ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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J U ST DA N C E
CRIME
2 suspect charged in murder of student nd
ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
Members of the Michigan Raas Team practice in Mason Hall Tuesday. The team, which is dedicated to promoting Indian culture through dance, will start competing next semester and plans to travel to competitions at several universities, including Texas and Purdue.
Third and final suspect yet to be charged in murder of Paul DeWolf By SAM GRINGLAS Daily Staff Reporter
IN REMEMBRANCE
Former SPH dean dies in NYC Noreen Clark remembered for her relentless dedication to public health By SAM GRINGLAS Daily Staff Reporter
Noreen Clark, a former dean of the School of Public Health, died in New York City Saturday after a brief illness.
Clark was the Myron E. Wegman Distinguished University Professor of Public Health and the director of the University Center for Managing Chronic Disease. She was also a professor of health behavior and health education at the School of Public Health and a professor of pediatrics at the University Medical School. By Tuesday night, almost 90 people had contributed to an online guestbook commemorating Clark, posted on the School
of Public Health’s website. Dozens of University faculty members, and former colleagues from an array of institutions, remembered Clark’s infectious smile, wit and can-do attitude. “We are stunned and saddened by Noreen’s passing,” University President Mary Sue Coleman said in a statement. “She was incredibly dedicated to the health and well-being of others, as evidenced by her teaching, research and leadership as dean. She was a friend and colleague,
and I will miss her enthusiasm.” During her tenure as dean, Clark oversaw a multitude of change within the School of Public Health. She led the reorganization of the school’s programs, which reduced the number of individual departments, establishing new interdisciplinary programs. Clark also championed the creation of 24 new academic centers. By the end of her term as dean, the school led the UniSee DEAN, Page 7A
A second South Carolina resident has been charged in the murder of Medical student Paul DeWolf. Joei Alexander Jordan, a 20 year-old man from Sumter, S.C., was arraigned Tuesday on one count of homicide, two counts of first degree homicide and one count of conspiracy to commit home invasion. The home invasion charges pertain to incidents at 210 North Ingalls and 220 North Ingalls. The latter is the address of the Phi Rho Sigma fraternity, where DeWolf was found dead in July. Last week, 21 year-old Shaquille Alexander Keiley Jones was arraigned on identical charges.
FRIENDLY RIVALRY
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG meetings consumed by election reform Recent assembly meetings have lacked legislation that isn’t related to election By AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR Daily Staff Reporter
It has been four weeks since the Central Student Government Assembly last passed an initiative not related to reforming its election process. As the current administration gears up for the winter semester, elected representatives may not accomplish as much as other assemblies have in the past, judging by the volume of legislation passed. While Law student John Lin, a CSG representative, acknowledged that the majority of the representatives’ accomplishments were made outside of CSG, he said the lack of initiatives passed this semester is an ongoing problem for the assembly. Lin, who is chair of the Reso-
lutions Committee, said only one piece of legislation that dealt with “grassroots initiatives” was passed this year. All other work approved by CSG either amended the governing rules of student government or funded and sponsored campus organizations. “That’s shocking,” Lin said. “The problem lies in what happens in a Tuesday night where it’s been overwhelmed by the rule changes — it hasn’t become that forum for ideas.” In 2010, CSG advocated student veteran benefits and convinced University administrators to provide former service members with waived application fees and in-state tuition. The annual four-day Fall Study Break in mid-October and more Saturday night University dining options are also accomplishments of previous CSG administrations. While the executive body of student government continued to work on its own initiatives — such as the off-campus bus route and the 24-hour café See CSG, Page 5A
the statement
According to Sumter County court records, Jordan was in traffic court in South Carolina on March 19 for a speeding violation. David Goldstein, an attorney from Ann Arbor, will represent the Jordan, who is currently being held without bond. His preliminary examination has been set for Dec. 12 at 8:30 a.m. DeWolf, a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the neck in his room at the Phi Rho Sigma house on July 24. A coworker discovered his body after he failed to show up to work at the Ann Arbor Veteran Affairs Healthcare System. Earlier this month, police reported that they had arrested three people in connection with the murder. University and Ann Arbor Police offered a $10,000 reward for information in the case, but officials said that reward wasn’t claimed as a result of the arrests. One of the three arrested suspects still has not been charged in the case.
Rep. Peters, Sen. Brown wager over OSU game Senate candidate bets on Michigan despite his Spartan past By KATIE BURKE Daily News Editor VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Art & Design junior Elizabeth McCubberey and LSA junior Jake Cinti light candles at the Stop Violence Against Women event on the corner of South and East University Tuesday.
Objectification of women challenged by students Project connects violence to potrayal of women in media By JACK TURMAN For The Daily
Many television and Internet marketers aim to produce the most eye-catching advertisements hoping that consumers
will remember their product. But, are they reinforcing negative gender roles in the process? The Stop Violence Against Women event Tuesday night on the corner of South University and East University Avenues stemmed from this topic in a Women’s Studies class. Art & Design juniors Madelyn Etzcorn and Elizabeth McCubbrey, and LSA junior Zachary Howard organized the project to raise
awareness about how women are portrayed in the media. The trio chose to focus on advertisements because they believe some can promote rape culture or the idea that women can be bought for sex. Their hope is that the project will create a safe environment where people can freely discuss rape culture. The event included two projection screens showing a sixSee EVENT, Page 5A
The matchup ESPN has dubbed “the greatest North American sports rivalry of the twentieth century” has infiltrated an already divided environment — the U.S. Congress. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D– Ohio) and U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) placed a “friendly wager” Tuesday on the outcome of Saturday’s football game between Ohio State University and Michigan football. On the line is a six-pack of craft beer — the loser must give the winner beer from his home state. The beers of choice are Great Lakes Christmas Ale, brewed in Ohio, or a brew from the Detroit Beer Company, based in downtown Detroit. Brown initially approached Peters with the idea of such a wager, which Peters enthusiastically accepted. “I’m glad to make a safe and See BET, Page 5A
In Washington, D.C., a University staff fights for federal research funding.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 36 ©2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS......................6A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B
News
2A — Wednesday, November 27, 2013
MONDAY: This Week in History
TUESDAY: Professor Profiles
THE PIANO MAN
WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers
THURSDAY: Alumni Profiles
420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com
Student victim of hate crimes
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
A San Jose State University student who is Black alleges that he was racially harassed and tormented by three of his suitemates, who will be arraigned Jan. 6 for charges of battery and hate crimes, The Spartan Daily reported Friday. The three students allegedly put a bike lock around the victim’s neck and told him they didn’t have the key. In another incident, they allegedly tried to wrestle him to the ground, injuring him in the process. They also are accused of blockading the victim in his room five times. The apartment was decorated with racially charged items including a Confederate flag and pictures of
CRIME NOTES
Adolf Hitler. A fourth student was suspended Friday. MSU researchers develop advanced microscope Michigan State University researchers are developing a microscope that will be able to capture the movement of atoms and molecules down to one millionth of a billionth of a second, The State News reported Monday. Currently, high-resolution electron microscopes, while powerful, cannot capture movement of individual molecules, ChongYu Ruan, associate professor in physics and astronomy at MSU
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
Picture this
Not so ID-eal
WHERE: Mason Hall WHEN: Monday at 1:35 p.m. WHAT: A video projector was taken from a thirdfloor room, University Police reported. The projector is thought to have been taken between 2 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Monday. There are no suspects.
WHERE: North Campus Recreation Building WHEN: Monday at about 9:40 p.m. WHAT: A subject snuck into the building, avoiding staff, University Police reported. He was allegedly a student who did not have his ID with him, and was directed to leave until he had identification.
Spanish lunch hour
Solo organist performance
WHAT: A conversational group for those looking to practice their Spanish occurs every Wednesday. WHO: School of Nursing WHEN: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Nick’s Cafe in 300 N. Ingalls
WHAT: Director of Music and organist of St. Clare of Montefalco in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. will preform the organ. WHO: School of Music, Theatre and Dance WHEN: 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. WHERE: School of Pub
Performance enhancement meeting
Take a load off
WHERE: University Hospital WHEN: Monday at about 1:05 p.m. WHAT: A subject reportedly exposed himself to a staff member, University Police reported. The suspect was arrested and released pending warrant authorization.
FRIDAY: Photos of the Week
SAN JOSE STATE
The Campus Jazz Ensemble of non-music majors, directd by Dave Sayers, performs at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance Tuesday.
We need a doctor
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WHERE: 1107 Kipke WHEN: Monday at 8:30 a.m. WHAT: Two vehicles were involved in an accident, University Police reported. The incident occured near a loading dock. Both vehicles were damaged, but no injuries were reported.
WHAT: Those grappling with academic, professional or athletic performance issues may benefit from this common concerns meeting. This workshop will focus on mindfulness. WHO: Counseling and Psychological Services WHEN: 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Michigan Union
MORE ONLINE Love Crime Notes?
Get more online at michigandaily.com/blogs/The Wire
Blood donation WHAT: Today is the final day to donate blood in the Blood Battle against The Ohio State University, a 32-year-old tradition. WHO: Blood Drives United WHEN: 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. WHERE: Michigan Union CORRECTIONS l Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@michigandaily.com.
and research team head, told The State News. This complicates the study of the relationship between cell structure and function. “When you want to study molecules moving around and binding, it happens at high speeds in the frames you look at,” Martin Berz, physics and astronomy professor and member of the research team, said in the article. “You’re so zoomed in, and (molecule movement is) happening so fast. But this microscope can capture very fast processes with a very quick exposure time. You can see molecules bind together without any blurring: a super sharp image.” — CAROLYN GEARIG
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY
1
The World Health Organization redacted its report that about half of new HIV cases in Greece were self-inflicted, Fox Business reported Tuesday. These cases, they said, were only anecdotal.
2
Since the cuts in federal spending triggered by sequestration, the University’s team in D.C. has to work harder than ever to advocate for research dollars and favorable policy. >> FOR MORE, SEE THE STATE
3
If Afghan President Hamid Karzai does not sign a long-term security agreement, The Washington Post reported Tuesday, the U.S. could remove all troops from Afghanistam by the end of 2015.
ANDREW WEINER
KIRBY VOIGTMAN
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BUSINESS STAFF Amal Muzaffar Digital Accounts Manager Doug Soloman University Accounts Manager Leah Louis-Prescott Classified Manager Lexi Derasmo Local Accounts Manager Hillary Wang National Accounts Manager Ellen Wolbert and Sophie Greenbaum Production Managers The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $110. Winter term (January through April) is $115, yearlong (September through April) is $195. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press.
U.S. spewing 50% more French prostitution bill methane than EPA says aimed at fining clients Livestock, oil drilling are sources of extra emissions
ma and Kansas. That means methane may be a bigger global warming issue than thought, scientists say. Methane is 21 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the most abundant global warming gas, although it doesn’t stay in the air as long. Much of that extra methane, also called natural gas, seems to be coming from livestock, including manure, belches, and flatulence, as well as leaks from
Proposed law will decriminalize soliciting on the street
refining and drilling for oil and gas, the study says. It was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The study estimates that in WASHINGTON (AP) — The 2008, the U.S. poured 49 milUnited States is spewing 50 perlion tons of methane into the air. cent more methane — a potent That means U.S. methane emisPARIS (AP) — France’s govheat-trapping gas — than the federnment is pushing one of sions trapped about as much heat eral government estimates, a new Europe’s toughest laws against as all the carbon dioxide pollucomprehensive scientific study tion coming from cars, trucks, prostitution and sex trafficking, says. Much of it is coming from and other countries are watchand planes in the country in six just three states: Texas, Oklahoing closely. Advocates hope months. That’s more than the 32 milthat a draft French law going lion tons estimated by the U.S. to parliament Wednesday will help change long-held attitudes Environmental Protection Administration or the nearly toward the world’s oldest profes29 million tons reckoned by the sion — by punishing the customer and protecting the prostitute. European Commission. The bill, however, is facing “Something is very much off in the inventories,” said study coresistance in a country with a libertine reputation and a Mediauthor Anna Michalak, an Earth terranean macho streak, and has scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, prompted petitions defending Sudoku Syndication http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ those who buy sex. Signatories Calif. “The total U.S. impact on include screen icon Catherine the world’s energy budget is different than we thought, and it’s Deneuve —who played a prostitute in the cult film “Belle de worse.” EPA spokeswoman Alisha Jour” — and crooner Charles Johnson said her agency hasn’t Aznavour. Prostitution is currently legal had time to go through the study EASY yet, but hopes it will help “refine in France, but brothels, pimping our estimates going forward.” and soliciting in public are illegal. While the world has a good handle on how much carbon The bill has prompted debate about sex and sexism in France, dioxide is pumped into the air, where former International scientists have been more baffled by methane emissions. They have Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is facing had to use computer models to charges of aggravated pimping. estimate how much methane is going into that air. He denies wrongdoing, though his lawyer has defended StraussThis study, however, was based on nearly 13,000 measureKahn’s free-wheeling sex life. ments from airplane flights and It has also called attention to the evolution of the sex business, tall towers, the most used in any such research. as the number of foreign prostiThe information was collecttutes, especially from Asia and ed in 2008. Scientists have yet eastern Europe, has soared in to analyze their data from 2012, recent years. The proposed law would and that will capture more of any impact of the natural gas introduce a 1,500-euro ($2,000) boom from hydraulic fracturfine —rising to 3,000-euro at the second offense— for the clients ing, Michalik said. Studies recently have shown conflictof prostitutes. They could also be ing results about how much forced to attend classes aimed at © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com EASY AS PIE highlighting the harms of prostimethane escapes during fracking and other forms of fossil tution. fuel drilling. The bill aims to decriminalGenerate and solve Sudoku, Super Sudoku and Godoku puzzles at sudokusyndication.com!
