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2A — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Funding trends affect affordability efforts Decrease in higher education appropriations tied to tuition increases By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter
LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily President Obama speaks at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant about the importance of federal aid in sustaining the auto industry.
Obama praises auto resurgence in Michigan Remarks focus on impact of industry ahead of State of the Union address By WILL GREENBERG Daily News Editor
JAN. 7, 2015 — Ahead of his State of the Union address on Jan. 20, President Barack Obama paired Detroit Lions references with words of optimism for the future in a speech at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant on Wednesday. The president used the town’s support for the football team, which was eliminated from the NFL playoffs this past weekend, as a metaphor for the country’s support of Detroit and the auto-
mobile industry. “If there’s one thing that you can take to the bank when talking about Detroit, it’s that Detroit always comes back,” Obama said. The president focused his attention Wednesday on the auto industry and Detroit’s integral role in it. He split his time between revisiting the decision to bail out General Motors and Chrysler — now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles — and discussing the recent growth in U.S. automobile sales. Obama spoke of the initially unpopular decision to provide bailout money to GM and Chrysler, two of Detroit’s “Big Three” automotive companies in 2009. He said many feared that if those two went under, the third, Ford — which was not bailed out — could have suffered as well. He noted the importance of pro-
viding federal aid along with a strategic plan for recovery while trying to sustain the U.S. auto industry. He said the auto industry needed to “change with the times” and adapt their product and operations moving forward after the recession. Ford spokeswoman Christin Baker said in a statement to the Daily that the company was proud both to host the president and to contribute to a growing U.S. economy. Ford has added 24,000 jobs since 2011. Obama also made sure to celebrate Ford and other American auto companies. Speaking at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, which has added 1,800 new employees since 2011 to reach over 5,000 now, Obama rallied the crowd while announcing the United States has experiSee OBAMA, Page 3A
FEB. 25 2015 – In his opening remarks at last Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting, University President Mark Schlissel thanked Gov. Rick Snyder (R) for recommending a 2-percent increase in state appropriations for higher education in fiscal year 2016. “We appreciate the governor’s support for higher ed, especially at a time when the state must make difficult choices regarding spending,” he said. However, even with the increase — which totaled a 1.9-percent funding increase specifically for the University — state appropriations are nowhere near where they used to be at their peak. This year, state appropriations made up 9 percent of the University’s operating budget, excluding the University of Michigan Health System. In contrast, during the 1960s, state appropriations covered 78 percent of University expenses. Over the course of half a decade, the state of Michigan has severely limited its higher education funding. In an effort to fill the gap, the University has resorted to other sources for revenue — namely, raising student tuition. Given a growing nationwide conversation on the rising cost of college, these increases have prompted discussion at the University on how to keep college affordable and accessible to all students, even while the institution is steadily losing state monetary support. History of tuition hikes During June’s Board of Regents meeting, the board unanimously agreed to increase this year’s tuition by 1.6 percent for in-state undergraduate students and 3.4 percent for out-of-state undergraduate students. Before casting her vote, Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R) asked if there was a point when the University could stop increasing its price tag. “It concerns me that many people have asked for a higher appropriation from the state every year, and the state is starting to respond, and I appreciate that,” Newman said. “But, I think we need to be responsible stewards of that increase. So I wonder why we have to have an increase in tuition when the state is stepping up to the plate.” University Provost Martha Pollack responded at the meeting, saying that though the University is invested in keeping costs low for students, it must raise revenue to continue hiring top faculty and updating campus infrastructure. “We do work extremely hard … but we also really need to protect the excellence of the University,” Pollack said. This year’s tuition increase follows the regents’ 2013 decision to bump tuition by 1.1 percent, the lowest hike in 29 years. According to financial reports from Tim Slottow, the former University chief financial officer, the University’s tuition hikes have been among the lowest in the state and in the Big Ten over the past several years. “Tuition and state appropriations are the primary sources of funding for the University’s academic programs. There is a direct relationship between the growth or reduction in state support and the University’s ability to restrain tuition fee increases,” Slottow stated in the 2006 financial report, while still in the role of chief financial officer. In response to the University’s effort to keep tuition percent changes low, Snyder awarded the campus an additional $1.1 million in state funding, the third-largest state grant in 2012. Regardless of efforts in recent years, however, the University has increased its tuition by at least 1 percent, and sometimes more, each year since 2002. A decade ago, the Board of
Regents approved a 12.3-percent hike in tuition for in-state students and a 6.9-percent raise for out-of-state students — the largest percentage increase since the turn of the century at the University. “This is unprecedented in the history of the University,” thenProvost Paul Courant told the Daily. Though each subsequent increase in tuition was 5 percentage points or less, overall the University’s base tuition for those enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts has increased 60 percent for in-state students and 55 percent for out-ofstate students from 2005 to 2014. In an interview with the Daily, Cynthia Wilbanks, University vice president of government relations, said tuition rates have a direct relationship with state funding. Rising tuition, she said, can be explained by dwindling state funding. Over the past decade, state appropriations to the University have declined by 40 percent on a per-student basis, when adjusted for inflation. “I think the state had a much greater role in funding higher education prior to this last decade,” Wilbanks said. According to information provided by the office of the University’s vice president for global communications and strategic initiatives, tuition rates vary somewhat between different colleges within the University, credit-hour loads and class standing. Tuition money goes to the general fund and helps pay for instruction, financial aid, advising and libraries. It does not pay for athletics, the health system, construction or housing. In an interview last week, University Regent Denise Ilitch (D), who has voted against most tuition increases over her tenure on the board, said she believes it is extremely important to keep higher education affordable for all Michigan residents. “I think that it’s extremely important that we make higher education accessible to our Michigan residents and to make sure that it’s affordable to all, and not just people of means,” Ilitch said. Though pleased at the slowing rate of tuition increases, Ilitch said there are many facets in keeping tuition down, including controlling costs and being more efficient when spending. “I would love to see that, just one year, not to increase tuition,” she added. Keeping the University affordable As tuition costs go up, however, the University has explored affordability efforts in other areas. This year, the board also agreed to a $19.5 million increase in financial aid — part of a general trend of increasing financial aid faster than the rate of tuition. “What (the increase) will allow us to do is ensure that students with need, as we have done in the last few years, will not see an increase in the cost of attendance,” Pollack said in a 2013 interview with the Daily. This tuition increases occur as state-funded opportunities for financial aid have grown scarcer. Along with decreasing funding for higher education, the state of Michigan has cut initiatives to help low- to middle-income students pay for college such as the Michigan Promise Scholarship program in 2009, a merit-based scholarship for students with exceptional Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP, standardized test scores. State Rep. Amanda Price (R– Holland), chair of the state’s Education Committee, said cutting scholarships like the MEAP scholarship was, in some senses, unavoidable. “I think that’s impacted some folks, I’m sure it has, even lowto middle-income students have been impacted by that cut,” Price said. “But that was driven by the budget realities that the state had been facing and continues to face.” According to figures from the U.S. Department of Education, listed in the most recent Office of Budget Planning almanac, the average state grant has decreased by $2,608 per student. However,
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The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published every Thursday during the spring and summer 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.
the University has increased the average need-based grant it provides to undergraduate students by $4,774 through its own fund since 2002. Though the University’s average state grant per need-based student is the second lowest among all public institutions in the Association of American Universities after MSU, it provides the second-highest amount of aid to students from its own resources at an average of $12,233 per student. The number of need-based grants generally varies based on several factors, chiefly the income distribution among students at an institution. Wilbanks said when it comes to deciding where to protect University funding while setting the budget and enacting cuts, academics and the student experience are a key focus. “Here a very, very important decision was made that the academic quality of the institution had to be the number one priority, and in making it a number one priority you make decisions along the way to support your being able to invest in those high priorities — student experience, faculty excellence and the overall academic excellence of the University,” Wilbanks said. In November 2013, partially in continuation of that push, the University launched the Victors for Michigan campaign — the largest fundraising drive for a public University in history. The campaign, chaired by Stephen Ross, set its goal to $4 billion, with $1 billion earmarked for financial support for students. “We believe that by judiciously controlling our costs and tuition increases, while also committing University funds for financial aid, See FUNDING, Page 3A
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FUNDING From Page 2A academic excellence of the University,” Wilbanks said. In November 2013, partially in continuation of that push, the University launched the Victors for Michigan campaign — the largest fundraising drive for a public University in history. The campaign, chaired by Stephen Ross, set its goal to $4 billion, with $1 billion earmarked for financial support for students. “We believe that by judiciously controlling our costs and tuition increases, while also committing University funds for financial aid, we can join with donors to make it possible for the best students, from any socioeconomic background, to afford to get a Michigan education,” Newman, the University regent, said in a 2013 statement. Changing student body However, despite maintaining support for low-income students, the University student body has grown wealthier in recent years. Since 2003, the number of University out-of-state undergraduates who did not apply for financial aid or are from families making $150,000 or more annually has increased by 12 percent, according to the almanac. In 2013, for both graduates and undergraduates, in-state students made up about 50.2 percent of the student body — 49.8 percent were either out-of-state or international students. This number of outof-state students has increased by 7.2 percent since 2005. In comparison, out-of-state students comprise around 10 percent of Michigan State University’s student body, a school generally considered the University’s closest peer among public universities in the state. Though the typical student with a family income at
$80,000 or below pays less today to attend the University as they did in 2003, also according to the almanac, the number of those students is decreasing. In contrast, the increase in non-resident students and their subsequent rise in tuition money amounted to an added $88 million to the University’s general fund by 2013. In an interview with The Michigan Daily last week, E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life, said though low income students are provided for from the school’s financial
3A — Fall 2015 MSU is closest to the University in size, rank and athletics among public schools in the state. The average amount of debt faced by students at MSU is $24,000. At the University of Michigan, that number is $25,575 — a $1,575 difference — though it is worth noting that tuition at MSU is about $4,500 lower for in-state freshman, and about $11,100 lower for outof-state freshmen. Burnham said similar to the University, MSU has stayed affordable by increasing financial aid opportunities for all
“For a lot of our students here in Ypsilanti, U of M, even though it’s right down the road, it’s still out of reach for them,” Osmer said. “There is this stigma attached to the idea that U of M is an elitist, expensive school.” aid, students in the “middle,” socioeconomically, who don’t qualify for Pell Grants yet find the tuition too high, are still struggling financially. “It really are the kids in the middle that get squeezed,” she said. “That’s where tuition becomes really critical.” The University’s affordability efforts in comparison Though the University has taken strides toward keeping college affordable for its students, it still falls behind in several key metrics, and in some cases, struggles to build a climate attractive to students of low socioeconomic status. According to Mark Burnham, vice president for governmental affairs at MSU, 54 percent of their students graduate without debt, compared to 46 percent of in-state University students.
students. He said MSU has increased financial aid by 45 percent in the last five years. “We certainly work very hard to make sure we have maximized financial aid as best we have,” he said. Rachel Osmer, college adviser to Ypsilanti Community High School through the Michigan College Advising Corps, works primarily with students in Ypsilanti who come from working- and middle-class backgrounds. She said even though the University has a larger tuition sticker price, because of its endowment and large financial aid resources, many of Osmer’s students have the option of attending the school. “Schools like U of M and MSU because they’re such large schools and such a large alumni
network than newer schools, they have more money to offer from the school themselves than from the federal government,” she said. However, Osmer said many of her students from low socioeconomic backgrounds tend to apply to Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Western Michigan University or community colleges. “For a lot of our students here in Ypsilanti, U of M, even though it’s right down the road, it’s still out of reach for them,” she said. “There is this stigma attached to the idea that U of M is an elitist, expensive school.” Schools like CMU or EMU, she said, are more in her students’ comfort zones because other students from similar backgrounds populate them. “The people they see in that school are usually uppermiddle-class white men and women,” she said. “They’re not people that look like our students, so it’s not representative of a school they would want to go to.” Overall, Harper said state support is important, but doesn’t entirely address some of the socioeconomic issues students face. “(Nothing) makes the current price tag possible if you’re middle-class and out of state, so I think any support we get from the state is really important because it allows us to ask for less, but it won’t change sort of who comes to campus,” Harper said. Correction appended: Due to a calculation error, an infographic that ran in print alongside this article misidentified the tuition of several schools. The corrected infographic is now online with the piece.
