retaliate. I can’t differentiate between what was true and what wasn’t. Reality became false to me. And I failed at staying away from their drama.
I couldn’t resist drinking in their poison; you would have told me not to get involved, but I felt violent and wicked, overwhelmed and underfed. I bit back.
I hate wasted potential HILARY ADJEI MiC Assistant Editor I woke up one day and realized that I was a senior. What have I actually done with my life? From middle school to high school, everything felt simpler. Easy, even. I could stay up all night and ace my classes while having enough time to hang out with friends, watch movies and spend time with my family. Now, just the thought of talking to someone sends me into a panic. My plan had always been medical school — that’s it. No matter what path I had to take to get there, that’s what I’d always wanted; that’s the sole thing I worked toward. It was something I held on to without question, an idea of the future where the path was clear. So, waking up one day and realizing that I hadn’t followed the plan — that somewhere in these four years I had messed up my clear-cut map and hadn’t pushed myself the way I thought I would — felt shocking. For a while, the easiest explanation was to just label it ‘laziness.’ I figured that I must not have really cared, that’s why I had let everything slip. So, I had just given up on this life. I would wake up every morning thinking and thinking, consumed with anger and a single resounding sentiment: I have not done enough. I hate wasted potential. The kind where you know that you are capable of something, but somehow, you can’t seem to grasp it. You watch it fade into the distance like a fog settling before the rain. The kind that lingers quietly, showing up in the moments where you realize you could have tried harder, could have done more, done better. Could have been further along. But maybe it’s not that simple. Maybe there’s another reason — maybe it’s not entirely my fault. A student’s biggest fear is usually their grade point average. Mine became the classes themselves. Classes that once would’ve taken
me a night to understand now took weeks. My grades started as A’s then dropped to B’s and eventually — a C. A C is unheard of for a pre-med student. It means start looking into grad school or a new career immediately. A C would have felt impossible to me in high school, but now it feels like the best I can muster. I remember sitting in my BIO 171 exam and feeling like I couldn’t breathe. The air around me was suffocating. Crying in an exam room now, to me, sounds insane, but at the time I couldn’t calm down. I could barely focus on answering the questions in front of me. It had never happened to me before, but the thought of failing this class genuinely terrified me. My dad likes to talk about how strong I am because I don’t scare easily. Take me to a haunted house, and I would laugh the whole way through. Try to jumpscare me, and I would fake it so you didn’t feel bad. After that exam I spent every day replaying that scene over and over in my head, which only worsened my insomnia. After that I swore I wouldn’t put myself through that again, but then I watched every grade fall. I see all these pre-med students moving forward effortlessly. Endless publications, volunteering, mission trips and research. I commend those who can push forward no matter what, but I wonder how. How are you so sure that everything will work out eventually? Is it not tiring? Sometimes it’s as small as opening a LinkedIn notification and seeing another announcement: Student joins a new research lab, or was accepted into a new program I’d never heard of or seen before. Or sitting in class and listening to people panic about an A- on an exam I barely passed. Moments like these made me feel like everyone had figured out a secret code to life I had missed. Maybe I still want to do this; I just don’t know how to help myself first. It’s not really your fault when no one teaches you to handle your mental health. You don’t even
recognize what’s happening until it’s taken everything from you. Your time, your happiness, your life. Two years can fade like this in a stagnant way, and suddenly you’re left trying to explain where things went wrong and why you don’t understand. Why is there a gap that only you can see? Why am I the only one who knows something is wrong? And then the confusion sets in. I look around and see everyone else move forward like they know exactly what they’re doing. People graduate early, apply to grad school or find jobs. They know what they want to do. They are certain. When did I stop being so certain? In school, you aim high or not at all. How did I scare myself into not knowing what I wanted? As I sit and look, I wonder: What is my plan? It’s not like there is no more time. But why am I hesitating to commit? There was a time when I didn’t hesitate, when I didn’t second-guess every decision. When getting out of bed was easier and smiling came naturally. When my mind wasn’t scared. What happened? How do you go from being so sure to not recognizing who is going to sleep and waking up in your bed every day? When did direction turn into fear? When did I become scared? I hate wasted potential. I wonder if others think the way I do. If they worry about things years from now or things so big that they can change the trajectory of their entire lives. Because this path — this future — it is everything. Career-wise, life-wise, everything. But I can’t get there by ignoring that something is wrong. I think that’s what I’m starting to understand. Maybe it’s not about having everything figured out right now, but about slowing down, actually looking at it at a snail’s pace. Taking it all one step at a time. Like everyone else, I feel like I have something to prove. But I can’t let this pressure run me into the ground. I’m still worried; I still don’t have the answers.
But some days, there’s a sliver of hope. I think, for me, that hope slowly started the day I finally broke down in front of my mom. Going to school in Michigan made me realize how much I hated long rides, so I rarely went back to Chicago. When I finally decided to go visit, my mom, being the most aware person I know, kept asking me the same question over and over again: “Are you okay?” At first, I brushed it off like I always do. I’m fine, or I’m just tired, I’d say. School is always stressful. My entire college journey has been filled with “I’m fine, and everything’s OK.” It got to the point where I convinced myself that if I ignored it long enough, it would eventually go away. Instead, it took over. One night, my mom came into my room before work and just stood at the door for a second before saying, “There’s something you’re not telling me.” Someone saying it out loud broke something in me. I have always considered myself a headstrong person. You don’t cry unless someone dies or something sad happens, when others can understand why you are crying. Being forced to say it out loud for the first time, even though it was uncomfortable, made me realize how badly I just needed someone to listen to me. Someone to slow everything down and help me pick up the pieces. And slowly, I started to realize I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. There are so many people who become overwhelmed by pressure and uncertainty. People who take a year or semester away: fail classes, lose the path, change the path or stop trying for a while because they lose themselves. But some do persist. I think that’s what’s giving me a little bit of hope now. Knowing that failure isn’t permanent. Feeling lost now doesn’t mean I will be lost forever. That’s the thing about potential: It doesn’t disappear the moment life stops going your way or following the plan you set out for yourself. Sometimes it just takes longer to find your way back to a path.
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Many years have passed, and I’ve kept replaying the scenes. I’ve written millions of narratives about this since. If I write everything down, maybe I can rationalize the past. Maybe
I can move on. Yet nothing I’ve said has satisfied me, and my nightmares keep making me relive the memories. I’m sorry if I struggle to tell you the full story. The words still catch in my throat when I speak. Our recent trip to the park has given me some time to think: I don’t know why I’ve kept finding myself back in that battlefield. Maybe the drama wasn’t as debilitating as we thought it was — as I thought it was. In my childlike mind, I kept trying to break the memories apart, trying to understand what happened. The things that, at the moment, felt so huge. But sitting beside you, years later, I realized our lives continued, whether I was ready for it or not. The theater is gone now. The rumors are quieter. The wounds have scarred over. Yet somehow, we are still here. And for the first time in a long time, that feels like enough. I am slowly writing my own ending.
Africa is not a gratitude lesson
Shloka Nath/MiC
CHELSEA OTCHERE MiC Columnist “Finish your food. There are kids starving in Africa.” I’ve heard this phrase for as long as I can remember, and it has never sat right with me. I’ve always thought it was way too simple. It was presented as obvious, almost unquestionable. Hunger was something that existed somewhere else — somewhere far away. Somewhere unfamiliar like Africa. While interviewing a senior about food insecurity for a class, I asked what shaped their understanding of hunger. They immediately brought up hearing that same phrase, “Finish your food. There are kids in Africa starving,” at the dinner table as a child. Even in conversations about food insecurity in 2026, hunger is still being connected to somewhere distant rather than spoken of as something people can experience domestically. The phrase doesn’t just ignore the size and the diversity of the continent, but it does so with such certainty. It locates hunger so confidently in one place, as if it naturally and exclusively belongs there. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, more than 700 million people worldwide experience hunger. And in the U.S., about 47.9 million people lived in foodinsecure households in 2024, including students and working families. These families regularly choose between groceries, rent or schoolrelated expenses. Or stretching meals across days. Or relying on cheaper, less nutritious meals because that is what’s affordable. The reference to Africa reflects a broader pattern of reducing the entire continent to a single narrative, where”Africa” becomes shorthand for hunger and poverty. In the TED Talk “Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explains that when a person or place is spoken of through one repeated narrative, it flattens reality and creates the illusion that a single story is complete. Framing Africa primarily
through hunger does exactly that. The phrase “There are kids starving in Africa” turns food insecurity into a comparison instead of a condition. “Clear your plate,” because someone else has less. “Be grateful,” because suffering exists elsewhere. But that comparison avoids the main questions that we should be addressing. Why pretend that hunger exists only in Africa? Why does hunger exist at all? How we frame hunger shapes what people think the solution should be. When hunger is treated as something happening distantly, the response is often limited to short-term or charity aid such as UNICEF crisis relief efforts or U.S surplus food donations. But when it is recognized as an issue that affects Americans, food insecurity raises different, more nuanced questions about wages, food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and access to grocery stores. These are the kinds of factors that shape how hunger actually shows up in everyday life. If hunger is something that happens “in Africa,” then it does not have to be recognized as part of everyday life in the United States. Here, hunger becomes disconnected from costs, from stagnant wages that fail to keep up with inflation and structural barriers like unequal access to grocery stores. This allows the governments to ignore food insecurity and shift the conversation away from the institution and to the individual. Food insecurity is not separate from these economic and social structures; it is produced by them. American exceptionalism can obscure domestic realities by highlighting social problems as “elsewhere” rather than in the United States. This framing often defers attention to the Global South as the expected site for hunger, poverty and instability, while similar conditions at home are treated as exceptions. Consequently, it encourages awareness without understanding, and empathy without accountability. Hunger is not an issue that belongs somewhere else. It exists wherever systems fail to ensure consistent access.
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ARTS T
he Daily’s Arts section is where creativity is at the forefront. Whether your interests are mainstream or incredibly niche, Arts offers you a home and an avenue to meaningfully engage with various forms of media. The community that Arts offers is unique,
Arts
Noah Kahan crosses ‘The Great Divide’ and even more importantly, it encourages you to share your interests with confidence. Art is everywhere, and our community at the Daily will help you find it within yourself and the world around you.
SIENA BERES Senior Arts Editor
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‘The Calamity Club’ is ambitious, messy and full of heart AVA EMERY Daily Arts Writer Fifteen years after “The Help,” Kathryn Stockett returns with “The Calamity Club,” a similar novel, though far more ambitious. Set in 1930s Oxford, Mississippi, the book opens in a world weighed down by heat, poverty and desperation, but what drives it forward is not its setting alone — it’s the women who are struggling to survive in a post-depression world. This story has quite a cast of interesting characters, some lovable and some not. It alternates narratives between two of the main characters, taking readers into their hearts and souls from the minute they’re introduced. Birdie Calhoun is a sharp and defiant woman struggling to hold her fractured family together; Meg Lefleur is an 11-year-old orphan whose story is as heartbreaking as it is fascinating. Meg, abandoned at a young age and subjected to both physical and emotional abuse in the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, quickly proves to be a compelling characters. She is someone you start to root for from the beginning: bright, observant and stubbornly hopeful. Birdie, meanwhile, is the kind of character that I think Stockett writes best. She is overlooked, underestimated and far more capable than anyone gives her credit for. Labeled the “spinster sister,” she moves through the
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world with a mix of humor and a deep loyalty, especially when it comes to protecting the women around her. When her life intersects with Meg’s, the novel truly comes to life. From there, “The Calamity Club” expands into a sprawling narrative populated by a wide range of characters, though none are secondary. From the girls trapped inside the orphanage and the women who run it to the churchgoing social circles of Oxford and the committee figures enforcing its rules, Stockett fills the novel with vivid representations of flawed, resilient women navigating impossible circumstances, alongside men who are indifferent at best and destructive at worst. It’s a dynamic that feels heavyhanded, truth be told, but it also reinforces the novel’s investment in female strength and solidarity. Stockett builds a thematically expansive novel. She takes on institutional injustice in her depiction of the sterilization of women deemed immoral or feebleminded, as well as the brutal conditions within orphanages. These topics are some of the novel’s most haunting, grounding its emotional arcs in historical violence. At the same time, the story explores grief, identity, family obligation, addiction and the stigma surrounding sexuality — tying these struggles together in a way that makes the stakes feel constant but also very real and believable.