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ize the estimated 40,000 prostitutes in France, by scrapping a 2003 law that bans soliciting on the streets, and making it easier for foreign prostitutes to remain legally in France if they enter a process to get out of prostitution. One of the bill’s authors, Maud Olivier, says it’s about “getting rid the consequence of unequal and archaic relationships between men and women.” Other countries such as Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where brothels are legal, are especially interested in the French experience. “If France moves, that could be the turning point for other European countries,” said Gregoire Thery, secretary-general of the Mouvement du Nid, an organization which says it helps 5,000 prostitutes in France each year. The proposed law —written by a group of lawmakers from both right and left and backed by the Socialist government— follows the example of Sweden, which passed similar legislation in 1999. A report commissioned by the Swedish government showed that the number of people involved in street prostitution in Sweden’s three largest cities dropped from around 730 in 1999 to 300-430 a year in the 10 years after that. At the same time, street prostitution in neighboring Norway and Denmark increased. The Netherlands went the other way, legalizing prostitution in 2000. But the policy has come in for criticism for playing into the hands of criminals and human traffickers who exploit women. The government is now aiming to crack down on human trafficking by tightening laws. Supporters of the French draft law argue that it could reduce sex trafficking and empower prostitutes. “The current law is not on our side so we keep being trapped in that system, and the client knows that, he plays with that. When
we hear about ‘prostitution by choice,’ I think that it is still prostitution as violence toward women, and we cannot keep tolerating that violence anymore,” said Rosen Hicher, 57, who was a prostitute from 1988 to 2009. “One day, a client told me: ‘If you don’t accept to do it without condom, I will call the police,’” she told a news conference. “I was able to say to him: ‘clear off’. But another one wouldn’t because she would be under control of a pimp or would be sold by her husband, her father or her brother.” Opponents of the French bill argue the opposite, and fear that cracking down will push prostitutes into a dangerous position: Being forced to hide, they would be even more at the mercy of pimps and violent clients, and cut off from the organizations able to help them. “More clandestine practices means we would find ourselves in more secluded places, and therefore subject to possible violence,” Thierry Schaffauser, a 31-year old escort and spokesman for sex workers’ group Strass, told The Associated Press. And in dealings with the client, he said, prostitutes would “have less power because when you make less profit, you might have to accept clients that you wouldn’t normally accept, accept doing something you might not have accepted before.” A contentious open letter titled “Hands off my whore” was released last month by a group of men, including a lawyer for Strauss-Kahn, in favor of a man’s right to buy physical pleasure. And earlier this month, a petition emerged, signed by 60 celebrities, including Deneuve and Aznavour, saying: “Without supporting or promoting prostitution, we reject the penalization of those who prostitute themselves and those who buy their services, and we ask for a real debate without ideological prejudice.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS BRIEFS DETROIT
Motor city sees 41 hours without violence Detroit has a day-and-a-half streak of no reported homicides or non-fatal shootings, police said Tuesday. The streak started at midnight Monday morning and as of 5:15 p.m. Tuesday was intact. “For the first time in months the city of Detroit has seen its longest period of non-violence,” the department said in a release. Just weeks ago, three men were shot and killed and six others wounded in a rear gambling room of an east side Detroit barbershop. A witness told police that the shooter pulled into a rear alley and fired shots into an open rear door of the barbershop on Nov. 6.
DETROIT
Ford recalls Escape for seventh time The hot-selling SUV has been recalled seven times since it was redesigned and went on sale in the spring of 2012. The first of two recalls announced Tuesday affects more than 161,000 Escapes worldwide from the 2013 model year with 1.6liter four-cylinder engines. Ford says the cylinder heads can overheat and crack, causing oil leaks. Of those SUVs, fuel lines on about 12,000 may have been installed incorrectly. They could become chafed and leak gas. Many were repaired under a previous recall. Ford says the oil leaks caused 13 fires but no injuries. There haven’t been any fires from the fuel line problems.
WASHINGTON
White House appeals for return of retired FBI agent The White House on Tuesday made a holiday appeal to Iran to return a retired FBI agent and two other Americans being held in the country. Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent, disappeared during a business trip to Iran’s Kish Island in March 2007. The United States believes the private investigator and father of seven was abducted and is being held in Iran. Levinson’s case was a topic in recent negotiations between U.S. and Iran aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear program and improving diplomatic ties. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday that Obama specifically raised Levinson’s case as well as those of U.S. citizens Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati, who have been detained in Iran, during a telephone conversation earlier in the fall with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Negotiators came close but failed Tuesday to clinch a freetrade deal that could have helped boost the world economy by $1 trillion a year and cleared the way for a broader global agreement. Diplomats from the World Trade Organization’s 159 members had been trying to forge an agreement before a trade ministers’ meeting next week in Bali, Indonesia. Achieving a deal in Bali is seen as a final effort to revive a broader 12-year effort to ease global trade rules. The mini-deal discussed in Geneva had been intended, in part, to reduce delays and inefficiencies at national borders. Making it easier to move goods across borders could boost the global economy by nearly $1 trillion a year and support 21 million jobs, according to a report co-written by Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow in international trade at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. —Compiled from Daily wire reports
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 — 3A
Boat carrying 150 Haitian migrants flips, at least 20 dead Sailboat capsizes in Bahamas after running aground MIAMI (AP) — A sailboat passing through the southern Bahamas islands with about 150 Haitian migrants on board capsized after running aground, killing up to 30 people and leaving the rest clinging to the vessel for hours, authorities said Tuesday. The exact death toll remained uncertain. Authorities on the scene confirmed at least 20 dead and determined the number could reach 30 based on accounts from survivors, said Lt. Origin Deleveaux, a Royal Bahamas Defense Force spokesman. The remains of five victims had been recovered and the Bahamas military and police were working with the U.S. Coast Guard to recover additional bodies as they pulled survivors from the stranded sailboat. “Right now, we are just trying to recover as many bodies as we possibly can,” Deleveaux said. Authorities believe the migrants had been at sea for eight to nine days with limited food and water and no life jackets, Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Gabe Somma said. Many were severely dehydrated when the first rescue crews reached them. The boat, in addition to being overloaded, likely encountered rough weather, Deleveaux said. “It was obviously just grossly overloaded, unbalanced, unseaworthy,” Somma said. “An incredibly dangerous voyage.” The capsizing of overloaded vessels occurs with disturbing frequency in the area, most recently in mid-October when four Haitian women died off Miami. There have also been fatal incidents near the Turks
and Caicos Islands, between Haiti and the Bahamas, and in the rough Mona Passage that divides the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. “Unfortunately we see these types of tragedies occur on a monthly basis,” Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss said. “Every year we see hundreds of migrants needlessly lose their lives at sea taking part in these dangerous and illegal voyages.” It’s common enough that the Coast Guard recently developed a public service announcement that will run on TV and radio in Florida, Haiti, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic urging people not to risk the deadly ocean voyages. This latest incident occurred late Monday near Harvey Cays, about 80 miles (125 kilometers) southeast of New Providence, the island that includes the capital of Nassau, and 260 miles (417 kilometers) southeast of Miami. Fishermen spotted the dangerously overloaded sailboat and alerted the Bahamas military, which asked the Coast Guard for assistance in locating the vessel, Somma said. By the time it was spotted, the 40-foot boat had run aground in an area dotted with tiny outcroppings and reefs and then capsized. Photos taken by the Coast Guard showed people clinging to every available space on the overturned vessel. Some were taken to a clinic on nearby Staniel Cay for treatment for dehydration. By late Tuesday afternoon, the Coast Guard and Bahamian authorities had rescued about 110 people, including 19 women. Deleveaux said there were no children on board. Smugglers will often seek to blend in with the migrants when they are captured and authorities did not announce any arrests.
Investigators look into role of Adam Lanza’s mother in Newtown shooting Nancy Lanza bonded with son over shooting and guns
GENEVA
Global free-trade deal colapses
News
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — As Adam Lanza withdrew from the world into his bedroom, the only person he appeared to be close to was his mother, who cooked his favorite meals, did his laundry daily — and bonded with him over shooting and guns. Investigators’ final report on last year’s school massacre in Newtown provided new insights into Nancy Lanza’s home life with her troubled adult son and renewed the debate over whether she bears any responsibility for the bloodbath that began with her shooting death. “I think that we will always be bewildered by someone who did express her concern for her son, why she sought to have him engage with firearms,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Tuesday. “Not even those folks who oppose reasonable gun safety legislation would argue that it was a good idea to have someone who was evidencing this kind of disturbance have possession of the kinds of weapons that he had possession of.” Adam Lanza’s fascination
with violence was apparent to teachers and other acquaintances, investigators said in their report. He collected materials on mass killings and kept a spreadsheet ranking of mass murders. But his mother wasn’t allowed to enter his bedroom, according to the report, and it was unclear how much she knew about his obsession. While the details released Monday led some observers to direct their anger at her, suggesting she was more enabler than victim, others were more sympathetic. A friend of hers, Marvin LaFontaine, said Tuesday that she did her best raising her son even though he was difficult and resisted help from others or talking about issues such as other children picking on him. “That really frustrated her,” LaFontaine said. “It just wore her down to the bone.” James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston, said Nancy Lanza didn’t ignore her son’s psychological problems and can’t be blamed for his actions. “She was a victim, not an accessory,” he said. “We can easily second-guess parents, and there’s a lot there we can question, but the fact of the matter is many people commit horrible crimes despite the best efforts of parents, siblings and others.”
PATRICK KOVARIK/Daily
French President Francois Hollande, right, and Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reviews the troops during a military ceremony, Tuesday at the Invalides in Paris.
France to send 1,000 troops to Central African Republic Forces will attempt to stop potential genocide in former French colony DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — France promised Tuesday to send 1,000 troops to Central African Republic amid warnings about the potential for genocide in the near-anarchic former French colony. Whether the French forces will save lives largely depends on how far the foreign soldiers venture outside the capital, Bangui, to the lawless provinces where mostly Muslim rebels have been attacking Christian villages, and Christian militias have recently launched retaliatory attacks. The French move comes less than a week after French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned “the country is on the verge of genocide” and marks the second time this year that France has sent troops to a former colony in Africa. In January, thousands of French soldiers launched an offensive to free northern Mali’s major towns from the control of al-Qaida-linked militants. After that success, the French military is stepping up its efforts in Central African Republic, a lawless country in the heart of the continent. No other country is expected to take action if France, the former colonial power, doesn’t get involved, said Francois Heisbourg, a French analyst at the Foundation for Strategic Research think tank in Paris. “We are a prisoner of history and geography: This is our neighborhood, and yes, we have troops in the area for historical reasons,” Heisbourg said. “And given the
humanitarian situation and the political pressure, there is no way we can avoid doing this.” However, it is not clear how much can be accomplished by 1,000 French troops in a country of 4.6 million people where many roads have not been repaved since independence in 1960. An international presence is needed given the limited capacity of Central African Republic’s own security forces, said Christian Mukosa, a researcher with the Africa division of Amnesty International. “It’s really very important that the French don’t stay only in Bangui, but go to Bouca and other hot spots where currently there are serious human rights abuses and where populations are at risk,” he said. In the northwest town of Bouca, nun Angelina Santaguiliana said she lives in fear of a rebel attack on her Catholic mission. Already some 2,400 people have sought refuge there in the past week, crowding the floors of the church at night and taking shelter under trees on the mission’s yard. “If the French come to help with disarmament in our region, it will be a good thing, but if there is fighting it would make things worse,” she said by telephone Tuesday, with the sounds of children wailing in the background. More than 35,000 other people have sought refuge at another Catholic mission in Bossangoa, according to church officials there. Central African Republic’s current chaos started late last year when a number of rebel groups joined forces to form the coalition known as Seleka. In March the rebels overthrew the president of a decade and installed their leader in power. But rebel leader-turned-presi-
dent Michel Djotodia now exerts little control over the renegade fighters in the provinces, most of whom are Muslim and who are accused of committing killings, torture and rape, and forcibly recruiting child soldiers. France has warned for months about the deteriorating security in Central African Republic, and its pledge follows warnings from the U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide who called the crisis in the country “one of the worst human rights and humanitarian crises of our time.” The conflict’s toll is difficult to determine as the most vicious attacks have taken place in remote villages. About 1 in 10 people have been displaced from their homes, according to international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders. Details only trickle in when survivors make their way to safety and the insecurity in the region makes it impossible for aid groups to determine how many have died. And many of the rebels accused of committing atrocities have been integrated into the national army, rendering the country’s security forces unable to combat the cycle of violence. Reports of killings of civilians and looting emerged in Bangui soon after the rebel invasion in March. The crisis deepened several months later when the rebels began targeting the area of Bossangoa, the home region of ousted President Francois Bozize and many of his perceived supporters. Some villages have been completely decimated with homes burned to the ground. The Christian self-defense militias that emerged are also accused of attacking Muslim civilians, many of whom have suffered under the Seleka rebellion already.