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OBAMA From Page 2A enced 57 consecutive months of job growth and 11 million jobs have been added overall during that period. He said growth in manufacturing jobs has played a significant role in reducing Michigan’s unemployment rate, which now sits at 7.1 percent, an improvement from 2010’s 14.6 percent. Additionally, Obama noted that the auto companies have repaid the bailout money in full as of December 2014. “America’s resurgence is real,” he said. “Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. We’ve got the best cars and we are doing better than just about anybody else on earth. And now that we’ve got some calmer waters, now that the worst of the crisis is behind us, if we all do our part, if we all pitch in, then we can make sure that this rising tide is actually lifting all the boats.” The president also noted the cooperation between management and labor, lauding each side’s willingness to make sacrifices during hard times. “We rejected the false choice that either unions or businesses could succeed but not both,” he said. Multiple reports show the auto industry on a steady incline. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US finished the year with a 16-percent increase in sales from 2013 and General Motors’ sales jumped 5 percent from last year. Ford Motor Company saw a 1-percent drop in growth in the year, but had a better December in 2014 than in 2013. On Monday, the Detroit Free Press reported that the auto industry closed 2014 with its fifth consecutive year of growth. The industry sold 16.52 million vehicles, the best performance since 2006. Additionally, Kelley Blue Book reports show U.S. automobile prices increasing last month, with FCA US increasing 2.3 percent from December 2013, GM up 4 percent and Ford up 3.4 percent. Don Grimes, a CLMR senior
research area specialist for the University’s Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy, said automobiles are still a “product people want.” He said he expects to see the industry continue to grow — though it is still subject to ups and downs over time. “They weren’t making a product that was going away — it wasn’t like they were making carriages after they’ve been replaced with the auto industry,” Grimes said. “You were going to get a cyclical rebound and recovery in the auto industry because they were still making products that people still wanted to buy.” Grimes said a positive sign has been the Big Three stabilizing their market shares, now controlling almost 45 percent of the market after a period of post-recession decline. In his speech, Obama commended Detroit on Wednesday for its handling of the municipal bankruptcy as a sign of the city’s resilience. Obama has made several trips to Southeast Michigan during his presidency, including stops in Ann Arbor and Detroit. Obama’s most recent trip to Detroit in November aimed to rally support for Democratic congressional-level and state-level candidates for the 2014 midterm elections. He also emphasized the industry’s resurgence then. “I don’t have to tell you the auto industry that was on the brink of collapse is back on its feet, making better cars than ever, right here in Michigan,” he said in November. “It’s a testament to the grit and the resilience of American workers.” Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez spoke briefly before the president arrived Wednesday, and echoed a similar sentiment. Perez said the auto industry wasn’t ready to die when Obama came into office, and Obama didn’t let it happen. “The future is unquestionably bright because of your guts, your grit, your determination, your stick-to-itiveness, your partnership, your resolve,” he said, speaking to the mostly Ford-employed audience.
Opinion
4A — Fall 2015
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com PETER SHAHIN EDITOR IN CHIEF FALL 2014
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FROM THE DAILY
‘14-‘15 Edgar Awards
B
A Michigan Daily editorial page tradition Originally published APRIL 21, 2015
ack when J. Edgar Hoover, that infallible defender of our constitutional rights, was playing dictator and spying on Americans as head of the FBI, The Michigan Daily’s editorial page handed out the Edgar Awards annually to individuals and institutions best embodying his many admirable characteristics. Of necessity, we revived the tradition in recent years.
And so, without further ado and the protection of the First Amendment on our side, we present the 12th Annual Edgar Awards. The Mark Zuckerberg Award goes to University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald for issuing a press release via Facebook comment. At the bottom of the Daily news story “Investigational Equity: Student challenges University sexual assault policies,” Fitzgerald used his personal Facebook account to “add some information regarding two important points that are not clear in this detailed account in the Daily.” Thanks for helping out, Rick! Now you can add “social media proficiency” to your LinkedIn profile. #professional The Fifty Shades of Grey Award goes to Central Student Government for once again tying up the election in an obnoxiously long litigation process. There’s nothing quite like public bondage. The Richard Simmons Award goes to University President Mark Schlissel for becoming the campus fitness figurehead. Multiple sources at the Daily and many pedestrians on South University have confirmed seeing The Schliss hitting the elliptical in the President’s house presumably to work on his summer bod (or to stay in shape — whatever). President Schlissel, let us know when you’re releasing the sign-up sheet to use your equipment … since the IM Building is no longer an option. The Michigan State University Needless Destruction Award goes to former fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu and suspended sorority Sigma Delta Tau for their just-alittle-over-the-top shenanigans at Treetops Resort during the weekend of Jan. 16. They
only caused an estimated $430,000 in damages. Good work, everyone. At least there weren’t any couches burned! The Hillary Clinton E-mail Scandal Award goes to former Athletic Director Dave Brandon for having “no responsive records” for FOIA requests for e-mails requested by the Daily between March 13 and March 14, 2014. This can only mean one thing: his resignation was no coincidence. Dave Brandon for President 2016, anybody? The Francis J. Underwood Award goes to former CSG President Bobby Dishell for his incredibly quick rise to power during his tenure at the University. First a representative, then vice president, then president? This is a little too similar to our favorite politician, Frank Underwood. Luckily for us reporters, the train station is far away. The Taylor Swift “Shake it Off” Award goes to LSA and Engineering junior Will Royster for continuing to do great things on campus despite losing CSG elections by a mere five votes. Keep dancing on your own, making moves as you go. Keep cruising. Don’t stop groovin’. The Kanye West “I Am a God” Award goes to Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh. Well, this one needs no explanation. And lastly, the Stephen M. Ross Award goes to Stephen M. Ross for his infatuation with naming things after himself. Mr. Ross, did you hear The Michigan Daily is launching a fundraising campaign? Throw us a few million bucks and we’ll tack your name on to our paper. How does The Stephen M. Ross Michigan Daily sound? The Michigan Ross? Take your pick!
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Ben Keller, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Derek Wolfe
Where is hoMe?
Rabab Jafri/Daily
O
n April 7, the University’s Center for Campus Involvement announced it would cancel the screening of “American Sniper,” following a letter started by LSA sophomore Lamees Mekkaoui, raising concerns about the movie being shown at UMix. The CCI planned to reschedule the movie to a different location, followed by a panel and discussion. The letter of concern RABAB regarding the movie has JAFRI been framed as an initiative
from Middle Eastern and North African and Muslim students when more non-MENAS and non-Muslim students signed on than the former. Mekkaoui said, “This is the first time that I have personally seen a letter where it had students from Central Student Government, students from Students for Choice, Sikh Student Association, Muslim Student Association and Hillel all signed up to the same letter.” Law student Rachel Jankowski created a petition calling for the movie to be played at UMix again, which stated, “If the University prevents a movie like this from being shown, it promotes intolerance and stifles dialogue and debate on the subject and goes directly against
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
the atmosphere UMix purports to provide.” UMix is a program that hosts events from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday nights for students who want somewhere to have alcohol-free fun. Considering that the movie was rescheduled to a different venue with a panel and a discussion provided, it opened the way for more intellectual dialogue on the movie than in the UMix environment. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald commented on the situation after the movie was rescheduled to be shown last Friday night at UMix. “I think ‘American Sniper’ didn’t quite fit this venue and this event,” Fitzgerald said. “But, having said that, we made the commitment, we made that decision, and in the final analysis we needed to honor that decision that was made to show, and so tonight we have two movies.” I question whether the University’s decision to honor this decision should take precedence over concern for the safety of its own students. When the University made the initial decision to remove the movie showing from UMix, Mekkaoui was interviewed by multiple media outlets on what happened. However after the University changed its decision to show the movie at UMix, they did not personally inform Mekkaoui of the change. “If we had just written the letter and they said no that would be one thing,” Mekkaoui said, “but they made the decision and then pulled out the rug from under us.” Despite the countless bias incident reports — reports to the University from community members about hate crimes — from Muslim and MENA students, the University has done little to address the effects of its decisions on the Muslim and MENA community. The only response to these bias incident reports was the e-mail sent
out for students to give and expect respect, which was originally only going to include a general statement that students should give and expect respect. It was only after MENA and Muslim students asked that they be mentioned was it stated explicitly. The University acted as if threats to students was not grounds for issuing a statement. They acted as if it was not enough that DPSS made a student wait over an hour and a half for a response to verbal harassment. They acted as if it was not enough that there is clear evidence that Muslim and MENA students are facing hate speech and threats to their physical safety. Despite these incidents, the University has not addressed the fact that students have been accused of being anti-free speech, when the movie showing was moved to a different venue with a panel and a discussion after being cancelled from UMix. This forced these students to defend themselves. Mekkaoui said, “They left it to one individual student to deal with the media bombarding her and harassing her, and allowed her to get her name slandered in the media because they just didn’t issue a clarifying statement.” This University has fostered a climate that is unsafe for Muslim and MENA students. On Friday night, the room screening “Paddington” was mostly empty, and there was no protest from students at the “American Sniper” showing. Amidst the verbal harassment and threats of violence, Muslim and MENA students collectively decided that going to this movie showing would not be in the best interests of their safety. Allowing the students the opportunity to watch “Paddington” in a room where they could easily be found and targeted was clearly not in the best interests of these students. We have had to
GABRIELLA MEYER
create methods to protect ourselves like creating safe spaces and a texting group for people that do not feel safe walking alone. Unlike for other students, the University is not protecting Muslim and MENA students. As a Muslim student and columnist for The Michigan Daily, I have emphasized time and time again that I am writing from a perspective of an American Muslim in order to validate my claims. Today, I am writing both from the perspective of an American Muslim and as a Wolverine to validate that these communities are a part of my identity. I am just as much of an American as anyone who is a fan of the movie “American Sniper;” and I am just as much of a Wolverine as anyone else who is a part of this University. I have no other country to go to and no other University to call my own. I am tired of having to validate my feelings and my identity, like after the three American-Muslims — Deah, Yusor and Razan were killed. I related to their stories because they looked so much like me, and since this movie controversy, these feelings hit even closer to home. I have to live with the repercussions of the University’s decision, as I do not have the luxury of parting myself from this identity that holds so many stereotypes. They get to brush off the decision that they made as a “mistake” and move on while I have to live with an unsafe campus climate. I have to live with the media backlash. All because I am a Muslim. I am asking the University to do the right thing and protect its students instead of shying away from its responsibilities. I am asking students at this University to recognize that your fellow Wolverines are hurting. I am a Wolverine, and this is my hoMe. — Originally published APRIL 15, 2015.
Originally published March 27, 2015
REGAN DETWILER | VIEWPOINT
Dealing with dissonance
As a freshman, I’ve found my first semester of college to be one of the most overwhelming and rewarding growing experiences I’ve ever encountered: meeting more people than I ever have before, navigating the vast sea of people that is our student population and taking classes that twisted my perspective and seemed to challenge every assumption I had once held as truth. As a result, my worldview has shifted; my beliefs have become more robust. Having opinions about social and political issues has become less of a lazy, automatic reflex and more of a thoughtful, deliberate action. I came home for winter break carrying an identity that’s undergone a kind of collegiate evolution. This happens to many freshmen: the first semester of college knocks them off their feet, creating the potential for a trip home for winter break that might be a little weird, spending extended amounts of time with friends and family who only knew you pre-first semester. As I mentioned before, one of the biggest changes I’ve experienced in my first semester is that my opinions have grown stronger, which has allowed me to have more confidence in them and be more willing to share them. For example, having been exposed to the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses, I’ve become more acutely aware of sexism that can sometimes find its way into everyday conversation. I’ve always been an advocate of gender equality, but now more than ever, I see it as an issue that needs as many
voices as possible. If a friend makes a sexist remark and doesn’t realize it’s sexist, I’ve learned how to playfully point out its discriminatory nature. People are pretty open to that sort of thing around here; those conversations have always taken place with friends and fellow students who are open to different experiences and new perspectives. But what happens when we go home, where we’re surrounded by family members who aren’t university students, who aren’t taking classes that challenge their ways of thinking, who aren’t immersed in the exploratory, socially and politically active campus that we are? What happens when an older family member, someone you’ve grown up respecting and would feel disrespected if contradicted, makes an out-of-thecloset joke right in front of you? Are you supposed to abandon all of the work you’ve done forming opinions, making arguments and peacefully advocating what you think is just for the sake of keeping the peace? I’ve experienced this problem before, the problem of being surrounded by people I love unconditionally but sometimes seem to stand against what I believe is right. It seems absurd that two things so personal to me can be so frustratingly contradictory. People always talk about family and heritage being what a person is made of, but what happens when “what we’re made of” doesn’t seem to be what we are? It boils down to a puzzle with which people have been grappling for a long time, one that each person continues to grapple with through-
out life: the apparent dissonance between background and self. A dissonance, in the musical sense of the word, is “a clashing or unresolved musical interval or chord,” a simple lack of agreement. But when one’s family doesn’t reflect oneself, it doesn’t necessarily mean that person’s family isn’t what makes them who they are. Maybe the fact that a dissonance occurs is what defines that person in however minor or major ways. We are, to a certain extent, a product of our experiences, and in this way, these uncomfortable experiences with those we love are part of what makes us who we are. The solution may not be to start a heated moral or political debate at a family dinner because ultimately, it probably won’t go over well. Perhaps simply stating one’s opinion in a subtle and non-confrontational way is an appropriate way to hold true to one’s morals and attitudes while still maintaining the respect integral in certain family relationships. Even if this does not go over well, it is consoling to remember that family is what makes us who we are, to the extent that our collective experiences are what make us who we are. To fellow freshmen and anyone else who has recently felt this way, remind yourself every now and then that our ability to control how we react to what seems like a dissonance with our families and our identities can make the discomfort of winter break festivities feel a little less like a punch to the chest. Originally published JAN. 23, 2015
5A — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Jeb Bush talks economy, State of State address immigration in Detroit emphasizes education Potential 2016 presidential candidate hopes to lower opportunity gap By JACK TURMAN Daily Staff Reporter
FEB. 4, 2015 – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the son of 41st President George H. W. Bush and brother of 43rd President George W. Bush, discussed economic and immigration reform at the Cobo Center in Detroit Wednesday afternoon in what many pundits see as a trial speech before a potential presidential campaign. The Detroit Economic Club hosted the ticketed event with about 600 club members, guests and a mix of university and high school students in attendance. Bush, who in December announced he is considering a presidential run in 2016, advocated primarily for a new economic plan rooted in conservative principles. Though he did not provide many details for specific policies, he said his agenda would focus on an immigration policy that would drive the economy. He also advocated for “economic freedom,” and through that, a reduction in the “opportunity gap,” a term which refers to the ways in which race, socio-economic status and other factors influence one’s ability to attain educational or economic achievement, among other markers. Bush’s remarks aligned closely with the plan of his Right to Rise political action committee, which was launched earlier this year and is dedicated toward reforming immigration policies and addressing the national income gap. “We believe that every American in every community has a right to pursue happiness,” Bush said Wednesday. “They have a right to rise.” Bush told the crowd that since the 2008 economic recession, the country has seen some economic relief, but still has a long way to go.