Stockett’s greatest strength is writing memorable characters that make you want to stay with them for a very long time. Even across more than 600 pages, there was rarely a moment I wasn’t invested in what happens next. That said, the book’s length is both a strength and a weakness. In the middle portion, certain storylines stretch further than necessary and the narrative begins to lose its urgency. It becomes a whole new book, weighed down by its own overeager ambition to include everything at the cost of clarity. In one particular late-stage turn, the plot suddenly leans on a more extreme and morally fraught attempt at survival that feels tonally inconsistent with what the book has built up to at that point. Even so, the novel ultimately regains its footing with a very lovable ending. Though arriving a bit quickly compared to the long build-up, after spending so much time with these characters, it delivers a payoff that feels earned. “The Calamity Club” is not a perfect novel, but it is a compelling one. It’s messy, expansive and occasionally uneven, but it is also full of heart. Stockett once again proves she can create characters who feel unforgettable: Women who might otherwise be dismissed instead become the undeniable center of the story. “The Calamity Club” makes clear that the wait for Kathryn Stockett’s return may have been long, but not wasted.
OK, I’ll say it. I miss millennial music. There is a gaping, “stompclap-hey” shaped void left by the road-tripping, skinny-jeanwearing, indie rock of yesteryear. The new records from the old guard — think The Lumineers’ uninspired Automatic — just don’t sound the same as they did in 2016. Lately, it’s looking like the closest we can get to a millennial revival is Noah Kahan. Like his predecessors, Kahan’s appeal is in his everydayness. He’s wearing a flannel. You can grab a beer with him. He’ll probably offer you a zyn. He feels strongly about his rural hometown, and he’s going to tell you about it. His lyrics are earnest and folkish, but he’s never offensive. On his third studio album, Stick Season, Kahan embodied the radio-friendly side of the emerging alt-country scene. His writing was smart and overly personal, but he rarely strayed from pop progressions and structured most of his tracks like worship music; using suspended chords to build predictable emotional peaks and repeating choruses maybe one too many times. But they were catchy, and fill the stomp-clap niche that we’re too embarrassedto miss. And now he’s back. Following two re-releases of Stick Season, Kahan dropped The Great Divide and its accompanying deluxe version, subtitled The Last Of The Bugs. He works from the same palette of ordinary themes — hometowns, relationships, growing up — yet he’s audibly older. While bloated at times (each of the record’s 14 tracks stretch close to the five-minute mark), Kahan has finally begun to develop a sound that is truly his own. This growth is definitely aided by signature melodramatic production from The National’s Aaron Dessner, who was absent on Stick Season. You’ve heard Dessner’s work on the best track of Taylor Swift’s Folklore (“exile,” duh), the new Laufey album and more. Like an indie Jack Antonoff, everything Dessner touches becomes full-bodied and warm, but at times his style is too polished for Kahan’s messy, personal writing. It is only when
Album art for ‘The Great Divide’ by Mercury Records
gritty textures overcome perfectly calculated crescendos that Kahan’s sound fully matures. This isn’t to say that Dessner’s production is always sanitizing Kahan. The record’s opening track, “End of August,” is a carefully crafted ballad only made robust by Dessner’s expert understanding of creating a soundscape. In the beginning of the track, we’re thrown into a forest in rural Vermont, where Dessner manages to make both synths and cicadas sound equally from nature. Under the forest hum, violins and trumpets are barely audible, seemingly tuning up to create the most well-earned build of Kahan’s discography thus far. This is probably the only track on the album whose five-minute runtime is fully utilized and welcomed. It ends with a classic Kahan line: He murmurs “05072,” the ZIP code for his hometown in Strafford, Vermont. This track makes it clear that this is a new era wherein Kahan is not afraid to experiment. On the other hand, a track like “Doors” is largely unremarkable until the last minute. It starts with an acoustic, muted chug and kick-drum, Kahan gently sings a line about his childhood, and by the second verse guitars are fully strummed and he’s wailing. Of course, the classic Kahan formula sounds good, until a heavy twang electric-guitar riff breaks through the perfectly constructed melodrama, and suddenly it sounds great. We hear the faint buzz of the amp, there’s gain and a violin, it feels like Kahan is backed by musicians with a vision instead of a Mumford & Sons cover band. In the following tracks, we see that Kahan’s range has expanded
since Stick Season— pop ballads like the syncopated “Staying Still” or rock drives like “Deny Deny Deny” sound equally mature through the atmosphere Dessner creates. Even tracks like “The Great Divide,” “Willing and Able” or “23,” whose repetition begins to feel boring after minute three, are kept afloat by Dessner’s intricate production. Yet at other times, Dessner holds back. The subtle banjo and violins on “American Cars” and “Haircut” are particularly smart but not present enough. They lend even more earnestness to Kahan’s vocals, which at times are too clean. He’s singing songs about alcoholism while sounding like he should be harmonizing in a boy band. The best vocal-instrumental balance is reached on “Paid Time Off,” the most charming song on the record. With a wonderful twist midway through, Kahan diverts from the usual set-up to a typical acoustic ballad and breaks into a banjo-centric ditty about the simplicity of a hometown lifestyle. It’s in these moments, when Kahan breaks the mold with a more Appalachian, stringforward sound, that he’s at his most exciting. Overall, The Great Divide is a step in the right direction for Kahan. While the album jockeys between predictability and novelty, Kahan leverages the base of his warmindie sound and leans further into an Americana influence that makes him feel older and wiser. He’s still a regular guy, his lyrics still have the millennial era feel of sitting down at a campfire, but now he’s backed by an industry titan who’s expanding his range.
The Michigan Daily talks with Yves about ‘NAIL,’ artistic growth, movies and university performances JC RAFAL Daily Arts Writer The K-pop genre is in a weird place. The industry has found itself in a rut; recent releases from different groups carry the same sound, ‘noise music’ has become widespread and the charm that made K-pop distinct from Western pop is disappearing. But within this monotony, there are artists who stand out. One such artist channels genres ranging from house to hyperpop in her discography and translates her honesty and vulnerability into her music. Her individuality stands out from the rest. That artist is Yves. Former LOONA member turned soloist, Yves has found her own unique voice and aesthetic, solidifying herself as a future pop girl of our times, even outside the K-pop industry. After a year marked by a viral online hit and
collaborations with artists such as PinkPantheress and underscores, Yves released her fourth EP, NAIL this past April, and is currently performing across North and South America. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Yves discusses NAIL, performing, her artistry and more after her Chicago stop on “The Americas” tour. This interview has been edited for clarity. *** The Michigan Daily: Over the past two months, you’ve performed in eight different countries, with each show having their own unique audiences and energies. How has this experience been for you so far? Yves: I actually just got back to my hotel room after finishing the Chicago show. The energy tonight felt even hotter than last year, and I think that made me enjoy the performance even more. What made it especially unforgettable
was hearing people sing along not only to the older songs, but even to the new ones. And because I’m spending my 30th birthday in Chicago — which feels like a very symbolic age in Korea — I think this show and this moment will stay with me for a very long time. TMD: “The Americas” tour marks your third time touring the U.S., and your second time doing so as a solo artist. Since you’ve performed in the U.S. both as part of LOONA and as a soloist, have these previous experiences helped you in your preparation for this tour? Yves: Of course they have. Every time I perform, I end up giving myself a lot of feedback afterward. Sometimes I feel proud, but sometimes I also feel disappointed, and I think a lot about what I did well and what I still want to improve. So after every tour, I always tell myself, “If I get another chance,
Photo Courtesy of Mollie Menuck
I want to come back stronger.” Thankfully, I’ve already been given another chance — and now another one after that — so I feel very grateful. Just being able to keep returning to the U.S. and growing through those opportunities makes me really happy. TMD: In just about two years, you’ve released four EPs, and listeners have witnessed your artistic evolution from your first release, LOOP, to your most recent, NAIL. As your music continues to evolve with each release, how has your creative process changed over the past two years? And what did this process look like when it came to working on NAIL? Yves: I think I’ve always been someone who pushes herself a lot. When you hear all kinds of opinions from different people, of course it can shake you. Sometimes it helps me grow, but sometimes it also makes me doubt myself more than I should. But I think over time, I’ve learned that the only real way through that is to keep working and keep trusting myself. While making NAIL, I tried not to focus too much on how things would be received, and instead focus more on being honest about what I wanted to say. Because of that, I think this album feels more direct and more truthful in the way it expresses me. I also realized during this process that I might have more creativity in me than I used to believe, and that gave me a different kind of confidence while working on the album. TMD: In the title track “NAIL” itself, a lyric in the chorus goes “Stop thinking ‘bout your nail / I’ve got better things to care.” What stood out to me was the multilingual wordplay going on, as ‘nail’ sounds very much like ‘내일’ (naeil), the Korean word for ‘tomorrow.’ With that in mind, the lyric could be interpreted as “Stop thinking about tomorrow.” Was this layered meaning something you intentionally
wanted listeners to take away from the song? Yves: At first, I just liked the sound of the word “NAIL,” so I kept it as a working title. Then later I realized it sounds the same as the Korean word “naeil,” and I thought that connection was really interesting. While I was working on the song, I suddenly pictured a broken nail, and at the same time I imagined someone just continuing to dance anyway, without caring too much. That image stayed with me, and from there the lyrics came together really quickly, almost like I was writing a short scene. So I think the song naturally became connected to the idea of not getting too caught up in tomorrow, and instead focusing on what you feel right now. TMD: A large portion of your audience consists of young adults, many of whom are currently navigating periods of uncertainty and transition in their lives. At the University of Michigan, much of the student population falls within this same stage of life. With “NAIL” carrying this message, do you hope that mindset is something that young adults can carry with them? Yves: Yes, definitely. One idea I really believe in is “don’t become too attached.” Whether it’s a person, a moment or even time itself, I think the more tightly you cling to something, the more it slips away from you. So for me, life is about learning how to accept things, leave some things to time and let them pass through you. Instead of living too much in the past or being consumed by the future, I think all we can really do is focus on what’s in front of us now and keep moving quietly. TMD: The music video for “NAIL” stands out as one of the most visually bold entries within your music video filmography. I was curious to know your part in pre-production and how the shoot itself went.
Yves: I shared a lot of visual references from the beginning. I wanted the styling and overall mood to feel cool and intentional, but not too dressed up or overly polished. Something a little effortless, but still with a strong attitude. So I was really happy that kind of feeling came through in the final result. The shoot itself was really fun. We moved through a lot of different sets, and because each one had such a different mood, it felt like I was stepping into a new world every time. I think that made the filming process feel more playful and immersive for me. TMD: My personal favorite song on NAIL is the closing track, “birth.” Beneath your stunning vocals and the song’s ethereal production, what resonated with me was the lyrics itself. I read that you wrote them after you “saw myself in the mirror.” Could you possibly expand on this? Yves: There was a period when I really hated myself. I felt like other people didn’t like me either, and when I looked in the mirror, I disliked myself so much that it almost felt like I wanted to deny my own existence. One day I was writing in my diary and I started crying, and I remember thinking, “If I don’t love myself, who will?” That thought felt very lonely. So I told myself that even if it wouldn’t be easy, maybe I could still try to live a little more happily. Maybe I could start by trying to love myself. Looking at myself in the mirror, I thought, “Let me get up again. Let me leave behind this sad version of myself and be born again as someone new.” After that, I tried to be more grateful, to stop comparing myself so much to other people, and to focus on doing my best with what was given to me. In the middle of that process, I received the track for “birth,” and it felt like the right place to pour all of those emotions.