Opinion
4A — Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MELANIE KRUVELIS ANDREW WEINER EDITOR IN CHIEF
and ADRIENNE ROBERTS
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS
MATT SLOVIN MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
FROM THE DAILY
More meals, less flexibility The University should offer more options for student dining plans
B
eginning in the 2014 to 2015 academic year, student dining will be shaken up. Currently, students living in the residence halls can choose between two meal plans: 150 meals and 100 Dining Dollars or 125 meals and 300 Dining Dollars. Next fall, students living in residence halls will receive a dining plan with unlimited meals, a University Housing decision that will benefit many students. However, Housing should think about also including a plan that offers more flexibility for those students who don’t plan on eating exclusively in dining halls. As opposed to current plans that limit swipes, the new offerings allow students to eat unlimited meals. Under the standard current plan, a student averages between eight and nine meal swipes per week, meaning students could not eat even two meals a day. With the unlimited plan, students have the option of eating three or more meals a day without the fear of running out. Furthermore, since this change will not increase the price of housing, students have this opportunity without paying more. The redesigned meal structure will also positively impact off-campus students. Although the details have not been finalized, new off-campus meal plans with fewer meals should be more affordable. Although the new plan could allow students to be more flexible, the limited hours that dining halls are open might prove restrictive. Dining Dollars and Blue Bucks provide students the option of eating at locations open earlier in the morning and later at night. Thus, University Housing should consider extending dining hall operation hours
to accommodate students’ busy schedules. Although unlimited meals are beneficial to many, the plan could be more flexible by providing other options for students. With current meal plans, students can choose fewer meals in exchange for more Dining Dollars. Under the new plan, however, students can only obtain more Dining Dollars by purchasing a more expensive meal plan. With making the unlimited plan standard, Housing should provide students an option with a limited amount of swipes and more Dining Dollars to accommodate different preferences. Besides providing options within the meal plans, the University needs to consider financially limited students who would benefit from opting out of a meal plan altogether. Forcing students to purchase a plan when other options may be less expensive is unfair. The new meal plan structure has room to improve if more options are made available. However, unlimited meals and more affordable off-campus dining is a large step in the right direction.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, James Brennan, Rima Fadlallah, Eric Ferguson, Jordyn Kay, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Adrienne Roberts, Matthew Seligman, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe ELENA ROSS | VIEWPOINT
Equity over equality At this very moment, there exists a silver spray-painted swastika on the sidewalk of North University Avenue. Directly across the street from some of our academic buildings, a symbol of hatred is lurking, incognito. As a Jewish woman fighting to navigate my identity in this Christian-dominated society, stumbling across this image between classes made me feel scared, isolated and despondent. On a campus where roughly 20 percent of students are Jewish, many of my peers are quick to dismiss issues of anti-Semitism. To many, my life, and the lives of my Jewish peers, seems quite privileged. There are many of us here walking the same halls, taking the same classes and living all-around similar lives to our Christian counterparts. We are a minority population, yes, but we have large representation and equal opportunity here, and therefore our identity struggles are treated relatively dismissively the moment we step foot on campus. I’ll be the first to admit that Judaism has served me relatively well in my ability to maintain privilege in society. Fortunately for us, many Jews are now considered white in a way that our religious minority peers often are not. However, our ability to “pass” only gets us so far. I am often frustrated by the need to educate my Christian peers on my belief system, or to speak on behalf of the entire Jewish population. There are several spaces on campus in which I might be unwelcome as a Jewish woman, and I feel uncomfortable throughout December as Christmas music suddenly surrounds me everywhere I go. And then there’s the swastika
SOPHIA USOW
on the sidewalk outside Panera. Contrary to popular belief, the life of a Jewish student at the University of Michigan is far from privileged. Real privilege is when there isn’t a symbol for wanting you dead. As we continue in our fight for radical change in our campus’s demographic makeup, I hope that the University is able to see beyond numbers. The problems on campus do not go away with higher representation, but rather a complete reformation of campus attitudes, power dynamics and educational tactics. Last week a professor of mine explained to me the true difference between equity and equality. Equality, she said, is a world in which everyone is given the same pair of shoes. Equity is a world in which everyone is given a pair of shoes that fits them personally. It’s not enough for the University to enroll more “diverse” students, to give them each a pair of shoes. Racism, classism and many other “isms” are alive and rampant on our campus today. Their existence inherently prohibits minority students from feeling that our shoes truly fit, no matter how many of us are walking around in them. As the University goes forward in its efforts to diversify, I hope that it’s remembered that the world is much more complex, subjective and personal than statistics in a handbook. Numerical representation does not eliminate oppression, and handing us all shoes does not make them fit. Elena Ross is an LSA sophomore.
E-mail Sophia at sophiaus@umich.edu
I
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Taking control of your body
t all started when I was a sophomore in high school and my dermatologist gave me a proscription for Yaz, a high-estrogen birth control pill that was rumored to cure acne. Unfortunately, like many women who begin birth con- EMILY trol, that initial PITTINOS visit with my doctor was short. Too short. I don’t remember being told many of the side effects and none of the science was explained to me. But at the time, I hardly blinked — I was a painfully zit-faced teen and was completely convinced that smoothing out my skin would change my quality of life. Plus, I had a horny, hormonal boyfriend who was bugging me for sex, and protecting my eggs from his sperm seemed like a wise decision. So I did what a lot of people do: I blindly trusted my doctor. Looking back on the whole event, there must have been some sort of race to prove that Yaz worked as zit-repellant because my doctor didn’t just write me a prescription. She practically pushed the pills on me. It was before the Affordable Care Act, so my private insurance didn’t cover birth control, and each pack of Yaz was $75. Instead of prescribing a generic brand, she gave me 12 free samples and told me to come back in a year. The next year she did the same thing. A few months later, I was home over Christmas break watching “Iron Chef” on my parents’ futon and texting my boyfriend like it was my job. I held my flip phone in one hand and ate sugar cookies with my other as a tingling sensation entered my fingertips. I shook my hand, thinking it had fallen asleep, but the tingling only travelled up my arm, my neck and into the left side of my lips. It was like I could feel my molecules dancing, or a swarm of microscopic bees were swimming through my bloodstream. And then I felt nothing. Holy shit, I thought. I’m having a fucking stroke.
With my right hand, I called my parents who were watching “CSI: Miami” at my grandmother’s house nearby, and we calmly drove 90 mph to the tiny hospital in my podunk town. After a couple hours, I could feel my face again and the CAT scan came out clean. The emergencyroom doctor told me I wasn’t having a stroke. It was a migraine, and it probably wouldn’t be my last. I didn’t connect my migraines to my birth control, partly because none of the medical professionals I visited over the next few months recognized any correlation. The thing about migraines is they’re basically a mystery to modern medicine. They’re hard to study because they’re triggered by all kinds of things, from dust to citrus fruit to stress and caffeine — for a while, I thought my trigger was raw red onion. The symptoms are also always different, which makes them hard for labs to track and difficult to describe to someone who’s never had one. Sometimes, I know a migraine’s coming on when I see a glimmering, like a crack in the glass of my vision, which grows until I go completely blind for a few minutes. Sometimes I puke like I’ve spent the whole night sneaking through the bar, gulping the last sips of strangers’ drinks, creating a slur of alcohol and mysterious spit in my stomach. I almost always end up huddled in a dark room, missing hours of class and work, wishing a frozen block of airliner waste would just fall through my ceiling and end my misery. It wasn’t until this summer — five years after I pocketed my first free sample of Yaz — that I went into University Health Service for a routine sexually transmitted disease screening and the clinician looked at my chart and said, “I can’t believe you’re on birth control; I recommend you discontinue it immediately.” She went on to explain that
women who take hormonal birth control and get migraines with visual symptoms, like the glimmering I mentioned, are at high risk for stroke. Stroke! She showed me data about every kind of pill and intrauterine device with estrogen and that each one created extreme risk for blood clots and stroke in women with migraines of all ages. She said the research was relatively new, but in terms of medical development that could mean a few years. Years! I was 21 and could have had an actual, real-life stroke at any minute from the time I was 16, and in all of the check-ups and scans and blood work I’d had done in that time, not one doctor had bothered to mention this risk. Their confusion about migraines and constant need to move on to the next patient kept them from providing the care I needed. My experience makes me wonder if there is a flaw in the way most doctors approach prescribing The Pill to young women. This medicine has been around for decades, and at this point it’s seen as so safe and reliable that it’s practically expected that every woman will give it a shot some time in her life. However, it might not be the answer for everyone. Ladies, if you’re thinking of starting The Pill, or are going in for a gynecology exam in the future, I recommend keeping your doctor in the examining room until you get answers to any questions you may have, no matter how busy she may seem. Ask about your options, including all the different types of The Pill. If you get migraines, or if all that extra estrogen makes you nervous, think about non-hormonal birth control like ParaGard, diaphragms and condoms. Those extra minutes of interaction with your doctor could make a difference in your quality of life and prevent potential risk like, you know, stroke.
Keep your doctor in the examining room until all your questions are answered.
Is the University a luxury product?
A
nn Arbor is the new Brooklyn. Bold claim, you say, to compare Ann Arbor to the borough once considered Manhattan’s inferior little sister and now hailed as the land of artisan pickles, handmade felt hats and Etsy ZOE shop-owners. If you think about STAHL it though, it makes sense. Last spring, the independent bookstore Literati opened, bringing Ann Arbor almost nightly readings and more “n+1” magazines than we know what to do with. The food scene — that has come to both represent and measure just how (insufferably) trendy a city is — seems très Brooklyn, too. There’s Babo, the Sava-owned boutique produce market, and then the Wafel Shop, a restaurant solely devoted to specialty waffles, indicating Ann Arbor ranks pretty high on the bougie matrix. Retail aside, Ann Arbor’s built environment is becoming frighteningly similar to Brooklyn’s. Under New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Brooklyn’s waterfront on the East River dramatically changed: sleek glass highrises for the 20-to-30-something set replaced the abandoned factories. And with the recently constructed Landmark, Varsity and Zaragon West, Ann Arbor seems to be heading in the same direction. It doesn’t look as if this trend is going to stop anytime soon, either. On the corner of South Division and Huron streets, another high-rise building is going up. The local hotelier and property developer Dennis Dahlmann plans to build an apartment building complete with ground-level retail and restaurant complex over the former YMCA lot, too. Ann Arbor’s local government has been working hard to revitalize the city’s downtown, and, at first, I was all for this high-density urban development. As a New Yorker, I would proudly argue the fact that apartment living is better for the environment. Less square footage means significantly reduced carbon footprints. Apartment units, arranged in
closer proximity than houses, allow far less heat to escape. Even more, denser development in Ann Arbor’s downtown encourages more walking. Studies confirm what common sense tells us: residents in city centers produce significantly less carbon emissions than those living in the suburbs. And better yet, this downtown development has helped stimulate Ann Arbor’s economy, challenging the widely held belief that what’s good for the environment is necessarily bad for the economy. Phil D’Anieri, University lecturer in urban and regional planning, wrote in an e-mail interview, “the density represented by these high rises is good for downtown vitality.” These high-rises create demand for new shops — grocery stores, clothing shops and various other retail stores — and a more vibrant economic center. But that’s where the upside of this type of urban development seems to end. With the plethora of buildings actively advertising themselves as “luxury” and “embodiments of the good life,” this housing trend reflects the ever-sharpening divide between higher- and lower-income University students — a rarely discussed, but critical issue considering only 16 percent of University students receive Pell Grants. Even more, the luxury housing market exacerbates this class divide. By bringing up the cost of all student rental-housing stock, these high-rise apartment complexes only make the already stressful housing search more anxiety-producing, and also seem to ensure students from the same income bracket live together. Though seemingly separate from the University, the increase in highrise apartments and the influx of wealthy students are intractably linked. By admitting wealthier students, the University has helped create a demand for these sorts of luxury choices in the off-campus housing market. At its heart, then, this increase in high-rises indicates a greater shift in the University’s
thinking and behavior. As D’Anieri accurately observed, “the underlying trend these luxury buildings represent (is) a university environment skewing steadily away from a publicly-minded sense of itself and toward an identity as high-end lifestyle product.” It seems then that the University has become just as much an exclusive, luxury product as an institute of higher learning. And it’s not all together the University’s fault, either. With funds from the state dwindling, the University increasingly relies on the tuition of wealthier and often out-of-state students to make ends meet. To what degree is the University responsible then? They have worked to create more attractive housing options with the recent and expensive renovations of Alice Lloyd Residence Hall, East Quad Residence Hall and Northwood Apartments. However, while it may be true that these dorms offer alternatives to luxury apartments, they simultaneously play into the nationwide college arms race for higherincome students, diverting much needed funds from scholarships to attract those able to pay full tuition to the University’s campus. In other words, they are designed to compete with dorms from smaller, elite colleges for the attention of students. In turn, large swaths of rising sophomores come to expect this form of housing, making them all the more likely to turn to these luxury complexes after graduating from the dorms. At the end of the day, it’s a delicate balance — the University must maintain a certain level of funding to ensure it remains a world-class institution. But seeing this vicious cycle, I couldn’t help but ask time and time again: Who is this public university for? I hope, in the future, the University remembers rankings aren’t the end-all-and-be-all: serving the whole campus community is.
The luxury housing market exacerbates the class divide between students.
— Zoe Stahl can be reached at zoestahl@umich.edu.