“The recovery has been everywhere but in the family paychecks,” he said. “The American Dream has become a mirage for far too many.” Speaking specifically to the younger demographic, Bush said Americans need to embrace the period they live in and view their difficulties as economic opportunities. “We need young, dynamic people that can make immediate contribution to our economy,” Bush said. “We shouldn’t be fearful of this. We should say, ‘What an incredible opportunity.’” He said to the solution to increasing opportunity is growing the economy, citing problems with the American education system as connected the state of the country’s economy. “It’s an economic issue, but it’s also a huge moral issue,” Bush said on education. “Our country doesn’t do this well. These huge (income) gaps that exist are now increasing because of education dropouts. This is not the environment that has led the world.” Bush said he aims for the U.S. economy not to accept anything less than an annual 4-percent growth rate, which he added could contribute to narrowing the opportunity gap. “Trust me, if we grew at 4 percent, our growth, income rising from the middle, people have a chance to leave poverty, we would help other countries that will prepare to follow suit,” he said. Bush also said immigration reform should be viewed as an economic issue, not a political issue. Immigration has been moved to the forefront of the national political agenda, recently following President Barack Obama’s controversial plan to expand eligibility for immigration deferral. Republicans have unsuccessfully voted twice to defund the plan in recent weeks. Bush added that Americans and immigrants should cherish their heritage and identity. “In that, we would reestablish this unique American experience, which is you come, you work hard, you embrace these
values and you’re as American as anybody that came on the Mayflower,” he said. Addressing his as-of-yet uncertain 2016 campaign, Bush said if he decides to run, he does not want to participate in the negative rhetoric associated with campaigns. “If I go beyond the consideration, I hope I have the discipline to not turn back and get into the food fights,” Bush said. State and national Democrats responded strongly to Bush’s speech Wednesday citing what has become a familiar criticism for Republicans in Detroit — criticism of their stances on the 2008 auto bailout. That point was also raised during the 2012 election for then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who penned an editorial in 2008 titled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.”. Obama delivered a speech in Metro Detroit last month touting his administration’s efforts to strengthen the auto industry. “Jeb Bush has an interesting sense of humor going to Detroit to talk about urban revitalization, after opposing the auto rescue that is helping Detroit and Michigan rebound from the recession,” said U.S. House Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D– Fla.), chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement. “But it shouldn’t come as a surprise. This is the same guy who supports massive tax breaks benefitting the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations at the expense of working Americans. And it’s the same guy who has spent much of the past decade enriching himself at big banks and concocting problematic business deals.” Bush is not the first potential presidential candidate to stop in Metro Detroit in recent months. In November, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton campaigned for Democratic candidates in Rochester Hills, Mich. In August, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) campaigned for then Rep. Gary Peters during his successful campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Dingell hosts community round table discussing higher education Students identify affordable housing, textbook costs as key concerns By ISOBEL FUTTER Daily Staff Reporter
APRIL 9, 2015 – U.S. House Rep. Debbie Dingell (D–Mich.) joined students and college administrators from across the state in Ann Arbor on Thursday to discuss college affordability. Dingell, who hosted the event, began the round table by outlining challenges faced by many students, especially when it comes to large amounts of loan debt. “We’re all concerned at the staggering amount of student debt that we now see in this country,” she said. “Nearly 40 million Americans owe $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. And 1.5 million people here in Michigan owe $39 billion.” Dingell highlighted a particular bill she’s co-sponsoring, the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow borrowers with federal student loans to refinance their loans. Refinancing loans can lead to lower interest rates. “You can refinance a mortgage, you can refinance a car, but you can’t refinance your student loans,” Dingell said. “We want to be able to help you and those that have gone before you that have got some of this staggering debt refinanced to a lower level.” Dingell said at the undergraduate level, refinancing could save students $4,000 on a $30,000 loan.
She also touched on the various restrictions on federal grants like Pell Grants, such as the requirement that recipients complete their education in six years. “I believe that each student is a different student,” she said. “The UM-Dearborn campus and the UM-Flint campus has students with families ... that are working to support a household and children and trying to get an education.” College officials in attendance highlighted several programs at their institutions focused on affordability. Curt Gielow, chief campus executive of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, talked about a new program called the Concordia Promise. The Promise allows high school juniors and seniors at certain Lutheran and Christian high schools to take 30 college credits from Concordia at $50 per credit hour. A typical credit usually costs $650, he said. “If you do that, you’ve essentially paid us $1,500, but you’ve earned 30 credits,” he said. “Now, if you then come to Concordia in Ann Arbor or the Concordia in Wisconsin that we’ve partnered with, we’ll give you back the $1,500 and move you in as a sophomore. You in essence have gotten the first year of college for free.” Davon Shakleford, a Washtenaw Community College student, said he plans to transfer to the University but is concerned with the affordability of student housing. “If there is a way to make affordable student housing more accessible to students, that would be very helpful,” Shakleford said. “The housing around Ann Arbor
is very expensive.” Public Policy senior Bobby Dishell, Central Student Government president, agreed with Shakleford. He said many students have to search for housing outside Ann Arbor, which makes them reliant on public transport and means they miss out on campus life. “Students aren’t talking about the classes, they’re talking about the social aspect, being able to go to the games, and being part of that community,” he said. “It leaves out the students who aren’t able to afford the social costs at Michigan.” Another issue brought up was the cost of books, which Eric Penrose, Eastern Michigan University student, called extravagant. “At some points, I’ve had to go to the corner of a book store and take a picture of the page I needed just to cover what I needed to know because I had no money,” Penrose said. “That is a huge issue, especially since most students spend about $400 a semester on books, some even more based on their fields.” LSA senior Antoinette Hemby, who is an out-of-state student, said the high cost of books often caused her to make difficult choices. “I have the struggle of: am I going to buy books, or am I going to fly home for Thanksgiving?” Hemby said. Gielow said one potential solution is for professors to create their own textbooks by taking pieces from different versions and binding them for a cheaper price, as some Concordia profesSee DINGELL, Page 8A
Governor urges votes to pass ballot proposal to fix roads in May By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
JAN. 20, 2015 – Staying true to his nickname, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, the “tough nerd,” emphasized education as one of several means to create opportunity in his State of the State address Tuesday. Using a “river of opportunity” as a metaphor for improving education and job prospects in the state, among other issues, Snyder said he will shift the state’s focus from creating new programs to addressing problems. “Quite often we’re addressing symptoms. We’re not addressing root causes. In some cases, we’re actually facilitating dependency on government,” Snyder said. “That’s not right.” Snyder said his plan would focus on five principles: people, causes, increasing results without increasing cost, community and measuring outcomes. Though several other governors who may be potential 2016 presidential candidates discussed national policies in their addresses, Snyder primarily emphasized Michigan-centric policies. Snyder has not discussed any potential 2016 candidacy despite speculation. On education, Snyder introduced several key initiatives that, if passed, would impact Michigan students from preschool to higher education, including calling for legislative support for a statewide evaluation system for K-12 teachers and a commission to study third-grade reading scores. He also announced he will ask the legislature to include an additional investment of $130 million for preschool programs in his upcoming budget. “We need to raise the bar and standard on every educational institution,” he said. Though Snyder did not mention the state’s four-year public institutions of higher education, he touched on several career
education programs he’s promoted throughout his tenure, namely apprenticeships. Last May, Snyder announced the Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program, anapprenticeship program. This year, in a continuation of that effort, Snyder said he aims to make Michigan the number one state for skilled trades, an idea President Barack Obama echoed during his speech at the Michigan Assembly Plant earlier this month where he discussed plans to increase apprenticeships nationally. Along with apprenticeships, Snyder also promoted alternative forms of getting credit for higher education, namely dual enrollment, a policy the governor has heavily promoted throughout his tenure in office. During the address, Snyder emphasized what he characterized as the bipartisan nature of his education initiatives, highlighting the work of state Rep. Adam Zemke (D–Ann Arbor) for his help passing education bills. Snyder also signed this year the National Guard Tuition Assistance Act, a bill that would provide tuition assistance to members of the Michigan National Guard. In an interview after the event, Zemke said while there have been some efforts on which Snyder and the Democratic caucus worked together, that wasn’t the case for every policy. “There are certain policies that we’ve worked very well in a bipartisan fashion on, working to support our teachers and teacher effectiveness, administrator effectiveness,” he said. “But there’s also been a lot of negative policies that have been put forward under this administration.” Another key point of the address was Snyder’s support for the bipartisan roads comprisepassed during the lame-duck session last month. The plan has the potential to impact education funding as well, by moving funding for the state’s universities out of the School Aid Fund, which also supports K-12 schools and community colleges. “No one in Michigan likes our roads and bridges,” Snyder said. “We got that work done, but our work isn’t done. Now we need to
ask our citizens to support that effort in May on the ballot.” He urged Michigan citizens to vote yes on the proposal for safety concerns, and said one out of nine bridges in Michigan is structurally deficient. As part of his pitch to voters to vote yes in May, he paralleled the safety of roads to the better schools and local governments. Overall, Snyder noted that the budget would be difficult to balance due to an unexpectedly high number of businesses cashing in tax credits from the past several years, which has resulted in an estimated $325 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. However, he said he felt confident in “getting a budget done, five years in a row, on time, done well, and balanced.” Snyder also very briefly stated the need for a continuing dialogue on the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Earlier this year during the lame-duck session, the Republican Party state legislative caucus was split over two different proposed changes to the act, one that suggested the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity, and one that only suggested the inclusion of sexual orientation. The state legislature did not pass either proposed amendment to the law. Though Snyder only touched on the topic, it did not go unnoticed by Democrats. During a press conference after the speech, state Rep. Tim Greimel (D–Auburn Hills), House Democratic Leader, said while he welcomed Snyder’s interest in the continuation of the conversation, he didn’t think it went far enough. “I would have liked a little more boldness from the governor,” he said. “I wish that he had gone before simply calling for a continuation of the discussion and had specifically asked for specific language in the ElliottLarsen Civil Rights act to protect both folks based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which has been a point of contention.” Zemke said he also felt encouraged by the discussion of the ELCRA, but wasn’t sure anything would come from it.