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Arts
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‘The Boys’ ends not with a bang, but a fart
SABRINA ROSENSTOCK Daily Arts Writer “The Boys” has always relied on the promise of delayed satisfaction. Its premise relied upon the continued survival of its mascot, Homelander (Antony Starr), a sniveling, entitled bully with a god complex, making much of the show a tedious waiting game to see how he could be defeated. Unfortunately, Season 5 continues the trend, taking a disappointingly safe approach to handling the tense state of affairs. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) resumes an uneasy alliance with the gang following his horrifying heel turn and a new MacGuffin emerges in
the form of V-One. And so begins another round of alternating between sappy heart-to-hearts for our heroes and grating corporate drama for the villains. Homelander’s consolidation of power, by controlling hired superheroes and spineless government officials, makes little impact on the show’s status quo. The result is a narrative that only begins to feel like an ending in its last few episodes. “The Boys” has undergone a noticeable identity loss throughout its run. Some crucial characters have been abruptly written off, while many others have had their development stall out as the show spins its wheels. The ambitious scale of the show has eroded, too; most of the key confrontations of
Season 5 take place in drab rooms with a handful of actors, a far cry from the plane crashes, naval battles and superhero orgies of seasons past (with the apparent budget cuts made, perhaps it was destined to disappoint). While it’s understandable that much of the source material has been toned down, it becomes clear in the series finale that the deviations never truly paid off. It lacks the spontaneity suggested by the show’s offbeat style; by now, anyone who’s given the outcome of the show any serious thought has likely guessed where these characters’ stories are headed. When “The Boys” does attempt satire, its inconsistent tone often interferes. By tempering
‘Obsession’ and the curse of infatuation SAM BROWN Daily Arts Writer The cautionary tale of wish fulfillment is as old as storytelling itself. From genies in a bottle to an ancient monkey’s paw, humans have had a lingering fascination with people or objects that can grant whatever your heart craves — at an unknown cost. These are stories designed to twist the outcome of one’s desires and define the idea of being careful what you wish for. In the case of Curry Barker’s “Obsession,” if you wished that the girl you’re too afraid to confess your feelings for “loved you more than anybody in the fucking world,” what would happen? After being consumed by Bear’s (Michael Johnston) wish, the film’s victim-slash-antagonist, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), becomes possessed, morphing into a vicious companion whose sole purpose is to ensure Bear loves her by any means necessary. Pursuing this, Nikki watches Bear sleep, stands in the same place for hours waiting for him to come home, acts scarily deranged when Bear expresses negative feelings about their relationship — and, of course, brutally kills anyone she perceives as a threat to Bear’s love. This film toes the line between parodying the oft-mocked clingy girlfriend
and depicting a relationship that alters any sense of individuality. Debut writer and director Curry Barker, best known for his sketch comedy YouTube channel titled that’s a bad idea, reveals exactly what makes someone with a comedy background like Jordan Peele such a powerhouse: by frequently switching between modes of horror and comedy. Nervous laughter rippled through the theatre periodically, viewers unsure whether or not something was a joke or a new, creeping terror. However, sometimes his stint on YouTube is a certain, unfortunate presence in scenes. The camera focuses on something serious before a hard cut to its comedic polar opposite, an editing punchline better left on a YouTube sketch. Horror stereotypes also muddle the film, and if you’ve seen a movie about possession, it’s not going to reinvent the structure in any particular way. Within the first 10 minutes, you know how the rest of the movie will play out: character arcs, story beats and all. But despite this obvious roadmap, Barker keeps the movie engaging thanks to his gripping characters and performances. The few moments we see Nikki as a normal person are so pivotal; Navarrette’s mesmerizing performance in these early moments is crucial to Nikki feeling like a real person
— quirks and all — which makes her transformation that much more tragic. Navarrette possesses such a beaming screen presence that it elevates the character into those different layers. If she were played poorly, then the film would very quickly morph into a corny portrayal of a demanding girlfriend, diluting the horror and any sense of commentary on modern dating culture. Barker’s characterizations continue to hit home with Bear — a man consumed by his fear of rejection, and later his unwavering guilt. Seeing such a lowly character caught between the joy of finally getting what he’s always wanted and the fear of admitting what he’s done is both strangely compelling and abhorrent. The viewer may detest how he handles the situation and blatantly ignores Nikki’s obvious descent into madness, but he never quite loses his relatability. He’s a character rooted in the widely shared, modern fear of being utterly alone and persisting with something we know is harmful to ourselves and others. Bear is written as a funhouse mirror, letting the viewers see the most selfish version of themselves and how we sometimes act in our own relationships, making it a provocative piece of great writing.
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its signature cynical edge with unwavering optimism, the show contradicts its own ethos. A monologue from Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) accurately identifies the cyclical nature of superpowered people under capitalism, but by focusing so singularly on the fight against Homelander, the show shies away from truly grappling with the dangers posed by all superheroes. As is typical of the very media landscape it seeks to satirize, “The Boys” opts to vaguely gesture toward the power of love rather than offering any substantive answers to the questions it asks. Ironically, the show always seems to have the least to say when it’s trying its hardest to be astute.
Another disappointing result of the show’s allegorical approach is how it has adapted to an era of artificial intelligencefueled misinformation, a choice that def lates the narrative tension. After Homelander’s refusal to save the passengers of Flight 37 is finally exposed by Starlight (Erin Moriarty) in the opening moments of Season 5, he simply skirts the consequences through denial and claims of digital manipulation. The realism of this is aggravating rather than refreshing; considering Homelander’s threat of brutal retaliation at the thought of such a thing, it feels like a copout born of laziness.
Unfortunately, “The Boys” never quite found its footing again after Season 3’s questionable conclusion, which paved the way for a frustratingly repetitive routine. It’s fitting, then, that “The Boys” would go out with a work that’s less than the sum of its parts, fleeting moments of greatness loosely strung together by crass metaphors (e.g., “it smells like an Abercrombie got fucked by a 7-Eleven while Arby’s jerked off in the corner”) and cloying sentimentality. Given the recent decline of the superhero genre, it seems safe to say that the franchise outlived its parodic relevance, though with “Vought Rising” on the horizon, perhaps I’ll be proven wrong.
MFMS 2026 proved fashion at UMich is bigger than the runway LUCIA LARACH Daily Arts Writer The Michigan Fashion Media Summit is arguably one of the most renowned student-led organizations at the University of Michigan. Founded in 2018, they dedicate themselves to bringing together emerging talent and established industry voices. The resulting pathways allow for meaningful introductions and support into fashion, media and creative business. This past April, the Michigan Fashion Media Summit (MFMS) 2026 took place at the Ross School of Business. The diverse and unique crowd of students and speakers remind us of the impact of these industries, bringing together an inspiring community of passionate individuals entirely dedicated to their craft. Those who believe that the MFMS is simply a day-long summit about fashion are wrong, and this year proved that. Even while walking on campus, one couldn’t go without seeing innovatively creative advertisements for the MFMS. It’s safe to say that the MFMS has established a powerful presence in our community. Pre-summit activities consisted of a raffle for
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“Campus Essentials,” a local Ondo x MFMS collaboration, Oudessa x MFMS perfume, Camair x MFMS phone cases and the yearly Thursday Night Launch Party. The actual summit on Friday included seven different panels, in addition to a Fashion Forward Showcase competition and networking hour. Between Brand Storytelling, The Art of Styling, Retain Renaissance and Vision to Venture, the MFMS provided something for everyone. MFMS founder, Ali Gropper, was once a student at the University who felt passionate about pursuing a career in fashion; knowing that there were others students and faculty who shared this interest, she created the first ever fashion-focused program on campus. Every year, she joins the
MFMS to not only support the team, but to share some of her industry knowledge and inspire others who share this passion. Many of my experiences during my time at MFMS 2026 truly established its value and meaning. Certain moments continue to stick in my brain and encapsulate what MFMS does for its participants. The first of these highlights include learning about Calvin Klein’s former CEO, Steve Shiffman, and his opinion on media’s CBK hyperfixation. “Love Story”, the FX show now streaming on Hulu, has taken over the internet — and Shiffman believes Calvin Klein, whether on purpose or not, is the main beneficiary.
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‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 2 was written by Holly Jackson — and you can tell AMANY SAYED Daily Arts Writer Minor spoilers for Season 1 and 2 of “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” ahead, as well as the book trilogy by the same name. It’s always easy to tell when an author has more of a say in an adaptation of their work. Season 2 of Netflix’s “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” much to the pleasure of fans, was largely written by author Holly Jackson, who authored the source trilogy. Jackson admitted to making changes between the second book and the second season, though she said it became exactly what she wanted for the adaptation. The show is close enough to the books to please readers of the beloved series, but small changes allow it to shine in its new medium. Season 2 kicks off a few weeks after the end of Season 1, with Pip (Emma Myers) finishing up a podcast about her investigation into the murder of Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies). Busy preparing for Max Hastings’s (Henry Ashton) trial and regretful of the way she treated her loved ones in Season 1, Pip is content to put all things mystery behind her. But when her friend Connor Reynolds’s (Jude Morgan-Collie) brother Jamie (Eden H. Davies) goes missing, she knows she has to
find him. With the help of Ravi (Zain Iqbal), her boyfriend and investigative partner, she sets out to find Jamie. Throughout the season, Pip falls deeper into despair, knowing the longer she looks, the less likely she is to find Jamie alive. Pip will do whatever it takes to bring Jamie home — but is it worth the cost? From the first scene, which hints at the show’s devastating ending, to the last, which sets the stage for Season 3, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” leaves viewers on the edge of their seat. Pip’s descent down the rabbit hole is as painful as it is addictive to watch. Each episode has just enough clues to engage its audience, and the kind of questions that make the show especially bingeable. The adaptation also offers a more omniscient point of view into the story than the novels, allowing for greater insight into the side characters. Viewers spend a lot of quality time with Max Hastings that solely readers don’t get, and it adds a deeper layer to his character when we see his relationship with his family and his home life. As one of the antagonists of both the first and second season, it’s easy to hate Max. However, by placing us into his home and even allowing us to see the way he tries to please his parents, we are forced to see Max as the main character of his own story instead of just a villain in Pip’s.