News
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DEAN From Page 1A versity in sponsored research per capita, according to a 2004 article on Clark in “Findings,” a publication of the National Institute of Health. Toward the end of her term, she also began the first stages of a major building project. Martin Philbert, current dean of the School of Public Health, wrote in an e-mail interview that Clark’s scholarship and vision were instrumental in a collaborative and multidisciplinary field like public health. “She was a force of nature who, with clarity and purpose, articulated the vision and empowered all around her to do their best work,” Philbert wrote. “With students, faculty and staff alike, Dean Clark was relentless in the pursuit of excellence but was always present to provide gentle direction, encouragement and coaching.” Philbert — who worked with Clark when he was the school’s senior associate dean for research — wrote that the School of Public Health building Clark envisioned now facilitates interdisciplinary research and collaboration among people from diverse academic backgrounds. During her time
CSG From Page 1A on North Campus — Lin said the assembly should be asking itself how they can be the voice of the entire student body rather than internally. LSA junior Carly Manes, a CSG representative, realized the dearth of productive discussion that took place during the meetings when she joined the assembly in April. Manes and LSA sophomore Jacob Abudaram currently hold “Talks with Carly and Jacob” at 7 p.m. every Tuesday before CSG assembly meetings to encourage representatives to be more proactive and help them accomplish their platform goals. “I have my fair share of criticisms for CSG and I think there are a lot of institutional issues in the way the organization runs that needs to be changed,” Manes
EVENT From Page 1A minute looping video of statistics and suggestive advertisements. One statistic, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey, noted that there are about 237,868 rape and sexual assault victims older than 12-yearsold each year. The advertisements ranged from women barely dressed next to cars to women on beer bottle labels. Eztcorn said most Americans aren’t educated enough on how women are objectified in ads. She added that few companies positively
BET From Page 1A friendly wager with Senator Brown because I have every confidence in the Wolverines prevailing this weekend,” Peters said in a statement. Peters, who holds degrees from Alma College, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University Law School and Michigan State University, will have to put aside his MSU loyalties and cheer on the Wolverines. His daughter is currently in her freshman year at the Uni-
as dean, Philbert wrote that she also expanded the number of faculty and pioneered research in an array of disciplines. “The loss of our colleague, friend and mentor has redoubled our commitment to improved health for all,” Philbert said. Clark frequently put her research into practice, using her expertise to work toward improving health and quality of life in Kenya, the Philippines and China. As a leader in public health with significant experience abroad, Clark was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations — an influential group of leaders from a variety of backgrounds that weigh in on international relations issues. Clark was often tapped for membership or leadership in a multitude of public health institutions. She was a former member of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and president of the Society for Public Health Education. When her deanship ended in 2005, Clark led the new University Center for Managing Chronic Disease as director, a position in which allowed her to utilize her decades of experience studying asthma, heart conditions and other chronic diseases.
Clark was recently researching childhood asthma for her final published article “Declines with Age in Childhood Asthma Symptoms.” Her propensity for hands-on engagement appeared early in Clark’s career. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in political science, she worked as a community organizer, according to the 2004 article. Clark also received two master’s degrees and a doctorate from Columbia University, all related to adult education. Between 1974 and 1981, she served on the faculty of the Columbia University School of Public Health before joining the University’s School of Public Health in 1981. Clark, who was born in Scotland in 1943 and moved to the United States at age eight, partially credited her trans-Atlantic emigration as her impetus to try new things, whether a departmental reorganization, a complex research challenge or a new hobby like fly-fishing. Clark is survived by her husband of 30 years, documentary filmmaker George Pitt, her son Alex and her grandson Max. The School of Public Health will host a public celebration of Clark’s life in the spring.
said. “There’s no space for that kind of creativity and collaboration during assembly meetings.” Manes said it’s a misconception that CSG’s productivity can be gauged by the volume of resolutions it has passed. She believes that resolutions are “more of a formality” and do not reflect the comprehensive, substantive work of the body. Manes currently is working with the dean of the College of Engineering to make Race and Ethnicity classes a requirement for Engineering students, similar to the curriculum in LSA. Other ongoing projects spearheaded by representatives include institutionalizing voter registration at the University and increasing the availability and usefulness of Intergroup Relations classes. However, these initiatives have yet to be brought through the legislative process and have not received the formal support of CSG.
Business senior Scott Christopher, former chair of CSG’s Entrepreneurship Commission, said he believes that the greatest strength of CSG leaders lies in the mentorship they can provide to the campus community. “In my opinion, the most important role of the representative is to be the voice of the students outside of the meeting,” Christopher said. “CSG is a lot of bureaucracy, so if you want to get anything accomplished you have to be strategic.” Christopher — who also served as the president of MPowered last year — said he believed that while formality was important to the institution, it often “bogged down” its productivity. “It legitimizes in a lot of ways because I imagine if you were a representative, it makes you feel important and adds a sense of duty to it,” Christopher said. “But also, it makes you complacent.”
portray women in their logos. “It’s so pervasive,” Etzcorn said. “Everyone sees it everyday, but I don’t think people take the time and stop to really think about it or have been exposed to the violence that is put towards women.” Though there’s much progress to be made as a nation, Etzcorn said she believes that the Ann Arbor community already has a basic knowledge about rape culture and the media. “Ann Arbor is a definite mix of people who are aware of these issues and then people who maybe haven’t been exposed to these issues,” she said. Eztcorn added that when the media objectifies women, it also cre-
ates an analogous definition of masculinity. She added that the media imposes these societal roles, causing people to ignore complex human personalities and identities. Because the media shapes our view of society, individuals will constantly have a fear of being ostracized if they don’t follow societal standards. Because of our fear of ridicule, people compromise on societal ideals, which results in lack of action or acknowledgement of its cause, she said. Howard added that society wants masculinity to be one definite thing, and that “men are kind of given the duty to perpetuate and uphold that strength and power at any cost.”
versity. “With our daughter Maddy enjoying her first fall at U of M, I’m looking forward to a good game, but worst case scenario, I’m sure the Browns will be happy to upgrade to Detroit beer,” he said. Brown holds degrees from Ohio State and has taught at OSU’s Mansfield campus. He has been focused on higher education improvement efforts in the state and hosts an annual conference in Washington, D.C. with more than 25 college and university presidents to discuss connections between education
and local business. “I’m glad to join Rep. Peters in a friendly bet with regional pride and great local beer on the line,” Brown said in a statement. “Win or lose, my wife Connie and I look forward to enjoying our Great Lakes Christmas Ale.” Wednesday’s bet is the first time Peters has wagered on a Michigan football rivalry. Haley Morris, Peters’ Communication Director, said displaying state pride has been a growing trend in D.C. “I can see this going on and becoming a new tradition for both of them,” Morris said.
THE MICHIGAN DAILY WISHES YOU
A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING UNLESS YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN THANKSGIVING.
THEN SORRY FOR OFFENDING YOU.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 — 5A
PETER DEJONG/AP
National Party presidential candidate Juan Orlando Hernandez arrives to give a press conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Monday. Hernandez, the ruling party candidate, held a comfortable lead in early vote counting to become Honduras’ next president, while two of his four main opponents began crying foul early Monday.
Honduras’ recently elected leader names new team Votes took longer than expected to count in the contested election TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras’ newly elected president named his transition team Tuesday, while about 200 students protested to demand a recount of the vote in the poor Central American nation. Juan Orlando Hernandez, the ruling National Party’s candidate who campaigned on a law-andorder platform, hadn’t spoken publicly since just after the election Sunday, but he released a statement that included the names of those who will help him take over the government from President Porfirio Lobo. Hernandez, 45, has all but won the hotly contested presidential race, electoral authorities said late Monday in describing his lead as “irreversible.” Even before the announcement, his main competitor, Xiomara Castro, had challenged the
official returns and claimed victory. Her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a 2009 coup, said they wouldn’t accept the results, but the campaign did not comment on the elections tribunal all but declaring Hernandez the winner. Castro had led in opinion polls early in the campaign, but Hernandez closed the gap in the closing weeks as he promised to do “whatever I have to” in fighting crime in a country where much of the cities are controlled by gangs and outlying remote areas are held by drug runners. Hernandez had 34 percent of the votes to 29 percent for Castro in an eight-candidate field, according to the most recent returns, with about a third of the votes still uncounted. “It’s not the final result, but it’s an irreversible trend,” tribunal spokeswoman Lourdes Rosales said. Electoral officials said they hoped to have final results by Thursday, but they didn’t explain why it was taking so long to finish the vote count. The tribunal reported results from 54 percent of the votes by late Sunday, but
barely advanced the count over the next two days. About 200 university students blocked a major thoroughfare in the capital Tuesday to protest what they said were fraudulent election results and demand a recount. The students clashed with police officers who threw tear gas at the crowd. Election observers for both the European Union and Organization of American States issued statements Tuesday describing the election and vote count as transparent. Dario Euraque, a professor of history and international studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, said Hernandez’s candidacy resonated with Hondurans because he pushed through legislation giving the military a role in patrolling crime-beset cities. “Military presence is key when you practically have a failed state,” Euraque said. “It’s a mistake to ask they retire (to their barracks). People don’t understand it. They want security and will accept that discourse.”
Israeli officials claim EU funding conflict resolved Union planned to provide 300 million euros through research program JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has resolved a diplomatic spat with the European Union over a funding ban on institutions operating in occupied areas claimed by the Palestinians, Israeli officials said Tuesday. The dispute had shaken Israel’s relations with Europe, its biggest trading partner, and drawn attention to Israel’s much-maligned policy of building settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians claim both areas, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as parts of a future independent state. The dispute surrounded the EU’s “Horizon 2020” program, which enables participants to apply for funds for research and collaboration in areas such as climate change, renewable energy and food safety. The EU has budgeted more than 70 billion euros for the program, which is to run from 2014 to 2020, and officials estimate that Israel could gain 300 million euros from the complicated funding system over the sevenyear period. While Israel has long participated in similar programs, the EU has added some tough lang uage to its eligibility g uidelines to prevent funding for projects in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and other territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. “The EU does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over any of the territories ... and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory,” according to the guidelines.
Israel had feared the guidelines would make it ineligible for much of these funds since most universities and research centers have some activities in the West Bank or east Jerusalem. Late Tuesday, Israel released what it said was a joint statement with the EU, saying that the compromise had been reached through discussions between Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton. “The agreement fully respects the EU’s legal and financial requirements while at the same time respecting Israel’s political sensitivities and preserving its principled positions,” the statement said. “The agreement will allow Israel’s
scientific community to benefit from one of the most important EU programs and facilitate its further integration into the European space of research and innovation.” The statement did not provide details on the compromise. But the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that it included an Israeli statement objecting to aspects of the guidelines, as well as pledges to ensure that EU funds be spent only in Israel proper, and not in the occupied territories. The dispute with the EU had unnerved the Israeli government, which was caught between its continuing support for the settlements and preserving the country’s status as a high-tech powerhouse.
Sports
6A — Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Goree leads ‘M’ into Big Apple
Wolverines look to new leadership
By LEV FACHER Daily Sports Writer
Sitting on a 4-2 record heading into an important Thanksgiving trip to Brooklyn, the Michigan women’s basketball team has a lot to be grateful for. Specifically, the Wolverines, along with Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico, are thankful for the muchimproved play of junior Michigan forward Cyeat Barclays sha Goree. The 6-foot- Invitational 3 post player Matchup: has recorded Michigan 4-2; two double- Texas Tech doubles in 3-1; LSU 4-1; her last four Rutgers 4-1 games and When: Friday provides a 10:30 A.M. and Saturday consistent 7 or 9:30 P.M. answer at the forward Where: spot — eas- Barclays ily Michigan’s Center biggest ques- TV/Radio: tion mark MGoBlue.com entering the season. But Goree hasn’t wavered in the face of pressure, despite being fully aware that Michigan’s ability to win takes a nosedive if she doesn’t produce. “I wouldn’t really say it’s pressure,” Goree said. “I knew what I had to do in order to step up.” Goree’s improvement has been unmistakeable and was particularly evident in the Wolverines’ 83-75 victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 20. Though foul trouble held her to 10 points in just 22 minutes, she shot 5-of-8 from the field. The ability to sink difficult turnaround jumpers while stepping away from Pittsburgh’s 6-foot-11 center, Marvadene Anderson, showcased Goree’s improvement — she may not have taken those shots a year ago, or even at the beginning of the season. “I do actually feel more confident,” Goree said. “I’ve been getting to the gym a lot more
to try to get comfortable with myself with that shot.” Barnes Arico agreed, citing Goree’s buzzer-beating jumper to force overtime against Arizona on Nov. 9 as the most gratifying moment of the year after having watched the junior put in time in the gym and weight room throughout the summer. “Coming into this year, Cyesha knew that she was going to have a really important role,” Barnes Arico said. “She has proven that she has confidence and that she wants the ball.” How successful the Thanksgiving trip is will depend largely on how the Wolverines fare against what Barnes Arico regards some of the best programs in college basketball. The schedule features a tilt with Texas Tech Friday morning and a matchup against LSU or Rutgers on Saturday. But the size of the stage — the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets — isn’t going to anybody’s head. “The kids all know Jay-Z, the history of it,” Barnes Arico said. “But I think the exciting part is being in a really good tournament.” After traveling on Wednesday, Michigan will enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal as a team on Thursday evening. But the Wolverines don’t mind spending the holiday away from their families. In a sense, they won’t have to. “It’s great,” Goree said. “This is our second family. Being able to spend Thanksgiving with your family that you’re around always, 24/7, it’s even better.” Barnes Arico doesn’t mind, either. She’s no stranger to the area. In fact, a trip to New York City is something of a homecoming. She previously spent a decade in Queens coaching at St. John’s and before that, Barnes Arico spent three years at Division II Adelphi on Long Island. “I do feel as if I’m going home,” Barnes Arico said. “There’s no place like New York for the holidays.”
Classifieds
By SIMON KAUFMAN Daily Sports Writer
ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
Michigan coach Brady Hoke has said that recruits who visit other schools after they announce their commitments are not considered committed to Michigan.
Peppers shops around By MATT SLOVIN Managing Editor
After Saturday’s game against Ohio State, November will come to a merciful end for the Michigan football team — but not before some more bad news arrived Tuesday. The crowning jewel of the Wolverines’ 2014 recruiting class, defensive back Jabrill Peppers, NOTEBOOK announced on Twitter that he plans to take official visits at other schools. “Imma take a couple Officials after the season myself,” Peppers’s Tweet read. In a later statement to ESPN. com, Peppers said: “I am still 100-percent committed to the University of Michigan, and that is the place where I want to go to college. With the rumors about coach (Brady) Hoke possibly not being there, I need to make sure that I have options and have seen other places. “For the sake of my future, I need to make sure I have other options. No need to look into it any further.” The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Peppers hails from Paramus (N.J.) Catholic High School. Rivals.com ranks him the second-best recruit in the class of 2014. He committed to Michigan in May despite a slew of offers from powerhouses like Alabama and Ohio State. Though Peppers didn’t say he is revoking his verbal commitment, Hoke has said previously that if a commit visits elsewhere, he doesn’t consider that person committed to the Wolverines. Recruits can sign National Letters of Intent on Feb. 5.
