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Now-closed Delta Chi fraternity violated organizational alcohol policies night of Lucas Mattson’s death, police report shows “He was a real responsible kid, and that’s very important for the situation. He wasn’t a partier. He wasn’t a big drinker.”
Courtesy of Jennie Schoeppe.
DOMINIC APAP Daily News Editor
Content warning: This article contains mentions of death and distress. Engineering sophomore Lucas Mattson walked out of a Delta Chi fraternity house party at about 1:09 a.m. on Jan. 23. He was not wearing a coat, despite temperatures of 15 degrees that soon dropped below zero. After an extensive police search, a resident found his body in her yard about 0.2 miles away from Delta Chi. The Michigan Daily obtained the police report regarding Mattson’s death from a Freedom of Information Act request, showing that Delta Chi held a social gathering that violated several U-M Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council policies on the night of Mattson’s death. The University of Michigan
chapter of Delta Chi closed on April 13. Mattson, who was raised in Juneau, Alaska, was an avid outdoorsman who placed first in the state in mixed doubles tennis and ran a half-marathon before coming to Ann Arbor. He received an academic scholarship to the University, planning to graduate a year early and earn a master’s degree. His friends described him as kind and joyful with outstanding character. Robert Raitt, the Mattson family’s lawyer, told The Daily that conversations with Mattson’s friends and letters from his professors revealed that Mattson was a responsible person. “I learned he was a real responsible kid, and that’s very important for the situation,” Raitt said. “He wasn’t a partier. He wasn’t a big drinker, and he was, on this night, celebrating an interview he had that he thought went well
for an internship in Alaska for the subsequent summer, and when I first heard about this situation, I was concerned that we’d have some fraternity member that was a big drinker and partier that just went too far, but it’s really the exact opposite.” What happened that night? The Delta Chi party — located at 1705 Hill St. — took place during “bid week,” the period after U-M sororities accept new members following Panhellenic Primary Recruitment. While the U-M Panhellenic Association and IFC’s Social Responsibility Committee policy officially prohibits any social events involving alcohol for the week following Panhellenic bid day, many fraternities still host events. The report stated this event — an unapproved mixer with a sorority — included fewer people than most fraternity parties, most of whom were members from the two houses. Some members still invited friends. Mattson, who was neither a pledge nor member of Delta Chi, attended the party with a friend living in the Delta Chi house. Both him and Mattson were younger than 21 years old at the time. The Daily has elected not to identify this individual and will refer to him as Jack. Mattson entered Delta Chi at 11:27 p.m. on Jan. 22 and took his coat off before heading downstairs where, according to officer Brad Rougeau’s report, the two began drinking alcohol. In the report, he wrote Jack handed
GOVERNMENT
El-Sayed and Rogers argue over economy, healthcare at first Senate debate The two disagreed over participation in the war with Iran GIA VERMA &
ALEXA CHEANEY Daily News Editors
U.S. Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers went head-to-head in their first debate Thursday evening, trading personal jabs as they vie to replace the retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. During the debate, which was hosted by WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids and moderated by political reporter Rick Albin, candidates answered questions about economic policy, healthcare and the U.S. and Israel’s ongoing war in Iran. El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee and former director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services, has built a platform centered on keeping corporate money out of elections, improving affordability and promoting Medicare for All. Rogers, the Republican nominee, served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District from 2001 through 2015 after serving in the United States Army and FBI. His platform focuses on increasing homeownership and reducing prescription drug costs. To begin the debate, Albin asked El-Sayed about his plan
to lower gas prices, which are averaging about $4.61 per gallon in Michigan — more than 20 cents above the national average. El-Sayed expressed support for pausing the federal gas tax and holding corporations accountable. “We also have to hold the oil and gas corporations — who are using this moment to profiteer us, who have bought off my opponent — accountable for what they’re doing to raise our prices,” El-Sayed said. Rogers also expressed support for pausing federal and state gas taxes. Additionally, Rogers expressed interest in reducing the price of diesel — which averages about $6 in Michigan and nationally — through a temporary policy that would end once the war in Iran is over. “I call for a diesel rebate, number one, and a pause on exports of diesel to get a temporary break,” Rogers said. “We can resume that once the war comes to an end. I do believe it’s going to come to an end.” El-Sayed and Rogers were asked about their opinion of Israel. Rogers declared his support for Israel as a Jewish state and accused El-Sayed of having donors from the Muslim Brotherhood. “I support just staunchly (Israel’s) right to exist, the right
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to exist for the Jewish state and the right to defend itself in a very difficult neighborhood,” Rogers said. “If you think about why my opponent is so wrong on all of this, his biggest funders are from a group that supports the Muslim Brotherhood.” There is no proof of a connection between El-Sayed and the group. When asked whether the thinks Iran or Israel is a larger threat to the U.S. El-Sayed said he supports neither and overall opposes using federal tax dollars to fund foreign wars. “I don’t want to be pushed into war by Israel, and I don’t want to be in a war with Iran,” El-Sayed said. “I want our money spent here to buy schools and healthcare and childcare here. I don’t understand why that is so inconceivable.” Throughout their campaigns, both El-Sayed and Rogers have identified healthcare as a core focus of their platforms, though the two promote vastly different approaches. El-Sayed has long advocated for expanding Medicare. Most Medicare for All proposals would replace or phase out private insurers, but El-Sayed said families would be able to keep private insurance under his plan if they chose to.
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Mattson alcohol upon entering the party in the basement. “(Jack) and Mattson go behind the bar and (Jack) hands Mattson what appears to be a can of beer,” Rougeau wrote. “(Jack) reaches under the bar and picks up what looks like a one-half gallon bottle of vodka and uses his teeth to defeat the security seal and takes off the top before handing the bottle to Mattson.” Mattson exited the fraternity at about 1:09 a.m. Around the time Mattson left, his girlfriend received a voicemail in which no voices were audible but potentially included the sound of walking. Based on the report, Delta Chi’s chef found Mattson’s phone
the following morning — Jan. 23. Jack texted Mattson at 10 a.m. but received no response. A member of Delta Chi’s leadership told police he received the phone and told Siri to “call Mom,” alerting Mattson’s mother about the lost device. He also said he saw Snapchat notifications from Jack on the phone. The Daily has elected not to identify this individual and will refer to him as David. Jack alerted authorities in the afternoon after Mattson’s roommate confirmed he never returned home. Jack later told officers he stayed near Mattson at all times during the party. He said the two had been talking with other people, and when Jack
noticed Mattson’s absence, he assumed he had gone home. The Ann Arbor Police Department and U-M Division of Public Safety and Security launched a joint 20-hour search for Mattson, and a local resident found his body in her yard at about 12:05 p.m. Jan. 24. An autopsy determined Mattson’s cause of death as hypothermia. A sample of vitreous fluid from the eye showed Mattson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.199%, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08%. Mattson did not experience physical trauma, and there was no evidence of foul play.
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Harper King/DAILY The outside of the former Delta Chi Fraternity house, where Mattson attended a party the night he died. Following an investigation by the University and Delta Chi National Headquarters, the chapter was closed in April.
NEWS BRIEFS
Incumbent Regent Jordan Acker endorses Paul Brown and Republican Michael Schostak
Acker lost the Democratic nomination to civil rights attorney Amir Makled in March JENSEN STANZI Daily Staff Reporter
University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker (D) announced his endorsement of Republican Bloomfield Township Treasurer Michael Schostak for the Board of Regents Thursday. This is the first time Acker has endorsed any candidates for the Board. Acker’s term will conclude Jan. 1, 2027 after he lost the Democratic nomination to civil rights attorney Amir Makled in March. In the post, Acker wrote his endorsement of Schostak is attributed to his financial background, focus on affordability and support for free expression. “Mike brings financial expertise, experience as
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Bloomfield Township Treasurer, and a background teaching finance,” Acker wrote. “His focus on affordability, access for Michigan students, and free expression without intimidation reflects responsibilities I take seriously. I believe he would bring valuable experience to the Board.” In addition to Schostak, Acker expressed his support for incumbent Regent Paul Brown (D). Acker wrote Brown has shown care for the University and provides necessary expertise to the Board. “Working alongside Paul has been one of the great privileges of my time as a Regent,” Acker wrote. “We were elected together in 2018. I’ve seen firsthand his intelligence, judgement, and love for this university. Paul is a great leader for
Michigan. His voice is needed over the next eight years.” Acker wrote he will not overlook antisemitism and cannot support Makled after the candidate promoted social media posts praising Hezbollah leaders and using “Jew” as a slur. “Deleting the post does not erase the judgement that led him to share them,” Acker wrote. “Jewish students deserve better. I’ve spent more than two decades voting for Democrats. I will not excuse antisemitism to keep that streak intact.” The Board consists of eight members elected to govern the University, as well as supervise and manage University funds. Voters will elect two regent candidates to eight-year terms during statewide elections Nov. 3.
The Michigan Daily Editorial Board’s Endorsements see page 6-7
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ACADEMICS
UMich drops in national free speech rankings
The University was ranked No. 105 last year and dropped to No. 166 in 2027 SARAH PALUSHI Daily News Editor
Lune Mathis/DAILY Junior centyer Moustapha Thiam shoots the basketball during a game against Eastern Michigan Sunday afternoon.
GOVERNMENT
US sanctions ban Iranian students from the LSAT
“Compliance on sanctions is very important, but caution does not justify restrictions beyond what the law requires.” ZAHRA KAGAL & ALYSSA TISCH Daily Staff Reporters
The Law School Admission Council can no longer provide any products or services — including the Law School Admission Test — to Iranian citizens or residents after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions in late August, which went into effect Sept. 8. Iranian citizens will also lose access to the LSAC website — the portal nearly every applicant uses to view LSAT scores, send transcripts and submit applications to law schools. Losing access to an account, even briefly, can potentially stall an entire application cycle. The OFAC notice, titled “Suspension of Certain Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations General Licenses,”
suspended five Iran-related licenses, including U.S. educational opportunities for individuals typically residing in Iran, among other restrictions targeting U.S. and Iranian residents. The University of Michigan Law School declined to comment. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Paniz Karimpour, a recent graduate of the City University of New York School of Law and Iranian American Bar Association assistant secretary, criticized the changes for going beyond what she sees as legally necessary. “LSAC was, from our understanding, simply being cautious,” Karimpour said. “Compliance on sanctions is very important, but caution does not justify restrictions beyond what the law requires. Institutions should conduct a really careful individualized review and account for real consequences of
interrupting access, especially during testing and admission deadlines, which is something that a lot of the people reached out to us about, and they were anxious about.” The sanctions come as part of the United States’ “Operation Economic Outcast,” a President Donald Trump administration campaign to isolate Iran’s economy. Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, described it as “an economic onslaught against Iran’s financial connections around the globe.” LSA senior Sophia Shekar, a pre-law student in the Persian Students Association, took her LSAT Sept. 10, two days after the sanctions were declared. She does not have Iranian citizenship, so she was not affected by the restrictions. However, Shekar emphasized how disruptive they could be.
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The University of Michigan dropped 61 spots in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s annual College Free Speech Rankings. The University was ranked No. 105 last year and dropped to No. 166 in the 2027 rankings list. FIRE’s survey considers a variety of student feedback in its ranking, including comfort expressing ideas, administrative support, political tolerance, self-censorship and more. Scores also weigh whether a University implements the Chicago Statement for Free Speech, if it has an institutional neutrality policy and how it measures on FIRE’s spotlight rating. FIRE’s Spotlight Database assesses administrative regulations’ restriction of free speech and overall regulations on student expression. To calculate survey data results, the organization applies a Speech Code Rating System which assigns a red, yellow, green or blue light reflecting FIRE’s analysis of free speech on the college’s campus. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, FIRE data analyst Chapin Lenthall-Cleary said a combination of the University’s policies and ambiguity in their language leaves room for restriction of free speech, leading to a “yellow” ranking. “To give one example, there’s a requirement for individuals to demonstrate respect and consideration towards University staff, including residential staff, which, as the yellow light suggests, is the kind of thing that potentially is sufficiently ambiguous (and) could be used to restrict certain kinds of student speech,” LenthallCleary said.