Maggie O’Farrell’s ‘Land’ is an immersive portrait of family and Ireland
Cover art of “Land” owned by Knopf
ELIAS SIMON Daily Arts Writer Maggie O’Farrell is most famous for “Hamnet,” the story of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s son, which was adapted into a 2025 film by Chloé Zhao. It was recognized for its phenomenal performances both by the those who vote for the academy awards and by other much more important tastemakers. Just two months later, “Land” hit American bookstores on June 2, in a great example of good timing. This portrait of Ireland, however, is also prescient in a different way, focusing on a more recent facet of Irish history. Sinn Féin, famous Irish nationalist party, won the 2022 elections in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and since 2024, has been the second-largest party in the Republic of Ireland’s Dáil Éireann, its lower legislative body. For the first time ever, every one of the United Kingdom’s decentralized parliaments are controlled by nationalist parties. In the Republic of Ireland, Sinn Féin polls measurably higher than its mainstream rivals, who have slumped in support since 2024. The surge in Irish nationalism reflects a lot of things, one of them being the centuries-old debate over what makes Ireland, who is Irish and what is still Irish after colonization. Maggie O’Farrell manages to capture quite a lot of this sweep of history in “Land.” The novel’s main timeline takes place during the Ordnance Survey of 1865. From here we move forward, into the 1880s, and backward, to the Great Hunger and even into Ireland’s ancient and slightly mystic beginnings. Mysticism is all over “Land,” as present as the redcoats or weather. This aspect is also a magical bailout for extraordinary situations that the characters find themselves in. From the book’s very start, what happens to the characters
sometimes feels frustratingly arbitrary. The best explanation we get is that the characters in “Land” seem to be subject to the mystical forces of Ireland, which exist beyond the British, Catholicism, mundane daily life or the struggle to survive in famine. O’Farrell’s interest in these topics is great, but also leaves the reader feeling like the world they’re reading about does not have fixed rules and then, immediately, it’s much harder to care. That makes it all the more of a relief when O’Farrell draws her story back in and focuses on the family narrative. All of a sudden the stakes become grounded, the characters become threedimensional and O’Farrell doesn’t have to rely on a clunky plot to drive the story forward. Halfway through my notes, many of which had originally been negative, I wrote that “I can’t help myself but be very charmed by this book.” At some moments I felt like I actively had to fight to keep reading, and if I wasn’t assigned to do so, I probably wouldn’t have. But somewhere in its middle of the novel you hit a tipping point, where you find that O’Farrell’s gift for immersion has left you caring so much for the little band of characters that pace is damned and the story becomes incredibly readable, hard to put away and in the end very moving. You probably can predict “Land”’s biggest twists and sometimes you must slog through O’Farrell’s prose, but on an intimate level, her characters feel like real people, and she convinces you to care quite a bit about their fates. My experience with “Land” suggests it reads better as a landscape portrait than a novel. As an interesting, caring, deeply researched study of Ireland, coursing through history — with hints of a hidden magic underpinning the island, and an author who almost seems to believe in it — “Land” was quite enjoyable. When O’Farrell is telling that story, I would recommend it to anyone.
Some of the biggest changes between the books and the show lie in the very first episode. Jamie only disappears at the very end, leaving almost an hour of lead up that doesn’t exist in the books. Some of that screentime is taken up by a murder mystery party that Connor hosts — a party that actually takes place in Jackson’s “Killjoy,” a prequel novella to the “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series. By having Pip spend time with Jamie and Connor in the beginning, I felt a stronger connection to both brothers and was more inclined to understand Pip’s motivation to take on the burden of searching for Jamie. Beyond the first episode, Stanley’s (Misia Butler) character changed the most from the books. He was removed from the first season, which was inconsistent with the book, but the change was handled well and didn’t retract from the viewing experience. There were certain parts of the show that retracted from the suspenseful, macabre tone because of how unrealistic they were. Pip spends some time investigating during school hours, going as far as to interrogate her teacher in an empty classroom when she is presumably supposed to be in class. She also hijacks the school auditorium to play a video on the projector screen. Obviously, Pip
Photo courtesy of Netflix
is willing to break rules in order to find the truth, but the way in which the school operated as a prop in the show was a bit too convenient. Generally, Pip tends to have plot armor whenever she does anything wrong, unless the consequences themselves are relevant to the mystery. She gets detention for being in the
auditorium, but no one catches her questioning the teacher, and this inconsistency detracted from the watching experience. Even with the slight inconsistencies, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” Season 2 was well worth the watch. Perhaps the best part of having Jackson on the writing team was the
easter eggs placed throughout the season for readers to find, and the foreshadowing for what is to come in the third season. Those who have read the third book in the series, “As Good As Dead,” know the horrors in Pip’s life are only beginning — and those who haven’t are in for a wild ride.
Michigan alum Helen Shen talks Broadway to ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ MICHELLE WU Senior Arts Editor Actress Helen Shen has felt a pull towards the stage since she was a little girl. From practicing piano to being part of a theater group, the spotlight has become an undeniable aspect of her character. Her passion for art kept her performing throughout college before moving on to Broadway after graduating. Helen has participated in a range of performances that have challenged her, excited her and fulfilled her artistically. Her first stage performances were offBroadway in “Teeth” and “The Lonely Few,” and in regional gigs such as her role as Lisa in “Mamma Mia!” Recently, she starred in the Tony-winning “Maybe Happy Ending” and the highly anticipated cult-classic sequel “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The experiences she had working on these projects, coupled with her time at the University of Michigan, have formed her appreciation for the artistry of stage performance and acting. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumna Helen Shen shares these experiences and details how professional musical theater have shaped her acting career. This interview has been condensed for clarity. The Michigan Daily: What experiences at the University of Michigan shaped you as a performer? Helen Shen: I’ll shout out my first crew assignment for practicum. I helped do crew for this production of “Passing Strange” while I was a freshman, my first semester there, and it completely changed how I think that theater can be, and I got to just be a fly on the wall while Tiffany Rachelle Stewart and the musical theater students got to like devise this piece from the ground up. The piece itself was amazing. That musical didn’t run very long on Broadway, but it did win Best Book for the Tony, and I just feel like it shaped how I think theater could be. Also shout out living in Bursley, like, being at Michigan, I happened to room with another musical theater major who was also named Helen. The option is there for you to meet and room with anybody. A couple of my friends were, like, engineering majors. Obviously, this is North Campus, so a lot of them were, like, Stamps (Stamps School of Art and Design) or engineering kids, but I loved being able to take classes with people who were gonna have completely different
lives than me and to just learn about it. I grew up in New Jersey, and I remember my parents being like, ‘Why do you want to leave New York? Why do you want to leave the East Coast? Isn’t this where you want to be?’ And even though that is true, and I have since gone back to the East Coast, I’m so grateful for the time that I got to incubate in Michigan, where I didn’t have to think about booking or working. I just could enjoy being a student for a little bit. I’m so actually grateful for the time that I had to just be a student for four years. TMD: It’s cool that you noted the unique atmosphere of Ann Arbor. Why Michigan if you were from the East Coast and wanted to be there post-grad? HS: The life you’re able to live when you are in this Midwestern town is not super isolated, but it is isolated enough, especially for — now that I’ve been in this industry for a couple years and seeing how public facing it can be — it changes your artistry when there’s more eyes on it, and you feel like there’s more pressure, and you want to make a good impression. I don’t think that I was thinking about all of that while I was thinking about getting good grades and having a positive affirmation out of my professors. For the most part, I didn’t have to worry about what other people thought about me, not in the way that I feel like I have to now. TMD: What brought you into acting? Were there any role models you looked up to? HS: There were many that I looked up to as gatekeepers for the fact that I looked the way that I did and that I could possibly pursue it. There were all these roles and all of these shows that I wanted to learn about, but didn’t necessarily want to be a part of. Let’s say “Miss Saigon”, right? That was a musical that I grew up listening to and idolizing everyone who had done it, and it was a way for me to see that there was a semblance of an Asian community in the musical theater canon. There’s different generations who are like, I can respect and revere the history of what has come before, but I don’t necessarily personally want to be in this traumatic show as my only calling card to be a singer or a performer. And at the same time, when I was growing up, Kim and “Miss Saigon” were roles that meant that you were at the top of your game. All the women who have done that are unbelievable performers. I suppose that is also why doing “Maybe Happy Ending” was such a special moment for me. Because Lea Salonga came to see
the show, a couple of my idols that I grew up looking up to came to see the show. Our culture’s pretty new; therefore, Asian American musical theater is even more new than that. I just felt like I was at the start of a reclamation of what it can be and what it can look like and how it can sound, what it can talk about. I was just really excited that it was happening and that I was a part of it. TMD: It sounds like you were always drawn to performing; did this interest develop after playing piano or joining the theater? HS: No, that was definitely always there. There was a story from my preschool that we would do little puppet shows and talent shows. I brought in a puppet, and I remember making people laugh and being like, this is the thing that I enjoy doing. My dad has a pretty heavy sense of humor, so I think I enjoyed that part, and the piano part was more discipline than performing, but I always gravitated to being on stage. The only other place that I can be on stage is after I practice piano. But most of it was like, I wanted applause. I definitely had stage fright. I was a shy kid, too. So it didn’t quite make sense. But something about being on stage and in like lights and stuff, you kind of get lost in what you’re doing. I always loved to sing. I always loved music, serving a higher purpose in that way. TMD: Thank you for the insightful answers. Another follow-up I had hearing your response was what is Asian American musical theater and where do you think it is heading? HS: We did a lot of revering of history in my musical theater class, and we would talk about how Black theater has evolved and is such a core tenet of this industry, and how Yiddish theater was such a huge tenet of that community. And I always felt like, where are the writers, the foundation makers who look like me in this industry? We’ve been here for as long as the industry has been here, but not in huge droves. Even as I looked at the makeup of SMTD in terms of performance, there was only one other Asian girl who was in my class. Since graduating though, I have now been a part of a couple of shows where I’ve now been in bigger casts, or I’m not the only Asian person in this room and it still always feels special to take note of it and to appreciate that most of the time. We could be up against each other for the same part, but what a wonderful opportunity it is to play your sister or play your friend, to celebrate our differences, and then exist in community with each other.
It’s the stories people are clearly super hungry for — more representation. The only way to solve the scarcity problem is to add more to the canon. I don’t think that there’s one story or one show or one experience that’s gonna solve the systemic scarcity that we’re talking about. There’s just gonna be more writers who are passionate about it, and they’re gonna have something different to say than someone who exists in a different point of the diaspora. TMD: Pivoting the direction of this conversation a bit, how was your transition from Michigan to Broadway? HS: The showcase helped me introduce myself to industry folk, which were like my agents, my manager and other casting people in the industry. After that, I started to work off-Broadway and in regional gigs. I think I did a lot of wonderful work off-Broadway that felt risky and exciting and artistically, really fulfilling. I was kind of setting my own track, and I was building this role, and I was building this thing myself. I don’t feel like there was that huge of a transition (between off-Broadway and on Broadway) besides the eyes on me. I felt like I was part of this community that felt so big and so far away, and then suddenly, I had a golden ticket to attend these events and talk to these people, and they knew who I was. That transition was a welcome one. But I definitely felt like I was prepared to do the actual job of playing this role because I had done other professional work before. Off-Broadway and regional stuff you’re still just performing, you sing the songs, you act the role and you tell the story. But there’s a lot more eyeballs and a lot more resources that are poured into Broadway. It just makes certain things easier and then also certain things harder. TMD: Along the same vein, for our final question, how was your transition from theater to film in “The Devil Wears Prada 2”? HS: It felt more like a sprint to me, honestly. With theater, I felt like I had to do eight shows a week and prepare my body, mind and soul to be able to do that. It’s more of an endurance battle. My whole life revolved around the show as opposed to this movie. But as it pertains to “Devil Wears Prada 2,” it was a huge juggernaut of a project. I was in the same room as Meryl Streep. I was doing scenes with Anne Hathaway and just trying to keep up. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, which is an exciting point to be at in an artist’s life. To do something that is new and scary.