Race relations in the city shape Detroit’s narrative City’s unique makeup prompted tension, clashes between residents By WILL GREENBERG and ALLANA AKHTAR Daily News Editor and Daily Staff Reporter
FEB. 5 2015 – Even in a country shaped by race relations, Detroit stands out. The story of race in the city has its own complexity beyond that of many others. However, so often the story gets reduced down to one topic: the racial clashes in 1943 and 1967. Those events are notable moments in Detroit history, but the long-term circumstances and story surrounding them are often lost to oversimplification. Melba Joyce Boyd is a distinguished professor and chair of the Wayne State University Africana Studies Department, with a long list of literary accolades. Boyd grew up in Detroit. Her family started out in the southwest side of the city but eventually moved to Conant Gardens, where Boyd’s mother still lives. While discussing the racial history of Detroit overall, Boyd is quick to point out that the topic is nuanced. “It’s more complicated than outsiders understand,” she said. “Race relations in Detroit have sort of been dynamic depending what period of history you’re
looking at.” From the outset of Detroit’s founding, race helped develop of the city, starting with the indigenous population who had already formed a society before the French arrived and created what is known as Detroit today. Boyd noted the unique racial dynamic of Detroit’s early years, pointing to both the role of free Black explorers accompanying the French in founding the city, as well as the fact that a large portion of the slaves held were Native Americans. Moving forward in the city’s history, Detroit played a significant role for Blacks during the Civil War because of its proximity to Canada. The city’s Underground Railroad network out of the country offered freedom from both slavery and oppression for free Blacks. Boyd said at the outset of the Industrial Revolution, the beginnings of the auto industry in the city and the subsequent appeal of plentiful work attracted both southern Blacks and whites to Detroit. That demographic trend meant that at the same time the city was seen as a source of prosperity for many Black families, a public sympathizer with the Ku Klux Klan was also elected mayor briefly in 1930. On top of that, Detroit also experienced the conflict between Blacks and whites seen in most all U.S. cities, such as housing discrimination, police brutality and segregated schools and businesses. These issues would persist throughout the
20th century and shape much of the city’s racial history. What made Detroit stand out from the broader national narrative, Boyd said, was that despite clear discrimination towards the Black community — similar to many other areas — the city also had uniquely prosperous African-American neighborhoods. “By the time you get to 1967, Black people are probably enjoying a better economic existence than any other place in the country,” Boyd said. “In Detroit, Black people lived in houses; they didn’t live in tenement buildings. That’s a huge difference on quality of life.” Racial clashes in Detroit “It had this feel of being a city under siege, of being attacked.” Marian Krzyzowski, director of the University Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy, recounted his experience living through the 1967 Detroit “race riot” as being surreal, movie-like. At 19 years old during the events, Krzyzowski recalled seeing stores in his neighborhood burned and tanks and U.S. soldiers scattered throughout the city. He remembers sleeping with his family downstairs and away from any windows to the sound of distant gunfire. “Essentially, it was a war zone,” he said. In Detroit’s history, two major — and at least partly racially motivated — clashes
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6A — Fall 2015
THE STATEMENT
By AMABEL KAROUB Daily Staff Reporter
Editor’s Note: Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals mentioned in the article. Maria is sitting on her bed, telling me about her medication. She is lying on her side with her head propped onto her right arm and her hand immersed in her long black hair. She has a freshly poured bowl of Fruit Loops in front of her. She apologizes in advance for eating while she talks, but she doesn’t want the cereal to get soggy. She isn’t wearing pants, just underwear, and I can see her hipbone jutting out. When she was at rehab for two weeks over the summer, staff members had to follow her into the bathroom to ensure she wasn’t bulimic. “This is my natural body weight,” she says. I believe her, but when I wrap my arms around her I worry she might break. Maria’s room is a Candyland of designer clothes and scattered furniture. Two months into the school year, she is still in the move-in process, and shelves, dressers and boxes all line the floor of her bedroom helterskelter. On a newly-built shelf adjacent to Maria’s bed rests a two-foot-tall bong. Next to this, Maria manages her own private pharmacy. Bottles of Klonopin, Seroquel, Lomictal and Vyvanse lie in a row. The Seroquel is new. She opens the lid and turns the bottle upside down, letting the pink, shockingly tiny pills fall into the cap. “It’s smaller than my birth control,” she notes. Maria is not the only American with a hefty collection of medications. Roughly 7 in 10 Americans are taking a prescription drug. A sizable portion of these drugs treats mental illness, the two most prevalent of which are depression and anxiety. Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million
Americans, or 18 percent of the population. Depression is a close second — 19 million Americans have depression in a given year, and the lifetime risk of becoming depressed is 17 percent, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Where there is illness in America, there is medication. Data shows 1 in 10 Americans take an antidepressant, a drug used to treat both depression and anxiety. For women, this number is closer to 1 in 4. Maria is playing with a twiddler — a worm-like green necklace she bought at a drugstore. She has trichotillomania, meaning she obsessively pulls out her hair. Her bald part-line is twice the thickness it should be, because that’s where she prefers to uproot the black strands of keratin from their homes. She does this because she suffers from severe anxiety. “I try and wear a hat all the time, but I also try and have something in my hands.” As we talk, Maria repeatedly forgets about the twiddler and absentmindedly sticks her fingers into her hair. Whenever she does this, I silently hand her the twiddler. Maria had good reason to see a psychiatrist. She has been arrested twice — both times for assaulting a cop. Both while blackout. Her second arrest is what got her sent to rehab for drug and alcohol abuse. Since then, Maria has been diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder. This is much less scary than it sounds, as Maria makes sure to inform me. “I’ve never had a state of mania like a real bipolar person would,” she says. “Other than when I’m blackout drunk. That’s mania.” Given her past, Maria’s diagnosis seems neither surprising nor inaccurate. Still, the pill bottles on her shelves draw my curiosity. The Klonopin treats her anxiety. The Lomictal and Seroquel act as mood stabilizers. The Vyvanse helps her focus. She refers to herself and her psychiatrist in the collective when she discusses why she takes all of these pills. In particu-
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com lar, the Lomictal no longer seems necessary now that she has been prescribed Seroquel. “We don’t know what would happen if I got off it,” she says. “It’s not doing anything bad.” Over the last decade, it has become more and more common for college-aged women to be on the types of medication that Maria takes. The chance of a major depressive episode in 18 to 29-year-olds is three times higher than in individuals 60 years or older, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Most of these episodes occur in females. A quarter of American women take a drug for a mental health disorder, compared to 15 percent of men. The ratio of women to men on anti-anxiety meds is 2 to 1. For many of my female friends, it began with anxiety. They went to a psychiatrist because they were too anxious to function normally, and were ultimately prescribed either an antidepressant or an anti-anxiety medication. From there, most were eventually labeled with a term like bipolar or clinically depressed. “It’s important to not let the labels bother you,” Maria tells me, taking a bite of Fruit Loops. “All it is is a label for your symptoms.” I ask Maria if she always knew she had a mental illness. The short answer is yes. “I was really an angry kid, I did not have a great childhood.” She sticks her fingers in her hair. “It looked picture-perfect, but a picture-perfect family is usually not a close family.” In my mind, I contrast my own experience with Maria’s. I grew up in an extraordinarily tightknit family. My father and mother spoiled me endlessly, and my three best friends — my sisters — were never more than a bedroom away. Every day of my childhood, my father took my sisters and me on different adventures, like the movie theatre or the arcade or the park. He called these outings “secret missions.”
There was even a secret mission song (which I have now discovered, to my disappointment, is actually the James Bond movie theme). When we got home, my mom would brush our hair and take our coats off for us, then heat something up for dinner (she is an awful cook). Growing up, I went to the same private school for eight years, but when I walked out of those heavy iron doors for good, I had made few close friends. My sisters and my parents were my best friends. When I started my freshman year of college, I left my family members behind. My older sister didn’t go away to college. I was the first one, and I had no idea what I was in for. At school, I felt completely alone. My family was only 45 minutes away, but it might as well have been lightyears. I had no one close to me, and no idea how to let someone get close to me. I missed my family terribly. All I could think about was how my life would never be the same again, how it would never be good again. I stopped eating. I stopped sleeping. I thought about death and dying constantly, and I cried all the time. This went on for months. Despite some of my peers’ concerns, I never sought professional help. I was sure if I told a therapist what I was going through, he or she would try and convince me to take medication. The concept of taking a pill to make me happy made me uncomfortable. It reminded me of all the books I’ve read where the main character gets brainwashed, and suddenly she’s lost all her individual thoughts. She becomes the minion of some generic Disney-type villain who has an odd hairstyle and gives long monologues about his evil plans. I used to tear through these types of books. Experiencing my favorite character lose the ability to think for herself gave me a sick sort of pleasure. It would almost be freeing, I thought, to have See GLUE, Page 9A
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7A — Fall 2015
ROBERT DUNNE/Daily
A record crowd of nearly 60,000 filled Michigan Stadium in April to watch a scrimmage between Jim Harbaugh’s players.
Harbaugh springs eternal
Happy 86th birthday, Bo. Man, do I have a surprise for you. Remember your second game as Michigan’s football coach, when 49,684 people watched your Wolver- ALEJANDRO ines pummel ZÚÑIGA Washington at the Big House? Or the following week, when just 15,000 more came for the meeting against top-10 Missouri? Well, I wish you could have been at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, when 60,000-plus filled the bowl to see the Spring Game — a scrimmage, featuring a virtual punter! All to catch their first glimpse of new coach Jim Harbaugh. Yes, that Jim Harbaugh, the one you said would never play a down for Michigan when he arrived late for his first meeting. He’s in charge of the program
now, and let me tell you, he has people excited. As you wrote in Bo’s Lasting Lessons, comparing quarterback recruits, Harbaugh had “twice the brains and 10 times the heart,” and he has shown both since his introduction Dec. 30. See, Harbaugh and Athletic Director Jim Hackett seem to have figured out that you don’t need fireworks and flyovers to sell Michigan football. As it turns out, if you stick to tradition and put the right man in charge, things generally turn out pretty well. “We’ve got to keep our expectations (reasonable),” Hackett said in a fireside chat last week. “They just have to get the team right. From the stuff I’ve seen, I’m really excited.” Consider this: The season doesn’t begin for five months, and there’s already a wait list for football tickets. The luxury boxes are sold out, too. That’s not to sing Harbaugh’s praises quite yet — he hasn’t even coached his first actual game in Ann Arbor, after all.
But you’d be proud of what he has done this spring to prepare his team for the likes of Michigan State and Ohio State. (Don’t ask about Notre Dame. We don’t want to talk about it.) The weight room? It has been stripped bare of everything but the necessities. Why? Because, as Harbaugh said, “this is work.” The practices? Because every position is up for grabs, every drill has become a fierce competition. And the winners of said drills “get” to run extra. Why? Because, according to Harbaugh, “the winners get the right to get better. The winners have the right to condition more, to be better football players, and the losers have to go to the side.” “You have to buy in,” said redshirt freshman defensive end
Lawrence Marshall on Saturday. “When you buy in, it shows on the field like it did today.” Just as you treated every player equally, Harbaugh has adopted that and other abnormal practice techniques. And that’s just the way they want it. Take Shane Morris, for instance. As the only quarterback on the roster with significant in-game experience, the junior figured to be the next man in line for the job. Instead, there are eight quarterbacks on the current roster, with another arriving soon via graduate transfer. Morris’ response? “You can bring in 100 quarterbacks,” he said. “It’s not going to matter to me.” And, as a result of his dedication and improvements, Morris will have the edge for the starting role entering the summer. Or take future Wolverine defensive back Tyree Kinnel, who will join a deep defense as a freshman this fall. Upon seeing the competition and intensity of the unit — which forced four turnovers — during the Spring Game, he voiced his anticipation in a text message to the Daily. “It was great,” Kinnel said. “I haven’t been this excited about Michigan since the day I committed.” Helmet stickers are back. The band will be the principal form of pregame entertainment, not piped-in pop music. The Wolverines will even transition back to wearing black cleats. And one recent alumnus of the Michigan football program told the Daily, “I’m jealous. People want to see what Harbaugh has been up to.” Sixty thousand of them watched it Saturday afternoon. And Bo, you would have been proud.
60,000-plus filled the bowl to see the Spring Game.
Thousands protest Brandon on Diag By ALEJANDRO ZÚÑIGA Daily Sports Editor
For a while, Monday afternoon’s protest to fire Athletic Director Dave Brandon wasn’t very much of one at all. Yes, hundreds of people arrived at the diag for the 6 p.m. start time. Yes, several people brought posters criticizing the University’s handling of sophomore quarterback Shane Morris’ concussion suffered in the fourth quarter of the football team’s loss to Minnesota on Saturday. And yes, there were quite a few chants to “fire Brandon.” But for the most part, the students milled around the Diag as reporters from numerous local and national outlets took photos and conducted interviews. Then, Public Policy senior Craig Kaplan and a group of others had an idea: Move the protest to University President Mark Schlissel’s house nearby on South University Avenue. And then it really got interesting. Kaplan marched up the steps of Schlissel’s residence with a megaphone and began to address his peers. “I love this University,” he yelled. “I love this football team. I love our sports. I do not love Dave Brandon. “I am angry, as a student, as a fan, as a lover of Michigan football. I’m pissed. I am upset at how we have been treated, at our record and at the absolute mismanagement of this school’s Athletic Department under Dave Brandon.
“The fact that this rally is necessary — it says enough that the student body is upset enough to come together like this as a unified front to make changes that need to be made. “I am proud of Michigan’s history. I am proud of Bo Schembechler. I am proud of all the Michigan football players, basketball players, athletic directors and the people that come before us. I am proud of our history. I am not proud of Dave Brandon being part of that history. “Come tonight, Dave Brandon should no longer be the Athletic Director of the University of Michigan.” The crowd responded with its loudest chorus of the night of “Down with Dave.” Schlissel, who sent a release to media earlier Tuesday apologizing for the Athletic Department’s handling of Morris’ concussion, did not make an appearance at the rally. A University police officer standing on Schlissel’s lawn said he did not interfere with the demonstration because it was conducted peacefully. But the protest wouldn’t have amounted for much of anything if not for Kaplan’s strong words. “I’ve been a Michigan fan my entire life,” he said. “Michigan has a special place in my heart. The fact that it has been mismanaged like this, it really hurts me deeply as a student, as a fan — just as a person that cares about this state and cares about this University.”
“I am angry, as a student, as a fan ... I’m pissed.”
8A — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan, Nike sign 15-year mega-deal in apparel, products Deal worth $169 million, $79 million more than any other school By ZACH SHAW Daily Sports Editor
One week after announcing that it had agreed to a recordhigh apparel deal with Nike, the Michigan Athletic Department released details this morning about the overwhelmingly popular contract. The highlight of the agreement is that Michigan will receive $169 million over the duration of the 15-year contract, including $76.8 million in cash alone, $12 million in upfront money and $80.2 million in apparel. The deal blows past the 10-year, $90 million contract Notre Dame signed with Under Armour earlier this year as the largest in the country. But with Adidas, Under Armour and Nike all offering similar amounts of money, cash was only one step of the five-month process that saw Nike emerge as the obvious choice. “This decision, this partnership is about more than Michigan athletics,” said Interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett. “At the core, it is about our University community and it is about two great names reuniting for an opportunity that speaks to more than uniforms and apparel.” Michigan football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball were listed as the three flagship sports in the deal, while baseball, hockey and softball will continue to have equipment provided from third parties. In total 11 sports will continue to use their current equipment providers, so long as that provider isn’t Adidas, Under
DINGELL From Page 5A sors do. Linda Blakey, vice president of student and academic services at Washtenaw Community College, said they are also trying to reduce costs through collaboration. “Our library services are developing online educational resources that are free,” Blakey said. “They bring their materials together and look at what they can have students use.”
Armour, Reebok or Puma. Also included in the deal are plans to expand the partnership beyond apparel. The initial agreement includes an obligation for Nike to hire at least three summer interns from the University each year at $15,000 per student, and two community events to be hosted in Ann Arbor each year. According to the Term Sheet, Michigan and Nike also have a “shared interest and goal of improving working conditions in the subcontracted factories used to make (Nike) product.” This clause is largely in response to community outcry in the past over Nike’s reputation for lowwage sweatshops. Mentioned in another segment of the Term Sheet released Wednesday are tentative but unspecified plans for Michigan and Nike to collaborate in “furthering research and innovation in regards to sport performance and (environmental) sustainability.” Language was included in the contract to include Michigan’s Recreational Sports Department in such collaborations. “The University of Michigan ranks high among the world’s great institutions of higher learning and enjoys a rich, traditionladen history in college sports,” said Joaquin Hidalgo, Vice President and General Manager, Nike North America in last week’s announcement. “We eagerly look forward to bringing out the best in each other.” In addition to shattering the record for the largest deal in NCAA history, Michigan will also receive 15-percent royalty rates on apparel purchases. This exceeds the 10-percent Michigan currently receives in its deal with Adidas, passes Notre Dame’s 13-percent and is believed to be the highest in the country.