The University’s decline in the ranking raises questions about the campus environment surrounding free speech. In an email response regarding FIRE’s rankings, the University Office of Public Affairs referred The Daily to U-M’s statement on its commitment to free speech. “Freedom of speech is a bedrock principle of the University of Michigan community and essential to the core educational mission as a university,” the statement reads. “Freedom of speech is reflected in the university’s history, policies and practices.’’ Information professor Kentaro Toyama, chair of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, told The Daily he believes the University has made an effort to protect First Amendment rights on campus. “They at least say that they fully support free speech,” Toyama said. “They made a point of issuing some kind of statement about how the University will support free speech and it was a restatement of what I think was a very robust defense of the First Amendment, and the fact that we’re a public university and therefore, not only do we value it, but we have to — by law, support free speech.” Toyama referenced a survey conducted by the Faculty Senate January 2026 that found nearly one-third of professors at the University have been censored or felt the need to self-censor in their teaching. Toyama said he believes there has been an overall “chilling effect” regarding what students and faculty feel c omfortable expressing in the classroom. “I will say that I have heard from many faculty that they feel they are not able to express the full range of things they might have even five
years ago,” Toyama said. “I have heard that students similarly feel like they don’t feel comfortable expressing their views fully, and I think that happens on all sides politically.” While campaigning for the Graduate Employees’ Organization’s bargaining efforts, Rackham student Sarah Sullivan, GEO member, said free speech — specifically regarding artificial intelligence usage — is a major concern for the organization during its ongoing contract negotiations. “One of the provisions in our contract is the right for graduate students to make their own decisions about using (artificial intelligence) in the classroom,” Sullivan said. “We think that the University could take a big step in protecting our speech and our ability to express these opinions by enshrining that in our contract.” FIRE’s free speech ranking is not the only university free speech list released where the University ranked low, though. An American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International report on suppression of pro-Palestine speech and dissent on campuses claimed the University had a particularly problematic response to student speech and protests. The report cited the removal of the Gaza solidarity encampment in April 2024. Additionally, charges issued by the Office of Student Conflict Resolution against 11 proPalestine protestors in 2025 have created uncertainty around the University’s approach to student protests on campus. In an interview with The Daily, Public Policy senior Coy Krommenhoek said she believes policies such as the University’s new Diag reservation system, suppress political organization.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Ann Arbor man sentenced to 33 months in prison for $2.7 million trading scam
“This defendant built a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme on lies, false promises, and the hard-earned money of people who trusted him.” DOMINIC APAP Daily News Editor
Ann Arbor resident Brian Mitchell received a 33-month federal prison sentence Wednesday for scamming 128 individuals and organizations out of $2.7 million. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June following an FBI investigation. The scheme involved commodities futures contracts, or speculative trading on the price of goods like sugar, corn, oil and precious metals. Mitchell operated under various unregistered investment entities, including Young Pros Investment Group and My
Nest Egg, luring investors by promising large returns and guaranteeing their money was protected from losses. Mitchell later told investors their money was no longer guaranteed after falsely claiming the Commodity Futures Trading Commission seized financial assets. Mitchell previously violated the Commodity Exchange Act in 2018, receiving a three-year ban from commodity futures trading. However, he continued to trade investment funds in commodity futures to carry out his scheme. One of his targets included a local church that gave Mitchell $150,000 on the basis of a promised 72% annual return rate.
In a press release, Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, wrote her agency’s investigation will bring justice to the affected victims. “This defendant built a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme on lies, false promises, and the hard-earned money of people who trusted him,” Runyan wrote. “Those who make a business out of stealing from investors should expect the FBI to make a case out of them.” Mitchell initially faced up to 20 years in prison but will ultimately serve slightly less than three years. Courts ordered Mitchell to pay victims $2.7 million in restitution in addition to his prison sentence.
Apollo’s Troupe Theatre Into The Ruins of Modernity, The Parliament of Poets
BuyTickets.At/ApollosTroupe Cahoots Event Space 206 E. Huron St.
Oct 18 - Nov 7
“A poet who has the gift of grace.” —Robert Hayden
“Frederick Glaysher appears like Prospero, a lasting call for peace and unity, a unique type of optimism.” —Theater Pizzazz, Off-Broadway Review NYC
Apollo’s Troupe®, LLC Patronage only. Proudly LLC. Not nonprofit. Not Tax-Deductible.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 3
ANN ARBOR
Things to do in Ann Arbor in October 2026 This month, music performances, Halloween festivities and art events are open to the Ann Arbor community
JENSEN STANZI & REBECCA BORLACE Daily Staff Reporters
Oct. 7 to Oct. 10: 30th Annual Edgefest: Freedom at the Edge The Kerrytown Concert House is hosting their 30th annual Edgefest, an award-winning jazz and creative music festival. Edgefest 2026 focuses on the centrality of jazz in American identity, with this year’s theme, “Freedom at the Edge,” aligning with the country’s 250th anniversary. Guest artists will host educational workshops at Scarlett Middle School, and students will join professional artists on Saturday for Edgefest’s improvised music parade. See the full performance itinerary on their website. Tickets are now available for purchase with firstcome, first-served seating. When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, among other activity-specific locations. Price: $20 per show. Student pricing is $10 per show. $70 for day passes for Oct. 7 to Oct. 9 and $100 day passes for Oct. 10. General admission for the full four days is $240, with higher premium seating tiers being $340 and $390. Oct. 10 to Oct. 11: A2 Artoberfest The Guild of Artists & Artisans is hosting two days of A2 Artoberfest, a celebration of the arts in downtown Ann Arbor. The festival will feature artists, restaurants, live entertainment and hands-on art making activities hosted by local vendors. Visitors are encouraged to park in either the
ANN ARBOR
parking structure at the corner of Ann and Ashley Streets or the parking structure at 4th Avenue and Washington Street. The map of the events and parking can be found here. When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday Where: Main Street between Washington and William Street Price: Free. Oct. 15: Gardening at Bryant Community Center Volunteers will help clear out space for future gardening at the Bryant Community Center’s gardening workday. Work includes weeding garden beds, cutting back shrubs, trimming back grasses and spreading mulch. No prior gardening experience is necessary, all supplies will be provided on-site. Staff will be there for training and guidance. Event organizers note it may be hot and sunny, so volunteers are encouraged to check the weather, dress accordingly and bring plenty of water. When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: Bryant Community Center, 3 W Eden Court,Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Price: Free. Register here. Oct. 18: Halloween Costume Swap at the AADL The Ann Arbor District Library is giving away cleaned, gently used Halloween costumes at their Halloween Costume Swap. During the one-hour event, library-goers can choose a costume from the donations the AADL received this year. All AADL locations are accepting costume donations until Oct. 11, but a donation is not required to receive a costume.
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“Celebrating Our Common Humanity – Into the Ruins of Modernity.” This event brings together Frederick Glaysher’s poetry from his books “Into the Ruins: Poems” and “The Bower of Nil: A Narrative Poem” to explore the importance of democracy and government. Tickets can be purchased on their website. When: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Cahoots Coworking, 206 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Price: $15 per person. Student tickets are $12 per person. Oct. 21: Food Truck Rally The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is hosting their last Food Truck Rally of the year, featuring more than 12 Southeast Michigan vendors. Vendors will be selling dinner, drinks and dessert from all over the world in the historic market pavilion alongside live music and community activities. When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Price: Free entry. Vendor prices vary.
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JAKE RAIMI
More than 100 artists set up tents along Main Street between William Street and Washington Street Saturday and Sunday for the A2 Artoberfest art fair, showcasing a variety of fine art, including paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, wood and jewelry. The Guild of Artists & Artisans, the nonprofit organization that hosts the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July, also organized Artoberfest. While boasting a smaller crowd compared to the summer art fair, Artoberfest brought together artists from all across Michigan and the country, even drawing in participants from as far as Florida and Rhode Island. The fair featured live entertainment and crafts for children.
parts to get that layering and effect. The more you add layers, the brighter the colors get.” Additional unique types of art were also lining the street. In an interview with The Daily, Michael Zelenka, a glass artist from Cleveland, Ohio, said creating glass work takes a great deal of time and effort. “The glass that I do here is blown glass and cast glass,” Zelenka said. “It starts out at 2,300 degrees. You manipulate it and shape it by blowing air into it or steaming air into it … adding the color as you go in steps.” Zelenka’s work included glass sculptures with abstract shapes and sizes and hints of bright colors. His work has been featured around the world, including the Sony City building in Tokyo, General Motors World Headquarters in Detroit
and the Museum of Glass Art in Ebeltoft. Zelenka said he comes to art fairs not only to sell his work, but also to celebrate the art community. “You get to meet other artists and get other ideas,” Zelenka said. “It’s a great exchange of visual ideas, so it’s a lot of fun. You learn a lot from people, and they influence each other.” Tran agreed with this sentiment, saying that exposing patrons to a diverse gathering of artists is impactful. “Art fairs can really bring the community together,” Tran said. “I think people have a more personal feeling with art. You have so many different artists with so many different backgrounds. Every person is different, but they can always find some type of art that they can appreciate by going to these fairs.”
Kerrytown Concert House hosts Edgefest, explores ‘sonic palettes’ through improvisational jazz “It’s that human expression — it’s the best art there is.”
Daily News Contributor
Music filled Kerrytown Concert House Wednesday to Saturday as it hosted the 30th annual Edgefest, a celebration of avant-garde jazz. Avant-garde jazz is a subgenre that is less structured than traditional jazz, allowing it to break free from the traditional 4/4 time and meter, so musicians can improvise while creating different textures and beats. Edgefest opened Wednesday with a performance by Music, Theatre & Dance junior Christian Bush, a double bass and soprano clarinet player, alongside six other students. The students composed and performed a piece titled “For Roscoe,” which honored avantegarde jazz musician Roscoe Mitchell. Mitchell also closed the show on Wednesday and performed multiple other times throughout the event. Mitchell is the co-founder of the Art Ensemble of Chicago,
an ensemble recognized for exploring beyond traditional jazz conventions and honoring the Black musicians connected to the origins of jazz music. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, LSA sophomore Alexander Hsu said giving people the opportunity to watch performances by renowned musicians like Mitchell is vital to continuing the genre’s legacy. “There’s this very long tradition of continuing support for avant-garde jazz music in Ann Arbor specifically,” Hsu said. “If you’re talking about Edgefest, this is not really an isolated thing. This is something that Ann Arbor is known for specifically because Ann Arbor is able to bring in really big names like Roscoe Mitchell or Craig Taborn.” The four-day festival included several improvisational collaborations between musicians from various corners of the avantgarde jazz community, including Saturday’s opening performer, Vinny Golia, a jazz composer and professor at California Institute
of The Arts. Golia told The Daily avant-garde jazz musicians must actively collaborate during performances to successfully improvise. “Somebody might hear something that’ll imply a chord progression, or maybe just an open walking bass line, and we might go playing in that tradition for a minute and go back to something more textural using sounds that we hear,” Golia said. “We all have pretty large sonic palettes.” An unexpected collaboration occurred during Thursday’s sets,
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When: 11 a.m. to noon. Where: Ann Arbor District Library Lower Level Program Room, 343 S Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Price: Free. Oct. 18: Monster Ann Arbor’s Monster Record & CD Show Peruse the rare and collectible used record and CD collections of more than 50 dealers at the Ann Arbor’s Monster Record & CD Show. Physical media lovers can enjoy hard-to-find releases of a variety of genres, including rock, jazz, blues, soul and country. Patrons may bring in a few records to sell. Food and beverages will also be for sale. When: Early admission from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., regular admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Weber’s Boutique Hotel, 3050 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Price: $15 for early admission, $4 for regular admission and free admission for those under 17. Cash only. Oct. 18: Celebrating Our Common Humanity — Into the Ruins of Modernity Apollo’s Troupe Theatre is hosting an hour-long performance,
Art vendors line Main Street for Ann Arbor’s Artoberfest In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Social Work student Sabrina Chen, an event attendee, said she admires the local art and the community it creates. “I think it’s really cool that there’s a lot of homemade arts and people showing their passions,” Chen said. “You always see so many families coming together. It gives people things to do, builds community.” Loc Tran, an artist who specializes in impressionist landscape paintings in acrylic paint, told The Daily about his artistic process. “I usually use a photo reference, and then I’ll apply an undercoat of bright color, contrasting color,” Tran said. “I’ll use the reference photo, and then I’ll paint in different stages. I’ll basically just paint a painting five to seven times in
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when Golia joined the Michael TA Thompson Quintet for their performance. Hsu said the festival encouraged creativity through improvisational performances and allowed performers to foster emotional connections with their audiences. “They were able to really dip from these super hot, scrounging, intense moments of occasionally bluesy, aggressive free jazz to these very low-key, simmering, textural and ballad-ish sort of forms,” Hsu said.
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Arts Why I’m a Jason Todd apologist
4 — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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MAEVE MCGINN Daily Arts Writer
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The Revenge B-Side ANA TORRESARPI Senior Arts Editor
If there’s one thing in life that is absolutely certain aside from death and taxes, it’s the guarantee that you will be slighted; at one point in your life, someone will inevitably piss you off, whether it be a friend, stranger or adversary.