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‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ has no thread of consequence or logic BEN LUU & MICHELLE WU Daily Arts Writer & Senior Arts Editor Have you ever scrolled past short videos that caution you about the evils of doomscrolling and brainrot? The dangers of modern day capitalism and consumerism? The over-consumptive nature of our uninspired population? Despite the artificial nature of these videos, they do contain a kernel of truth. You almost want to believe these people because their simple observations about our degraded modern-day society are so true and self-evident. Who today doesn’t bat an eye at our grocery and gas prices, or at the rise of artificial intelligence and the enshittification of our applications? We’re inclined to believe these hypocrites, until these same people try to sell you on their own version of these evils — like a subscriptionbased service to monitor your subscriptions or an app to block your other apps. These companies point fingers at what’s ailing the world while simultaneously poisoning the well and profiting from their user base. Unfortunately, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” finds itself deep within this well, a belated and unnecessary sequel to the original film that attempts to criticize larger social issues but, ultimately, is a gear in the same machinery which propels mindless consumption. Look no further at this film’s failure than the biggest story change from the original to the sequel: Taking place 20 years after the original, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is now a journalist. In the opening scene, we see Andy as an accomplished writer who has received an award for her
journalistic prowess. Yet, at her award ceremony, Andy hears news that her entire newsroom has been laid off for ‘corporate efficiencies.’ This is an interesting set-up, and the film reunites Andy with familiar faces as she writes for the magazine Runway under Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci) to make a living post lay off. Over the course of two hours, we see Andy ingratiate herself within the coarse, tough environment of Runway, making inroads all while corporate interests, hoping to shrink journalism even further, surround her. The film comments on real life recent events like Teen Vogue magazine transitioning to a digitalonly publication and the ongoing collapse of the journalism industry. Grappling with an increasingly digitized and technologically dependent world, the initial conflict of the film seems to focus on the fight to keep the journalism industry — whether it be the news or a fashion magazine — alive and printing. However, the film’s initial promise of enlightening viewers on this critically encroaching issue quickly devolves into a nonsensical mess of rich, privileged people (somehow always suave and wearing cat-eye sunglasses) vying for power and fame. Take for instance: Andy getting an interview with Sasha Barnes (Lucy Liu), the elusive but once highly publicized philanthropist. At this point in the film, Andy is in dire straits with Miranda because her socially conscious articles are underperforming. In order to keep her job, she needs to chase viewership and sets out to interview Barnes; but we get a sense that Barnes is impossible to get a hold of. This creates a significant obstacle for Andy, and likely for
many journalists: the decision between writing biting criticism and churning out mindless, unsubstantial hits. Navigating such a tough situation could be a great moment of character development for Andy and give room for the film to comment on the vacuous nature of sensational, viewershipbased journalism. Instead, Barnes randomly decides to give Runway an interview over a shoddy montage sequence, granting Andy the much needed break in her career. The journalistic dilemma disappears entirely from the film when Barnes claims that she only accepted such an interview because Andy has been writing good articles. Worse, Barnes’ help doesn’t make sense thematically since it abides by the premise of meritocracy: The capitalistic idea that if you do good enough work, you will be rewarded. However, these are the very same ideals that the opening of the film proves cannot survive when wealthy elites control corporations and the media. The happy ending of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” only reinforces the thematic mess at hand as a rich donor saves Andy and Runway from their terrible scenario with a massive donation. The film doesn’t even begin to question what makes these rich people different from the very one that axed her entire crew in the opening. Ultimately, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is a phony attempt at activism — having things to say about the world but not understanding the root cause of them. The film tries its hardest to warn us about the livelihoods that are lost during media consolidation — when AI replaces creative work or when austere business consultants butt in to increase the bottom line. But in its efforts to continually make jibes at our efficiency-maximizing society, one that doesn’t have time
to appreciate art, the film proves to be a cash-grab of a film itself, with no solution and no value for the art it claims to defend. The original “The Devil Wears Prada” follows Andy’s coming-ofage journey on identity, purpose and finding personal style. The film was about losing and reclaiming yourself amid distractions like dazzling lights and designer boots. The sequel has done the exact opposite in its attempt to make itself more relevant and impactful, contradicting its arguments about consumerism it sought to preach. In essence, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” has tried to carve a greater purpose and message from the blinding lights of modern-day society but found itself totally lost within it. As a result, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is not only incoherent but also downright boring. Like the Barnes-interview obstacle, Andy doesn’t suffer from any prolonged conflict, anything that pains her for more than five minutes. In fact, no character does. There are multiple storylines, such as Andy’s romance with Peter (Patrick Brammall), the return of Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) fighting for corporate eliteness and Nigel trying to prove his worth, to name a few. Yet it’s hard to believe the authenticity of these people’s plights when everything is resolved in a quick montage that should belong to a fashion reel rather than a film one. There is nothing of note: not the redundant performances from Streep, Tucci, Hathaway, and Blunt; not the lackluster, wardrobeobsessed cinematography, and most definitely not the character ‘development.’ The result? A film that feels like it was born out of corporate interests, one that feels like austere business consultants wrote it, a film that, dare we say, feels created by AI.
‘American Spirits’ pretends to know what it’s doing and nearly pulls it off CAMPBELL JOHNS Managing Arts Editor Anna Dorn has carved a niche for her writing: hypermodern, unlikeable Queer women. Her latest novel, “American Spirits,” takes this up again, but on a much grander scale — pop girl uber stardom. Set over many years, but mainly taking place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, “American Spirits” splits its multiperspective narration between Blue Velour, major pop star and Grammy winner, and Rose Lutz, a crazed superfan who has found herself hired as Blue’s assistant after Blue takes a chance on her. These women pull from the caricatures of a few current pop girls: the nightlife of Charli xcx, the early-career genre fuckery of Billie Eilish and the “attitude” of Chappell Roan. But Dorn mainly re-imagines Lana Del Rey, who she credits as the main inspiration for Blue, especially with the controversies that mirror Rey’s stints of flirting with conservatism. Take all of this, and copy the r/ GaylorSwift subreddit over top of it. The r/BlueBeards subreddit
Cover art of “American Spirits” owned by Simon & Schuster
— originally created by Rose — is an exact replica of r/GaylorSwift, caught in their complete conviction that Blue and her producer Sasha are romantically involved (they are, and Rose herself will find herself entangled as well, a real love triangle). Choosing to play with this many elements of these intense fandoms is an insane undertaking. Not many would take the chance to reimagine Lana Del Rey as Queer, let alone also poke at the Gaylor fandom. Dorn takes this big swing and somewhat nails it, even if “American Spirits” ends up more entertaining in theory than in practice.
The book starts out strong, with Rose beginning her first encounters with Blue, the woman she’s been fixated on for years. The reader develops the same curiosities as Rose: How serious is Blue and Sasha’s relationship? Will they find out how deep Rose’s obsession runs after hiring her? What is the day-to-day life of this pop star? Because of the nature of an assistant job, Rose gets answers to these questions pretty quickly, and that’s where the book goes stagnant. Blue, and the life of the pop star, loses its original mystique, and the engine of the story is no longer as compelling.
ESTLIN SALAH Summer Senior Arts Editor Claire Fuller carefully sculpts her sixth novel, “Hunger & Thirst,” into a half-sung haunt, a calliope of ghost songs: never fully grasped and impossible to forget. Threaded through each page is a panging hunger — for food, yes, but belonging more so. It asks, with growing cruelty, how far someone might go to be accepted and how much they’re willing to give up to remain there. The novel follows Ursula, a 16-year-old who has spent years drifting through the foster care system of 1987 pre-children’s rights England, after a senseless childhood trauma leaves her orphaned. One day, her social worker finds her a job delivering mail at a local art school, which draws her into a strange, tightly wound group of coworkers led by the young, magnetic and volatile Sue. For Ursula, who has spent her
throughout the book and leaving goosebumps racing across your skin. Scenes start and immediately fall into a terrifying pattern — the same haunt inevitably coming back for Ursula, allowing dread to build until it becomes unbearable. It is easy to visualize the novel’s most disturbing moments; they play out with a cinematic clarity that lingers long after the page is turned. The prose itself is deceptively simple, propelling the reader forward while keeping them inside Ursula’s perspective. This closeness is crucial, because the novel thrives on uncertainty. Ursula is an unreliable narrator, and the text offers no stable ground from which to interpret the events she is witnessing. Is she truly being haunted? Is she reliving her trauma so intensely that it manifests externally? Fuller resists easy answers, and the ambiguity becomes one of the novel’s most compelling qualities. At its best, “Hunger & Thirst” is gripping, even breathtaking. But its structure occasionally works
We also teach about vampires, protests, rock poetry, cinema, and all the languages of the iconic literature figures: Russian, Ukrainian, Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian.
But those earlier chapters also drop some easter eggs for the fans of the real life pop stars Dorn drew inspiration from: Blue’s own “kissgate,” the mention of Zoë Kravitz or Blue’s own addiction to Americana (and vaping). But again, as the book goes on, this search is less fun. We’ve discovered that Blue is a remake of Del Rey, and further references lose their novelty. The book also starts to read (intentionally) like a teenager’s fantasy of Queer stardom, what a 15-year-old would have written in a pandemic fever dream, but a fraudulent version of it. There’s a lot of teenage posturing indicating a lack of real experience on the current internet, claiming that teenagers actually find Instagram obsolete (couldn’t be less true) or that they wouldn’t know what a record player is (Gen Z is really into physical records, actually). The lingo used in the fan’s Reddit posts is always a little off from reality, feeling like a plastic version of its inspiration. The point with these misunderstandings is probably to illustrate how out of touch Blue is with both reality and her younger fanbase.
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The uneasy fullness of ‘Hunger & Thirst’ life on the outside, the promise of a group she belongs to — no matter how strange — is irresistible. Ursula and Sue’s relationship grows increasingly complicated as Ursula yearns for Sue’s family, and Sue yearns to escape it. A single, terrible act sets the central mystery in motion, and it haunts Ursula from that point forward. Whether that haunting is psychological, supernatural or an undetermined mix of the two is a question the novel refuses to resolve. Decades later, Ursula lives under a pseudonym as a reclusive and successful sculptor in London. Her carefully constructed anonymity crumbles when a true crime filmmaker investigates a longunsolved disappearance. The narrative shifts between timelines, only to reveal it was never about solving the mystery; instead, it circles the same festering wounds of Ursula’s regret-laden past. Fuller’s greatest strength here is her command of atmosphere. The horror in “Hunger & Thirst” is genuinely effective, accumulating
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against it. The first half of the novel introduces mysteries at a rapid pace, only to resolve many of them within a few short chapters. Key questions about Ursula’s past, her greatest fears and heaviest guilt are revealed sooner than expected, leaving the latter half of the book with less narrative propulsion. Instead, the story becomes increasingly centered on a single, unresolved mystery, revisited repeatedly, yet always from the same angle: What’s happened to Sue? While this repetition reinforces the novel’s thematic focus on the struggle to let go of trauma, it can also begin to feel narratively thin. What initially feels haunting can, over time, begin to feel overextended. And yet, the lack of resolution is also part of the novel’s power. Fuller denies the reader a clean ending. Without a definitive explanation or clear line between reality and psychosis, there is never a true sense of closure.
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16B — 2026 New Student Edition
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UMich students swung hard to the right in 2024. A reversal now seems likely. ZACHARY GEYER Summer Data Editor Following President Donald Trump’s victory in 2024, it became clear that certain voting groups who had reliably voted Democratic for decades had gone against the party. These groups included Asian voters, Hispanic voters and notably, college-age voters. In fact, Kamala Harris received only 54% of Generation Z votes, compared to the more than 60% obtained by Democratic candidates since 2008. In Michigan, the drop-off was even more stark: While Joe Biden received 61% of the youth vote in 2020, Kamala Harris only received 47%, according to Michigan exit polls. This decline in Democratic support was driven partly by young men, who were swayed by Trump’s campaign on masculine appeals, alongside the use of nontraditional media such as livestreams and podcasts. Conservative activist groups such as Turning Point USA also focused on outreach at universities like the University of Michigan, which helped drive support for Trump. Given U-M students’ long history of support for leftleaning causes, it was notable that this shift also occurred on campus. In Ann Arbor, Democratic support only dropped from 87% to 85%, a small rightward shift. However, when zooming in on the neighborhood level, the sharp rightward trend among college voters becomes apparent. Neighborhoods composed mostly of student housing swung upwards of 21 percentage points to the right. The largest swing in Ann Arbor occurred in the South Campus neighborhood, which surrounds the Ross School of Business. This neighborhood includes many fraternities, the East Quad Residence Hall and various student apartments and homes. Joe Biden received 88% of the vote here in 2020, while Kamala Harris received only 77%, a poor showing in a staunchly liberal city. Other neighborhoods with large rightward swings include Hoover, Markley-West Geddes and the area surrounding South
Quad Residence Hall, which are all student-centric. Notably, neighborhoods outside campus experienced much smaller swings, even shifts to the left, especially on the West Side where the median age is much higher. This shift explains why Ann Arbor as a whole was still only slightly less Democratic than in 2020, as the shifts outside campus counteracted the shifts within. Republicans celebrated such gains in student voting in 2024, but given this significant deviation from the norm, it is reasonable to question whether this is a new trend or just an anomaly. Since the start of Trump’s presidency, approval ratings for his administration have steadily decreased. Filtering responses to those aged 18-29, an even more extreme pattern emerges. At the very beginning of Trump’s term, young Americans were equally split between approval and disapproval. However, his disapproval rating quickly began to rise, hovering near 60% since January 2026. His approval rating among Gen Z has fallen to about 35%, lower than the overall average of about 40%. Neutral ratings of the Trump administration have dramatically decreased, with most now disapproving. While polling is an indicator of dissatisfaction with the current presidency, it does not always translate directly into election results. No partisan elections have occurred in Ann Arbor since 2024, but they have occurred in other college communities, notably in Virginia. The state’s 2025 gubernatorial election elected Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, as Virginia’s next governor. She won the election by 15.4 percentage points, more than the 5.8-point margin Kamala Harris won the state with. On college campuses, the leftward swing is even greater. Similar to the University, Virginia college students vote overwhelmingly Democratic. Further, in 2024, the share of Democratic votes in these areas decreased significantly more than statewide, just as it had on the U-M campus. Yet in only one year, these rightward swings were entirely reversed — and then some.