Attendees also touched on the federal application for student aid, FAFSA. Margaret Rodrig uez, senior associate director of Financial Aid, agreed with several other comments calling the FAFSA unnecessarily complicated and said there are other options available to assess students than the current, leng thy FAFSA. “How many times do students have to tell you that they’re poor?” Rodrig uez said. “One should be plenty.” The discussion touched on providing financial literacy
FRANCESCA KIELB/Daily
Michgan shattered record with its deal with Nike, but chose the provider for reasons beyond cash in a five-month process.
Hackett eyeing future, not cash By ZACH SHAW Daily Sports Editor
Jim Hackett knew as soon as he took the keys as Interim Athletic Director that Michigan’s pending apparel deal would be one of his biggest decisions on the job. He also knew that the school he worked for would have power in such a deal, but it wasn’t until a rival Athletic Director spelled it out to him that he realized just what kind of machine he was driving. “ ‘I just want to set your mind in the right context, Michigan is one of the most valuable brands,’ – and he paused – ‘in sports,’ ” Hackett recalled his colleague saying. “ ‘I’m talking about auto racing, golf, baseball, NFL, NBA … the Michigan brand, Jim, is one of the most valuable assets in sports.’ “I had a lot of pride hearing that, but it really got me to think what does the most valuable brand in sports deserve?”
opportunities to all students, addressing the large amount of pre-existing debt and alternate options for students who can’t pay their loans. In an interview after the event with The Michigan Daily, Dingell said she hosts the round table meetings to become more engaged with the topic. “I know higher education affordability is a real issue for young people every day,” Dingell said. “It’s an issue that’s mattered to me before I got elected, and I’m continuing with that. I’m meeting a lot of people who, for example, can’t go on to graduate school, so I want to understand the issues. And then, I’m a more
As negotiations progressed, Hackett would find out that Michigan’s potential partners were thinking about that too. According to Hackett, Adidas, Nike and Under Armour all offered Michigan the largest apparel contract in the country. Full financial details are expected to be released as soon as next week, but currently the largest contract is Notre Dame’s 10-year, $90 million deal with Under Armour. But with all three companies offering similarly substantial sums, Hackett insists that the decision to go with Nike was not solely a financial one. “(Being the largest contract) was never in any stated goal of where we are or what we wanted,” Hackett said. “In your exposure to the firm, from visits and meeting with leadership, you learn there’s a lot of value in different ways than money.” In an extensive process that
effective advocate when I’m armed with facts.” She added that Thursday’s round table in particular identified several new potential issues for her to look into. “It raises awareness for everybody,” she said. “I really want to go through the grants, the Pell Grants and see what kind of issues they have. I’m going to go back and find out why some people are saying in-person loan counseling is a barricade. Why are they saying that? What are the pros and what are the cons? That’s what I do.”
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began in February, Michigan sought to turn over every stone in research to not only pick a winner, but also prove that winner right to any naysayers. A giant board with “investigative lanes” including pages upon pages of market research, performance evaluations, fan, player and alumni feedback and analytics filled an entire room in the athletic department. And as the room filled, so did Hackett’s confidence in his final decision. “In the end it was obvious that it was going to be Nike,” Hackett said. “I found myself in the position where I could not argue the decision of picking them. Early on you could make the argument; there were some really good competitors in this mix.” With a bidding war larger than any other in the history of college athletics, Hackett and his team sought to challenge all three companies
beyond their wallets. Among those challenges was a 15-year plan, highlighting Hackett’s focus on the long-term success of the deal. “I was looking for the future,” Hackett said. “It didn’t matter that Nike was really successful here in the past, it didn’t matter that Under Armour had invented a wicking system no one else had, it didn’t matter that Adidas had this global dominance, we’re signing a new 15-year deal. “I said to each one of them ‘I want to be ahead, not just a fast follower, I want be ahead of everyone out there.’ We gave each of them a challenge in that regard, and Nike did the best job.” Nike’s eye on the future was nice, but would not have resulted in a deal had it not been for its current standing. More then tripling the revenue of Adidas and Under Armour combined at $11.2 billion, Hackett found it to be far and away the leader in athletic apparel. More importantly to Hackett, however, was Nike’s standing as a market leader in the eyes of coaches, athletes, alumni and fans. In dozens of formal and informal discussions, students and student athletes informed Hackett of their sentiments. Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh revealed his preference for the brand his second day on campus. Michigan alums playing in the pros also voiced their opinions. The overwhelming majority supported Nike. “That voice really came through,” Hackett said. “I was delighted that they loved the University that much, that they really care about the decision now and want us to be great.” It took four months to make the call, but by suspending all biases, Hackett learned not only how powerful the Michigan brand was, but that Nike is exactly what one of the most valuable brands in sports deserves. “I can’t exaggerate enough that we suspended our decision as long as we could to make the right one,” Hackett said. “We’re really excited for what the future holds.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
GLUE From Page 6A someone else controlling you, thinking for you. I didn’t want to be prescribed antidepressants because I wasn’t sure I could resist. I wasn’t sure I could stop myself from taking one of those tiny pink pills that would wipe my sadness blank. When Marilyn Gilbert returned my phone call, she was elated for the chance to get to know me. She left me a voicemail: “I have seen your photo in your dad’s office, so I have kind of already met you.” A patient in my dad’s internal medicine practice, Gilbert, who holds a doctorate in psychology, verifies the rumor that doctors need doctors too. Over the phone, her voice sounds like a character from Sesame Street. It maintains a softness, like she is teaching a child,
9A — Fall 2015
but it is comforting rather than condescending. As she talks, she continually uses examples drawn from tennis. I smile, realizing she knows I’ve played the sport my whole life. Gilbert says she believes antidepressants are overprescribed, particularly to teenagers. As a psychologist, Gilbert does not have the ability to prescribe the medication herself. What she can do is help to wean her young patients off antidepressants when she finds them unnecessary. “It becomes a real problem for a lot of the college-age kids that are on them,” she tells me. “They’re embarrassed. They don’t want people to know, and they begin to worry it’s interfering with other functions.” In place of drugs, Gilbert prefers to trigger our body’s natural medication — endorphins. Endorphins are endogenous opi-
oid neuropeptides. Essentially, they’re our body’s built-in drug pathways meant to induce pleasure and relieve pain. There are multitudes of healthy ways to trigger a spike in endorphins: eating a good meal, exercising, getting enough sleep. Even seemingly superficial pleasures like eating dark chocolate or getting a massage will increase endorphins. High endorphin levels make people happier, reducing the need for antidepressants. In some cases, though, drugs are necessary to treat depression, namely when the depression is defined as “clinical.” But the line between clinical and non-clinical can be fuzzy. You can’t take a blood sample and tell if someone is depressed or not — you have to have a conversation. Gilbert draws the clinical depression line based on two factors: intensity and duration. “How bad is it, and how long
have you been struggling with this?” she asks her patients. Questions of intensity and duration get at the larger question — is your depression so powerful that you can’t function? Inherent in this criterion is the idea that humans are supposed to be sad sometimes. It wouldn’t be natural if we were never anxious, angry, or upset. “A good case of the blues, and dealing with loss and life changes is part of being alive,” Gilbert says. If your mental illness is not harming your life in any tangible way, it’s not a mental illness. It’s a feeling. Some instances of clinical depression stand out to Gilbert. These patients’ stories seem rehearsed, as if Gilbert has recalled them repeatedly. One story is of a Michigan State University student who took a semester off, in part due to her depression. Every morning,
she would run herself a hot bath, and stay in the bathtub for hours. She couldn’t convince herself to get out. “The longer she stayed in the tub, the harder it was to get out and face the day,” Gilbert says. The next story is of a man who compared living his life to “walking in glue.” She pauses and takes a slow breath: “When someone says that to you, you get a pretty good image of how hard it is to get through each day.” Raina sits across from me in one of the study rooms in my apartment building. She usually texts me every morning, but she didn’t answer my texts for three days leading up to her interview. She’s dressed up to her usual hipster standard — a red-plaid, sleeveless collared shirt buttoned up to her chin, dark-wash blue jeans and black combat boots with silver studs on them. She kicks the boots off and they
rest, homeless, under the table. The room is entirely white. White walls, white table, white chairs — the blank, empty kind of white that is almost reflective in its uniformity. It’s the color of the Elmer’s glue kids use for their preschool art projects. The door of the small, square room is closed, and it’s so quiet that I can hear Raina’s slow breaths echo off of the erased walls. Raina is on Zoloft, an SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. SSRI’s are by far the most common type of antidepressant. They work by increasing your brain’s levels of Serotonin, a mood-elevating neurotransmitter. At the beginning of her sophomore year, Raina decided she wanted medication for her anxiety. She had tried regular talk therapy, and she says it didn’t work for her.
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10A — Fall 2015
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FROM THE DAILY
A college for every community
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Free tuition at community colleges is beneficial for all students Originally published JANUARY 15, 2015
review 2015 September 23, 2014 From the Daily: A crisis of ignorance “Gender roles and sex are shaped by societal norms, and the effect this has on student perception of sex and women cannot be understated. Combating sexual crimes means addressing ignorance, and the University has an opportunity now to lead the way in sexual education and prevent rape and assault on campus.”
October 29, 2014 Avery DiUbaldo: An open letter to the judges of the Barry Bagels’ Maize and Blue Homecoming Bagel Contest “In what way was “Big House Bagel,” which you selected, preferable to our own entry of “The Bagel House,” which you did not? Why include “Bo Schembagler” among the top 10 and exclude “Bagel Hoke”?”
November 4, 2014 Derek Wolfe: My application for Athletic Director So before this opportunity slips away from me, I am officially announcing myself as a candidate for the Athletic Director position at the University of Michigan.
December 2, 2014 Melissa Scholke: Rethinking mobility at Michigan “Rather than endure the seasonal hazards, some students will choose encampment in the warm safety of dorms. For others, indoor confinement might seem like the only viable option.”
January 14, 2015 From the Daily: A college for every community “While this new proposal is a leap forward for the U.S. education system, concerns and amendments still remain for the proposition.”
February 8, 2015 Dani Vignos: Statutory Grape “to trivialize what can be such a severe experience into a drink name is beyond outdated and beyond disrespectful. After speaking with peers, mentors and even the wait staff and general manager of Blue Lep, I found that everyone was in a relatively unanimous agreement: the drink name should be removed. Some “inappropriate” drinks I can let skate by, but others have crossed a line that should never be crossed.”
March 15, 2015 From the Daily: Reevaluating the system
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resident Barack Obama announced on Jan. 9 a federal proposal that aims to extend two years of free tuition to all students wishing to attend community college. The president unveiled his ambitious plans for higher education in Knoxville, Tennessee, where a similar state-level policy has already come to fruition. If all 50 states participate in the program, an estimated nine million students will benefit. Eligible candidates will include solely high-school seniors. Socioeconomic status is not a factor for consideration; however, students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.5 to maintain their free enrollment. While this new proposal is a leap forward for the U.S. education system, concerns and amendments still remain for the proposition. The call for universal access to higher education will ensure all students are afforded at least two years of community college without financial burden, assuming the requirements are met. Full-time community college students will save approximately $3,800 in annual tuition. Due to the climbing costs of higher education, community colleges have become increasingly focused on vocational training, as opposed to the liberal arts and sciences. With free tuition, students will have more liberty to choose majors based on passions and interests rather than practicality. A high-school degree no longer suffices for a wide range of occupations in our nation’s society. By 2020, 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree, and 30 percent will require some form of college education or an associate’s degree. The anticipated influx of students will not just prepare the youngest generation for the workforce, but also stimulate improvement in the quality of education community colleges provide. The plan is estimated to cost $60 billion
Trip Brennan: No boys allowed “Far too many of my female friends have been raped, sexually assaulted or beaten — not by men, but by boys. Boys who want to prove something or fill some alcoholsoaked gap in their soul. Boys like me who have gone one step further.”
May 13, 2015 Aarica Marsh: More than just than numbers “FAFSA is an important tool in helping students across the nation attain higher education. In order to further help students, it should start to consider long-term circumstances that affect a student’s economic status.”
June 26, 2015 From the Daily: It’s about time “By recognizing the diverse range of couples and families, today’s decision sets forth a crucial historical precedent to ensure full equality for all.”