The real question is: How will you respond? Almost everywhere you look, there are stories of pettiness, rivalries, arguments and, of course, tales of revenge of epic proportions. The Revenge B-Side is dedicated to that petty human urge to not be the bigger person. As the saying goes, when your enemies go low, you go lower, and The Revenge B-Side is here to join in on the limbo.
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As far as revenge arcs go, coming back from the dead and decapitating eight mobster lieutenants is pretty hardcore. Revenge is a contentious issue for most people. It’s typically a level of violence and borderline psychopathy that is unsettling for many. There’s this pervasive idea that revenge exposes the worst parts of human nature, but I don’t think that’s completely true — nothing exhibits the divide between what’s acceptable for revenge and what’s not quite like the relationship between Jason Todd and Bruce Wayne. Some quick backstory for nonDC comic fans: Jason Todd was the second Robin to Batman (yes, there are many Robins). He was taken in by Bruce after Dick Grayson — the original Robin — shed his sidekick persona and started on his way to becoming Nightwing. Bruce took Todd in at 13 years old after finding the boy trying to steal the tires off the Batmobile. Before Bruce, Jason essentially grew up homeless in one of the most dangerous parts of Gotham, aptly named Crime Alley. Once adopted, he was excited to have a family and help the city by fighting crime. So how does a preteen overjoyed to be Robin go onto become the
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ruthless Red Hood? Well, Jason was lured to a warehouse where he was ambushed by the Joker who subsequently tortured and beat Jason within an inch of his life with a crow bar. This specific comic issue ended on a cliff hanger with a phone number at the bottom of the page that readers could call to vote on whether Jason lived or died. Out of thousands of calls, he was killed off by a margin of only 72 votes; in the next issue, Joker blew up the
warehouse before Batman could save Jason. Jason doesn’t stay dead for long, however. Depending on which comic you’re reading, the way that Jason comes back to life varies, but the bottom line is that he’s revived. And upon his return from the dead, he discovers not only that Joker is still alive, but Bruce has taken on a new Robin (Tim Drake). Feeling betrayed and replaced, Jason goes on a rampage through Gotham under a new vigilante persona:
Red Hood. As Red Hood, Jason becomes the antithesis to Bruce’s Batman; he uses guns and lethal force as opposed to Batman’s famous “no kill” rule. “Under the Red Hood” is probably the most well-known and one of the most revenge-oriented takes on Jason’s return, since his main goal upon returning to Gotham is to kill the Joker and confront Bruce.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Who is an acceptable vessel for revenge? SABRINA ROSENSTOCK Daily Arts Writer
Spoiler Warning: The Last of Us Part II; “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair.” We’ve all heard it a million times by now: Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Or was it that revenge is a dish best served cold? The consequences of pursuing revenge have been a prevalent source of drama in fiction almost as long as fiction itself has existed; it’s a facet of William Shakespeare’s works that still sparks analysis hundreds of years
later. Whether or not revenge is worth the catharsis, however, is a question that has continued to yield wildly contrasting answers. Divisive debates spanning all forms of narrative media aside, audiences still come together to consume revenge stories big and small. Kill Bill and The Last of Us Part II both revolve around revenge, starring women seeking to avenge the death of a loved one. As evidenced by “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” (a belated re-release combining both Kill Bill films) and HBO’s “The Last of Us” (a largely faithful TV adaptation of the games), these
stories’ pop cultural relevance haven’t shown any signs of waning in spite of their thematic takeaways being diametrically opposed to one another. From the way their protagonists are written to how violence is depicted on screen, one can trace how the philosophies of their creators differed. In Kill Bill, Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) is a former assassin whose wedding rehearsal is interrupted by her scorned ex-lover Bill, who murders her fiance and everyone else in attendance. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie seeks vengeance for the retaliatory killing of Joel, her surrogate father
figure and one of the only people in the world she loved — despite their fraught relationship. Joel himself was killed in a revenge plot, which was put into motion after he killed another girl’s — Abby’s — father. Beatrix and Ellie’s reasons for beginning their quests are almost identical, but the violence they commit provokes disparate emotional responses. The hyper-stylized sword action of Kill Bill invites laughter and glee, while The Last of Us Part II features arguably some of the most horrifying violence in any screen media.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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Arts Why you can’t put a price on Princess Diana’s revenge dress
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 5
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conversation (as if she ever left it!). Her brother has released a controversial tell-all book; her younger son Prince Harry is said to be planning a documentary; and on Dec. 9 — after 30 years of private ownership — that exceptional dress will be put up for auction by Sotheby’s in New York City after a exhibition tours in London, Hong Kong and Geneva. As is to be expected, much of the conversation surrounding this auction is about the money. The dress currently carries an estimated value of at least $150,000 to $300,000, part of which will go toward funding the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. This is intended to honor Diana’s philanthropic legacy, as she herself sold the revenge dress, along with 79 other fashion pieces, months before her death to raise money for HIV/AIDS charities. But superseding all of this is the resurfacing of the scandalous circumstances that drove Diana to make such a striking statement. She wore this dress amid a crumbling marriage and a bloodthirsty British press, and
Ella Flores/DAILY
strutting in sheer black tights and bearing her shoulders in a tight black Stambolian number, the so-called “revenge dress” marked a significant moment in Diana’s emancipation from the royal family and provided her a victory lap as she continued to win the hearts of the public. Now the dress hangs in solitude, draped with no Diana. Next year marks 30 years since her untimely passing in 1997, and such an occasion once again recirculated the already-beloved princess once again into daily
ISABELLA CASAGRANDA Style Beat Editor
She only wore it once, but cultural memory has preserved it for all time. On June 29, 1994, the same day that then-Prince Charles admitted their marriage collapsed due to his affair with socialite Camilla Bowles, Princess Diana attended a Vanity Fair dinner wearing one of the most iconic outfits in fashion history. Breaking royal protocol by sporting vibrant red nails,
the very act of doing so ensured she would never be trapped in the shadow of being an exclusively tragic figure. She redirected the narrative toward her own inner strength in a way that was both elegant and empowering. Morgane Halimi, one of the main overseers of Sotheby’s, said as much in a statement. “On her own terms, Princess Diana turned the dress into one of the most powerful messages she ever made during one of the most scrutinized and emotionally charged episodes of her life,” Halimi said. All of this has been reiterated over and over again in the 30-odd years since the revenge dress entered all of our lives. It will forever be a feminist symbol of a woman scorned who took her chaotic life into her own hands against the odds. But the underlying truth is the lesson it teaches us all about what revenge can even look like. When we think about revenge, our minds often go to carnage. Whether it’s the noble Inigo Montoya training his entire life as a swordsman to avenge his father’s death, or many an Agatha
Christie novel where people are killed after changes are made to a will, revenge is usually thought to be a byproduct of unthinkable wrath. It lies in the depths of human morality — perhaps even beyond it — as a dangerous and even barbaric state of being. There’s a reason the general advice — often something along the lines of, “Stop before you do something you’ll regret!” — is so common across generations. It’s because revenge often clouds us into being a worse version of ourselves, a version that regresses us into something primal, into something that causes pain. Not so with Diana. Her revenge elevated her character and brought the public to her side without her saying a word about it. By embracing what truly made her feel beautiful and allowing her confidence to speak for itself, she enacted her revenge simply by being. As if to say, “So what? I’m still me.” By asserting dominance in a reserved but unmistakable way, Diana proved that revenge can indeed be a peaceful and even necessary act of reclamation, a step toward truly becoming the person you were always meant
to be, the person who, after being diminished for so long, can finally step out into the light. This is important to remember now more than ever amid press conversations about how lucrative Diana-related artifacts are, or the truth of the extent of how Charles and the rest of the royal family treated her behind palace walls. The truth was already told by Diana herself: No one of any title or prestige could replace her real human heart. I find it almost tacky that we’ve reduced this moment to its monetary value or to a gossip column when it was always so much more. This is a woman taking back what’s hers. You can’t put a price on that. As we take the time to remember the people’s princess at the height of a monumental anniversary, as her belongings are sold and resold and cast off into the wind amid the eternal royal family feuds, let us never forget what she told us all that fateful summer night: Revenge doesn’t need to be messy. It doesn’t need to be violent. Sometimes the very act of existing loud and proud is revenge enough.
‘Revengeseekerz’ and the path of destruction
functioning as a mission statement for the record. Jane takes swings at just about anyone and everyone throughout the track. They lash out at themselves for giving up the magic they used to have, they demean those who speak on them when they’re not around and critique their own position in the music industry. They yell, “Speak on me and kill yourself or go home.” Anyone who is or has ever been in Jane Remover’s way is on this album’s hit list. Revengeseekerz stands out amongst Jane’s discography thus far as it’s a complete 180 from the rock stylings of their previous albums. It’s more akin to a transformed version of their earlier digicore work, but rolled into a mutated amalgamation where it sounds like Jane had something to prove. The distortion is turned up to 11, and the aggression is the most present it’s ever been in Jane’s music. Jane attributes the album title to “Kill Bill: Volume 1”;
MAE SAVAGE Daily Arts Writer
The first moments of Revengeseekerz are reminiscent of an empty room waiting to be filled. It evokes imagery of a lone strobe light pulsing through the walls of a dark corridor. There’s anticipation dying to be sliced through — and finally, a distorted vocal sample plays. Jane Remover’s vocals break through the tension: “And this shit was three years ago, it feels like a million.” The sample returns, before being interrupted again. “Three years ago, I could’ve touched a million / Three years ago, I had that magic in my hand.” Jane’s voice fills with vitriol before the beat engulfs their vocals as a whole: “This is how I love, it’s sad you tappin’ out.” “TWICE REMOVED” serves as the introduction to Jane’s third album, Revengeseekerz,
notably, the scene where Beatrix (Uma Thurman) is ambushed by the Yakuza at a bar and not only escapes with her life, but massacres her enemies, leaving only a sea of blood in her wake. Jane notes that Beatrix’s actions in this scene reflect the album as a whole: “That’s what it feels like, the album, to me. … I’m seeking revenge, I guess, on people who have wronged me, but I’m also hurting people that I love in the process. And sometimes I don’t even know who I’m mad at.” The namesake of Revengeseekerz emerges most strongly in “angels in camo.” Amid distorted and crushed drum kicks, Jane yells out “Dear God, place a curse on those who wronged me” to open the track. The feeling of pure anger is present throughout the whole song, as Jane reckons with the feeling of being watched by those who are praying for their downfall, as well as those who
The Michigan Daily Crossword
Sunday, October 11, 2026 — Puzzle by Tobin Saxton ACROSS 1. Highest or lowest cards
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15. ___ Millions (multistate lottery) 16. Diameter halves 17. Board game where you can choose the college path or career path 18. Owls who are in the United Kingdom government? 20. Sign between Pisces and Taurus 22. Rake in 23. What YouTube Premium removes 24. Eagles who attend a new student event on campus? 27. ___ Grey tea 28. MLB team in Queens 33. Sport where one might get a TKO 36. Phoebe Bridgers song titled after the former capital of Japan 39. Cardio consequence
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Daily Arts Writer
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DOWN 1. Insurance company that aptly rhymes with "quack" 2. Capital of Egypt 3. Resembling Santa's helpers
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44. Initial poker bet
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49. Sporty automobile, in slang
45. Sport for young sluggers
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52. Parrots who cause a lot of ruckus? 58. With "the," romantic repulsion 61. "Dies ___" 62. Past or present, e.g. 63. Ravens who hatch a secret plan? 67. Score after deuce, in tennis 68. Run away to tie the 60-Down 69. You're reading one right now 70. Nice
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friends.” They’ve achieved the life that they’ve always dreamed of, but at what cost to themselves and the people around them? There’s desperation in Jane’s voice as they allude to quitting their music career to feel sane again, singing of suicide nets and being too fucked up to handle just about anything — but it’s
all for naught as the song slowly crumbles underneath itself and transitions into the guttural “Professional Vengeance.” Here, Jane plays all their cards in one final plea as their malice is finally directed at a seemingly unhealthy relationship.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
‘Beef’ Season 1 is about class struggle, not road rage JULIANNA LABAN
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chose to stand idly by and watch Jane suffer. Even if one specific someone wrongs you, why should the bystanders get off scot-free? As Jane raps, “I carry curses just like a plague, don’t give a fuck what people think,” it’s evident that Jane does recognize the path of destruction they’re leaving in their wake — but it’s in vain as the beat comes to an explosive simmer while Jane exclaims: “I can’t let you bitches win.” They’ll get the last word. Even if you’re not the target, you’ll still pay. “Fadeoutz” and “Professional Vengeance” are two sides of the same coin: The former sees Jane dealing with the fallout of their revenge tour while the latter shows them severing the last relationship they have left. Jane grapples with the reality of how their lifestyle and path of destruction is catching up to them, as they sing, “And I feel love just like a popstar / ’Til it turns into a problem for me and all my
What justifies revenge? Is it being wronged repeatedly, publicly humiliated or physically hurt? Or is a minor traffic accident enough to seek retribution? Netflix original series “Beef” addresses this topic, showing how a small dispute can become a violent, passionate and lasting rivalry. Ranked 71st on The New York Times’ recently released “The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century,” “Beef” is critically acclaimed for its blending of comically absurd situations and dramatic relationships. Season 1, premiering in 2023, follows struggling contractor Danny Cho (Steven Yuen) and successful business owner Amy
Lau (Ali Wong), whose parking lot disagreement escalates into a car chase and bitter feud. Season 2, released in April 2026, takes on a standalone story following a young couple, Austin Davis (Charles Melton) and Ashley Miller (Cailee Spaeny), who blackmail their country club bosses, Josh Martín (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay CraneMartín (Carey Mulligan). As an anthology series, “Beef” has the unique ability to start anew with each concurrent season. Regardless of its distinct plotlines, the series maintains this central theme of revenge through the lens of socioeconomic differences. In the first season, “Beef” justifies revenge as class retaliation with its two financially stratified protagonists. Danny feels no remorse for his actions because Amy’s economic status
shields her from any lasting damage, while Amy’s financial privilege is precisely what allows her to exact her revenge on Danny. This stark difference is shown through the scale of their actions. While Danny is reduced to using crude acts like breaking into her home and pissing on her floors, Amy uses her connections and reputation to financially devastate him. Season 2 follows suit with Austin and Ashley witnessing and videotaping a domestic dispute between manager Josh and his wife, Lindsay, which they leverage to get promotions. Their actions are rationalized by the anxiety of Ashley’s medical issues and lack of health insurance, taking advantage of the well-off Martíns.