Overall, the percentage of votes Harris received in all Virginia college communities was 68%, but Spanberger received 78%. Because Republican support fell by a similar amount, the Democratic margin increased by 20 percentage points. The largest swing occurred among voters at James Madison University, of whom only 60% voted for Harris, while a whopping 75% voted for Spanberger — a 30-point shift to the left. Compared to the rest of the state, which only saw Spanberger get 57% of the vote — still a modest increase from Harris’s 52% — the swing back to the left on college campuses was much larger. This rapid reversal raises an important question: What caused college voters to move back toward Democrats so quickly? While Michigan and Virginia are different states, both contain large university populations that tend to prioritize certain issues such as educational costs, healthcare and housing. Policies and proposals associated with the Trump administration have directly impacted these concerns, such as cuts to the Department of Education and attempts to roll back Obamacare. These actions may explain why some young voters who shifted right in 2024 may be reconsidering that choice. The priorities of young voters in Michigan provide further insight into why a similar political reversal could happen at the University. Among young voters, 34% believe the economy to be the most important Michigan issue. However, this is moderately less than the 40% selecting the economy statewide. Issues more frequently deemed important by young voters include healthcare, education, crime, housing affordability and abortion access. In fact, 27% of young voters identified education or housing affordability as their top issue, compared with just 15% of voters overall. On most issues, the Trump administration is viewed as having failed to deliver on promises made during the 2024 campaign. Housing reform, one of Trump’s key campaign promises, has been overlooked
Zachary Geyer/DAILY Source: Washtenaw County Clerk
in favor of issues like the war in Iran. Homes are scarcer and more expensive than ever before. Approval ratings for the economy under Trump have reached lows of 25% among those under 30. These are all possible reasons why Republicans have begun to take a hit electorally, especially in college communities. It is clear that the Republican brand has soured for many. While some U-M students took a chance on Trump, all of these signs indicate a reversal of favor for his party. Democrats have become the party of high turnout, and with young voters expressing low approval of the Trump administration, this rapid decline could have serious implications. In a swing state like Michigan, high disapproval of Republicans among the youth could swing a close vote in favor of the Democrats. With a key Senate race, an open governorship and the entire state legislature on the ballot this November, there could be major implications for the state. With swings similar to what was seen in Virginia last year, Democrats may be on course for a sweep of both federal and statewide offices. In Michigan, the extent of the shift could surpass even the blue wave of 2022. Nonetheless, nothing will be certain until the polls close on November 3rd.
Zachary Geyer/DAILY Source: Emerson Polling
Scan the QR code to visit the online version of this article to see interactive charts with more detail.
Zachary Geyer/DAILY Sources: DRA, VEST, RDH
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he Michigan Daily’s Web Team works across three subteams — Product, Engineering and Data — to enhance the user experience of The Daily’s website, develop special web-based projects and create data-forward journalistic pieces. With a variety of platforms, programs
and tools, Web oversees the operation of all digital projects at The Daily. We also create special edition sites like Best of Ann Arbor and Orientation Edition, as well as interactive stories driven by sources like election polls, student surveys and campus admission data.
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Source: Emerson Polling
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STATEMENT
At graduation, Derek Peterson spoke for me
STATEMENT T he Statement is the perfect place to share experiences, perspectives and observations in an in-depth format. We weave personal narrative into interviews, research and news to create long-form pieces that explore topics pertaining to
campus, student life and navigating an ever-changing world. Our section has no bounds on the topics writers can explore, allowing us to publish pieces ranging from the power of religion to the meaning behind those mindless scribbles on bathroom stalls.
GABE EFROS
Statement Columnist
The art of lowering the bar (and reading more) ANIYAH YODER
Statement Contributor
Every year I set a reading goal for myself, and every year I imagine a version of myself who is far more consistent than I actually am. Last year, the goal was simply ten books. I was already behind on this goal by the time summer began, and unless I truly enjoyed the books I read for class, it felt wrong to count them toward my goal. By the end of the year I had met my goal, but nine of those books came between May and August, when summer stretched out in front of me and reading was all I wanted to do. I would often choose books to add to my to-read pile based on what the next “must-reads” were: “The Wedding People,” “The Housemaid,” “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and “The Song of Achilles.” The moment classes started up again, both the habit and the high temperatures disappeared. The books on my shelf — from “People We Meet on Vacation” and “Circe” to “A Little Life,” “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” and “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” — awaited an idealized version of myself to pick them up in the far-away future. The idea of being a “reader” had weight: a consumer of printed goods, a part-time intellectual, a dabbler in literary arts. It felt like something that had to be proven in practice, in pages read and books finished. Online, I saw readers boasting of finishing fifty books that year, posting towering stacks of novels so there could be no mistaking them for anything less than a true reader. Just as every hobby seems to develop its own hierarchy of dedication, reading appeared to have one too. The “real readers” devoured novels; they tackled intimidating classics and “mustreads” in their genre of choice, from “East of Eden,” “Stoner,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Schoolgirl” and “Katabasis.” They carried around books from series like “The Lord of the Rings,” “A Song of Ice and Fire” or “The Stormlight Archive,” books heavy enough to double as exercise equipment, and I had been measuring myself against that version of reading. The result was an all-or-nothing mentality.
If I couldn’t dedicate hours every day to reading, what was the point? If I wasn’t making visible progress through massive novels, I felt like I wasn’t really reading at all. I looked at my own habits — reading a chapter before bed, taking weeks to finish a book or abandoning titles that didn’t hold my attention — and decided they didn’t count as reading. If I wasn’t reading the way I imagined “real readers” read, then I wasn’t one of them. It is a mindset that, sadly, seems to show up in every hobby imaginable. People convince themselves that they can’t call themselves runners unless they’re training for marathons, can’t call themselves artists unless they own expensive supplies and can’t enjoy a hobby unless they’re exceptionally good at it. From a young age, I had always loved reading. I have vivid memories of reading time in elementary school, when I would race to grab one of the “Alice” series or a colorful copy of “Dork Diaries.” Years later, I find myself studying to become an English teacher, preparing for a career built around helping young people discover the same joy in reading and writing that first drew me to books. It feels strange to spend my days learning how to ignite a love of reading in others while struggling to sustain the hobby for myself. Reading has always been central to who I am, even if my relationship with it has ebbed and flowed over the years, but if I couldn’t find a way to enjoy reading outside of an assignment or a goal, how could I expect the students sitting in my future classroom to do the same? What made that question so frustrating was that I maintained the want and urge to read — I just rarely finished anything. I would read three chapters of “The Silent Patient” before bed and find that I enjoyed my time doing so. Then midterms would arrive, paper deadlines would appear and life would simply get busy, as it does for many college students. A few weeks later, I’d find myself picking the novel back up only to discover that the momentum was gone. I couldn’t quite remember who Alicia Berenson was beyond the woman who shot her husband, whether Theo Faber had uncovered anything important or why I had
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2026 New Student Edition — 17B
been so invested in the mystery surrounding Gabriel’s death in the first place. I got so used to this cycle that, eventually, I would set the book down “for now” and accept that I would likely never finish it. Sometimes life got in the way, but other times I simply wasn’t as interested as I had expected to be. I’d force myself through a few chapters, convinced that this would be the novel that transformed me into the kind of reader who effortlessly consumed books, only to realize I was reading out of obligation rather than enjoyment. I would tell myself I’d come back to it later or finish it eventually, but more often than not, I never did. Recently, after a long stretch of not finishing much of anything, I read and genuinely enjoyed the playfulness and form of “The Body.” For the first time in a while, I found myself moving steadily through a book rather than setting it aside for “later.” What finally broke the cycle wasn’t my schedule nor my discipline. What changed was a simple spring class: ENGLISH 230, “Reading Literary Fiction/Non-Fiction: How to Break the Novel.” Throughout the semester, we read short novels and novellas, books I had continuously overlooked because I was convinced that longer books were somehow more legitimate, and that reading them helped maintain the image of a “real reader.” If a book could be read in a single afternoon, I previously assumed it couldn’t possibly leave the same impression as one that took me months to finish. But week after week, I logged onto Zoom having finished another book that could fit comfortably into my hand, and week after week I logged off, surprised by how much there still was to discuss, question and uncover within those short reads. “You Should Have Left” was the first time I began to suspect that I had underestimated what a short novel could do. What initially felt like a strange story about a house that seemed to distort space became a meditation on grief, disorientation and the limits of reality itself. Then came “We the Animals,” which captured the transition from childhood to individuality through short fragments of memory and moments that felt startlingly familiar. By the time we reached “The Vegetarian,” I had stopped paying attention to page counts altogether. In just 192 pages, this novel says more about autonomy, gender and social expectation than many books manage in hundreds more. The more we read, the more I became fascinated by how much variety existed within such a small form. “So Long, See You Tomorrow” transformed a simple story into a reflection on memory and the ways we reconstruct the past.
I know exactly what my graduation speech would look like. I would stand up in the Big House. I would smile, probably laugh to myself and start talking into the microphone. Despite being able to clearly picture what my speech would look like in my mind, I don’t know what I would say. After all, I’m not exactly the type of person that gets to speak at graduation. … The “graduation speech” is not something you are taught how to write, but it’s obvious enough how to write one. It is unique in both form and content. It needs to be short and to the point, yet relatable and appealing to a wide range of audiences. It needs to reflect on the past and comment on the future. But, most of all, it needs to inspire. It needs to do so because those graduating are in a transitional state, existing between two realities. For many, it is a time of uncertainty. Even if someone has a job or opportunity lined up, graduating still means leaving everything that you’ve known for the last four years behind. People are looking for answers as they begin their next stage of life. For many, graduation is both a happy and sad time full of remembrance, so, given a few exceptions, graduation speeches are traditionally not a time to make a political statement. Typically, they are not transgressive, and institutions like the University of Michigan select who will speak to make sure there is no transgression. But, of course, they cannot select the exact words each speaker can use. I was sitting at graduation thinking about how formulaic the previous speeches had been when Derek Peterson, former Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs chair stepped on stage at Spring 2026 Commencement. When he started speaking about social justice, I knew exactly where his speech was headed. And when he received widespread cheers after mentioning pro-Palestine activists, I smiled. Not only for his praise of the movement itself, but for his ability to say what needed to be said when others wouldn’t. Admittedly, I also smiled because I knew he was going to ruffle some feathers, which he certainly did. So now we are in a situation where Derek Peterson maintains his speech, where he praised social
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justice of all kinds, at the most recent spring commencement was not transgressive. University President Domenico Grasso maintains it was. But before discussing whether it actually was a violation or not, it’s important to look at the transgressive moments of activism that came before Peterson’s speech. You cannot view the University of Michigan’s history without looking at its activism. Peterson’s speech, of course, highlights this. He mentions Sarah Burger, an instrumental figure in forcing the University’s hand to admit women. He mentions the Black Action Movement, which aimed to decrease discrimination on campus and increase Black enrollment. Many participants similarly cornered the University by chaining themselves to buildings on campus to increase awareness. There are some moments of activism that Peterson did not highlight: the even more transgressive University shantytowns, which advocated for installing shacks on campus to occupy space and protest involvement in South African apartheid or protests against the Vietnam War included actual bombings. This, to me, is the main downside to the platform a graduation speech provides. There is simply not enough time. I wish Peterson had been able to highlight the impact of these cases of student activism, but I understand their omission. To be sure, by definition, all of these instances of activism were transgressive at various levels. They challenged the established national social and also legal norms of the time. They also challenged norms set by the University. Many of them involved occupying a physical space, and some even violence. But most importantly,
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Apply to opportunities. Befriend a stranger. Create something from nothing. Dance it out. Embrace the chaos. Fashion by hand. Glow up. Harmonize. Inspire. Join in. Knit it together. Laugh way too loud. Make it, whatever “it” is. Notice the little things. Open your mind. Paint outside the lines. Quip. Reimagine. See a show. Try. Uplift. Visualize the outcome. Wonder out loud. (e)Xplore the unknown. Yodel just because. Zero in on what moves you.