July 8, 2015 From the Daily: Fair funding “Exuberant increases in high education help to highlight inefficiencies in the current higher education funding system. The state legislature must alter the performance-based aid in order to ensure students are able to access the education they deserve.
over a 10-year period. The source of subsidies is general at best, which is a cause for concern for those who fear that large expenses will further push the nation into debt. Highlighted in the proposal thus far is the following: states that choose to participate in the program will be expected to cover onequarter of the cost, while federal funding will cover the rest. These states will have the flexibility to allocate particular resources to students in need. With states slated to have plenty of autonomy in the process, they should be held responsible for a number of different factors. States will have the opportunity to create more early intervention and outreach programs, expand community college offerings and improve the affordability of four-year universities. States should also ensure that students in need of financial aid are guaranteed room and board, books and transportation. FAFSA, the financial aid application filled out by students across the nation, should be streamlined to conveniently process school applications and financial aid packages side-by-side. With these
considerations, Obama’s proposal will surely give American students the competitive edge they need to thrive in today’s rapidlyevolving economic climate. The new plan will model after community college initiatives in Tennessee, which have shown great success. In Tennessee, 90 percent of high-school students applied to the state’s community college program in the past year, the first cycle of the program. Only 40 percent of Tennessee students were expected to apply. Furthermore, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, a participant in the program, has a graduation rate of 80 percent with 85 percent of students placed into jobs, showing the potential and demand of a national program to improve the work force. Obama’s proposal foresees many changes not just in the education system, but also in the long-term economy. The possibility for students to receive two years of free higher education will enhance the quality of community colleges, bridge the segregation between students of various socioeconomic statuses and provide more job opportunities for generations to come.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Edvinas Berzanskis, Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Devin Eggert, David Harris, Rachel John, Jordyn Kay, Aarica Marsh, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Linh Vu, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Derek Wolfe
“The University must reevaluate how fraternities are punished.”
April 13, 2015
Gabrielle DeCaro/Daily
My application for Athletic Director
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saw it with my own eyes. Last Friday, I watched University President Mark Schlissel take the podium in the Regents Room and announce he had accepted former Athletic Director Dave Brandon’s resignation. He also appointed former Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett as the interim DEREK Athletic Director — key WOLFE word interim. That got me thinking and actually pretty excited. As of right now, I don’t have any plans for next summer and should probably start working on internship and job applications sometime soon. The search process for the next athletic director hasn’t begun yet either and anything you see or hear on the news is just hearsay at this point. So before this opportunity slips away from me, I am officially announcing myself as a candidate for the Athletic Director position at the University of Michigan. Before I get written off as unqualified, let me explain. Mr. Hackett, feel free to use this as a cover letter if it suits you. At the press conference, Schlissel said the new athletic director must be “a person of unquestioned integrity, not just integrity to the level of NCAA rules.” For starters, I’ve never allegedly e-mailed an alumnus passive-aggressively telling them to “have a happy life” or “stop drinking and go to bed.” Second, one of my professors referred to me as a “great guy” in office hours. If those two examples don’t represent “unquestioned
integrity,” I’m not sure what does. However, for those still unconvinced about my qualifications, please read on. If you’re worried about my leadership skills, there’s nothing to fear. Six people have endorsed me on LinkedIn for “leadership,” and admittedly, I’m pretty proud of that. Small sample size, yes. But I know those people didn’t hesitate for a second when they hit the endorse button. That counts for something. If you’re looking for someone who knows a thing or two about generating sales and building a brand, look no further. I have more than 530 followers on Twitter — although most of them think I play for the Denver Broncos. In the business, we call that a dedicated following. In my younger days, I ran some pretty successful lemonade stands. And I never once considered raising the price to maximize revenue because I didn’t want the community to lose faith in me. A 25-cent glass, now and forever. To top it off, I’ve never sold terrible pizza. I think that wins a few H.A.I.L. points. Schlissel also mentioned that the next athletic director doesn’t have to have Michigan ties. He reiterated this point in an interview with the Daily on Monday, “I’m always open to the idea that someone from the outside might help us be even better. I just want to get the best person.” Clearly, this is where I’m at a little bit of a disadvantage. I am a “Michigan Man” after all — if having a University e-mail account makes you one. However, I contend I would bring a nice balance to the Athletic Department. First off, I never played for legendary football coach Bo Schembechler. In fact, I never played football. That being said, I’ve still suc-
ceeded in athletics. Though you might not be able tell by looking at me, I was an integral member of a championship basketball team on my hometown’s local recreational league — there were only seven players and my dad was the coach. For this, I am, and will always be, a winner. Sure, the last guy may have had three Big Ten championship rings, but I’m also confident I got more playing time than he did. While I’ve never worked in an athletic department before, I’ve been to my fair share of football and basketball games. That should suffice. I’m also proficient in addition and subtraction so the budget stuff is no big deal. Also, in case you forgot, I’ve run a lemonade stand before. Can you say business experience? I would bring a solid understanding of the student voice. Heck, when I want student input on an issue all I’ll have to do is think. No other candidate will be able to say that. With that, I feel I’ve covered all the bases. I might be the “unorthodox” candidate, but that’s what the University needs right now: Someone who’s not afraid to tell it how it is and enact necessary change. Someone with vision and relevant experience. Last Friday, when asked about what qualities he envisioned in the future athletic director, Schlissel responded, “I have excellence in mind.” If that’s the case, and considering how the previous Athletic Director performed, then I must be the man for the job. Some might even say I’m overqualified. Just don’t forget I can’t start until the summer. Academics come first. — Originally published NOVEMBER 5, 2014
2B — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Restricting speech, freeing students
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his past December, Susan J. Douglas, chair of the University’s Communication Studies Department, penned a controversial column on partisan politics for In These Times, a nonprofit online magazine. In the piece, VICTORIA Douglas con- NOBLE fessed “I hate Republicans,” much to the dismay of campus conservatives and several members of the Board of Regents. At December’s monthly Board of Regents meeting, Regent Laurence Deitch (D–Grosse Pointe) said the article was “stupid and thoughtless.” Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R–Ann Arbor) posted on Facebook that “this particular column, which expresses and condones hatred toward an entire segment of individuals in our society based solely on their political views, fails to observe an equally important value of our University — respect for the right of others to hold views contrary to our own.” In an e-mail to the Ann Arbor News, University Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald maintained that “faculty freedom of expression, including in the public sphere, is one of the core values of our institution,” but that “the University must and will work vigilantly to ensure students can express diverse ideas and perspectives in a respectful environment and without fear of reprisal.” As the University has recently learned, “freedom of expression” and “a respectful environment” do not always easily gel. Yet, aside from a few disapproving comments from members of the Board, the University has seemingly failed to acknowledge the massive problem illustrated by Douglas’ column: in effort to maintain freedom of speech for its faculty, the University has all but failed to preserve that same right for many of its students. When faculty express hatred for entire groups of students based on their political orientation, many may refrain from sharing that identity, or a perspective that might betray it. As Gabriel Leaf — chairperson of the University’s chapter of College Republicans — told the Detroit News, these kinds of statements might “not really allow that open discussion to happen.” Grant Strobl — chairperson of the University’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom — told the Detroit News that the article could “intimidate and inhibit the student’s freedom of expression.” Which certainly makes sense: How many people would really
feel comfortable sharing their political identity with a faculty member who is vocally prejudiced against it? I wouldn’t be, and not for fear that the professor might disagree with my opinion. Rather, I would be concerned that they might dislike me not because of what I think, but because of who they think I am — based not what I stand for, but whom I vote for. It doesn’t matter that Douglas disagrees, as she shares in her column, with Republican policies on issues like immigration, women’s rights and climate change. And if Douglas simply wrote that she hated certain Republicans, that wouldn’t be so problematic either. But generalizing feelings toward a group of people based on a single identity is meaningless, inadequate and harmful. It facilitates stereotyping and discrimination by failing to differentiate the individual from a group that they identify with. In this way, directing hatred toward a group of people based on their political identity is all but tantamount to doing so based on any other identity — socioeconomic, religious, cultural, racial or otherwise. Further, hatred toward a political group fails to capture the heterogeneity amongst people holding any given political identity. Of the many Republicans I know and have worked with, several have opposite views on climate change mitigation, gay marriage, a woman’s (or man’s) right to choose and the use of predator drones in the Middle East, just to name a few. One could hate all of these people based on … what exactly? Views they may not hold? OK then. Yet, while students might (very justifiably) feel silenced for fear of being hated by their professor, the University has totally failed to recognize that its policies have, in large part, facilitated this sort of situation to occur. The University’s anti-discrimination policy protects almost all identities save for political ones. Meanwhile, faculty might reserve their first amendment rights to publish and say whatever they damn well please politically, regardless of the intimidating effects it may have on students. This is unacceptable. The University is meant to be a collaborative place where new ideas and solutions are born from intense discussion and debate. Call me idealistic, but I think that students should be part of that process. Is that really possible when their educators take actions that intimidate them from speaking their minds? Can professors conceivably foster nascent talent and personal growth in an environment that they’ve personally damaged? I don’t think so. I find it impossibly ironic that, at a school with a history of political engagement
and activism, students are not protected from discrimination based on political identity. Especially in certain fields like political science, the University cannot be expected to produce critically thinking, argumentative, innovative thinkers if students don’t feel free to make known their personal political affiliations. Pushing students toward a single viewpoint isn’t only wrong — it’s boring, it’s tired and it’s not what education was designed to do. Regent Mark Bernstein (D– Ann Arbor) put it very well at the Regents’ meeting when he mentioned that “it’s really important that we distinguish between people and policy … we have to respect each other.” It’s time that the University enacts a policy to institutionalize that respect. I am personally an ardent defender of the right to free speech, and generally believe that people do have the right to say or publish what they want. But students have rights as well: the right to feel safe in class, the right to be evaluated as an individual and the right to freely speak without fear of unfair grading or inequitable treatment from faculty. So while free speech is essential to a dynamic academic community, I think it’s time to carefully reconsider who at the University actually experiences this right — it certainly isn’t the students at the moment. By allowing faculty the right to produce speech that discriminates against any given political identity, the University is de facto allowing many to be silenced. The University has the responsibility to restrict speech that advances categorical, generalized disapproval of and bias against a political identity, as Douglas’s column clearly did. The problem isn’t that many professors — and students — at the University identify as Democrats or hold liberal views. So long as a respectful environment is maintained, I see no reason why individuals from every point on the political spectrum couldn’t engage in productive, thought-provoking dialogue. But when students are discredited simply due to a political identity — no matter what that identity is — their academic freedom is surely limited. — Originally published JANUARY 20, 2015
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Protecting our players
Improved concussion response protocol needed across the NCAA Originally published OCTOBER 3, 2014
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he recent debacle surrounding the Michigan football team’s handling of sophomore quarterback Shane Morris’ health inevitably turns the discussion toward concussions and player safety policies. A recently released study found that of 79 deceased NFL players whose brains were examined, 76 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease. Of a larger pool including 128 former professional, semi-pro, college and high school players, 80 percent tested positive for CTE. Concussions can also have serious consequences in the short term, as a second hit to the head of a concussed player can result in serious permanent injury or death. The standard line is that protecting student-athletes is a priority for the University and the NCAA, but these institutions must prove this through action rather than words. The NCAA’s official concussion policy contains guidelines that each of its member schools must follow. These policies mandate that institutions have a yearly concussion education session for players, a process for taking players out of games when they exhibit “signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion,” a policy that prohibits concussed athletes from returning to athletic activity for the rest of the day and a policy that requires medical clearance for concussed athletes wishing to return to athletic activity. These steps are important, but there remains a lack of oversight and ability to enforce these guidelines. For an issue as important as player safety, unenforced guidelines that are followed at the schools’ discretion lack the power and enforceability that would come with clearly defined rules and subsequent consequences for failure to comply. Otherwise, the policy not only poses a risk to players’ careers, but also to their lives. The University and NCAA must also be proactive in addressing the growing problem of concussions. Recently, the lack of a proper response to the issue led to a $70-million settlement in a class action lawsuit. Pursuing new helmet technology that aids in concussion detection from helmet-makers such as Riddell and
SECTION. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN ANN ARBOR AND AROUND THE WORLD.
in which such a removal must take place. Currently, a player must leave the field if his helmet comes off during a play, but this rule should be expanded to include players involved in helmet-to-helmet contact penalties and any other flagged penalties involving a hit to the helmet, such as roughing the passer. This would give the medical staff an opportunity for a quick check for any signs of concussion-like symptoms, which, if found, would then allow them to conduct the full concussion assessment. Since the hit on Morris was flagged, this expansion of the rules would have forced him to leave the field for a play. Michigan is also instituting a plan starting with Saturday’s game vs. Rutgers to have a health professional in the press box to look for potential player injuries and have two-way radio communication between the sideline staff and the press box. This setup, proven necessary by the Morris incident, should not just be a standard for Michigan, but across college football. While the situation with Morris was a huge mistake, it also serves as a wakeup call for the University and for other schools around the country to prevent repeats of the situation and continue to make player safety a priority. Better concussion protocol is essential for players’ futures, both on the field and off.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Barry Belmont, David Harris, Rachel John, Nivedita Karki, Jacob Karafa, Jordyn Kay, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck, Linh Vu, Meher Walia, Mary Kate Winn, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe
THE OPINION
Xenith should be enthusiastically backed by the NCAA. With the potential unreliability of on-field concussion examinations, the NCAA should also support new testing protocols such as a proposed breathalyzer test that can detect concussions. At his press conference after Saturday’s loss against Minnesota, Michigan football coach Brady Hoke commented on Morris’ injury, later determined to be a concussion, saying he’s a “tough kid” and “if he didn’t want to (play) he would’ve come to the sideline or stayed down.” However, athletes are immersed in a culture of toughness and playing through injury, and often come off the field only as a last resort. Hoke’s comments reinforce this drive to be tough at the risk of personal safety. Because of this mindset, important decisions that impact player safety cannot be left up to players alone. These decisions not only fall on the coaching staff and medical teams on the sideline, but also on the NCAA and its conferences to make sure schools follow through on the commitment to the health and well-being of its student-athletes. In order to help remove the human element from determining whether a potentially concussed player should be removed from a game, the NCAA should expand the types of situations
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What is Michigan?