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Revenge leaves lootboxes for Dungeon Crawler Carl HUDSEN MAZUREK Senior Arts Editor
Revenge is never free. Nothing is free, of course, but revenge always leaves something behind. I don’t think anyone knows this better than Dungeon Crawler Carl. The Dungeon Crawler Carl books follow the titular Carl, a seemingly average guy who, after Earth is claimed in an apparent apocalypse by an alien company under the guise of mineral collection, finds himself thrown in the alien game show “Dungeon Crawler World: Earth.” In the show, the remaining humans traverse a fantasy-themed dungeon under the crust of the Earth, fighting all manner of monsters in order to survive. They level up and find magical loot, all in an effort to reach the end of the so-called “World Dungeon” and gain their
freedom. Along the way, Carl’s ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, becomes sentient, and the two gain an entourage of friends — referred to as the Royal Court of Princess Donut — who become their found family. As the court traverses the dungeon, they become more and more at odds with the political systems of the very aliens who have captured them, and Carl causes revolutionary upheavals across the known galaxy. While many outworlders die at the hands (or feet) of Carl in the name of revenge for humankind, I’m not particularly interested in what the aliens leave behind. These outworlders do leave literal marks on Carl’s record as small symbols that float above his head, but they serve as a positive reminder of his accomplishments instead of a reminder of all he has lost. There are, however, many foes Carl simply cannot say
this about. Quan Ch, Frank Q, Maggie My and Eva, are enemies and humans. As much as they may hurt their fellow crawlers, these folks were all from Earth. They were in the same scenario as everyone else, yet chose to make enemies of the remaining humans for their own survival. Carl never gets away from an encounter with any of these crawlers without being faced with himself — and what he knows he has to do, even if it is a grim reminder of his own weaknesses and failures. Carl never gets permanent marks above his head from taking revenge on his fellow crawlers, as he is never the one to deliver the killing blow. He is never branded as a killer, and the in-game credit always goes to someone else.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Opinion
6 — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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From The Daily: Your midterm vote matters THE MICHIGAN DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD
A
fter Donald Trump won the presidency in 2024, this Editorial Board went to the drawing board to draft a statement about what this meant for the country. We said that Democrats had to learn from their widespread failure and respond by building coalitions and improving their messaging. We said that Trump and his Republican trifecta would be an authoritarian disaster for the country by expanding executive power beyond anything America had seen before. We said that the widespread Republican victory was not a fluke, and that the country could mourn, but it had to get back to work tomorrow. In the two years since then, we have witnessed the worst case of what we predicted: the astonishing attack on democratic principles coupled with the harmful policy agenda of the Trump administration. Going into the election on Nov. 3, it is clear that in the last two years, life has gotten worse for Michiganders. It is imperative to vote for candidates that are willing to fight for a better nation at every level of government. On a national level, a Republican trifecta has allowed Trump to pass The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, rage war with Iran and expand the role of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement in daily life. These policies have proven to be unmitigated disasters — gas prices have skyrocketed, Americans say they are worse off financially and ICE has killed multiple citizens in cold blood. Make no mistake, in the highest-salience races in Michigan, we expect voters to prioritize combating Trump’s policy on larger issues shaping people’s lives. These issues will play an important role in the race for Michigan’s open Senate seat, which is one of the most important races in the entire country. It will decide if Trump will be able to carry out his agenda that devastated families across Michigan, or if he will be held accountable. In Ann Arbor, state-level elections will impact day-to-day life significantly. Affordability concerns related to gas and utility prices, literacy rates and data center policy have come to the forefront for Michiganders. For these reasons, who voters choose to send to Lansing is important. At the University of Michigan, under the supervision of the Board of Regents, student rights have gone to the wayside. In just the past few years, we have seen the dismantling of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, University-sponsored private surveillance of students, countless instances of sexual misconduct in University leadership and athletics, as
Scan the QR code to view all of the Editorial Board’s 2026 midterm endorsements.
FromThe Daily: For a Michigan you deserve, vote El-Sayed
well as harmful changes to Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Two seats are open on the Board, so voters have the ability to enact change. Elected positions within the University have an impact beyond Ann Arbor. Alongside state and federal elections, everyone’s vote in this local election can bring better leadership to campus and beyond. Halfway through one of the most authoritarian presidencies this country has seen, the midterm elections represent an opportunity to bring people into government who will advocate for what voters want at every level. There are several ways to vote on campus now. Absentee voting has already begun, and Michiganders can request a ballot from their local clerk’s office or online. All citizens can register to vote up to and on election day. The Campus Voting Hub at the University of Michigan Museum of Art will offer early voting from Oct. 21 until Nov. 1. Everywhere else, Michiganders will be able to vote early starting Oct. 24. On Nov. 3, voters will have the choice to vote for a better University, state and country. This Editorial Board researched, interviewed and deliberated on every candidate up for election in the Ann Arbor area to create the following election guide, endorsing candidates we believe will create this better future.
T
he lead-up to this November’s Michigan Senate election is perhaps one of the most contentious in state history. Republican candidate Mike Rogers ran unopposed in the party primary with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, while Democrats engaged in a dramatic and highstakes bid for the nomination. Yet, by Aug. 4, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, had dropped out, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed clinched the nomination, beating U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich, by less than one percentage point. El-Sayed’s victory marked a new chapter, as young progressives throttled the Democratic Party’s establishment consensus in favor of a new direction. For many — this Editorial Board included — El-Sayed is a refreshing sign of the party’s vitality, representing a new wave of Democratic politicians that can emerge into the post-Trump era with fresh ideas and vision. Given both the razor-thin margin Republicans hold in the Senate and Michigan’s status as the only blue wall state with a Senate election in 2026, this race is potentially the most important one of the entire cycle. During El-Sayed’s primary campaign, this Editorial Board endorsed him because of his three main campaign goals: money out of politics, money in your pocket and Medicare for All. His continued commitment to these goals displays his refusal to abandon the messages that earned him a victory in the primaries. Beyond simple policy, El-Sayed has also remained willing to hear out individual and community concerns addressing people directly through rallies and
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town halls across the state. He has brought his campaign directly to potential constituents in a manner that suggests that he is ready to be Michigan’s next senator. The main difference between El-Sayed’s primary and midterm campaigns is subtle. In an interview with this Editorial Board, he highlighted his newfound belief that private healthcare can exist within a universal healthcare system. “Look, you don’t have to take anything away to offer something great,” El-Sayed said. This difference represents a more pragmatic departure from his previous position, likely informed by his time on the campaign trail. Yet, it does not indicate any deviation from El-Sayed’s core values — and the dichotomy between him and Rogers remains stark. At face value, it is clear that El-Sayed and Rogers are two wildly different candidates, but their immense differences grow tenfold when comparing their resumes. Where this would be El-Sayed’s first time in elected
office, Rogers has made a career in public service, having served as a state senator and U.S. representative for a combined total of 20 years. During his time in the House of Representatives, Rogers was known as especially bipartisan. Still, this doesn’t make up for his troubling track record — full of endorsements and positions that this Editorial Board cannot look past. Rogers was an avid proponent of the Iraq War, a known enabler of the opioid crisis and a longtime defender of the USA PATRIOT Act — the contentious counterterrorism law that sanctioned pervasive government surveillance. In the years since exiting the House, Rogers has had a complicated relationship with the Republican Party and its figurehead: President Donald Trump. His disdain for the president became abundantly clear in the aftermath of the 2020 election, when he condemned Trump’s efforts to contest the election’s results.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
From The Daily: For governor, vote Benson THE MICHIGAN DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD
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emocratic nominee and current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican nominee U.S. Rep. John James, R-Mich, are running for the governor’s seat in the state of Michigan. One of them will inherit a constituency concerned with several issues related to affordability, technology development and state infrastructure. This November, this Editorial Board is endorsing Benson for governor due to her commitment to improving affordability concerns and making everyday life easier for Michiganders. Benson’s track record is impressive. She earned degrees from Wellesley College, the University of Oxford and Harvard Law School. In 2012, she was appointed dean of Wayne State University Law School. During her subsequent eight-year tenure as secretary of state, Benson has worked to increase election security measures, resisting President Donald Trump’s threats against election integrity and baseless attempts to overturn former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Secretary of state offices also saw a marked increase in efficiency during Benson’s term, reducing wait times and improving customer service. Benson’s office cites the implementation of modern technology and online services as reasons for the success. Benson’s campaign platform emphasizes lowering costs, expanding economic opportunity and protecting individual rights. This includes her “Affordable Michigan agenda,” which works to combat rising housing costs and improve housing availability by streamlining regulations stalling
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construction. Building off her commitment to affordability, she stresses reducing energy costs and pledged to not accept campaign contributions from energy companies and other corporate PACs. Other aspects of Benson’s campaign include increasing medical billing transparency and stopping pharmaceutical companies from price gouging. As a daughter of two special education and public school teachers, Benson wants to strengthen the public school system in the state of Michigan by implementing programs to increase literacy rates and support teacher salaries. It’s clear that Benson’s campaign is focusing on some of Michigan’s most pressing issues — with a rightful emphasis on affordability. Given James’ record in Washington, and his close alignment with Trump, this Editorial Board could not endorse
him as a candidate. His inability to take a stronger stance in support of a state-wide data center moratorium and a lack of a real plan to oppose Trump’s trade war with Canada represents an unwillingness to break with the president on policies that will harm Michiganders. Additionally, Benson has been endorsed by many notable groups and politicians. This includes Gov. Whitmer, who cited Benson’s effective record as secretary of state. Whitmer described Benson as a hardworking public servant who will execute policy and prioritize the well-being of Michiganders, despite potential barriers and opposition from the Trump administration. Benson is also endorsed by organizations like Michigan AFL-CIO — the state’s largest labor federation — and the Michigan Education Association.