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RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, November 27, 2013
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FEELING THE HEAT?: If offensive coordinator Al Borges is to be believed, the fans’ calls for his job and general disapproval with the Wolverines’ offense fall on deaf ears — his own. At his Tuesday press conference, Borges, who calls the plays for the Michigan offense that has been disgraced in recent weeks, said he has learned over his coaching career to be “thick-skinned.” “If I internalized everything the fans said, I’d slit my wrists,” Borges said. “You can’t do that.” He added that he doesn’t read the news and hasn’t since 1993, when he ran the offense for a 3-8 Boise State team. Before then, he had been an avid reader of sports journalism. But considering the size of the Wolverines’ fan base, it’s understandable that, this time around, the outside noise is coming in a little louder as Michigan has fallen apart in November. “I’ve done this a long time,” said Borges, who has been an offensive coordinator since 1986. “I promise you, other places I’ve been, my first name has been a cuss word. This isn’t the first place where it’s been like that.” Borges also doesn’t tune in to sports radio talk shows, at least during the football season, saying it can be “miserable.” Michigan currently ranks No. 96 nationally in total offense. BRAGGIN ‘BOUT BRAXTON: Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller has carried the Buckeyes’ offense this year, and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has taken notice. “He’s not only a tremendous athlete but he’s got a very good arm and he’s making a lot of great decisions,” Mattison said. “I mean, he’s going to be a great challenge.”
Scan the Michigan men’s basketball team’s bench during a game. Coach John Beilein sits at the end, closest to half court. Next to him are the assistant coaches, who alternate between shouting out instructions and jotting down notes on clipboards. And closer to the baseline but directly next to the assistant coaches typically sit redshirt junior forward Jon Horford and fifth-year senior Jordon Morgan — in many ways, extensions of the coaching staff. On a young team dominated by sophomores, Horford and Morgan play an important role for the Wolverines by providing a voice of leadership. After falling to Iowa State in a hostile road environment and getting upset by Charlotte in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Michigan — a team that didn’t lose its first game until January last season — is in desperate need of someone to step up and take charge. This year, though, there’s no obvious answer. Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., who indisputably shared the spotlight and the leadership last season for the Wolverines, left for the NBA. Sophomore guard Nik Stauskas leads the team in scoring and has been Michigan’s most impressive player, and sophomore forward Mitch McGary brings a level of energy to the court that betters everyone on the floor. But neither has taken it upon himself to be the clear general both on and off the hardwood. The 22nd-ranked Wolverines (4-2) must look towards their bench for leadership. Horford and Morgan are the two oldest members on the squad, and their roles as leaders won’t diminish though their minutes have been cut back since McGary returned from an injury.
“I just think we have a perspective of this team that’s kind of the last of what was of Michigan basketball,” Morgan said. “We’ve seen the good and the bad, and we know what it takes to make it to where we’ve gotten — Big Ten Championship, National Championship appearance. So I think we just kind of do a good job of keeping everybody focused.” Morgan knows the importance of him stepping up as an upperclassman. In his first year playing after he redshirted his freshman year, Morgan didn’t have an older teammate to look up to — there wasn’t a single senior that season. “I think both of them are leaders by example,” Beilein said. “(Horford) may be a little more vocal than (Morgan), but the amount of time they spend on their own working out is a message to everybody. We’re all about self-improvement, and they’re great examples of it.” Beilein believes in their ability to lead and leans on them to provide mentorship. He named both of them, along with sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III, team captains. “There may be times when I say, ‘Hey Jordan, talk to (sophomore guard) Spike (Albrecht) about something, or talk to some of the younger guys about something,’ ” Beilein said. “Because they‘re the best at knowing what we think.” A respected voice of leadership coming from someone in a uniform — not a suit — will be important for Michigan as it approaches conference play. To be competitive in the Big Ten, the Wolverines need more than just solid performances on the court. “I’m at the point now where it’s not enough to necessarily lead by example,” Morgan said. “I have to be very vocal in practice. I have to step outside myself and teach people and encourage people.”
Stay updated this weekend at MichiganDaily.com
‘M’ ready for Big Ten debut By GREG GARNO Daily Sports Writer
So it begins. In September 2010, Penn State announced the formation of a varsity hockey program, and suddenly, the concept of a six-team Big Ten hockey conference turned into a reality. As the Big Ten Network gained traction and funding, it lured Michigan from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Minnesota from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. And when the Big Ten was guaranteed an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, the conference was born with founding members Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Friday, the third-ranked Wolverines (8-2-1) will take part in the inaugural day of Big Ten hockey, hosting Ohio State before travelling to Columbus on Monday to conclude the series. And the team is ecstatic to finally begin conference play. “I’m really excited,” said sophomore forward Andrew Copp after Friday’s 6-0 win over Niagara. “You grow up being from this area, and Big Ten football and Big Ten basketball is a tradition, and there’s an excellence that goes along with that. For us to finally put our stamp on it, it’s going to be really awesome next week.” Added freshman forward JT Compher: “After hearing about it for a while, it’s good to finally get it going and see how it goes and get the excitement in the building.” Senior forward Derek DeBlois echoed the sentiment: “It’s exciting. It’s a really cool accolade, that, looking back at, will be really cool, for me at least.” From freshmen to seniors, the anticipation is shared by nearly everyone. In fact, Michigan coach Red Berenson is concerned that his team is distracted not only by
the holiday week, but also by the hype surrounding the moment. The Buckeyes (8-4) boast the ninth-best offense in the country, scoring more than 3.5 goals per game. That could be problematic for Michigan, which has allowed nearly 37 shots per game. Ohio State leans on forwards Ryan Dzingel and Max McCormick, who have scored 14 and 13 points this season, respectively. But the Buckeyes have to overcome a pair of solid goaltenders, sophomore Steve Racine and freshman Zach Nagelvoort. Berenson was coy on who would get the start this weekend, but both saw time in the Wolverines’ last two-game series. Nagelvoort, though, has slowly and steadily posted the best goalsagainst average in the country to date, 1.48, and holds the country’s third-best save percentage at .950. “You’re going to see power against power,” Berenson said “You’re probably not going to be able to shut anybody down, but you can respect them and just don’t let them play well.” Whoever gets the start in net will have to deal with a young and
inexperienced defense in front of him. The Wolverines lost junior defenseman Brennan Serville in the third period of last Friday’s game when he suffered a head injury. He hasn’t participated in contact practice since the injury. Lately, the Wolverines have had an easier stretch of games. Turnovers by the defense in the opposing zone and allowing a barrage of shots hasn’t had the effect it could in the Big Ten. “We have to get back into understanding that we’re going to be playing close games again,” Berenson said. Regardless of the results for the rest of the season, the effects of Friday’s game will go beyond wins and losses. The Big Ten Network will broadcast both games, which will reach markets as far east as New York and as far west as Nebraska. That means more exposure for both fans and recruits, as well as growth for the game. “It’s going to be good for Michigan, it’s going for our team, and it’s going to be good for college hockey,” said senior defenseman Mac Bennett.
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Sophomore forward Andrew Copp wants to “put his stamp on the Big Ten.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Arts
COMMUNITY CULTURE
Heather treats AA
Local bakery tailors cakes to customers’ artistic tastes By GIANCARLO BUONOMO Daily Arts Writer
Shows like “Ace of Cakes” and “Cake Boss,” which chronicle the day-to-day operations of successful bakeries, occupy a wildly popular niche in food television. Why do people like watching shows about cake? Besides the obvious pleasure of watching a large Italian-American family schmooze with each other, these shows satisfy on both the gustatory and aesthetic levels. On the one hand, they are pure food porn: Layers of tender cake are lovingly smothered with gobs of creamy frosting and studded with insulin-raising amounts of sugary decorations. On the other hand, cake decorators, with just some fondant and food coloring, produce products so creative and intricate that it is hard to not call them art. But this delectable dichotomy doesn’t exist solely on TV. Here in Ann Arbor, baker Heather Anne Leavitt acts as both a craftswoman and an artist at her shop, Sweet Heather Anne on North Main — roles that “have equal importance.” Sweet Heather Anne produces a wide variety of baked goods, from shortbread, to “cake in a jar.” However, the shop has become best known for its custom-designed cakes. No two cakes are exactly the same, because no two clients are
exactly the same. “We try to work with the client and get out what they like about certain cakes and then design something new for them,” Leavitt said. These designer-client dialogues have produced an eclectic portfolio for Sweet Heather Anne. Cakes run the gamut from the classically beautiful floral cakes for weddings, to a cake in the shapes of a steak and baked potato. After seeing the cakes, it’s hard to not call them art, and whoever makes them an artist. But despite your opinion on whether cakery is a proper artistic medium, Leavitt is an artist in her own right, having received a degree from the Univerity’s School of Art & Design. Fittingly, her undergraduate work revolved mostly around sculpture — of a non-edible variety. But while studying abroad in Italy, the edible became her passion. “It was the first time that I had thought as much about food and cooking, because it was just so pervasive in the culture,” Leavitt said. Back in America, Leavitt combined her love of food and her sculpting skills into a senior thesis, for which she made edible monuments for the Ann Arbor food producers she sought out upon her return. After graduation, she worked in savory restaurants for several years, which, like art school, provided her with skills rather than recipes. So, cake is just a new material for Leavitt, more delicious
and marketable than wood or bronze. Sweet Heather Anne has tried to make itself even more appealing, though, through its emphasis on local and seasonal products. Rather than use massproduced ingredients, Leavitt has established relationships with local farmers and purveyors for many of the shop’s culinary staples. “I love how I go every year to get a certain thing from a certain person; I think that’s really special,” Leavitt said. For example, the pumpkin cakes and pies use fresh pumpkin from Tantré Farm, which is only 20 miles from Ann Arbor and is sold only in autumn. “I think that a lot of people enjoy that kind of connection and understanding where it’s coming from,” Leavitt added. Sweet Heather Anne is a business that is constantly evolving as the seasons come and go and as new customers arrive with new ideas for cakes. But this constant evolution raises an almost philosophical question: How does the designer of a work of art, like a cake, contend with the fact that no matter how beautiful and unique the piece is, it will eventually be cut and devoured? “As an artist, I kind of like it,” Leavitt said. “I think that the eating part is actually part of the process for me. We make so much artwork, and I kind of love the fact that it’s not piled up in some garage. I like that we can do these special projects that have a special meaning for a special day.”
STAND-UP REVIEW STANDUP REVIEW
“Bound 3” ... so beautiful.
HBO
Silverman makes ‘Miracles’ By GRACE HAMILTON Daily ARTS WRITER
“I mean, are you crazy?” Sarah Silverman asks the audience in her HBO special, “We Are Miracles,” which premiered Sat- Aurday night. In this hour-long We Are program, Silverman returns Miracles to her stand-up HBO roots for an audience of 39 comedy fans at a small club in L.A. to remind people that yes, you probably are crazy, and so is everyone else. “We Are Miracles” is, among other things, an exploitation of America’s craziness: the hypocrisy of religion and so-called “secular” America, unaddressed forms of female objectification, the use of the word “pussy” and our obsession with Kanye West. After doing a few small film roles, the required time on “SNL” to add to her resume as a high-profile comedian, and “The Sarah Silverman Program,” this is Silverman’s first time doing standup in several years. That being said, time away from the live, single spotlight has done nothing but sharpen the knife she uses to drive straight into the heart of controversial topics like rape and porn. Her delivery (most of the time) is distinctly inappropriate, vulgar and entirely effective.
Yes, the audience is probably uncomfortable with her jokes about 9/11 widows, showers with her mother or the concept of adopting terminally ill children. It’s hard to imagine how pushing the boundaries this far is necessary to make a point or produce laughter, but that’s part of her message: This is not satire; there is no beating around the bush or finding creatively subtle ways to criticize society. For issues as real as some of the ones tackled here, despite the comedic delivery, they deserve absolute bluntness. The jokes that seem like they go too far are, in fact, the best evidence of her real commitment to enlightening the audience and demonstrating the strength of her personal beliefs. Silverman pushes straight
Comedian stands up for honest jokes. through to the end with few pauses, laughing at her own jokes sparingly, and preserves the dynamic with a tone and language that sometimes resembles slam poetry or storytelling. She is remarkably on-point, 100-percent comfortable on stage and makes no apologies for her can-
didness. The audience is left with no choice but to trust her decisions, and this creates intimacy: “I love being able to see all 39 of you.” Even watching on a TV, it’s possible to feel part of the room. The most important point Silverman makes is to draw attention to the crazy ways in which we hide insecurities. These include deflecting blame by claiming to be “thrown under the bus,” and the classic shoulder shrug accompanied by “whatever.” According to her, this kind of attitude is exactly why the world sucks. The miracles are the things that don’t make sense because they aren’t just crazy; they are exceptions. The message is that we need more of them, and the way we do this is to stop saying a person was “thrown under the bus,” and take some responsibility. Stop blaming others for the world’s problems and confront them as an individual. In other words, stop being crazy. That is exactly what Silverman is attempting to do with her comedy. That is why the audiences’ respect, despite the vulgarity, is inevitable. By standing up on stage, she stands up for her beliefs about the way the world should work — laying herself out on the table as well. She proposes a challenge: It’s okay to give a shit, you should give a shit. And when you do, you should do something about it.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 — 7A
TV NOTEBOOK
FOX
The male gaze.