Make your life magical.
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in each instance, activism led to progress that was only recognized in hindsight. The University did divest from Apartheid South Africa, many years after the fact. Women, of course, were admitted to the University, much after Sarah Burger’s initial protest. Of course, we celebrate those instances of activism now. When I cited each example of activism, I cited sources from the University. One can only imagine that Grasso himself had no issue with Peterson mentioning Sarah Burger or the Black Action Movement, as they are absent from his letter addressing Peterson’s speech. So we know that the University doesn’t shy away from recognizing, and perhaps even embracing, transgressions that have occurred in the past. By traditional standards, are ProPalestine protestors transgressive because of their methods? Certainly not. Their encampment was no less invasive than the aforementioned shantytown, and their methods were less violent than the literal explosions that took place during Vietnam war protests. Is it because their cause is more transgressive? Israeli apartheid and South African apartheid are cut from the same cloth. But we cannot compare now and then. Protest and genocide exist now. And the fact of the matter is that we live in a more muted reality, where transgression doesn’t mean bombing our University, but setting up a peaceful encampment. Transgression, then, is relative to era, and in this era, Pro-Palestine protestors are indeed transgressive. The problem with Peterson addressing transgression as it is actively occurring on campus is just that. It hasn’t been litigated, unlike the other examples that Peterson and I mentioned. That’s what the University had a problem with.
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18B — 2026 New Student Edition
STATEMENT
Cars are my window to the souls of others
From motion pictures to micro videos: children’s media over time
EUGENIO CAMINO-CANTU Statement Columnist I started off my journey as a passenger princess in the back of my older sister’s rattly Chevrolet Impala, sitting in my booster seat. I would shuffle through her cluttered CD collection, searching for whatever angstyteen album she preferred at the moment — Arctic Monkeys, Taylor Swift and Twenty One Pilots. As the younger sibling, I thought that she was the coolest girl in the world for driving me around, and even though we have an age gap, we continue to be very close. Now, older, I sit in the front passenger seat of my friends’ cars as they drive, finding the perfect Spotify playlist curated for the vibe of the trip. With greasy hands, I have fed my past drivers garlic knots, slices of stringy cheese pizza and salty chips to fuel their energy. I’ve researched last-minute hotels to sleep in during long road trips, and I’ve yelled “yellow car!” while lightly punching the other passengers — my sacred duties as a passenger princess. My preference for the passenger seat doesn’t have to do with a distaste for driving — I love to drive — but I love sitting in the passenger seat even more. When I am not behind the wheel, I am free from the distractions of driving. I am able to live presently and observe in another’s space. When I think about how people decorate, my mind usually goes to their rooms or houses. But unlike homes, cars are much more available for others to admire. I only know how a few of my closest friends decorate their rooms. But I know the way in which my acquaintances decorate their cars. I have gotten to know people intimately through this simple form of observation. When I didn’t have access to my car, my coworker drove me
BRENNA WENDELL Statement Correspondent
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in her Jeep with rubber ducks resting on the dashboard, in line with the Jeep ducking tradition. The University of Michigan’s discounted Lyft ride cars tend to have tree-shaped car fresheners, tissues, hand sanitizer and anything else a student would need to give them a five-star rating. From the couple of times I have hitchhiked (against all warnings), I have sat in front of a grandmother’s collection of prayer beads hanging from the rearview mirror and have been squished between a rural farmer’s shedding, drool-dripping dogs. While I sat in these people’s cars, even just for a few minutes, I was able to learn about who they were. While I could have easily taken my spot to their right in silence, I wanted to spark conversations. Since they were actively driving, and I was in the passenger seat, there was a lack of eye contact during the ride. Because of that, I noticed we were generally more honest in our conversations. We were two strangers sharing our life stories with each other without any shame or discomfort. I learned that the grandmother goes to church every morning, and the farmer rescued his dogs from the street. I unearthed parts of the hidden life of strangers, simply because I prompted questions
based on their stylistic choices for the interiors of their cars. If you sat in my car, you would see that my dashboard is wiped clean, but my trunk is always stocked with swim trunks, a towel, a volleyball and a picnic blanket. I use them spontaneously throughout the warm summer months if I’m ever on the road with a bit of free time. I usually go to parks with these items alone. For me, these objects I use after my drive allow me to take a short break from reality. This summer, living in a carcentric city in Michigan, I got to know my friends on a deeper level while we carpooled. We usually take turns driving, but I don’t mind when I get to sit in the passenger seat. In the shotgun seat, friendships become very informal. We just talk, eat or drive in silence together. I instinctively place my elbow on the armrest and rest my head on that hand. Depending on who I’m driving with, I’ll either play one of my playlists or tune into the local classical music radio station. Even if no words are exchanged between the driver and I, I am thankful for the time we spend together. I’m very content just being in the presence of those who make me happy.
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Seeking respite from the intellectual overload of finals season, my housemates and I decided to watch a kids’ movie. We were looking for a fun, relaxing way to spend the evening, so we turned on “Tinker Bell.” It was my first time rewatching it as an adult, and as the film played, I remembered vividly the many times I had spent enjoying it with my Tinker Bell-obsessed sister. The animation style of this 2008 film dated it quickly, but the antics remained funny and heartwarming. The accompanying music was nothing short of beautiful, selling the otherworldliness and fairy magic that the movie rested on. Immediately after it ended, the TV auto-loaded an advertisement for another, newer children’s movie. It was exceptionally loud and brightly colored with no discernible plot based on the trailer. The contrast between the well-executed, tasteful yet playful children’s movie I had just watched and the overstimulating, flashy movie that was being advertised really
jarred me. Initially I thought my reaction might be unfairly rooted in nostalgia, but the more I observed the more there seemed to be a very distinct and obvious difference in quality between the popular 2008 movie I had watched and this new release 18 years later. As someone with a younger sibling, a soft spot for animation and a passion for movie theaters, I have watched my fair share of children’s movies and TV even as I have progressed into adulthood. Though I’m aware of my own biases increasing with age, I still feel as if children’s movies, on average, have been declining in quality over time. Don’t get me wrong — there have been many kids movies released in the past five years or so that I have absolutely loved: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” and Disney’s “Luca” and “Soul,” among many others. These movies all had something to say, blowing me away in all aspects, including animation, storyline and quality of execution. I would consider them all equally as good, if not better, than the media I grew up watching, which is heartening to see amid the other recent children’s movies that do not measure up. Creative teams continue to innovate film, but I
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also can’t help but feel that my observations on the declining quality of children’s movies are somewhat warranted. Some of the first kids’ movies that have disappointed me in the past few years include two from the same series: “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and “Despicable Me 4.” I absolutely love the Despicable Me franchise; I’ve been a fan since the first movie was released in 2010. When “The Rise of Gru” took social media by storm, with teens dressing up in costumes and formal attire to watch the movie at the theater. My friends and I followed suit, donning handmade yellow minion shirts that blended in with the other costumed people in the crowd. But as we discussed the movie afterwards, over a meal of IHOP promotional minion-themed pancakes, we all agreed that it was a bit of a letdown. Despite its box office success, we found it a bit grating, cramming too much plot into a short time frame — nothing special, especially compared to the previous movies in the series. Similarly, when a coworker and I went to see “Despicable Me 4” after a long shift together, we agreed that it felt jumpy and hard to follow, built to capitalize on unusually short attention spans, as compared to the more fleshed out movies earlier in the series. These were the first of many movies that made me begin to notice the increasingly overstimulating nature of children’s long-form media. I have no doubt that these movies were well-received by young children who were easily drawn in by the erratic narrative pacing and loud, colorful comedy, but I don’t doubt many of them became family staples.
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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
JULIA ARBOLEDA Statement Correspondent One of my favorite pastimes is looking through the Google Photos app on my phone. This is in large part thanks to my dad, who has tirelessly amassed a vast collection of family photos spanning back to the 1910s. Weddings, baptisms and parties filled with relatives I’ll never get to meet become accessible with just a touch of my fingers. Every so often, I indulge in inhabiting those memories. My dad and I share this pastime. Recently, we looked through these collections together. This time, it was a set of warm-hue photos from the 1970s when my dad lived in Medellín, Colombia. He showed me photos taken at his birthday party, where little kids lined up for cake against a background of dramatic, lush mountains encasing the city. I have been to Medellín several times, but the beauty of the place struck me through the lens of these photos. Why would anyone leave a place like this? Although I half-knew the answer to my question, I asked my dad anyway. He told me that when he and his parents moved to Miami, Florida, when he was just 8 eight years old, they were supposed to move back to Colombia a few years later. The move was meant to be temporary — for his father’s job — but those plans changed when Medellín became increasingly unsafe in the 1980s. And while I hesitate to strengthen the association between Colombia and the drug trade in your mind more than the media already has, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a major contributor to the social unrest that prevented my dad’s return.