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Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 7
26 Midterm Endorsementss
Design by Katie Palsrok
From The Daily: For change, vote Makled and Schostak for UMich Regent
THE MICHIGAN DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD
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ver the past few years, this Editorial Board’s opinion on the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents has been well documented. From making repressive changes to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities to hiring a private security company to surveil students, the regents — regardless of party affiliation — have consistently trampled on the liberties of the student body. In times of campus turmoil, instead of working to lead with students in mind, they have taken action to concentrate power. This Editorial Board was unenthusiastic about the prospects for change ahead of the Michigan Democratic Convention this past March. Jordan Acker and Paul Brown — both members of the current Board — were the presumptive nominees for the Democratic Party in a year where a blue wave seems imminent. A Guardian investigation shattered this notion after publishing a series of crude and sexually explicit comments sent by Acker in a Slack channel. Several of them were about students. When a University administration-sponsored investigation confirmed the report, his fellow regents chose not to take action. One even called it a “teachable moment” for students. Needless to say, Acker didn’t receive the nomination. Instead, Democratic delegates chose Brown and Amir Makled as their nominees. Makled is a civil rights attorney from Dearborn, whose campaign has a focus on activism, transparency and student freedom of speech. Brown, a managing partner at ELab Ventures, is a selfproclaimed progressive who has served on the Board for eight years. At first glance, the two Republican nominees — motor oil magnate Lena Epstein and Bloomfield Township Treasurer Michael Schostak — seem like typical Republican Party candidates. This is a concerning association considering the party’s near-total deference to the whims of President Donald Trump. For Epstein, this appears to hold true. Schostak deviates from this norm. The moral corruption of the current Board is inadmissible, and this Editorial Board cannot, in good conscience, endorse any incumbent candidates. In fact, we even considered not issuing an endorsement in this race. However, it is abundantly clear that the status quo must end, and the only way out is to elect the candidates that represent the starkest break from current leadership. While Epstein did not interview with us within our allotted timeframe, conversations with Makled, Brown and Schostak demonstrated that there are only two candidates capable of enacting the change the University needs. So, on Nov. 3, vote Makled and Schostak for University of Michigan regents.
Why Amir Makled For an overwhelmingly progressive campus, Makled is a more obvious choice for regent. In more ways than one, Makled’s message has been especially resonant with young people. He has committed to pushing back on federal overreach, ensuring free speech protections for students and providing new perspectives to the ideologically homogeneous Board. He is known for frequently appearing on campus and meeting with student groups, and he has even campaigned alongside Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
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Fundamentally, Makled’s anti-establishment platform is one this Editorial Board can support, and one that would bring a much-needed shakeup to a regency that is increasingly out of touch. Still, he is far from the perfect candidate. In the leadup to the Democratic primary, dark money group Michigan Deserves Better released police reports filed against Makled, alleging he abused his wife and nephew. However, these allegations remain unconfirmed by any major news outlet, and his ex-wife has since released a statement denying that abuse occurred. Additionally, in 2023, he reposted — and has since deleted — a series of harmful tweets many considered to be antisemitic. This behavior is unacceptable and was a large part of this Editorial Board’s deliberation. However, we have come to the conclusion that Makled is running as a fundamentally different candidate in the general election. When asked about these past posts in an interview with this Editorial Board, Makled affirmed his commitment to Jewish students on campus and condemned hate speech.
represents an opportunity to vote for a regent who is open to engaging with all student perspectives.
Why not Paul Brown It would be easy to say “vote blue no matter who,” but given the failure of the Board to responsibly lead the University and its students, this Editorial Board will not endorse incumbent Paul Brown. As a candidate, Brown attempts to characterize himself as a hyperprogressive friend to students; his tenure would suggest otherwise. During his time on the Board, the University has faced several public relations crises: Its scandalridden University Athletic Department has garnered significant bad press, and the University’s administration provoked backlash in its quest to develop a data center in Ypsilanti Township. When pressed on some of these issues during an interview with this Editorial Board, Brown was genuinely unaware at best, or at worst, feigned ignorance. At times, his commentary was even alarming — specifically in regard to sexual abuse and reporting failures occurring at the University.
“I pledge to make myself available. I’ll be visible on campus. I want to learn what’s going on. I want to walk around, talk to people.” - Michael Schostak “I would totally reject any forms of antisemitic remarks,” Makled said. “I would defend Jewish students, Jewish faculty and Jewish staff as if I was defending my own members of my own family.” This Editorial Board finds Makled’s past comments disconcerting, but after his interview, we believe he is committed to serving Jewish students. Ultimately, he
“(The University Athletic Department) is a canary in the coal mine,” Brown said. “What is happening at the Athletic Department is probably not exclusive to the Athletic Department. It is happening at the hospital, and it’s happening in the dorms and in the lecture halls and the professors’ offices on campus.” The regents perform largescale oversight of these parts
of campus; Brown’s casual resignation to campus-wide dysfunction, coupled with his lack of solutions, implied an indifference toward these institutional problems.
But one Republican candidate assured us he was not subject to the national trend. That is why this Editorial Board has chosen to endorse Michael Schostak for regent — our first Republican
“What is happening at the Athletic Department is probably not exclusive to the Athletic Department. It is happening at the hospital, and it’s happening in the dorms and in the lecture halls and the professors’ offices on campus.” - Paul Brown Moreover, Brown recently labeled the University’s choice to establish the data center development in Ypsilanti Township as an act of “environmental racism” — one that he voted for. When asked about the development, he spun a convenient narrative; Brown claimed he was uninformed about the siting process and characterized his approval of the property purchase as a “bait and switch.” In any other position, a blunder of this magnitude would constitute a fireable offense. While these are very different campus issues, they exemplify the same problem: Brown has historically been complacent in the face of large-scale community concerns, and in his interview he was unable to explain the dissonance between his actions and his rhetoric.
Why Michael Schostak Given Brown’s failures as regent, this Editorial Board decided to evaluate other candidates for the regency: the Republican nominees. Historically, we have seldom endorsed a Republican, and with the party’s sharp turn toward the far-right, it has felt all-the-more improbable in recent years.
endorsement in more than 20 years. Both Makled and Schostak have platform points aimed at increasing in-state student admission to the University. Additionally, the University’s Go Blue Guarantee is a focus of Schostak’s platform, as he hopes to expand its coverage to include families with higher income thresholds. As it stands, the program covers in-state tuition for households that make less than $125,000 a year. He wants to tweak the policy to exclude assets from the net worth tabulation, which will provide greater access to lower income students. In an interview with this Editorial Board, Schostak promised to push back on the regents’ inaccessibility. “I pledge to make myself available. I’ll be visible on campus. I want to learn what’s going on. I want to walk around, talk to people,” Schostak said. “You know, if you just stay up in the ivory tower, you’re really flying blind.” Along with their growing reclusiveness, the regents have taken concrete steps to curtail free speech, targeting specific viewpoints and imposing concerning limits on students’ right to protest. When asked about free speech concerns, Schostak answered with an
attitude that indicated a desire to make the University a home to open debate. “People feel afraid to speak out — whatever their cause is — for fear of intimidation, retaliation or harassment,” Schostak said. “And I think that that’s wrong and that’s antithetical to what a university experience is supposed to be about.” Still, Schostak’s Republican affiliation comes with baggage. In March, The Michigan Daily published a previous version of Schostak’s website that featured troubling policy positions, revealing intentions to bar transgender women from women’s sports and “stop the infiltration” of Chinese international students. These positions were removed from his website that same month. When pressed on these past positions, Schostak pledged to “fully support and respect the trans population.” Still, he shared his belief that trans women who transitioned postadolescence should be barred from competition. In reference to his previous statements about Chinese international students, he said that he does not believe “any group of students is generally untrustworthy,” rather his policy was meant to emphasize his concern for specific incidents that occurred at the University. Removal and contextualization still aren’t enough, and while Schostak’s sentiment might be sincere, we urge him to amend his position to better reflect the values of the student body. During his interview, Schostak made it clear that he is a fiscal conservative, and has not bought into Trump’s strand of the Republican Party. For that reason, we are hopeful that he will not thoughtlessly comply with the president’s agenda. Ultimately, this race is not about partisanship; it is about how candidates will serve students to make life more affordable, protect free speech and value their perspectives. There is only one way to ensure student concerns will be considered: Vote Amir Makled and Michael Schostak for University of Michigan regents on Nov. 3.
MiC
8 — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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.
Grief travels slow AMANY SAYED MiC Senior Editor
Grief takes its time to reach me. I wait, staring at the ceiling in bed the way one waits for sleep, thinking at any moment it will arrive. That I will know it when it hits. I am sure it will be sharp and impossible to ignore. Like taking the knife out of a wound — it will hurt and bleed, but then I will heal. A sweet release. I have been waiting a long time for what I think grief is supposed to be. An avalanche of tears, a montage of memories. When Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him) believed his beloved son was dead, his tears bleached his eyes white. When my Jido returned to his Lord, I accepted condolences with a hoarse throat and a heavy heart, my eyes wet but not nearly as red as I felt they should be. I just kept remembering the last time I saw him before his departure to Lebanon, where he would ultimately take his last breaths. Had the goodbye been long enough? Sweet enough? Can that be said of any goodbye? I can imagine the people I have lost going through their lives, across oceans and continents, in their own corners of the world. Though it’s been long since our last phone call, it is all too easy to pretend they have simply changed their numbers. They will call soon, and we will exchange pleasantries like we always do. I am lucky. Neither the whine of military drones nor the hum of funerals taint my day with their noise. When misfortune touches my loved ones, the news does not reach me right away. It is filtered, first, through the loving hands of my parents. Molded into something that’s softer around the edges. Before I get the details, I am warned by the tint of sadness in their eyes. I know something bad is coming. I have learned how to carry this communal grief somewhere between my shoulder blades. I don’t have a lot of family
members that are in my time zone, so the ones I do have I hold close. Together, we mourn losses that come with funerals too far to attend and graves we are too far to visit. Memorials for the dead at my local mosque have very particular seating arrangements. Women and men sit separately, of course, and the family members of the deceased sit in the front of the room to accept salams and condolences from visitors. Though my Jido was buried overseas where he passed, my family held a funeral for him in Michigan as well. I remember sitting in that front row, dressed in black, ever the picture of the mourner. My mom, great aunt and second cousin sat beside me. The rest of the row sat hauntingly empty, so empty that my mom’s friend offered to sit with us to fill in the gaps. After the funeral, everyone was invited to my family’s house for lunch. I was responsible for the coffee, going back and forth between the living room, backyard and kitchen to receive and fulfill orders. This monotonous routine tends to be what I fall back on in times of grief. Milk, no sugar, careful not to spill anything. For a really long time in my life, I was blessed not to lose anyone I cared about. My
friends would tell me about their grandparents passing away and I would hurt for them, but I wouldn’t really understand. When my own family member died, I expected to have this big revelation — as if only now would I truly comprehend the human experience, the full spectrum of emotions. I would emerge out of the stages of grief a wiser, more solemn version of myself. While I wait for this enlightening version of grief to reach me, the mundane one has inched its way into my life. I wear the sweater and gloves my Jido gifted me when the weather gets cold. I randomly think of jokes he used to say and smile when I come across old photos of him in my camera roll. Sometimes, when my family is staying up together, my parents will trade old stories about him and, eyes glassy, we will recite Surah al-Fatiha. Death finds us all. Grief — so simple a word, so abundant in meaning — sits in the aftermath. I assumed it would arrive and pass through, an expected guest I had prepared for and could clean up from after it had left. Instead, like death, grief lingers. It changes shape or color, pressing harder on some days, fading to an almost invisible ache on others, but it is always there.
Amany Sayed/MiC
Arab Student Association hosts ‘Culture Night: A Night for Palestine’ SABEEN FAIKH MiC Columnist
On Thursday evening, students gathered for the Arab Student Association’s “Culture Night: A Night for Palestine,” at Trotter Multicultural Center. Dedicated to celebrating Palestinian culture through art, food and history, the event welcomed Palestinian and Arab students, as well as members of the broader University community interested in learning about Palestinian heritage. Culture Night was a part of a series of events known as the week of action for Palestine, organized by Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, the Ann Arbor chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. The week of action was held as the third anniversary of Oct. 7 approached, a turning point in Palestinian history marking the mass destruction and genocide in the Gaza strip. The event
centered around Palestinian cultural expression and offered students an opportunity to connect through traditions, art and shared experiences. Throughout the evening, attendees tasted traditional Arabic dishes and learned about various regional cultural practices. Many arrived wearing keffiyehs and Palestinian thobes, garments traditionally worn by Palestinian women and often decorated with intricate embroidery. LSA junior Jenna Charara, a member of the Arab Student Association, attended Culture Night for the second time. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, she expressed that she had noticed growing participation at the event. “Every year, this event only brings more and more people, but I can’t complain,” Charara said. “I’m just glad that everyone is so interested and wanting to participate. I think it’s so important not only for the Arab students on campus
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but for everyone who wants to learn.” For Charara, the event’s growing attendance reflected the importance of creating opportunities for students across campus to engage with Palestinian culture, regardless of their backgrounds. Throughout the room, Arabic music played as people moved between tables featuring different cultural activities and displays. In one corner of the room, attendees were invited to write letters to people in Palestine. Each table also contained tatreez kits, which introduced guests to the traditional Palestinian art of cross-stitch embroidery, a practice in which embroidered patterns can reflect regional traditions, family histories and cultural identity. Toward the front of the event, Palestinian artwork drew many people’s attention, including a piece identified as “From the River to the Sea” by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour. Mansour is known for artwork depicting the fragmentation and heavy burden of living under occupation. The display gave attendees a way to not only appreciate Palestinian art but also understand its history. In an interview with The Daily, LSA junior Ayan Kamdar, a first-time attendee, shared that this event opened her eyes to the intricacies of Palestinian culture and left her wanting to learn more.