love sports. I grew up playing them. I grew up watching them. I grew through stages where sports were my entertainment and sports were my identity, where the baseball fields and the tennis courts were DAVID my home. HARRIS I grew up inseparable from sports. I also grew up in Michigan Stadium. I went to Michigan football games before I could walk. I grew up wearing different Michigan shirts to school every day in elementary school. The son of two Michigan alums, the maize and blue way was ingrained in me from a young age, and I would never look back until I set foot on campus as a student. My freshman year I walked into the MDen and picked up my student football shirt, and on the front was emblazoned “THIS IS MICHIGAN,” with a graphic of the players running out of the stadium tunnel to touch the banner. From a team led by Michigan men to the Michigan Difference that’s so often touted, there’s a distinct Michigan way that the University prides itself, the way that makes Michigan, Michigan. And as I watch the University take leading spots on everything from ESPN to ABC’s “World News” and even Al-Jazeera this past week, it isn’t hard to look at all of these events and transgressions and say: this is not Michigan. This is not the representa-
tion of the top public school in America that deserves to be in the news. This is not the true portrayal of a university that accomplishes so much in the classroom and out. A Michigan shirt worn in public shouldn’t elicit questions about why the football team doesn’t care about its own players or why the University’s Athletic Department administration seems inept. Michigan is walking through the Diag to get to the library, trees and leaves full with the colors of fall, backpack full of books, all while avoiding stepping on the M. Yet the Michigan we see is one where hundreds of students instead flood the Diag in protest to call for the firing of the Athletic Director. Upon his hiring at the University, University President Mark Schlissel made his opinions on athletics at the University clear. “Athletics isn’t part of the mission statement of the University,” Schlissel said. “We’re an academic institution, so I want to work on the appropriate balance between athletics and academics.” The events that have transpired this past week have shown a failure to realize this statement. But as well-meaning as Schlissel’s purposes for his statements are, it fails to recognize that athletics is Michigan too. Whether the name of the school is stitched onto a basketball jersey or printed on a diploma, it is Michigan, defined not only in the classroom, but also on the field and court. Just as I wouldn’t claim that sports were my only pursuit growing up, athletics too are not the primary mission of Michigan. But sports are and were a key piece to my own character and they are an
integral component to what Michigan is. Last year I would sit outside in below freezing temperatures to wait in line for basketball games. With basketball games on weekday nights, I’d bring textbooks to read and math homework to do while in line and sitting in the stadium prior to the game. Because that is what Michigan is; striving for the academic vision of the University while having pride in the school name, wherever it may be. This is why the events that have put Michigan in the national spotlight this past week have elicited such a big response. One could be cynical and take the unwarranted and contemptuous position that people who care about sports are wasting their time, or instead recognize the ability and role of university athletics in establishing the national pedigree of this University as well as its culture. And it is weeks like these when we say that this is not Michigan — not because the attention is on athletics, but because we know that Michigan is better. I love “Michigan sports,” but it’s more because of the former rather than the latter. Legendary former football coach Bo Schembechler once said, “When your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing.” Michigan has lost a lot on the field, but it has lost more off of it. Yet at the end of every game without fail, the band plays “The Victors” and the last words that echo through the stadium are “the leaders and the best,” even after a loss. Because that is Michigan. — Originally published OCTOBER 3, 2014
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
3B — Fall 2015
An open letter to the bagel judges
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sure in “Bagelwulf,” “The Bagels other submissions, you deemed Karamazov” and “O Bagel, My worthy of only an honorable Bagel.” Perhaps you had never mention. quite developed a taste for You know nothing of honor. Broadway musicals, and so “Les You know nothing of the Miserabagel,” “Porgy and Bagel” hours of labor, the anxious and “Sweeney Todd: the Demon sweat, the Olympic feats of Bagel of Fleet Street” struck you concentration and wordplay as flashy or bombastic. which lay behind “The Bagel Perhaps the space in your Lebowski” and “The Dave chest, which ought to have been Matthews Bagel.” You cannot filled with a human heart, was possibly begin to comprehend instead occupied by a dead cock- the sleepless nights which the roach. four of us spent crowded around In what way was “Big House our kitchen table, our blinds Bagel,” which you selected, drawn, muttering to ourselves, preferable to our own entry “Inglorious Bagel,” “Dbagel of “The Bagel House,” which Unchained,” scratching out the you did not? Why include “Bo names on a yellow legal pad as Schembagler” among the top 10 we spoke them aloud, hushed, and exclude “Bagel Hoke”? like Kabala scholars divining the If it’s true that the number name of God, waiting for the best of new universes which are name, the true name, to burst perpetually branching off from from our lips and shine before our own is infinite, and that us in glowing letters: “There each universe is distinguished Will Be Bagel”! “Bagels Can’t from the other Be Choosers”! by its own “Hit Me Bagel unique set of More Have you always hated One circumstances Time”! me, or only since my and values, One then what are day, when entrance in the the odds that humanity has Barry Bagels’ Maize and we inhabit destroyed Blue Homecoming the only itself and conceivable the world Bagel Contest? universe is nothing in which but ash, our the entry souls will free of “Blaize (Maize + Blue)” is themselves from our wretched superior to “The Ann Arbagel,” bodies and ascend to some vast “M Go Bagel” and “Go Bagel or chamber to meet our cosmic Go Home”? judgment. There we will find a Is this also the universe in bagel, a great and terrible bagel which the Barry Bagels’ Maize that will call out the names and Blue Homecoming Bagel of the saved and the names Contest was judged by a panel of the damned. And you will of Golden Retrievers with hear your own name called; Magic 8-Balls strapped to their you will hear that bagel call foreheads? you to your fate, and you will I could understand why you turn, querulous, unbelieving, might have had reservations to those disembodied shades about “Jeff Goldbagel.” Maybe gathered around you. I will be “The Fly” grossed you out. among them, and before you Maybe you didn’t particularly have the chance to speak, I will enjoy his performance in “The say to you: ask not for whom the Big Chill” — this might explain bagel tolls. why “The Bagel Chill” didn’t It tolls for thee. make the cut, either. But such an excuse does not Cheers, apply to “Whoopi Goldbagel,” Avery DiUbaldo which, along with “A Walk to Remembagel,” “The — Originally published OCTOBER 28, 2014. Incredibagel” and five of our
ear Sirs and Madams: Congratulations. When you accepted the invitation to select, from a pool of submissions, the top 10 “best” names for the Barry Bagels’ Maize and Blue Homecoming Bagel, you could hard- AVERY ly have expected DIUBALDO that you’d have been forced to sift through nearly 300 entries, 87 of which were submitted by my three housemates and me. But you did it. You’ve come a long way. Now that you’ve released a list of the top 10 submissions — a list on which not a single one of our 87 entries is included — and it has become clear that my housemates and I have been barred from the opportunity to win “a FREE dozen bagels a month for one full year,” I must humbly ask: What was it about “Bilbo Bagel,” exactly, which failed to tickle your fancy? Did “Bilbagel Baggins” not quite do it for you? How about “Bagel Baggins”? No? Were “The Bagel Identity,” “The Bagel Supremacy” and “The Bagel Ultimatum” rejected because of copyright concerns? Or because we chose not to include “The Bagel Legacy,” owing to the fact that the Bourne franchise took a turn south after Matt Damon’s departure, as we all know? Or do you prefer Jeremy Renner? Have you always hated me, or only since my entrance in the Barry Bagels’ Maize and Blue Homecoming Bagel Contest? Did you find “Ceci n’est pas un bagel” to be too highbrow, or were you afraid of legal action by the Magritte estate? Did “Barack Obagel” strike you as politically polarizing? Surely “Abagelham Lincoln” would have been a more populist choice? What about “Conan O’Bagel”? Leno fans, yourselves? Perhaps you still harbored traumatic memories of high school English class, which prevented you from finding plea-
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
More Meatless Mondays TO THE DAILY: I am writing to express my support for East Quad Residence Hall’s Meatless Monday event and encourage it and other campus dining facilities to make every Monday a Meatless Monday. Oftentimes, people’s first impression of the vegan lifestyle is one of repulsion. However, vegan food can be far more decadent and delicious than it is given credit for. What many fail to realize is that anything — from ribs to omelets to ice cream — can be made vegan. In addition, the benefits of the vegan lifestyle for the animals, environment and one’s health are too sig-
“
nificant to ignore. Despite this, the apprehension of changing their diet and leaving behind their favorite foods often hold people back. That’s why Meatless Mondays are a great step. This program gives meat eaters the opportunity to discover new vegan and vegetarian foods in a relaxed and experimental atmosphere. As a campus, we have enormous potential to preserve resources and save lives by simply eating vegan or vegetarian meals one day per week. I hope that by taking part in Meatless Mondays, students can become more open-minded to giving the vegan lifestyle a try. Lia Vallina Originally MARCH 10, 2015
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
It’s to the point where I don’t even want to reproduce and bear children.”
— Kinesiology junior and Black Student Union secretary Cap Kendall told The Michigan Daily during a protest on police brutality Wednesday evening, regarding her negative experiences with campus police.
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More than just numbers
n May 2, I sat in the bleachers at the Big House as the blazing sun transformed my exposed arms, chest, face and scalp into a shade of bright pink. My eyes squinted against the solar glare, transfixed on AARICA the field for the MARSH Class of 2015’s commencement ceremony from the University of Michigan. Memories evoked emotions while speakers recalled some of the amazing accomplishments I had witnessed firsthand from the people I entered college with. When I left my hometown — a village of about 800 people — four years ago, I was sure I would be among that sea of caps and gowns, smiling with friends as we took the last step of our undergraduate career. But I wasn’t. I was among the anonymous crowd of family and friends, befuddled over how quickly four years had passed. We experienced the beginning of college together and are connected by the freedom we felt freshman year; we stumbled through dorms, tests and relationships, somehow starting to find ourselves. Yet, I often felt stunted in my journey, one step behind the people around me. I was blindly navigating my way through college, unable to fully comprehend what I was there for and how I would be able to stay. Most students enter the University with the belief that they will finish their undergraduate career in a mere four years. With a four-year graduation rate of about 76 percent, most students do. However, halfway through my junior year, I realized the four-year college experience wasn’t the path my life was destined to take (or able to given the circumstances). When I first came to the University in the fall of 2011, my mom and dad, though separated, were technically married
and made a combined salary around $100,000. Though they had a solid gross annual income on my first Free Application for Federal Student Aid, there was never any way for them to afford my college education. My parents — saddled with debt and mental illness, which often contributed to substance abuse — were financially unstable throughout most parts of my life. They were continuously employed, but after the first few years of the new millennium, there was barely even enough money to cover the bills. I was a pre-teen in a rural village worried about my family; I didn’t think about college or its costs seriously. It’s also hard to plan for college when you’re the only one in the family to attend it. According to the FAFSA, my parents were expected to pay thousands of dollars for my education. Luckily, I received a four-year scholarship that covered part of my tuition, with federal loans nearly covering the rest. Still, each of the eight semesters I’ve spent here, I’ve owed thousands of dollars to the University. Every time, we paid the money far past the beginning of the semester deadline, most of the time after I called my mom panicking, worried I would be unable to sign up for the next semester of classes because of the financial hold on my account. We have always somehow found the money, waiting until the closest paycheck or borrowing from family. One semester, I personally took out a loan from my local credit union with my mom as a co-signer. On my second FAFSA application, I claimed my dad’s income as my parents had officially divorced. He had recently started a new welding job after being laid off by his previous employer; I received a Pell Grant and was able to do a work-study job. During the next few tax cycles, my mom claimed me as her dependent, as she was the one helping me financially far more than my dad. However, her income was increasing as
she excelled at work, becoming a regional manager for Amtrak engineers in five short years. I received federal loans. After moving out of the dorms sophomore year, I moved to Ypsilanti for cheaper rent and began working as often as possible to pay off the loan from my credit union and to pay for living expenses. That year, I finally became actively involved in a student organization; something that is seemingly mandatory during a university education. Life became too much of a burden, financially, emotionally and physically. I slowed down my schooling, unable to fit all of the required classes for my dual degree into my remaining semesters. My summers were spent working to save up money for school. After finally figuring out what I wanted from college, I have four classes to take to finish my second degree. So, I was in the crowd among family and friends. But, I know I’m not the only one. FAFSA measures our lives through a year of numbers. It doesn’t ask whether your parents nearly lost everything in the financial crisis of the early 2000s, how many times your house was almost repossessed, whether any of your family members suffer from a crippling mental illness or if there has been any long-term issues that may affect your financial situation. FAFSA, like most financial aid, doesn’t care about the big picture. They are only concerned with a snapshot of the present. A year changes things, but only so much. Analyzing how much a family makes in one year, while helpful, doesn’t necessarily provide adequate financial aid to all applicants. FAFSA is an important tool in helping students across the nation attain higher education. In order to further help students, it should start to consider longterm circumstances that affect a student’s economic status. — Originally published MAY 15, 2015.