STATEMENT
I became aware of the drug as more than a word in a news heading during college. While I had heard rumors, I was shocked to hear it so often in casual conversation. In my mind, and for many others I know, cocaine exists in a separate realm than the usual college substance suspects, like marijuana and alcohol. Its presence was most notable on February 14, 2026. This year, I wasn’t even on campus for the festivities; instead, I was staying with my dad’s parents in Miami, where they have spent the past 40 years. It was an interesting thought experiment to visit my grandparents in the place where they had made the difficult decision to stay, considering that one of the reasons they did so was the drug that is abundant throughout University of Michigan fraternity houses. Though I doubt that most college students are wondering about the origins of the cocaine they are indulging in. I can’t say I really blame them for this mindset. Although cocaine may seem categorically different from other products we consume considering it’s a) not really ubiquitous and b) illegal, I think it highlights a broader pattern: the moral distance we often have between the products we use and what it took to get them to us. I had this same kind of thought when giant plastic-wrapped packages filled my apartment mail room days before Halloween. Cheap clothing to fill three nights’ worth of outfits arrived in bulk, many of them not likely to be worn after the first week of November. I am not totally exempt from this purchasing behavior and I don’t wish to villainize it. Just this past Halloween, I bought cheap cat ears for my very bland costume;
Out of View
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I couldn’t really claim to be a cat without them. The same can be said for food: We don’t know how much it takes to produce just one meal in one of the University’s seven dining halls, or how much of it is then wasted. I, for one, rarely stop to think about who picked the blueberries I’m buying in a frozen Ann Arbor winter, despite how disconnected fruit is from the climate and season. Psychologists sometimes refer to this as “psychological distance,” the concept that people experience faraway events more abstractly than immediate ones. This is natural — hearing about a factory collapse halfway across the world is going to register very differently than someone getting badly injured right next to you. It’s easier to emotionally separate ourselves from harm when we never directly witness it. Many industrialized systems are built around maintaining that kind of abstraction. Most consumers will never meet the people who sew their clothes, harvest their food or absorb the environmental costs of the products they buy. Supply chains stretch across countries and continents, dispersing
Nothing bad ever happens in Ba Sing Se
responsibility so widely that no single individual feels — nor can be held — fully accountable. By the time a Halloween costume arrives, conveniently packaged in my apartment mailroom, the human labor behind it has become almost invisible. At the same time, I think there is a reason people instinctively maintain this distance, beyond simple selfishness. I know that if I were forced to fully confront the human consequences attached to every ordinary action, daily life would become unbearable. Eating breakfast would mean thinking about the ethical quandaries associated with the people who harvested the food, the water it took to grow it and how factories produce it. Ordering something online would mean thinking about underpaid warehouse workers, packaging waste and carbon emissions as the product traveled across the world to reach me. It would produce a lowlevel, never-ending hum of guilt in the back of my brain, where even normal decisions feel heavier than they’re meant to due to a constant, unresolved feeling of responsibility. And importantly, most people are not directly choosing these
TIFFANY SUDIJONO Statement Contributor
My decision to rewatch a childhood show, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” started in the West Quad Residence Hall communal bathroom. Armed with my pink iPad, a bulky blow dryer and the buzzing of the overhead lights, I was determined to make the experience of drying my hair slightly less miserable. I realized this could only be made possible with something to watch. My TikTok algorithm had recently been flooded with “Avatar: The Last Airbender” edits, and somewhere beneath the nostalgia they triggered were faint memories of a family friend and my excited eyes the first time I watched the series.I had nearly forgotten the show entirely, so rewatching one episode seemed harmless enough. By the time my hair was finally dry, my eyes had already become droopy from my long day of classes and the impromptu arm workout from lifting my hairdryer. I had only watched two episodes, but I didn’t want to stop. Suddenly, I had watched three. They’re short episodes, soI decided it couldn’t hurt to watch one more before bed. Soon, I was binge-watching during cramming sessions for final exams, while packing up my dorm room and on various flights. I was committed to a full rewatch. Set in a fictional world inspired by South, East and Indigenous Asian cultures, histories and philosophies, the series felt far richer than the simple animated show I remember watching as a child, slung over on a couch with family friends. I found myself rediscovering characters I had long forgotten. Uncle Iroh, the wise guide and uncle to the exiled Prince Zuko — who begins the show as one of Aang’s primary rivals before grappling with questions of duty, honor and identity. Aang, the young protagonist and the Avatar is tasked with restoring balance, and his journey is marked by self-discovery and perseverance. Together, these characters made the world feel both larger and more emotionally familiar than I remembered. My rewatch had also given me a new appreciation for the way the series meshed complex ideas
I first remember feeling struck by the futility of repetition during Cap Go Meh in Singkawang, when I was twelve years old and standing beneath a sky thick with incense smoke and ash. The streets trembled with drumbeats so loud they seemed to vibrate through my ribs. Red lanterns swung overhead in tangled rows while Tatung spirit mediums marched barefoot through the streets, their cheeks pierced with metal skewers, their bodies balanced atop blades and palanquins as crowds surged around them like tides. Sweat clung to everyone’s skin. Vendors fanned smoke from charcoal grills into the humid air, where the scent of roasted pork, melted candle wax and burnt joss paper fused into something dizzying and heavy. Children pressed sticky palms against their parents’ arms to avoid getting lost in the crush of bodies. Somewhere nearby, firecrackers erupted like gunshots, leaving streaks of sulfur hanging in the heat. I remember staring not at the spectacle itself but at the aftermath. By midnight, after the processions dissolved and the drums quieted into distant echoes, the streets looked exhausted. Torn paper offerings clung to gutters swollen with rainwater; half-melted candles collapsed onto sidewalks in puddles of red wax; plastic cups rolled through alleyways. Men with brooms began sweeping debris into black trash bags beneath flickering temple lights, cleaning streets that would be crowded and chaotic again
Aylin Garcia-Solis/DAILY
Se, citizens are shielded from the truth altogether. In our world, the truth is impossible to avoid. In our world, social media hides the world by flooding our screens with too much information to be able to pay attention to it all. Every day, I am delivered an endless stream of eclectic headlines, humanitarian efforts and political scandals all at the tips of my fingers. Reality is not hidden, but appears right before me on my glowing 6.86-inch screen. I find myself questioning whether social media is bringing me closer to the world’s problems or simply teaching me how to consume them. As a student, I often find myself caught between the demands of late-night crams for Chinese exams, the ongoing search for political internships and the responsibility I feel to remain attentive to the issues that matter to me. Yet, embarrassingly, I find myself mirroring what the citizens of Ba Sing Se do quite well: forgetting, and moving on. In the show, that tendency is reinforced by the Dai Li, Ba Sing Se’s secret police, who maintain order by diverting attention from the war to the comforts of everyday life. My social media algorithm accomplishes something remarkably similar. I scroll; I watch a Palestinian child pleading with the world while searching for his family under piles of rubble. I scroll; I watch an influencer mindlessly promote yet another “must-have” product. I scroll; I watch a video describing the current environmental crisis. The transitions are so fast that I rarely have time to fully register one before the next begins.
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systems in any meaningful sense. They are born into them. Even people who care deeply about labor rights, sustainability or ethical consumption still rely on supply chains, because there are very few realistic alternatives. I think this is also part of why conversations about ethical consumption so often feel like spinning around in a hamster wheel. Individual choices simultaneously matter and do not matter. It is true that consumers shape demand, and it is also true that most exploitation cannot realistically be solved through individual purchasing power. Buying one less fast-fashion going-out top does not dismantle anything, just as one student refusing cocaine does not disrupt the international drug trade. At the same time, though, it feels too easy to use that reality as permission to stop thinking critically altogether. If the thinking ends at “my choice doesn’t change anything,” then it doesn’t prompt thought about what would change things or what else is going on in the system.Take fast fashion for example. I’ve often seen people flocking to the extremes, either purchasing more ethical — usually more expensive — brands or becoming frustrated and deciding the whole thing is pointless. Rarely does the conversation spill into things like working conditions, laws or collective action beyond individual buying choices. College campuses, like that of the University — where the median annual student family income is $154,000 — are strange places because they squeeze enormous privilege into a relatively small environment, while encouraging students to imagine themselves as socially conscious and politically
aware. There is often a strong language of activism and justice attached to campus culture, but many of the systems that make elite college life comfortable depend on forms of labor that remain almost entirely hidden to students themselves. Dining hall workers prepare thousands of meals each day; custodial staff clean bathrooms overnight; workers shuffle packages in dormitory mailrooms almost immediately after being ordered. I do not say this to accuse college students of hypocrisy, because I am obviously included in this too. More than anything, I think college reveals how normalized this kind of separation has become. Most systems in modern American life are designed around maximizing convenience, so part of that means reducing insights into the work it takes to produce said convenience. I do not think most U-M students intend to participate in harm when they decide to do cocaine any more than most students intend to participate in exploitation when they order clothes online or throw away dining hall food. Much of modern life and everyday consumption depends on not tracing these connections too carefully. But in looking through my dad’s photos with him, it struck me that the distance between a fraternity house in Ann Arbor and a family leaving Medellín decades ago is not actually as large as it initially appears. For many students, cocaine exists socially as just another party drug, detached from any larger context. For my family, though, the drug trade was part of the reason my grandparents stayed in the United States. But most of the time, those connections never see the light of day.
Temporary things
SUMMER KHAN Statement Contributor
into lessons that felt accessible and powerful. And this time, there was one storyline in particular that stayed with me. In the show, a city called Ba Sing Se is the Earth Kingdom’s capital. Protected by enormous walls, its citizens move through daily life largely insulated from the Hundred-Year War raging beyond the city’s borders. Despite the obvious presence of refugees and rumors that conflict exists from those who enter the city, government officials remain insistent: “There is no war in Ba Sing Se.” What unsettled me most upon my rewatch was not the censorship itself, but the response it produced. The citizens seem to know, at least on some level, that something is wrong, yet they rarely press further. Instead, they continue with their routines and everyday comforts, because the war is someone else’s problem. Government officials help maintain this distance, shielding citizens from uncomfortable realities and encouraging them to focus on life within the city’s walls. The result is a society that appears content and stable, not because suffering does not exist, but because it has become too easy to look away from. As a child, the parallels between the show and everyday life, of course, almost entirely escaped me. But as a student scrolling through social media platforms in 2026, the similarities between Ba Sing Se and our world became uncanny. In both worlds, ours and Avatar’s, people are encouraged to continue with daily life despite crises unfolding beyond their immediate view. However, there are differences in how this occurs.. Ba Sing Se hides the world by sealing it out. In Ba Sing
2026 New Student Edition — 19B
the next day. Watching them, I felt an unexpected hollowness settle inside me. Months of preparation had culminated in a single dazzling evening already disappearing into cleanup. All that anticipation, all that labor, only for it to vanish overnight. That same feeling followed me for years afterward. I began noticing how much of life seemed built around brief moments of order against inevitable unraveling. You wash dishes only for another meal to dirty them again. You fold laundry only for shirts to wrinkle against your body hours later. You study relentlessly for exams only for the material to dissolve from memory the following semester. Even joy itself felt strangely fleeting. Celebrations ended. Vacations became photographs. Conversations dissolved into silence. I remember lying awake some nights in Makassar listening to motorcycles hiss through rain outside a bedroom window and thinking that adulthood looked like an endless cycle of maintenance — people spending their entire lives momentarily restraining chaos just for it to inevitably erupt again. The older I became, the more this realization attached itself to ambition. In school, achievement felt less like fulfillment and more like a treadmill that accelerated every time you thought you had finally reached somewhere meaningful. There was always another benchmark waiting. Another competition. Another internship. Another expectation dressed as opportunity. By high school, I, as well as many of my classmates, already moved through life with the exhaustion of office workers decades older than us. We measured our
Caroline Xi/DAILY
worth through productivity so compulsively that rest itself began to feel illicit. Even conversations during lunch revolved around grades, scholarships and careers, as though we were all rehearsing adulthood before understanding whether we even wanted that script. Sometimes, during Jakarta’s rush-hour traffic, I would watch office towers glowing against the polluted evening sky and think about how many people were still inside answering emails under fluorescent lights while missing dinners, birthdays and sleep. The roads beneath them pulsed endlessly with headlights, rivers of exhausted motion stretching across the city. Everyone seemed to be running toward something undefined yet urgent, as though slowing down would cause them to disappear. It frightened me how normalized this frenzy had become. We called it discipline. Responsibility. Success. But beneath those polished words lurked a quieter fear: If we stopped moving long enough to question the purpose of it all, we might realize we had built our entire lives around surviving routines we never consciously chose. The thought became even harder to escape after moving abroad. In Ann Arbor, the frigid winters sharpened repetition into something almost mechanical. Snow buried sidewalks overnight only for plows to scrape them clean before dawn, the same cycle repeated with brutal consistency for months. Students trudged through icy streets clutching coffee cups like lifelines, faces half-hidden beneath scarves as they rushed from lecture halls to libraries. During finals season, the Shapiro Undergraduate Library glowed at 3 a.m. with rows of sleepless students bent over laptops while empty Celsius cans gathered beside them like metallic skeletons. Sometimes I would look around those silent study rooms and feel overwhelmed by the fragility of it all. We were sacrificing our bodies for futures none of us could guarantee. One illness, one accident, one phone call in the middle of the night could derail the futures we had spent years working toward.
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