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Desi Dance Network and redefining the modern Indian-American AMRITA KONDUR Guest Contributor
My introduction to the Desi Dance Network was gradual but inevitable. I had heard about competitive Bollywood dance teams in high school, of course, but had kept myself strictly on the side of the classical South Asian Performing Arts as a teenager. When I came to college, though, I could no longer avoid it; I attended the College of Engineering’s Celebration of Cultures show during my first year and was amazed by the vibrant costumes and explosive choreography from the Wolveraas piece, and the powerful stage presence and exciting energy from Michigan Taal’s dance. But DDN didn’t just accost me on stage — their practices felt like they were everywhere, all the time. I remember wiping my tired eyes red while trekking back up Hill Neighborhood to Couzens Hall my freshman year, and stumbling upon a Michigan Manzat dance practice in my dorm’s multipurpose room at a calm 4 in the morning. (I was studying for organic chemistry, before you ask what I was doing up so late … or early. Is it more acceptable to be cramming dance or redox reactions at the witching hour? I can’t judge, really.) Several of my Desi friends joined dance teams themselves, drawn to what seemed like closeness and community. Naturally, I found myself at many a DDN performance throughout college. But, over time, I began to question what the DDN community really stood for. What even is the Desi Dance Network? In the late ’90s, Desi students across the country began Facebook-connecting over their shared love of Bollywood dance performances. In 2014, the DDN was officially founded by Iu-Mien American college student Bryant Phan. A collective effort from Facebook interest group members led to the creation of the nonprofit, which has grown immensely since. For two years after, DDN was a passion project — a point of connection among Desi students who liked dance. But individuals like Ashish Yamdagni, a college student interested in improving the circuit, were searching for a more concrete system to organize dancers and allow them to compete fairly. Yamdagni worked with Phan to found the Legends Dance Championship: a collaboration among more than 150 dance teams in a formal ranking system that annually culminates in the Legends Championship Finals. DDN teams take performance and competition very seriously. There are the Legends teams, which participate in the DDN sub circuit that perform Bollywood, South Indian, folk and hip-hop medleys; the other sub circuit, Origins, focuses on classical dance styles like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi and more. At the University of Michigan, we have multiple competitive teams. There’s even a high school mini-DDN circuit in Southeast Michigan. My own alma mater, the PlymouthCanton Educational Park, hosts P-CEP Tamasha, and many other areas like Novi, Northville and Troy have their own little teams. These students often matriculate into schools that compete at Legends. There are 67 ranked teams who competed on April 18 for the Legends crown in Austin, Texas, and I can guarantee you that, as I write this at 10 p.m. on a Wednesday, University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Dhamaka dancers are running over formations and choreography for the 15th time today already. My point is that DDN is a very serious environment for dancers, and the presentation of arts is critically judged on the basis of technique, choreography, formations and even prop design. It’s competitive, tense and potentially even toxic: A friend of mine even told me that other teams aren’t allowed to be anywhere near the stage when one team is practicing at tech time. Gossip and trash talk about
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dancers is fairly vicious; up until 2024, @ddn_confessions on X routinely posted submissionbased trash talk for anyone who’d look. But DDN didn’t originally intend for the circuits to act as toxic waste incubators. The network, according to their posted history, aims to “redefine and promote the shifting identity” of what it means to be South Asian American: not to promote Indian culture or American culture but Indian Americanism as an emerging way of being. That’s kind of a noble pursuit. But, honestly, when I was first introduced to DDN in my freshman year of college, I was immediately very, very turned off to the concept. Is it really even “Desi”? Does it represent Desi or American culture well? Upon first glance, I couldn’t find a single truly “Indian” thing about Scooby-Doothemed dances that morphed into overdrawn, un-folklike bhangra segments for nearly 15 minutes. I was shocked that this is what was meant to represent Indian culture to Non-Resident Indians in the United States; I was baffled, really, that the only thing holding us together as “Indian Americans” were these bizarre dance mash-ups. But was I just out of the loop? Does DDN truly mesh with Indian identity? Do these teams accomplish the mission DDN, Inc., set out to do, which is to challenge the mainstream model of identity by expression through a Desi lens? My complicated answer is that I didn’t know from just watching the dances themselves. The weirdest, most off-putting components were always the brief classical dance interludes they’d add somewhere in the middle of the performance, almost always performed exclusively by girls. Anyone who’s done one of the classical South Asian dance styles — Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, etc. — can immediately see that there tends to be a drastic drop in performance quality during these segments, and that the same ten adavus are displayed practically every time with little storytelling. And the hip-hop … yeah, no. The hip-hop segments always felt weird to me as well; many of the performances felt stiff and detached from the rhythmic value of the songs (often by Black artists), and simply not true to the expressive, creative style that hip-hop is meant to be. I grew up watching countless Usher, Beyoncé, Missy Elliot and Michael Jackson music videos that shaped my own childhood understanding of “performance.” The universal influence of these artists is crucial to the global understanding of hip-hop; most of my early music video-watching happened in the suburbs of northern Bengaluru, where my cousin would enthusiastically play clip after clip on his massive Dell desktop. I even learned to moonwalk during this time in my life, which is actually much easier than you’d think. So the hip-hop segments in DDN dances have left me puzzled, as the creativity, spontaneity and free-form expressivity of the style is often left out in favor of standardized pop-and-locking. Which is fine. It’s stylistic, after all, and dance is supposed to be expressive. I’m not going to judge too hard. I’ve actually seen some improvements: Ohio State University’s unfortunately exceptional performance in 2018 San Rafael, California (yes, the Scooby-Doo-themed one) and — even better — our very own Michigan Izzat’s Michael
Jackson tribute section of their murder-themed piece this year. (Though they’re not beating the 2024 Louisiana State University Tiger Girls’ winning performance honoring the King of Pop). I could talk about what I think of every individual component of DDN performances for about another 10 pages, single-spaced in size nine font. I haven’t even touched on the increasingly odd themes (I once sat in the audience of a Titanic-themed dance where the passengers were saved by the power of bhangra). I could tell you what the culture is like on many of these teams, and how many of the choreographers and captains value a dancer’s hometown and gender as much as their skill, or how there’s a growing industry of mix-makers who provide soundtracks with signature ad-libs in the backgrounds. Generally, I am heavily critical of dance quality and the culture that develops around dance communities. But I can also admit that some of the weirdness has, over time, grown on me. The Appeal I joined the Indian American Student Association here at the University of Michigan two years ago and even worked as a board member for a year, where we spent nearly six months putting together a showcase at the Michigan Theater for dancers to perform the exact sort of mishmash I’d been harshly judging. I kind of loved how warm the environment was, how anyone and everyone could dance and have a moment to shine on stage. Maybe that’s your two seconds of Shah Rukh Khan-ness, Ann Arbor-style. I started to understand what was so magnetizing to Americans who’d either moved from India from a very young age or had only ever visited: From the movies alone, India has fucking star power. Bollywood films are incredibly popular all over the world — the United Kingdom’s former Prime Minister Keir Starmer even announced in late 2025 that Yash Raj Films would partner with the UK to produce three Bollywood films in the country. No matter where you come from, watching Deepika Padukone prance across the stage in front of Ranveer Singh against a gilded backdrop spawns gooseflesh. If movies are what made you feel closer to your parents’ homeland, performing to these songs yourself must feel like you’re in one. But I’m even more impressed with DDN’s success in redefining what it means to be a dancer in America. Yes, there’s the Universal Dance Association Nationals, which constitute the hegemonic concept of “collegiate dance competitions” with wellknown powerhouse teams like Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota. There’s also the National Collegiate Dancesport Championships for ballroom dancers, which the University of Michigan’s own ballroom team competes at annually. But the DDN dancer population grows every year: how long is it before we mention Georgia Institute of Technology’s GT Qurbani and the LSU Tiger Girls in the same breath? Comedian Hasan Minhaj is even producing DDN’s very own mockumentary, “Best of the Best.” DDN teams have increasingly become household names: I would be far from surprised to see more financial investment from the media, interested corporations and even colleges in the near future.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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STATEMENT
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 9
Wrestling with the thrill of pro wrestling
ANNA WHITNEY
Statement Correspondent
I didn’t grow up playing violent video games. I didn’t see a lot of violence in movies or even in sports; my family rarely turned on ESPN. My mom hated it when an advertisement for a fight — one of those pay-per-view boxing matches — would come on the TV. In the rare moments I attended a Super Bowl party, I jerked away from the cheering and shouting that suddenly overcame adult men in front of the big game. It all felt barbaric. Even the vocabulary used to talk about sports felt like it was better suited for war, with scrimmages and blitzes helping teams to secure territory on the field. Every small injury dealt to a player in the name of profit for a national league felt like a reflection of the damage we were willing to incur to soldiers and civilians in real battlefields as violence became more and more commonplace in our lives. I couldn’t understand, and still struggle to understand, why we insist on tackling and concussing each other in the name of “fun” when real people spend their whole lives fighting to avoid that kind of pain and suffering. As a contrast to the more violent pastimes of childhood (arm wrestling, tag, Assassin’s Creed), I grew up loving books. Books were
a space where things made sense, where it didn’t matter that I was weaker and slower than the other kids in my gym class. I read so many books I won free personal pizzas from Pizza Hut. I went to Borders to pick out my Christmas gifts. I’ve even kept my first-ever library card, even though it predates the barcode system my hometown library currently uses. Books were and continue to be my oasis. Naturally, I am an avid enthusiast of the Ann Arbor District Library, and I keep tabs on all of its events. Recently, one event caught my eye more than most: “The Great Library Brawl” — bringing professional wrestling to a library near you. AADL has a great diversity of programming, of course, but this felt different. It felt like a genre of entertainment so different from books, so much more preoccupied with the kind of violence I grew up ignoring. After all, libraries are spaces bent toward logic, holding the stories of many different beliefs and contrasting opinions for the public to freely evaluate. They are founded on a community-centered ideology that is antithetical to fascism. Isn’t emphasis on physicality and masculinity a hallmark of fascism? How could this fit neatly into a space built for peace, inclusion and community? Curiosity got the best of me and made me invite some friends, too.
I rolled up to the wrestling event, my car toddling into “overflow parking” on the grass outside a library warehouse, the Ann Arbor library facility. I hadn’t recognized the address beforehand, but one step inside the warehouse proved it to be true: They had cleared a space for a three-rope ring in the middle of what was otherwise a large book garage. It smelled like a Costco, but maybe that was just the hot dogs that were for sale. After a requisite Polish dog with sauerkraut, my friends and I took our seats in the audience. We still didn’t know what to expect. Seriously yoked people in glittering makeup and costumes, who I assumed were the wrestlers, prowled around the makeshift arena. There were a lot of children and obvious AADL library lovers — you can always spot someone in a Summer Game T-shirt. The crowd was abuzz, frothing in anticipation like we were in a colosseum awaiting gladiators. But even the most excited jabbering toned down a bit as AADL director Eli Neiburger took to the ring. Neiburger is extremely cool, but in a library way, not a wrestler way. He wears cozy glasses and neat button-down shirts. Everyone who loves the library can recognize him instantly because he’s super active in the community; he posts to Reddit as u/AADL-eli and wears the
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same library shirt all summer. The mic reverberated a little, but from what I could hear, he was pleased to welcome local indie wrestlers into the library community, glad to seize such a unique opportunity to support an unusual form of physical expression. Then, without any warning whatsoever, three lugs jumped in the ring and started beating on the library director. I am not lying, nor am I exaggerating, when I say it looked like they actually punched him to the mat and kicked him repeatedly in the ribs.
The action was here, and so was the violence. Immediately, people gasped, myself included. I knew it must be fake, but I couldn’t stop myself from feeling genuine concern for Neiburger. Contrary to my instincts, cheering started all around us. Children were giggling, asking questions to figure out what just happened. A referee jumped into the ring, and the wrestlers started rolling out, ready to fight. When deciding to attend the event, I hadn’t thought very far ahead about what watching it
would actually be like. How would I act once the matches started? Would I be frozen in shock and horror? I didn’t know any of the wrestlers, so I assumed I wouldn’t know who to root for — or if I actually wanted to root for anyone at all. It turns out that doesn’t matter at a wrestling match; as the wrestlers came out, they made their personality apparent, offering high fives or a rude attitude to the crowd, practically teaching us who to cheer or boo for.