‘The Simpsons’ still going strong after 25 seasons By GRACE PROSINEWSKI Daily ARTS WRITER
What’s your favorite TV show? It’s a question that invariably comes up, whether in icebreakers for class or small talk with a stranger. My answer to this question has been the same for 20 years: “The Simpsons.” The response I get has been the same for almost as long. First, there is a moment of incredulity, which I find odd because it’s almost like we’re all expected to have flying hellfish tattoos to identify us or something. Then, the dreaded, completely predictable utterance, “Yeah, I used to watch that. You know, when it was still good.” Sigh. If I had a dollar for every time someone has said that to me, well, let’s just say I wouldn’t need a college degree. And the way they say it! How their voices drip with the self-satisfaction of supposed cultural superiority. I usually just nod and change the subject. But what I really want to do is explain how wrong they really are. I’m not here to argue whether the show has suffered a decrease in quality or consistency. That conversation is for a different day, preferably after several strong drinks. What I’m saying is that it’s asinine to criticize something that you haven’t watched in 10-plus years. There’s almost this idea that watching “The Simpsons” now takes away from what it was, and
that’s simply not the case. It’s a smart show, and it still rewards viewers with laughs and warmth. I wholeheartedly believe there are newer episodes that are just as funny and culturally significant as episodes from earlier seasons. And there are some old episodes that completely miss the mark, just like some of the new ones. Like any show, there are going to be some storylines that grip you and some that don’t.
Oh my god, so funny. Am I rigghht? That means you can’t just throw out every episode after a certain arbitrary point as unworthy of your attention. Take, for example, those who complain about the plots getting too zany — to which I reply, it’s a cartoon. It doesn’t have to be realistic. In fact, a lot of times it shouldn’t be, as it’s part of the reason why animated shows can push into territory considered too taboo for regular prime time. Then there are those who say there’s no character development anymore. But that’s simply not the case, from Grandpa’s past love to Homer and Marge’s discourse about having another child, there are plenty of “real” topics still being explored. People who make
this argument also don’t take the actual logistics of the show into account: A show on for 24 seasons can’t have deep character revelations every other episode; it has to be paced. Lastly, there are those who complain about the apparently never-ending rotation of guest stars that take away from the original characters. I actually agree with this to an extent, but there have been some phenomenal guest spots, including my recent personal favorite: Neil Gaiman. And the most brilliant part is, he doesn’t even know how to read. See, if you still watched the show, you would get that reference. And then you have to consider that every single episode of “The Simpsons” gets better when you rewatch it. Every episode. It’s scientifically proven. Jokes you didn’t catch the first time, signs you never noticed in the background, there’s so many layers to an episode. And that, more than anything, is the marker of a truly great show. “The Simpsons” started off as the pinnacle of subversive humor. Over time, the popularity and success of the show cemented it into an institution, and hence put a target on its back for every whiny fan boy with a keyboard. So go ahead, tell me everything wrong with “The Simpsons” in some unintentional imitation of Comic Book Guy. I’ll be too busy laughing to care. But remember, just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand.
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8A — Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Arts
COMMUNITY CULTURE
Anything goes at midnight showings State Theater provides cult classics for A 2 By TYLER BAILEY Daily Arts Writer
For almost as long as the phenomenon of cult movies has existed, so too have these strange, offbeat and sometimes downright terrible films found a home at midnight screenings. It could be that the mythos of the midnight hour meshes with the appeal of the cult film movement, because this combination has been a hit nationwide and in Ann Arbor. The city has been at the forefront of the midnight movie scene with the State Theater offering frequent midnight screenings since the late ’80s. However, it is not just the offbeat appeal of the midnight hour that has audiences coming back most Saturdays. Brian Hunter, programming manager of the State Theater, has been making sure that viewers are served a steady diet of classic cult films as well as a complete social experience unlike any other trip to the movies (that happens before midnight, that is). “I definitely think that things can get weirder; I want the midnights to feel like a party,” Hunter said. “My dream is for it to feel like, even if you’re seeing ‘The Goonies,’ that you feel like it’s the first time you’ve ever seen it, and it’s the weirdest time you’ve ever seen it.” While many patrons have already seen multiple films that are popular fare for midnight screenings, the experience
offered by the State Theater is worlds away from the experience of popping in a favorite DVD or, more likely, queuing up a strange, foreign thriller on Netflix. After purchasing tickets and climbing the stairs to the State’s two screens on the second floor, eager guests are in for a moviegoing encounter unlike any other. Before every midnight screening, State Theater employees introduce the film, often joking and making insider references, as well as a list of other upcoming films. Unlike a Hollywood film screening, audience participation is encouraged. Regulars and newcomers shout out their favorite lines, make jokes around the on-screen dialogue or even bring props related to specific moments in the film. While this behavior would most likely get you the boot at a theater like Rave or Quality 16, the State Theater embraces this tradition with open arms. “It’s really fun when the audience brings it to us,” Hunter said. “A midnight audience, if they’re in touch with the film, they know what to do for it.” Audience participation is even encouraged outside the physical boundaries of the State’s walls. Due to the rip-roaring frontierlike nature of midnight movies at the State, there is always an avenue for film enthusiasts to suggest a screening of a classic favorite or a new, strange limited release for consideration as a part of the series. “E-mail me! I can’t say that enough,” Hunter said. “I’m more than happy to hear what people want to see. I want Ann Arbor to have a fun midnight scene.”
While nothing seems off-limits in terms of audience behavior, limits aren’t even considered in regard to the films that can, and are, shown as part of the midnight programming. Though midnight classics such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Eraserhead” and “Donnie Darko” have become a tradition, the midnight series has given audiences the chance to see more experimental, lesser known and even avant-garde films. “There’s nothing that I wouldn’t even consider showing,” Hunter said. “I think it’s all about experience; it should be about stretching your boundaries, what you’re comfortable or uncomfortable with. I do think the midnight audience is willing to take chances on things.” At midnight, it can be better to go outside a comfort zone or see something that pushes boundaries instead of the dazzling Hollywood blockbuster that is guaranteed to wow audiences. At midnight, it might be a better choice to see a crude, terribly made bust than a critically acclaimed four-star thriller. However, even with these differences, one thing remains the same: At midnight, a film should give you an emotional reaction just the same as it should any time of day. “You should leave the theater either happy that you stayed up and you went with your buddies or leave the theater and just be beside yourself because you feel something,” Hunter said. “I think movies, in general, but especially midnight movies, work on that visceral level. You should feel something from them.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FILM REVIEW
Boring, impotent ‘Delivery’ By KARSTEN SMOLINSKI Daily ARTS WRITER
Leave any cynical attitudes at the door when stepping in to see director Ken Scott’s English language adaptation of his popular BFrench-CanaDelivery dian film, “Starbuck.” While Man “Delivery Quality 16 Man” certainly and Rave deserves no awards, those Disney audience members who accept its silly premise and plot contrivances will leave the theater feeling uplifted. In “Delivery Man,” the amicable but perpetually unreliable meat truck driver David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn, “Wedding Crashers”) can’t get his life together. He owes money to the mob, his pregnant girlfriend wants to raise their child on her own, he grows pot in his apartment and disappoints his family with airheaded decisions. When David discovers that the excessive sperm donations he made in his youth resulted in him fathering 533 different children and that 142 filed a class action lawsuit to uncover his identity, it seems things will only get worse. However, David soon discovers that his oversized family may actually provide the sense of purpose he needs. When David receives a file containing the profiles of his children, his curiosity wins out and he begins secretly checking up on them. This part of “Delivery Man” plays out in an episodic manner, with each newly found offspring presenting a mini-drama. One might easily imagine this premise working as the plot of a television series, where David solves another of his children’s problems each episode.
DISNEY
“Dude, I crashed too many weddings. AM I RIGHT?”
These sections often feel too convenient — as David tends to show up right when he’s needed — but they also present him with some of parenting’s most challenging, and rewarding, situations. When he attends one of his children’s NBA games, Vaughn perfectly portrays the proud and overzealous parent. Another situation captures the difficulty of trusting one’s children with their own life decisions, especially after they’ve made some wrong
Vaughn, the only victor. turns. For his part, Vaughn delivers the character the film needs and not much more. His genuine demeanor and charm appeals to audience members, but fails to generate much humor. No one should attend “Delivery Man” expecting a Vaughn comedy like “DodgeBall” or “Wedding Crashers.”
Though not comically focused, “Delivery Man” does manage a few good laughs, mostly as the result of the interactions between David’s buffoonish lawyer (Chris Pratt, “Parks and Recreation”) and his four uncooperative but adorable children. Pratt spends much of the film playing the foil to David’s desires to connect with his children, even ironically warning him, “Do not reproduce, ever” right before David receives the life-changing news. The love Pratt’s character possesses for his children does becomes apparent, though, despite his frustration and annoyance with their unruly behavior. In many ways, “Delivery Man” resembles a family-friendly version of 2007’s “Knocked Up.” The unreliable slacker, suddenly motivated by becoming a father, learns the importance of responsibility. Coming up short on hilarious comedy or poignant drama, “Delivery Man” supplies an enjoyable experience with its warm and fuzzy attitude and likable characters. The film falters in many ways, yet champions the emotional victories and defeats found in the shared responsibility of family.
statement NOVEMBER 27, 2013
FROM CAMPUS TO CONGRESS
2B Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
online comments
issue 11/20/13
feast your eyes: the dark side of cocktails
“For women in business, it’s more than a numbers game” By Akshay Seth “33% in Ross? That’s nothing in comparison to Computer Science and Engineering where it’s 20%.” – USER: Mike Leroy “Thank you to everyone who had the courage to participate in this article.” – USER: Kelly McGraw
Follow @michigandaily on Instagram
RYAN REISS/DAILY
Holocaust survivor Dr. Rene Lichtman shares some old photos with his table at the Holocaust survivor luncheon at Hillel on Sunday.
THE
statement
Magazine Editor: Haley Goldberg Deputy Editor: Paige Pearcy Design Editor: Alicia Kovalcheck
Photo Editor: Teresa Mathew Illustrator: Megan Mulholland Editor in Chief: Andrew Weiner
Managing Editor: Matthew Slovin Copy Editor:
It was a brisk winter night: I was running across a dimly-lit parking lot on the corner of Ashley and Huron. Hobbling past the large group of fellow goer-outers, I leapt over the concrete divide and saw the rest of my party dart into an invisible doorway on the side of an unmarked building. Where the hell are we going? I caught up, scuttling down the street in heels half a size too big. On top of a building, a black and white letter board haphazardly spelling “THE LAST WORD 5 P.M. - 2 A.M.” caught my eye. I ducked into the dimly lit door frame beneath the sign. In an instant, I had fallen down Ann Arbor’s very own rabbit hole, an underground hotbed of mixology magic and handcrafted cocktails. After wiping the sweat off my brow and readjusting my various layers, I found myself face-to-face with a gentleman clad in a white dress shirt, orchestrating the evening next to a sign that read “Please wait to be seated” in dark, scripted letters. Paneled bookshelves lined the walls as we weaved our way through elderly couples and youths, nestled in the dark corner booths, all ages sporting beards — so many beards. Tea lights flickered against the wood-paneled walls, shining on finely aged liquids in tall-necked glasses. It was as if the
buck-young Ann Arbor had finally been wrangled by a man she met at a rare book store, moved into a chic loft overlooking the meatpacking district of Manhattan, and now roamed the streets clad in sleek cargo trousers and patterned sweaters that merely hinted at her wild youth. As expected of such a refined lady of rebellion, the menu was leather bound and resembled a short novel more than a list of food and beverage offerings. After making my way through the Table of Contents (chapter listings and glossary included), I flipped through page after page of exotic cocktails, trying my best to think if the bold combination of brandied cherry juice and Aztec chocolate bitters would pique my taste buds more than the somewhat smoother elixir of gin and champagne. One of my companions, however, was still on the fence, wondering whether to get the unconventional and zesty Osborn with fresh jalapeno or the Penicillin that was up to its eyeballs in Scotch. I expected an all too excited regurgitation of “They’re both great!” from our waiter, as per the unwritten rules of customer service. To my surprise, however, she looked up from her notepad and explained that while the Penicillin was certainly satisfactory, it was truly the Osborn’s perfect balance of bite and sweetness that made it her drink of choice. With smiles on our faces and eager anticipation for our dangerously delicious cocktails, we delved into a world of culinary accomplices that have forever been engrained in my memory — also known as appetizers. What arrived were more or less fancy open-faced grilled cheeses topped with fresh herbs. It wasn’t long before the app from heaven was
gone, both melting and breaking my heart with its fleeting fickleness — much like a childhood friendship kindled in the stale heat of a summer camp Rec Room. I was overwhelmingly struck with a feeling of love and loss as I gritted my teeth and politely offered the last bite away. #regret It seemed like the Last Word could do no better, until our drinks arrived. A lone thread of salty Parmesan hanging from my lower lip, my jaw slacked mid-bite; I looked up at the waitress as she bestowed upon us our cocktails. Mine: a tall, glowing glass of gin and champagne, a single basil leaf adorning the rim. And my companion’s: a short stub of a Tiki mug sprouting a blue paper umbrella. My eyes widened and I chuckled to myself. It seemed the impossible became possible — both the luxury of aged alcohol and the candid kitschyness of a tourist souvenir came to coexist. Just when you thought you had the Last Word figured out, just when you thought you had her all boxed up and tucked neatly away, she shook her finger with a mischievous smile, giving you a “Tsk, tsk” for trying to tie her down as solely lavish. In one fell swoop, we were reminded that there was no room for judgment, for wondering if Tiki mugs should or shouldn’t be served in an otherwise luau-less environment. This was more than just a drink, more than just a night out on the town — it was a chance to indulge in liquid peppers, to huddle around a flaming bowl of “lots of rum … and more rum.” It was a chance to break all the rules — at least until last call.