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Why do we all hate Cam Hendrix? EUGENIO CAMINO-CANTU Statement Columnist
I regretted wearing a thick pair of jeans as the sun heated up the benches around me in the Big House. On top of that, the frugality I inherited from my mom’s side of the family left me without a very expensive plastic water bottle in my hands. Even though part of me was suffering and I don’t live and breathe football like most University of Michigan students, I still adored the whole game day experience: tailgating, chants and the $10 Domino’s debrief after. During the game, however, the jumbotron panned across the fans in the stadium: the student section going crazy, forming their hands into a block ‘M’ shape, and even a quick four-second shot of my friend and me (which took us three of those seconds to realize that we were being shown). The last panel of the sequence was a panorama of the front row of the student section, focusing on an especially enthusiastic fan;
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students began to collectively boo while the camera pointed at Cam Hendrix, better known on campus as Mr. Jumbotron. I, too, was one of the voices booing. In that moment, I felt the typical Wolverine pride in booing — a bonding experience uniting the crowd to poke fun at another student, entity, object or whatever it is that we collectively agree to hate on each semester. However, after the game ended, as I pushed through the maize-colored crowd on East Hoover Avenue, I could only feel sorry for him. Who is this man? No, seriously, who is he? And why did I boo him? I knew his name was Cam Hendrix, but that was about it. I began to doomscroll — although for this article I prefer the term “research” — Hendrix’s social media pages and related discourse. He’s a Ross School of Business junior, close with his family, from Detroit and isn’t actually even the biggest football fan. He grew to fame when his friends invited him to sit front row during Michigan football games, which led
to many jumbotron appearances. People began to recognize him out in public from the big screen, and his influencer career took off from there. Hendrix focused his attention on growing his social media pages. There, he posts many videos of people wanting to take pictures with him. One short video depicted him using his platform to educate men on sexual violence in light of the reopening of the alleged Cornell University gang rape case. A few other clips were of him promoting his merchandise. To be honest, nothing from his feed stood out to me as controversial. Hendrix just appeared to be a lighthearted party-lover. In trying to find out how Hendrix became so disreputable, I began to casually ask my classmates and friends why they disliked him. One of the commonly named reasons was the way he presents himself and his name as a brand. This “brand” entails the commodification of himself to advertise not only his merchandise but his musical
performances — 30-minute in-person cameos of him singing his famous rendition of “Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap, which cost a minimum of $110, per his website. He has also had collaborations with local Ann Arbor restaurants Bodega Bros and Godaiko. Hendrix currently has 13,000 followers on TikTok and almost 7,000 on Instagram. My friends didn’t like how he became a “sell-out” and turned a silly tradition of being on the jumbotron into a capitalistic machine. I continued asking around for reasons people booed him, and I learned about his other big scandal: the posting of the 2026 Welcome Week Party Schedule during the week before classes began. The schedule was an organized spreadsheet outlining fraternity events and neighborhood parties on campus during the start of the academic year, which Hendrix posted publicly on his social media — a huge taboo in college culture.
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Exploring the Mason Hall third floor men’s restroom NOLAN SARGENT
Statement Correspondent
People were looking at me funny. Which was totally justified, given that I was stationed outside the Mason Hall third floor men’s restroom, staring straight ahead. Hallway travellers met my gaze with suspicion. I must have appeared as a man with an obscure and terrible purpose. That purpose was ambush. I lay in wait for people to exit the restroom and turn left. As soon as they did, I leapt into action: I know this is a weird question, but could I interview you about this bathroom? Readers may be shocked to learn this was rarely a successful pitch. Mostly, people said they had to get to class, or whatever. After my first few rejections, reality dawned on me. I realized how strange this was. Cold sweat sprang up across my body and my legs quivered. I feared I would get not a single interview. Eventually, however, after much assiduous and virtuous
perseverance through the burning shame of rejection, I was able to secure a couple of quotes. LSA senior Jesus Estrada overheard my desperate attempts from a nearby hallway bench. He seemed to take pity on me and offered his time for an interview. “Well, it’s like a really weird green shade in there,” Estrada said. “I guess the green shade is maybe kinda not a nice color, I guess … but other than that, no, I haven’t really thought too much about it. I just kind of go in and do what you gotta do and then head out.” Business sophomore Wyatt Biondo-Savin wore a cool hat, so I was not surprised when he responded to my interview request with a game yet laidback attitude. Unfortunately, his nonplussed disposition extended to his opinion on the bathroom. “Um, I mean, that’s just a bathroom,” Biondo-Savin said. “The trash bins are always full, that’s my one complaint about it … but other than that, nothing really.”
While my interviewees admitted they saw some room for improvement, nobody had all that much to say. They seemed to find my level of interest in the Mason Hall third floor men’s restroom strange and abnormal. But I don’t. I find myself very normal. What’s not normal is this bathroom, and I’ll prove it. Allow me to lay out, in absolutely necessary detail, the absurd attributes of this sinister shitter. The Mason Hall third floor men’s restroom is split into two parts. Just beyond the door is the sink section, cordoned off by a partial wall rising about two-thirds the height of the room from the toilet portion, which houses four stalls against the far wall from the door and four urinals along the close wall. The small white sinks each extend individually from the walls, six crammed close together to the right and three straight ahead (all directions are relative to the door unless otherwise stated). They do not even reach the level of my hip, which is especially strange because I am 5 feet 9 inches, the
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average height of men in America (a fact that I Googled for the very first time for this article). The sole mirror sits on the right wall. Spanning less than three sink-lengths, it is dwarfed by the surrounding blank space of gray, carceral cinderblock. A small card in the upper-right corner advertises free menstrual products available in the first-floor restrooms. No such amenities here. By now, you are likely wondering why I care so much about the Mason Hall third floor men’s restroom. From whence comes the fixation? This bathroom has been a constant in my years at the University of Michigan. Between classes and club meetings, I have never been able to avoid Mason Hall’s third floor for long, and by extension, I have often been compelled to relieve myself in its men’s restroom. Although we often overlook or minimize the impact of waste expulsion on our lives, it is something we must do every day, several times per day.
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10 — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Michigan’s offensive range too much for Eastern Michigan to handle in 87-62 victory
SURAJ KODALI Daily Sports Writer
It can be hard to make concrete statements based on the first exhibition game of a new season. But for the Michigan men’s basketball team, Sunday offered a glimpse into what its identity can be. The dress rehearsal for the Wolverines’ 2026 season wasn’t always perfect, with turnovers and offensive droughts plaguing them at times. Despite those mistakes, Michigan’s relentless 3-point shooting kept the game far out of reach for Eastern Michigan in an 87-62 drubbing. Sunday’s game hinted at which players the Wolverines hope to heavily feature this season. At the forefront of that is sophomore guard Trey McKenney. A 3-pointer from McKenney opened the floodgates for a dominant start, picking apart the Eagles from all three levels of the floor. Beyond scoring 12 points in the first 11 minutes, McKenney’s slashing style opened the floor up for the likes of freshman guard Joseph Hartman and freshman forward Quinn Costello to convert from range. Michigan’s offense wasn’t explosive all the time, though. As is the case with plenty of exhibition
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matches, the Wolverines showed they’re still working through kinks offensively. This was especially demonstrated during a 2:17 stretch in the first half, where Michigan turned the ball over on five of its six possessions. Those kinds of periods allowed Eastern Michigan to dig into the Wolverines’ lead, cutting it to as
low as three with two minutes to play in the half. “I thought we’d be choppy,” Michigan coach Mike Boynton said of the first half. “That was the first time those guys played in this building with our game uniforms on.” However, the Wolverines’ eagerness to shoot made it
difficult for the Eagles to stay within arm’s reach. While both teams had the same 40% 3-point shooting accuracy at the intermission, Michigan’s 10 additional attempts allowed it to go on rapid scoring runs. That was exactly the case in the half’s final two minutes, as a 4-point play from senior guard Elliot Cadeau
took the lion’s share of an 8-0 run that set up the Wolverines with a healthy 39-28 lead. It didn’t take long for that dominant scoring trend to continue in the second half. Any hopes for Eastern Michigan to find its way back into the game evaporated courtesy of back-toback threes from Costello and
graduate forward JP Estrella — giving Michigan its largest lead of the game at 15. From that point on, the Wolverines spent nearly the entire second half with a double-digit advantage. “I was encouraged because we talked about some things and then we came out and we executed a lot better offensively,” Boynton said. “This team is able to take in information and then apply it pretty quickly, and I’m certainly encouraged moving forward.” But a comfortable lead didn’t stop the Wolverines from pouring it on. Costello specifically showed an aptitude for shooting the long ball, hitting three second-half 3-pointers to make Michigan’s lead insurmountable. And while the Wolverines’ 3-point shooting percentage steadied at 38.7%, the Eagles’ plummeted to 18.2%. The result was a second half bereft of any tension. “(Costello) looked confident,” Boynton said. “He’s a guy who can put defenses in tough spots and three-man actions with (Cadeau) and (junior center Moustapha Thiam), or (McKenney) and (Thiam) in certain pick-androll situations. It’s going to be something that you see a lot of.” Michigan still has areas to clean up in its future exhibitions, but Sunday showed the firepower they possess even when not playing to its full potential.
FOOTBALL
SportsMonday: Like it or not, patience is necessary for Michigan
GRAHAM BARKER Managing Sports Editor
This year’s Michigan football team is on track to be one of the worst in over a decade. The Wolverines need to win four of their remaining seven games just to match their worst regular-season record since 2014, setting aside the curtailed 2020 season. Coming off a bewildering loss at Minnesota and with three current top-12 opponents still left on their schedule, even reaching that 7-5 low point feels like far from a given. That reality would’ve come as a surprise just a few weeks ago, let alone at the beginning of the season. With a historically successful head coach and a heavily bankrolled roster — one that, on paper, should be more talented than last year’s nine-win squad — Michigan is on pace to finish well below expectations. However, that isn’t cause to call for any firings, replacements at quarterback or any large-scale
change within Michigan, at least not yet. It’s simply too early to form a judgment about where this team and program is headed, no matter how long these underwhelming first five weeks might have felt. “What’s at the top of the list is everybody has to go back and say, ‘What could I have done better?’ ” junior running back Jordan Marshall said Oct. 3 following the Minnesota loss. There are a few people for whom finding an answer to that question over this bye week is especially imperative. One is sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, who reverted from a career performance against nowNo. 17 Iowa to an underwhelming 101-yard, two-interception stat line the very next week. Now 18 games into Underwood’s college career, goodwill is beginning to run out for the highest-rated quarterback recruit in program history. Still, context is important. As an 18-year-old freshman, Underwood was thrown into the fire under a head coach who was
distracted, to say the least. Going into his sophomore year, most of Underwood’s coaching staff and playbook were uprooted and replaced. Underwood needs to clean up his youthful mistakes, but he deserves a little more time to do so before the reins are handed to the even-greener freshman Tommy Carr. That puts pressure on offensive coordinator Jason Beck, whose idea of Underwood’s role in the offense has seemed to vary week to week. Beck has run Underwood more at some times than others and leaned on the run-pass option to varying extents, while consistently limiting Underwood to short and medium passes. The Wolverines have struggled mightily on offense, sometimes due to Underwood’s mistakes or ineffectiveness in the run game, but often due to poor playcalling or a lack of consistent identity. But Beck, too, deserves a few more bites at the apple. After his unit looked lackluster against Western Michigan and Oklahoma, the offense was stronger against
Texas El Paso and the Hawkeyes, losing the latter nonetheless. Hitting rock bottom against Minnesota could be the wake-up call that finally gets through to Beck and his staff. Maybe an entire spring and summer should’ve been enough for Beck and the offensive staff to figure out how to maximize this offense. But if it wasn’t, now he’s got five games of sample size and a bye week to step back and reflect on where to go from here. He and the Wolverines have time to clean up mistakes, figure out what their identity is and even make broader scheme changes if necessary — for example, maybe abandoning the largely unsuccessful rhino formation. For now, Whittingham is giving Underwood and Beck time to figure things out. And Whittingham deserves some patience himself, too. Whittingham spent 30 years in one place before coming to Ann Arbor. He isn’t used to overseeing a full program reset, implementing a new scheme and building new
culture from the ground up. That doesn’t mean it’s inevitable that Whittingham will figure things out, but it makes it plausible that he might need more time than usual to do so. “I’ve been in this profession 40-plus years, and this is maybe the biggest challenge I’ve had,” Whittingham said. “And we will get it figured out. I promise you that. I’m not sure what the timeline is, but I promise you, we’ll get it figured out at some juncture. But right now, we have a lot of answers that we got to come up with because we’ve got so many deficiencies.” This week off is the perfect time to not only find those answers, but to come up with plans of action to make real changes. Penn State is on a three-game losing streak amid a program overhaul of its own under new coach Matt Campbell — a seemingly winnable game for Michigan to reset with back home. “I told the guys, ‘Hey, this season can go one of two ways,’” Whittingham said. “ ‘It can
fracture and go down a bad path, or we can regroup, and the leaders can step up, and the coaches can step up, and we can get things fixed.’ ” Returning from the bye week, the Wolverines’ work is cut out for them the rest of the way. So start on Saturday with the Nittany Lions, and go from there. See if Underwood weeds out his mistakes and becomes more consistent. See if Beck’s offense looks more cohesive and takes better advantage of the talent on its roster. Then, see what Whittingham does about it. If neither Underwood nor Beck improve and Whittingham is stubborn — deciding to stick by them instead of making a change — then conversations can be had about Whittingham’s job security. But less than halfway into Year 1 is not the time to have those conversations about Whittingham or anyone else. As frustrating as the season may have been so far, the Wolverines need more time before anyone involved is completely written off.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
For Michigan, the expectation is a national championship
HARMON SIDHU Daily Sports Writer
ROSEMONT, Ill. — When asked about their expectations for the upcoming season, junior guards Olivia Olson and Syla Swords didn’t hesitate. Their answer was just two words. “National championship,” they said Wednesday at Big Ten Media Day. For a program coming off the greatest season in its history, those words carry a different weight. After reaching the Elite Eight last season, the Michigan women’s basketball team isn’t entering the 2026-27 campaign simply hoping to build on its success. With a returning core, added depth and another year of experience, the Wolverines’ expectations have shifted from making history to competing for the sport’s biggest prize. And they have no problem saying it. Last season, Michigan established itself among the nation’s best, making a historic NCAA Tournament run before falling to Texas in the Elite Eight. But what was a milestone for the program just months ago has now become the foundation for something bigger. The Wolverines now have the experience of playing deep into March and have garnered the confidence that comes with it. And unlike last season, Michigan enters
the year with a roster — and team leaders like Olson and Swords — that has already experienced the demands of competing at that level. For Olson, one of the biggest reasons behind those heightened expectations is the depth surrounding her, including transfer portal additions senior guard Dallas Loughridge and graduate guard Courtney Ogden. “We’re excited because we have so much depth this year, and we have an addition of two new key players,” Olson said Wednesday. “(Senior guard Dallas Loughridge) and (graduate guard Courtney Ogden) are going to be very helpful for us, and we just have a lot of different pieces that can do different things. And I’m just really excited to see how everyone gels in the season.” That depth gives the Wolverines additional options as they prepare to navigate another demanding Big Ten schedule. With returning contributors and new faces joining the rotation, Michigan is looking to build a team capable of sustaining success throughout the season rather than simply replicating last year’s postseason run. The Wolverines now have the experience of playing deep into March and have garnered the confidence that comes with it. And unlike last season, Michigan enters the year with a roster — and team leaders like Olson and Swords — that has already experienced the demands of competing at that level. For Olson, one of the biggest
reasons behind those heightened expectations is the depth surrounding her, including transfer portal additions senior guard Dallas Loughridge and graduate guard Courtney Ogden. “We’re excited because we have so much depth this year, and we have an addition of two new key players,” Olson said Wednesday. “(Senior guard Dallas Loughridge) and (graduate guard Courtney Ogden) are going to be very helpful for us, and we just have a lot of different pieces that can do different things. And I’m just really excited to see how everyone gels in the season.” That depth gives the Wolverines additional options as they prepare to navigate another demanding Big Ten schedule. With returning contributors and new faces joining the rotation, Michigan is looking to build a team capable of sustaining success throughout the season rather than simply replicating last year’s postseason run. But the change in expectations isn’t just about the talent it has assembled. It’s also about the experience that talent now carries. For Swords, the Wolverines’ shared experiences have created an understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level and what it will require to go further. “You don’t have to explain the disappointment to anybody,” Swords said. “Everyone feels the same thing, and everyone wants a different outcome from what happened last year.”
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That collective understanding has helped establish a new standard within the program. Michigan isn’t approaching the upcoming season as a group hoping to discover how far it can go. It’s already seen what’s possible, and now it wants more. Throughout the offseason, Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico and her staff have emphasized handling pressure, playing through physicality and maintaining defensive intensity when the offense struggles. Those details have become central to preparing a team whose
expectations extend well beyond another NCAA Tournament appearance. Still, Barnes Arico sees the opportunity ahead as something bigger than another successful season. For a program that has steadily raised its standard, the next step is one that no Michigan women’s basketball team has taken before. “Every program at Michigan has done it because basketball hasn’t done it, and I wanted to be a part of trying to do something that has never been done before,” Barnes Arico said. “And I think
the same is true with the players that we have in our program.” That ambition now extends throughout a roster that has grown accustomed to competing on the national stage. What once would have been a dream season for the Wolverines is no longer the ceiling their players have in mind. For Michigan, the expectations have never been higher. With a talented, experienced roster and a historic season close in its rearview mirror, the Wolverines have their sights set on one thing: bringing a national championship to Ann Arbor.
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SPORTSWEDNESDAY
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 11
No. 2 Michigan suffocates Alaska Anchorage defense, snags 10-1 victory SOPHIE MATTHEWS Deputy Sports Editor
I
t took just 23 seconds for the No. 2 Michigan hockey team to take absolute control. A quick entrance into Alaska Anchorage’s zone, a bounce off the wall and an easy pass from the left side found sophomore forward Cole McKinney at the netfront, setting up a simple tapin for the Wolverines’ first goal of the night. What followed would be an offensive wagon, unable to be stopped as it barreled down to victory. The Wolverines (3-0) tore up the Seawolves’ (0-3) defense, leaving little room to misinterpret who was in control of the game. Their decisive 10-1 victory kept Alaska Anchorage on its toes from the
get go, giving both it and the goal horn zero relief in the 60 minutes of play. “Fifty out of 60 minutes, we were really, really good,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “Going into the third, for us to keep our foot on the gas, I’m just proud of the guys in that respect. So it was really good. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’re not going to get up for one weekend more than the other. This is how we do it, and the guys embraced that, and it was really good for us.” Michigan’s hot start certainly set the tone, but the Seawolves didn’t travel this far to hand the game over that easy. The Wolverines had a five-minute period of stillness before Alaska Anchorage leveled the score to 1-1 following a Michigan turnover in the Seawolves zone that found
an open Alaska Anchorage defenseman Ethan Warrener. A one-on-one breakaway proved too much for sophomore goaltender Jack Ivankovic, unable to catch the glove-side shot. But that lone tangible opportunity was all it took for the Wolverines to up the energy and tally another two goals on the scoreboard. Spearheaded by senior forwards Nick Moldenhauer and Garrett Schifsky, their respective efforts catapulted Michigan back up 3-1 to close out the period. As soon as the puck dropped to commence the second period, Michigan tethered itself close to Alaska Anchorage’s crease. The Wolverines put 12 shots on the Seawolves — all before the period reached its halfway point. They rarely left the comfort of Alaska Anchorage’s zone, putting little stress on Ivankovic’s back.
As the goal lamp continued to light up, center ice become more and more scraped up. And following each face off, the same intensity exuded from Michigan, addicted to the goal horn shaking Yost Ice Arena. Entering the break, the Wolverines led 5-1, but they wouldn’t seal the deal with a passive game. The Seawolves found multiple moments with a breakaway chance. Luckily for Michigan, Ivankovic stood tall in net to squash the opportunities. “Everyone has their own goal, and everyone plays it so well,” freshman forward Jack Nesbitt said. “We just come together as a team very very well, and it shows. If we score that many goals, we shouldn’t lose many games.” Still, Alaska Anchorage came out quick. It fired three shots on net within four minutes of even-
strength play — about one-sixth of its shot total at that point. But right on cue, the Wolverines regained control of the puck, squandering the remaining time the Seawolves had to attempt a comeback. Just before the final 10 minutes, freshman defenseman Landon DuPont received the puck in the neutral zone, ready to create space in front of him. DuPont marched past two Alaska Anchorage players, making a run for behind the net. A wraparound pass to senior forward Jayden Perron turned into a given-goal to extend the lead, 6-1. Perron may have put the puck in the net, but his immediate point to DuPont signaled the valiant effort made by the newcomer. “We’re on the bench and we’re like take it, take it, take
it,” Naurato said. “So you see what he can do and I feel like all these freshmen, they’re comfortable as much as they can be right away, and they’ll just keep progressing as we go forward.” And as if given permission, McKinney notched another goal a mere 33 seconds later — followed by an additional three all within 10 minutes. The Seawolves had little left to do with a 10-1 score than run the time out. Michigan’s offense proved too powerful for them to hurdle. The Wolverines’ formidable offense was the talk of the offseason. But seeing it in practice is a whole new ballgame. Unfortunately for Alaska Anchorage, it played victim to Michigan’s unwavering desire to win.
AVALANCHE First line leads No. 2 Michigan to weekend sweep over Alaska Anchorage, 7-2 MACKENZIE KASIOREK Daily Sports Writer
T
hings didn’t click into place immediately for the No. 2 Michigan hockey team Saturday. It wasn’t until seven minutes in that the Wolverines found their footing, but that hardly stopped them from overpowering Alaska Anchorage. Michigan (4-0) played the first few minutes sloppily. Many passes weren’t connecting and a spark was missing from the ice. But it didn’t take long for that chemistry to become clear, as the Wolverines eventually overpowered the Seawolves (0-4), 7-2. “It was a good weekend,”
Wolverines coach Brandon Naurato said. “We just stuck to the process, and guys worked all the way to the final buzzer.” With 17 goals over two games, Michigan’s offensive power set the tone all weekend long. This was in large part because of its top offensive unit, made up of senior forward Jayden Perron and junior forwards Will Horcoff and Michael Hage. The Wolverines were held to 16 shots in the first period. Alaska Anchorage wasn’t applying much pressure either, as it only managed four shots. Michigan knew it was capable, but it took some warming up to find its dominance. The first to draw blood was Perron for the Wolverines.
Quickly following a faceoff, senior defenseman Ben Robertson set up Perron waiting in front of the crease to shoot the puck in the backdoor of the Seawolves’ net. Following the surge of momentum, Michigan sent another past Alaska Anchorage goaltender Joey Rocha just over a minute later, bringing it to 2-0. Looking to prevent another blowout like Friday’s matchup, Seawolves forward Jalen Bianchet found the backdoor too, to shrink the gap, 2-1. A first-period response was a common thread from Friday’s game for Alaska Anchorage, but it was no deterrent for the Wolverines as a power-play goal from sophomore forward Cole McKinney brought back their twogoal lead.
The end of the first period was deja vu for Michigan, going into the second up 3-1 just like Friday. And after the Wolverines grabbed an early lead, the rest of the game consisted of them extending it. The clear standout from the game was the first line. After another Michigan goal in the second period, the triad was back to asserting themselves against Alaska Anchorage. Coming off producing one goal together the night prior, their chemistry was again proven early Saturday by connecting for the first goal of the game, taking it 5-1. And that wasn’t the last of the series either. “That line (was) just okay last night,” Naurato said. “(But) they had a really good night tonight.”
Unlike Friday, the Seawolves struck for a second time, sniping from the blue line to hit the back of the net and bring the score to 5-2. After a successful penalty kill, though, that dominant first line delivered again — this time from Horcoff, led by a behind-the-back pass from Hage. It didn’t matter how far Michigan led; it never took its foot off the gas. “It was unbelievable,” sophomore forward Kason Muscutt said about the first line. “I mean, that whole line, every time they’re on the ice, you know that they’re going to create something. They all just have so much talent, and then on top of that, they feel each other on the ice better than anybody I’ve ever seen.”
Sitting at a comfortable 6-2 lead entering the third period, the Wolverines marched on with a fourth goal from that same first unit, extending their lead to 7-2. The synergy between the three showed. There was always one outside the slot ready to snap the puck in off of a passing sequence. And while Perron clutched a hattrick, not every goal delivered by that line looked identical, proving its potency. That last goal sealed Michigan’s victory and capped off an offensively prosperous series highlighted by the first-line offensive trio.
Design by Annabelle Ye Varun Tandon/DAILY Joe Sanders/DAILY
12 — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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