Tom McBrien Josephine Adams
THE
Jennie Coleman
No. 513:
Thanksgivukkah: Roast your turkey over the menorah.
No. 514:
Conquering winter = scheduling all your second semester classes in the same building.
by siena witte
No. 515:
rules
It’s OK to spike your hot chocolate when waiting outside Best Buy on Black Friday.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement 3B
statement on the street: What are you thankful for on campus this Thanksgiving?
“
on the record
“I lost the game by myself. I fumbled the ball.”
– DEVIN GARDNER, redshirt junior Michigan football quarterback, about Saturday’s 24-21 loss to Iowa.
“The word ‘minority’ is glaringly simplistic and should be problematized so we can end its misuse.”
PHOTOS BY TERESA MATHEW
– ZEINAB KHALIL, Daily opinion columnist, on the use of “minority” following the #BBUM movement.
“I am thankful that Mujo Café is now open 24/7 on certain nights of the week. It’s really nice.”
“On Main Street and State Street, it’s sort of bustling with activity. That really makes me enjoy being here.”
“I’m part of (Impact) Dance, so I’m very thankful for that opportunity.”
“We had adversity tonight like we haven’t had. And we just kept plugging away, so it’s all good.”
Cassandra Cook, Engineering freshman
Will Zhu, LSA sophomore
Sydney Tucker, LSA freshman
– JOHN BEILEIN, Michigan Men’s Basketball coach after the team’s 63-61 loss to Charlotte in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
”
trending #Iran #catchingfire #GobbleGobble
AP PHOTO/Martial Trezzini
World leaders reached a deal with Iran to freeze its nuclear program for six months. This is the first time in almost 10 years that Iran’s nuclear program has been interrupted, according to The New York Times.
CLASSICALITE.COM
A woman in London named “Isabella” has lost her boyfriend, and she just wants to find him again. Posters with Ryan Gosling’s face beneath the headline “Lost Boyfriend” have spread across the city, making men and women alike exclaim in surprise, “But wait, that’s my boyfriend!”
#DrWho50 #callifRyan #BrodyMeester #StauskasMVP #Bound3
ELLIESBLOG22.WORDPRESS.COM
Cue the wedding bells. In the ultimate adolescent heartbreaker, TV idols Seth Cohen and Blair Waldorf Adam Brody and Leighton Meester are engaged, merging two iconic teen soap operas. Who could have predicted the queen bee and the comic book nerd fall in love?
Thought Kanye West’s newest music video for his single “Bound 2” was scandalous? Wait until you see “Bound 3,” the parody version made by James Franco and Seth Rogen. Made as a shot-for-shot mirror of Kanye’s, the duo does it all. Shirtless Rogen? Check. Motorcycle? Check. Intro video montage with horses? You betcha.
YOUTUBE
4B
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
A CAPITOL VIEW: The D.C. fight to maintain federal research funding / By Sam Gringlas
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
$1.33 B $1.24 B
$1.27 B
$1.14 B
$827 M
$1 B
$819.3 M $797 M
$750.9 M $876 M $654.9 M $800 M
$611.4 M
$595.6 M
As research spending has increased at the University, funding from federal sponsors has fluctuated. From 2011-2012, funding from federal sponsors experienced a 3.6-percent decrease. But last year, federal sponsorship grew by 2.8 percent. As the sequester’s effects intensify, the
University will become increasingly reliant on donor support and University funding to maintain its research portfolio. Information provided by the University’s Office of the Vice President for Research.
Portion of funding from federal sponsors University’s total annual research spending
T
hrough the windows, the dome of the U.S. Capitol commands the skyline, perched just a few blocks up Capitol Street Southwest. At the University of Michigan Washington, D.C. office, the focus on location is apparent. For the staff, working from Washington isn’t just convenient; it’s essential. It’s in the District of Columbia — not Ann Arbor — where the University has constant access to legislators and policymakers, the White House and congressional staff. The University’s Washington staff members are well positioned to advocate on the University’s behalf. In Washington, friends of the University have the clout to attach a crucial amendment or adjust a vital regulation. Though they might not know it, University faculty, students and administrators are depending on a staff over 500 miles away — for research dollars, flexible student loan policy and lenient immigration laws. In Michigan, Capitol Hill may seem distant, but at the University’s D.C. office, it’s just down the street.
Inside the Beltway When the University first opened a Washington, D.C. office in 1990, it was one of just a handful of similar university outposts. Today, more than 30 institutions of higher education maintain offices in the District. Michigan State University and Wayne State University, along with Harvard University, have their offices in the same building as Michigan’s delegation, just a ten-minute walk from Capitol Hill. Michael Waring, University executive director of federal relations, and Cindy Bank, the office’s assistant director, have run the University’s D.C. operation for more than a decade. “The University is almost like a big corporation in a sense,” Waring said. “It has lots of pieces, and the federal government intersects with those in a lot of ways.” Like many companies, nonprofit organizations and trade groups, a university often tasks a staff to manage their institution’s relationships and interests in Washington, D.C. As an employer, fundraiser, hospital and research institution, federal policy runs through many veins of the University. Though higher education policy frequently tops the staff’s agenda, the University’s interests reach across a wide array of the federal government’s jurisdiction, including taxation, immigration, cyber security and health care. Tax policy, specifically deductions for charitable donations, frequently affects University fundraising efforts, including the recently launched Victors for Michigan campaign. The University also keeps tabs on immigration reform efforts, advocating for policies to allow international students
to attend the University and then stay in the United States. But perhaps most importantly, federal research funding is a high-stakes priority for the University, the nation’s second largest research institution in terms of research dollars. As effects of the federal sequestration loom, the University must constantly remind its congressional delegation the importance of federal research funds. In fiscal year 2013, the University logged record-breaking research expenditures, totaling $1.33 billion. However, federal funding accounts for 62 percent of University research dollars. Though the University reported increases in certain areas of fed-
Kristina Ko, the University’s director of federal relations for research, serves as the liaison between the University’s Office of the Vice President for Research and the federal government. From Washington, Ko advocates on behalf of the University’s vast research interests and relays updates on federal funding and regulations related to research. It is difficult to isolate the sequestration’s impact on specific grants. When a researcher receives word funding has been cut, Ko said, the notice does not state “due to the sequestration.” “But we can make certain assumptions,” she said.
“The funding is going to continue to be the biggest fight we’re going to have here. And it’s tied to this macro debate about how big government should be. So we’re going to have to figure out how we maneuver through those stormy waters.” — Michael Waring, University executive director of federal relations eral funding last year, researchers received $9.6 million less last year from the National Institutes of Health, which provides 38 percent of the University’s federal funding. What’s more alarming is the true effects of the sequestration — which took affect on March 1 and inflicted across-the-board cuts adding up to 5.1 percent of the nation’s total discretionary spending as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011 — are still uncertain. Cynthia Wilbanks, University vice president for government relations, said the University and federal government’s fiscal years do not align, meaning it is still unclear how much of an effect the cuts will have. Additionally, a second round of cuts is set to take place if Congress doesn’t act by Dec. 14. In October, University President Mary Sue Coleman said the sequestration’s second round of cuts present “a real danger.”
To ensure University researchers find a positive outlook come Dec. 14, Ko said the University’s Washington staff is trying to get creative in communicating the importance of research to key players in Congress. She said storytelling is important, meticulously highlighting University research efforts and their outcomes for policymakers. “We’ve absolutely ramped up,” Ko said. “Obviously, in light of the budget issues, we’ve definitely increased our advocacy efforts in educating the delegation about the research we do and how necessary federal funding is.” Prof. Brian Athey, Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics chair and a professor in internal medicine and psychiatry, said a second round of cuts could be particularly devastating. Without a resolution by Dec. 14, research-
5B
ers could enter 2014 facing a 7.5-percent decrease in NIH funding. This could translate into a $25 million loss at the Medical School and $37.5 million at the campus level. “It will add continued pressure to downsize the number of laboratories, faculty hires and graduate and post-doctoral training slots,” Athey said. “This is just coming at a time when the potential future discoveries in biomedical research are more exciting than ever.” Athey said he approves of the University’s efforts to fight the sequestration, but noted it is important to lobby congressional Republicans. Ann Arbor’s representative, John Dingell (D–Ann Arbor) has already voiced discontent with the sequestration, arguing the University must target those standing in the way of safeguarding funding. Ko said University researchers often call the Washington office to offer assistance in advocating on behalf of University research, and they understand the University is working to fight sequestration’s tide. “They understand we’re not putting these cuts in and, frankly, we’re not the ones who are going to reverse them,” Ko said. Sarah Walter, Michigan State University’s associate vice president for governmental affairs based in Washington, said MSU lobbies the Michigan congressional delegation in similar ways and frequently collaborates with the University’s office, located down the hall in 499 S. Capitol St. SW. Before heading MSU’s D.C. office, Walter served in the same position as Ko at the University. At MSU, federal research funding accounts for 49 percent of research expenditures. Last year, Washington officials from Wayne State, MSU and the University brought the congressional delegation to Michigan to tour the three-university research triangle. Staff and University officials sought to highlight the state’s many research achievements, as well as discuss the sequestration and impact of federal funding. As much as universities work together to emphasize the importance of federal research funding to Congress, the sequestration is a wide-reaching issue pulled by a multitude of forces. “The funding is going to continue to be the biggest fight we’re going to have here,” Waring said. “And it’s tied to this macro debate about how big government should be. So we’re going to have to figure out how we maneuver through those stormy waters.”
In the lobby To accomplish these goals, the Washington team works diligently to keep the University’s priorities on the minds of lawmakers and their staffs, especially members of Michigan’s delegation. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6B
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5B
Waring, Bank and Ko constantly attempt to influence policy in conjunction with the University’s best interests. Lobbying — a term supposedly coined by President Ulysses Grant in the 1870s as political suitors vied for the President’s attention in the lobby of Washington’s swanky Willard Hotel — is often associated with the highly endowed K-street firms that push deals with senators in smokefilled back rooms. But according to Waring, the University’s interactions are much broader than tussles over the latest House resolution. “Most advocacy is explaining how things work to policymakers,” Waring said. “Because they can’t make good policy unless they understand how their decisions are going to affect various groups.” Public Policy Prof. Richard Hall said lobbyists are often seen as those who wield campaign contributions to sway policy. However, 501(3)(c) organizations — like the University — are legally barred from making campaign contributions. “They don’t like to use the word lobby because that has special meaning,” Hall said. “They use words like ‘educating policymakers,’ which is what a lot of lobbyists do. I think higher education policy would be worse if you didn’t have representatives from higher education institutions in the process.” Hall said rather than coercing politicians to take positions they wouldn’t otherwise, most advocacy organizations target politicians already supportive of their cause, trying to convince them to promote that stance. In a city that runs on networks, Waring and Bank have spent years cultivating relationships. Their networks span across congress, the White House and agencies like the National Science Foundation and NIH. A number of current Obama administration officials are University alumni, including Cecilia Munoz, director of the White House Policy Council, and the president’s advisor on education, Roberto Rodriguez. Both recently spoke on campus and often work with Waring and Bank on federal policy. “As much as we’re in the University business, we’re in the people business,” Waring said. “It’s relationships. It’s people we get to know here in Washington because when we want to go talk to them, we want them to be glad we’ve walked in the door. They know who we are. They like us. We like them. We’ve got this relationship and now we can have a conversation. Their boss might not vote the way we want them to vote, but what we are doing is creating an environment to have that discussion.” Wilbanks agreed, noting real opportunities to inf luence policy emerge from relationships molded over long periods. “The fact is that having staff on the ground in Washington D.C. gives us an
opportunity over many years to develop strong relationships with the members themselves, and equally important, is an opportunity to have long term relationships with staff,” Wilbanks said. In this way, the University’s D.C. office rarely engages in crisis communication or calls upon a contact just as a crucial bill comes to the floor. Rather, congressmen and their staffs are lobbied constantly. But even with regular communication, Wilbanks said the D.C. staff is always attentive to the legislative agenda, keeping an eye on opportunities for amendments that could benefit the University and other higher education institutions. The University’s interactions in these spaces are less a favor-for-favor exchange
is something going on at the University that intersects with federal public policy, they make sure we know about it in advance.” For example, during his last State of the Union, President Obama emphasized the significance of American manufacturing and called for the formation of several institutes to pursue manufacturing innovations. Currently, the state of Michigan is in the running for one of these facilities, and the University is taking the lead in crafting the state’s proposal. Jordan said it is important Michigan’s congressional delegation has all the information they need to focus the Obama administration’s attention on the state’s proposal.
“Up here, accurate information is the coin of the realm ... What we really need in order to be effective is accurate and useful information. If there is something going on at the University that intersects with federal public policy, they make sure we know about it in advance.” — Tom Jordan, legislative director and science advisor for Rep. Sander Levin (D–Mich.) but rather a series of ongoing symbiotic interactions. “It is sort of a two-way street,” Bank said. “We’re working on behalf of the University and watching on behalf of the University, but we’re also here for members of Congress and the administration so we can act as the conduit to campus.” Bank said there are often times when a congressional staff member pulls her aside during a bill markup to ask a question. Tom Jordan, legislative director and science advisor for Rep. Sander Levin (D– Mich.) said the University’s liaisons in Washington provide congressional staffers with a constant f low of information. “Up here, accurate information is the coin of the realm,” Jordan said. “We have lots of people telling us things, but what we really need in order to be effective is accurate and useful information. If there
AA to DC Lawrence Molnar, associate director at the University’s Institute for Research on Labor Employment and the Economy, travels to D.C. frequently to work with congressional staffs and agencies in the executive branch. He said the University’s Washington staff members frequently assist in arranging appointments, connecting faculty with key staffers and helping them navigate the halls of the House and Senate. “Our job is to make interactions (of University faculty and students) with Washington more successful — that’s our goal,” Waring said. “Whatever it takes. If that means making copies of their testimony if they’re here for a hearing or getting a picture of them doing something or introducing them to someone or walking them around the Hill — the expectation is that we’re going to improve people’s
interaction with Washington to the benefit of the University.” The D.C. team even assists faculty by reviewing language in their testimony or parsing through dense, legislative jargon. “I can’t say enough about how important and how skilled and knowledgeable our Washington staff is at advocating for the University of Michigan and the work we do back here in the state,” Molnar said. Molnar, whose institute focuses on economic development, not only travels to the capital to advocate research funding for his institute, but also to advise members of the federal government on an array of topics. Currently, Molnar is working with the Department of Defense to mitigate the effects of decreasing military contracts in certain communities. He said a steady flow of information from researchers in the field is an invaluable resource for policymakers. “They need to depend on reliable information from sources they trust to get the knowledge to allow them to do their jobs,” he said.
Little part of the world On nice days, Bank often walks over to the Longworth House Office Building to grab a salad for lunch. In these spaces, she gets a lot of work done by accident. She’ll often run into a congressional staffer, they’ll chat and get a meeting arranged. Advocacy happens all the time — at social events, on the Hill and in the cafeteria at Longworth. “Those little things happen every day,” Bank said. For faculty and administrators in Ann Arbor, a meeting in D.C. requires planning weeks in advance. Waring, Bank and Ko can get to a hearing in five minutes. The University’s field office has become part of Washington’s landscape, a city populated by the nation’s top policymakers. Whether the current issue is sequestration or immigration reform, Waring said creating a presence for the University remains important. “Our goal is still to paint the picture of what the University is all about — how we can be successful, how we can help the state and the country — and how hopefully Congress and these agencies can be a partner in that,” Waring said. There’s a lot at stake. The faculty member’s groundbreaking research proposal, the undergraduate’s student loan debt and the future of the University’s next great partnership — these roads all cross in a tiny sliver of former swampland between Maryland and Virginia. It becomes clear why the University’s D.C. office takes their conference room Capitol view so seriously. “The bottom line is that the University has been here for almost 200 years, and my guess is it will be here 200 years more,” Waring said. “So we’re just a small piece of that success and the success of the University goes beyond our little part of the world. Our job is to make our little piece of it works.”
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5B
Waring, Bank and Ko constantly attempt to influence policy in conjunction with the University’s best interests. Lobbying — a term supposedly coined by President Ulysses Grant in the 1870s as political suitors vied for the President’s attention in the lobby of Washington’s swanky Willard Hotel — is often associated with the highly endowed K-street firms that push deals with senators in smokefilled back rooms. But according to Waring, the University’s interactions are much broader than tussles over the latest House resolution. “Most advocacy is explaining how things work to policymakers,” Waring said. “Because they can’t make good policy unless they understand how their decisions are going to affect various groups.” Public Policy Prof. Richard Hall said lobbyists are often seen as those who wield campaign contributions to sway policy. However, 501(3)(c) organizations — like the University — are legally barred from making campaign contributions. “They don’t like to use the word lobby because that has special meaning,” Hall said. “They use words like ‘educating policymakers,’ which is what a lot of lobbyists do. I think higher education policy would be worse if you didn’t have representatives from higher education institutions in the process.” Hall said rather than coercing politicians to take positions they wouldn’t otherwise, most advocacy organizations target politicians already supportive of their cause, trying to convince them to promote that stance. In a city that runs on networks, Waring and Bank have spent years cultivating relationships. Their networks span across congress, the White House and agencies like the National Science Foundation and NIH. A number of current Obama administration officials are University alumni, including Cecilia Munoz, director of the White House Policy Council, and the president’s advisor on education, Roberto Rodriguez. Both recently spoke on campus and often work with Waring and Bank on federal policy. “As much as we’re in the University business, we’re in the people business,” Waring said. “It’s relationships. It’s people we get to know here in Washington because when we want to go talk to them, we want them to be glad we’ve walked in the door. They know who we are. They like us. We like them. We’ve got this relationship and now we can have a conversation. Their boss might not vote the way we want them to vote, but what we are doing is creating an environment to have that discussion.” Wilbanks agreed, noting real opportunities to inf luence policy emerge from relationships molded over long periods. “The fact is that having staff on the ground in Washington D.C. gives us an
opportunity over many years to develop strong relationships with the members themselves, and equally important, is an opportunity to have long term relationships with staff,” Wilbanks said. In this way, the University’s D.C. office rarely engages in crisis communication or calls upon a contact just as a crucial bill comes to the floor. Rather, congressmen and their staffs are lobbied constantly. But even with regular communication, Wilbanks said the D.C. staff is always attentive to the legislative agenda, keeping an eye on opportunities for amendments that could benefit the University and other higher education institutions. The University’s interactions in these spaces are less a favor-for-favor exchange
is something going on at the University that intersects with federal public policy, they make sure we know about it in advance.” For example, during his last State of the Union, President Obama emphasized the significance of American manufacturing and called for the formation of several institutes to pursue manufacturing innovations. Currently, the state of Michigan is in the running for one of these facilities, and the University is taking the lead in crafting the state’s proposal. Jordan said it is important Michigan’s congressional delegation has all the information they need to focus the Obama administration’s attention on the state’s proposal.
“Up here, accurate information is the coin of the realm ... What we really need in order to be effective is accurate and useful information. If there is something going on at the University that intersects with federal public policy, they make sure we know about it in advance.” — Tom Jordan, legislative director and science advisor for Rep. Sander Levin (D–Mich.) but rather a series of ongoing symbiotic interactions. “It is sort of a two-way street,” Bank said. “We’re working on behalf of the University and watching on behalf of the University, but we’re also here for members of Congress and the administration so we can act as the conduit to campus.” Bank said there are often times when a congressional staff member pulls her aside during a bill markup to ask a question. Tom Jordan, legislative director and science advisor for Rep. Sander Levin (D– Mich.) said the University’s liaisons in Washington provide congressional staffers with a constant f low of information. “Up here, accurate information is the coin of the realm,” Jordan said. “We have lots of people telling us things, but what we really need in order to be effective is accurate and useful information. If there
AA to DC Lawrence Molnar, associate director at the University’s Institute for Research on Labor Employment and the Economy, travels to D.C. frequently to work with congressional staffs and agencies in the executive branch. He said the University’s Washington staff members frequently assist in arranging appointments, connecting faculty with key staffers and helping them navigate the halls of the House and Senate. “Our job is to make interactions (of University faculty and students) with Washington more successful — that’s our goal,” Waring said. “Whatever it takes. If that means making copies of their testimony if they’re here for a hearing or getting a picture of them doing something or introducing them to someone or walking them around the Hill — the expectation is that we’re going to improve people’s
interaction with Washington to the benefit of the University.” The D.C. team even assists faculty by reviewing language in their testimony or parsing through dense, legislative jargon. “I can’t say enough about how important and how skilled and knowledgeable our Washington staff is at advocating for the University of Michigan and the work we do back here in the state,” Molnar said. Molnar, whose institute focuses on economic development, not only travels to the capital to advocate research funding for his institute, but also to advise members of the federal government on an array of topics. Currently, Molnar is working with the Department of Defense to mitigate the effects of decreasing military contracts in certain communities. He said a steady flow of information from researchers in the field is an invaluable resource for policymakers. “They need to depend on reliable information from sources they trust to get the knowledge to allow them to do their jobs,” he said.
Little part of the world On nice days, Bank often walks over to the Longworth House Office Building to grab a salad for lunch. In these spaces, she gets a lot of work done by accident. She’ll often run into a congressional staffer, they’ll chat and get a meeting arranged. Advocacy happens all the time — at social events, on the Hill and in the cafeteria at Longworth. “Those little things happen every day,” Bank said. For faculty and administrators in Ann Arbor, a meeting in D.C. requires planning weeks in advance. Waring, Bank and Ko can get to a hearing in five minutes. The University’s field office has become part of Washington’s landscape, a city populated by the nation’s top policymakers. Whether the current issue is sequestration or immigration reform, Waring said creating a presence for the University remains important. “Our goal is still to paint the picture of what the University is all about — how we can be successful, how we can help the state and the country — and how hopefully Congress and these agencies can be a partner in that,” Waring said. There’s a lot at stake. The faculty member’s groundbreaking research proposal, the undergraduate’s student loan debt and the future of the University’s next great partnership — these roads all cross in a tiny sliver of former swampland between Maryland and Virginia. It becomes clear why the University’s D.C. office takes their conference room Capitol view so seriously. “The bottom line is that the University has been here for almost 200 years, and my guess is it will be here 200 years more,” Waring said. “So we’re just a small piece of that success and the success of the University goes beyond our little part of the world. Our job is to make our little piece of it works.”
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
7B
Working for happiness by Aaron Guggenheim
G
randma carefully set her hands on the tablecloth, stained with bits of rice and curry, and gave me a pained, exacerbated look; apparently she had an agenda. “You paid nearly $200,000 to do what? Wait tables?” she said. “Sweetheart. You didn’t go to college for that.” I smiled patiently and leaned back into the worn, red booth. Grandma, a spry woman with perennially short red hair of a shade not found in nature, was born to immigrants who had often argued in Yiddish and made their living selling newspapers in train stations before buying a storefront in Detroit — Sosin’s Sodas sold candy and pop. With four children, money had been tight, but her parents managed to send her and her three brothers to college by working long hours and saving carefully. They knew that their dream, their American Dream of class ascendancy, was not possible in their lifetimes; they simply did not have the education to do so. Poverty and oppression in Eastern Europe had stifled opportunity. But they knew that with a college education, their children could live the life they had wanted: financial security that promised not only stability but the opportunity to purchase items that demonstrated their ascendancy — a new car and a color television to accessorize a carefully maintained suburban home. See, in my family the American Dream did not just live and die within one generation. It was the inheritance of the next generation to demonstrate that with careful planning and hard work came the ability to move upward, to build on the sacrifices and
successes of those who came before. Grandma had been a product of the 1950s. She married young and had children, smoked cigarettes and
taught English. And Grandpa and Grandma did well for themselves; following the turbulent race riots in Detroit, they had purchased a home in the suburbs and proceeded to trade in cars every two or so years, a veritable status symbol. They worked hard and bought things, raising two children among a growing extended family that always got together for the High Holidays. Their children, my dad and his sister, were raised to continue onward with the Dream. They had extensive opportunities and, eventually, both went onto elite graduate schools. They too worked hard; Dad became a corporate lawyer, working in securities litigation, and Aunt Amy became wealthy in the boom of the late 90s, taking several years off after negotiating the sale of the company she worked for to climb mountains and scuba dive. Dad worked hard to provide for our
family and, in the process, gradually became weighted with an ecosystem of financial obligations that developed around three children and a divorce.
rejecting her Dream; her ideas of success and happiness were under assault. I might never attain what Grandma had and carry forward the Dream; instead I might live with little and descend in class. It was no wonder that my plans concerned her. I don’t think I will live out their Dream. I’ll be starting my own, and I don’t particularly want to acquire things. I want to do good and be happy. I want to explore and live. But at the same time, I struggle with that. I struggle with the weight of abandoning the Dream that has lived on for generations previous to mine. I feel a nagging sense of obligation to push myself and attain things for the sake of those who came before, ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND for those who He took the straight and narrow struggled to put me where I am. path and now lives surrounded by I have this fantasy where I buy a things he has acquired but which he rusted blue Volkswagen van with rarely has the time or energy to use. enough miles on it to give it some Like his sister, he outdid Grandpa personality and convert it into a and Grandma by carrying the family camper. It wouldn’t be fancy — just farther and ascending class and a small bed and a propane stovetop status. Dad was carrying the Dream and enough room for books and forward, generations in the making. more books. I’d be kept company That left me. Sitting across from by hundreds of those strange and Grandma, an elite college education wonderful people who live through nearly complete and no immediate thin sheets of paper. And then I’d plans to capitalize on it. drive. I would find people and places “I don’t need money. I just want to that were beautiful and different and be happy,” I said. “If I work at Trader weird. I’d work when I needed to Joe’s and I am happy, then what does and read when I didn’t. Away from it matter? complications and expectations and Grandma and I argued like we had obligations, I’d come to accept my dozens of times before. I left dinner Dream. frustrated and set out walking home, Maybe, after this is all over, after refusing the offer of a ride. Why did four years in Ann Arbor, that is the she care what I did after I graduated? place to start. It was my life after all. But I soon realized that why we Aaron Guggenheim is a Daily Staff were arguing was because I was Reporter and an LSA senior.
8B
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 // The Statement
V I S U A L S TAT E M E N T:
ON CAMPUS, I’M THANKFUL FOR ...
“The view of Ann Arbor from the 6th floor of the Business School” — Teresa Mathew (top left) “I’m thankful for the comic relief. You do you, squirrels.” — Erin Kirkland (top right) “My Fraternity, Triangle, and the brotherhood there that’s a second family to me.” — James Coller (bottom left) “The North Stacks in the Hatcher Graduate Library. In the beginning of the year, my friend had showed me this little crevice of the library and the books were so old and beautiful; from then I just became very relaxed. Now when I’m stressed I don’t even need to go there, I just need to think about it and I feel calmer” — Ryan Reiss (bottom right)