4B — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FROM THE DAILY
Don’t allow weapons on campus Pro-gun mentality not the answer to sexual assault Originally published FEBRUARY 24, 2015
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ith the number of reported sexual assaults rising on college campuses, gun lobbyists have started suggesting that the legalization of carrying concealed weapons on college campuses would make female students safer. This year, lawmakers in 10 states pushed bills through their legislatures that would allow concealed carry on their state’s college campuses. While advocates for this reform argue it is for the benefit of sexual assault survivors, there seems to be political motivation behind their reasoning. It appears that the pro-gun lobby is now utilizing the issue of sexual assault to validate concealed carry. However, this view overlooks the real issues surrounding sexual assault on college campuses and should absolutely not be implemented. Last month, Florida State Rep. Dennis K. Baxley (R–Ocala) stated, “If you’ve got a person that’s raped because you wouldn’t let them carry a firearm to defend themselves, I think you’re responsible.” This is a strong statement, as it suggests that the use of violence is more a “responsibility” of the victim than an issue of the offender. This solution, advocated by Baxley, also forces women to be responsible in stopping sexual assault, as opposed to society as a whole. The Florida bill went on to pass out of sub-committee and is currently on the floor of the state House of Representatives. In Nevada, Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (R), who is sponsoring a similar bill in the Nevada House of Representatives, added to Baxley’s tone, stating in an interview with The New York Times, “If these young, hot little girls on campus have a firearm, I wonder how many men will want to assault them.” Making the assumption that these “young, hot little girls” should have to assume the jobs of the law enforcement officials is not addressing the rise of sexual assault. It also isn’t going to decrease the risk of violence on college campuses. Additionally, this assumption that the current problem with sexual assault on college campuses is merely happenstance of
a sexually charged individual on the streets attacking a woman is false. What is true, according to a study published by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2007, is that 19 percent of women in college were survivors of sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault at some point in their college career. Furthermore, about 85 to 90 percent of these assaults occur by someone known to the victim. John Foubert, president of One in Four, an educational service on college sexual assault and professor at Oklahoma State University, offered a different voice to the debate. Foubert, a professor in a state with a college concealed carry bill currently under review, contends that guns can’t solve the problem: “If you have a rape situation, usually it starts with some sort of consensual behavior, and by the time it switches to nonconsensual, it would be nearly impossible to run for a gun.” This is not a far-fetched theory, considering that the rate at which survivors of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault knew their assailant. The DOJ study found that, when described by the survivors, the assailant was most commonly a classmate, friend, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend or acquaintance. These incidents are reported to have occurred mainly in two locations: 60 percent of the
time in one of the two party’s private domains and 10 percent of the time in a fraternity house. It would be rather difficult, as a person in danger, to know exactly when and how to properly defend oneself in such situations. There is a complete lack of practical applicability with these bills, especially in Michigan. Considering the age to legally carry a concealed weapon is 21 in the state, and most of these “hot, young” and “drug and alcohol abusing” college students that these advocates of the bill are describing are between the ages of 18 and 21, it would be illegal under state law for these individuals to purchase handguns from licensed dealers. These bills being pushed appear to be either flawed attempts to fix the problem of sexual assault on college campuses or a rather thinly veiled facade for what these lobbyists are really promoting: legalizing weapon carrying. The issue of sexual assault on college campuses is one that is both sensitive in nature and hotly debated in society. For legislation to be debated and passed that puts the onus on the women who attend these institutions glosses over the real issues that exist in society. Everything should be done to drastically reduce the rate of sexual assault on college campuses in the United States, but concealed carry on campus is not the answer we so desperately need.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Aarica Marsh, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Linh Vu, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Derek Wolfe
RACHEL DAWSON
Originally published March 11, 2015
MOVING IN
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Let’s grab a drink
elcome back, students! Another Spring Break has come and gone at the University, and I can only imagine the drunken antics that ensued. Even at the geriatric age of 35, I have a couple of bar tales from this ERIC week. I’ll spare KUKIELKA you the details of my excursions, but I would encourage you all to think about alcohol, bars and their place in our culture. Most people are familiar with the bars around campus, so I won’t waste time extolling the finer virtues of Skeeps over Vinology, or why you really shouldn’t order the “Constant Buzz” from Dominick’s (regardless of the amount of “love” per gallon). Instead, I want to focus on how the bar can help your career, or how it can show you a more visceral side of humanity. There is no way to oversell just how important alcohol is to humanity. Historically, taverns, pubs and even coffeehouses have been centers of commerce, meeting and civic engagement. World-renowned speeches have been given, standing armies have been formed and revolutionary activities have all taken place in American bars. Some scientists even believe that humanity switched from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle because of our desire to brew beer.
Regardless of why civilization started, it’s hard to deny the importance of alcohol in today’s modern society. All types of business transactions, large and small, still happen in bars to this day. For instance, in Japan, there are several rituals surrounding business and the consumption of alcohol. There, after one has had a few drinks at the izakaya, it is seen as socially acceptable to allow the barriers between boss and employee to melt away, giving Japanese employees a chance to tell their bosses how they truly feel. In my adopted hometown of South Lyon, we have a great local brewery, the Witch’s Hat Brewing Company. At any time of the day, you can stop in and see a very rare sight: people sitting and talking to their neighbor about politics, sports, religion and just about every other topic imaginable. It’s there that I received an internship offer for this coming summer, which has eased a lot of my mental burden heading into my final year at the University. Ironically, it was at this pub nearly 20 miles north of campus where I met people who work at the University, whose work-related actions have affected my time on campus without me even realizing it (Hi Sarah!). The resurgence of craft beer is wonderful for American bar culture. The “meat-market” style bars will always exist and are likely the variety with which most students are most familiar. Those corporate chains are ok, especially when you first start going to bars, but eventually the “club scene” gets old, even to the heartiest of dancers. It’s the local
pub, the town watering hole, where the real magic happens. That’s where you get to see the whole range of what life has to offer. Personally, I’ve witnessed everything from marriage proposals to divorce decrees, the excited announcement of a new child to the overwhelming sorrow from the loss of a loved one. It’s people at their worst, people at their best and everything in between. Honestly, it’s humans being human, and it’s a great thing to be a part of. I want to challenge each one of you who is of legal drinking age to go and check out a local brewery or pub. Ann Arbor has quite a few great places to catch a local brew, from mega-suppliers like Ashley’s to small-batch brewers like Blue Tractor. When you get there, put your phone away. Just sit and observe. Eventually, you’ll get an opportunity to chime in with a comment, a suggestion or even just an opinion about the beer you’re drinking. You never know, that person sitting next to you may just be the traveling professor who influences your choice of major. They may offer you a job. They may just say the perfect thing to get you feeling better about whatever is weighing heavy upon your heart. So, next time you get that urge to down a few, jump out of your comfort zone and head to a local pub. And if you see me there, please don’t be afraid to say hello. I’ll be the guy chatting it up with my neighbors, without a phone in sight. — Originally published MARCH 11, 2015
RYAN MOODY | VIEWPOINT
All you guys do is bitch “All you guys do is bitch.” “Michigan in Color is just a place where people complain.” “Whenever you all bring up race, I can never win.” Though they take many forms, I often hear and read sentiments such as these, expressed by white people, when referring to people of color talking about race. These white readers speak of wanting to engage in deep, meaningful exchanges regarding skinprivilege in our society, yet feel unfairly boxed out by angry people of color. Just yesterday, one of the MiC editors received yet another of these responses, expressing annoyance with White-collar whiteness. He said, “This is what I understand when I read (the article): ‘I’m going to bring up a topic and I want us to have a productive conversation about it. But in the course of this productive conversation, I don’t want you to argue, remain silent or leave. If you in any way challenge my point of view, I will suggest that you are either racist or furthering racism.’ What that suggests to me is that the author wants white-skinned people to have “conversations” with her that consist only of them nodding their heads and saying, “uh-huh” over and over again ... You cannot respect someone with whom you cannot be honest. This strategy eventually translates to, “Don’t say what you think, because you’ll hurt my feelings if you do.” Though I am undoubtedly biased (I am a Michigan in Color editor, after all), I can understand the “you all say you want an open dialogue about race but then shut it down” sentiment that some of our white readers have shared. I can see how it’s difficult to see the nuances of a seemingly contradictory statement that many of our contributors express (and one that I personally share) when you don’t know what it feels like to have the same conversations about race on a regular, if not daily, basis. So I’ll explain. Trying to have a conversation about systemic racism with someone who knows little about it invokes similar frustrations in me (and, I suspect, other people of color) as it does to others when trying to discuss March Madness brackets with me. You see, I grew up in a household
where we didn’t really talk about basketball. Because sportsminded people were never in my social circle, it has always been incredibly normal to not think about — and consequently not care about — sports events that occur. Even when big things like the Super Bowl and NBA Playoffs are going on, athletics are barely on my radar. I honestly don’t understand why people in this country want to talk about sports so much, why they evoke so much emotion and why people feel so strongly about identifying with their chosen teams. When someone who likes sports tries to talk about them with me, I struggle to have an effective conversation with them — at least from their perspective. Not because I don’t want to, and not because I’m not willing to try to, but because I am at a significant knowledge deficit. The only things I can really speak to are things I’ve either seen on TV (go Duke?) or heard about from that one local team I’m semi-familiar with (yay Michigan!). Because I’ve said things like, “I like that team because I look good in their colors” and “I hope they win because their quarterback is cute” in the past, people who had previously wanted to have a conversation about sports with me now roll their eyes and dismiss me in frustration. It’s not as though my opinion will always be unwanted, but as of right now, it’s uninformed. That sense of irritation is whatI feel when trying to have an intelligent conversation about race with most white people. While I don’t blame them for having limited — or no — experiences with race, it’s repetitive and unproductive to talk about something so complex with someone who often doesn’t even know what modern-day racism looks like. Because I’m Black, society has forced me to see how race colors our personal interactions and social mobility. For me, it has been inescapable. As a white person, it’s easier to miss. This doesn’t mean you won’t get a seat at the table; I want you there with me. But at a table where I so often don’t have a voice and instead have my story told for me, I need you to first listen. I’m not going to have conversations about race if your main focus is on defending the intent of a racist action,
instead of analyzing the impact it creates. I am unwilling to discuss police brutality if your working knowledge of the topic started and ended with Ferguson. I won’t have a dialogue on the merits and drawbacks of Affirmative Action if the bedrock of your opinion is an Ivy-league rejection letter. Maybe you view this strategy as me saying: “Don’t say what you think, because you’ll hurt my feelings if you do,” but in reality, I’m saying “Don’t say what you think if you have unfounded opinions because it is both offensive and a waste of our time.” I do want to have the conversation, but not if you don’t know what you’re talking about. I know that you will never truly understand what it feels like to walk in my shoes. I don’t expect you to. But in the same way that I have ample insight into a broad spectrum of white people’s experiences — from history classes, from TV shows, from books, from magazines, from commercials, from news reports, from social media, from white friends, from white boyfriends, from white family members, from being raised in a majority-white society — I need you to have some insight into the experiences of my people if we are going to have the honest, respectful conversation you say you desire. You may consider this information gathering to be “nodding (your) heads and saying ‘uh-huh’ over and over again,” but I view your learning about the oppression of others as helping get you up to speed. As I see it, you cannot earnestly challenge a perspective until you (at least partially) understand it. Of the white people in my life, a good number share equal airtime with me in conversations about race. A larger number don’t. The latter have yet to show me that they’re willing to consider facts, viewpoints and experiences unfamiliar to them. You might see that as “bitching” or “complaining,” but for these exchanges to be productive from my perspective, I need to be met halfway. Maybe it’s unfair that I won’t have truly engaged conversations on race with just anyone. Maybe it makes you feel like you “can never win.” But that’s one racial privilege you’ll have to earn. Originally published April 16, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
I
5B — Fall 2015
Statuatory Grape
t recently came to my attention that bars across the University campus have drink menus that do not align with my personal morals or the morals of many friends and mentors. Drinks such as the Blowjob and Dirty Girl Scout, among others, play off DANI of humor that is VIGNOS in no way family friendly but may be excusable for certain eyes. Titles such as these may make a restaurant only accessible to adult eyes, but do not necessarily cross a morally impenetrable line in my view. Reading further down the menu at Blue Leprechaun on South University, I stumbled across a drink called Statutory Grape. At the time, I thought this drink was particular to this bar, but soon discovered that many menus on the University campus and in other cities featured such an appalling item. This wave of disappointment hit me around late September last year and only escalated this past weekend when my father was in town and had a harsh reaction to such a feature as well. As I have never been a victim of any sort of sexual crime, I do not have the authority to say what a drink name like this would spark in me had I experienced such a traumatic event. But I do know that to trivialize what can be such a severe experience into a drink name is beyond outdated and beyond disrespectful. After speaking with peers, mentors and even the wait staff and general manager of Blue Lep, I found that everyone was in a relatively unanimous agreement: the drink name should be removed. Some “inappropriate” drinks I can let skate by, but others have crossed a line that should never be crossed.
I met with Mike Gradillas, the general manager of the Blue Leprechaun, expecting a curmudgeon of a man who would not be receptive to the idea at all. Instead, I found the exact opposite in his character. We carefully looked at each menu item, and discussed the implications of each item and what it could mean, who it could hurt, if the wait staff could “handle” it and if they could, “should” anyone be able to handle something unpleasant that could potentially be a trigger? It is impossible to imagine what everyone has gone through, what bizarre or mundane words could propel someone into reliving a terrible experience. But there is a certain point where we, as upstanding members of society, can speculate that the drink “statutory grape” could be linked to an unfortunate memory. Dan Caldwell, a waiter at the Blue Lep, made many poignant remarks on this subject. He specifically stated, “You never know what the people walking through your bar have gone through.” Specifically with the drink Statutory Grape, there is no reason why the item must persist. In suggesting renaming the drink, Gradillas said, “I don’t even need a memory of it. It’s just not worth it.” So not only is the name being eliminated, but also the drink itself is being told off. Gradillas said, “I do care about the image of the restaurant, but on a more personal level, I am responsible.” Gradillas claims that he had often questioned these off-putting titles, but had never been approached by someone, so he never made the move for change. Obviously, the responsibility cannot solely lie in anyone’s lap, but it does show how times can change and the often times negative residue of the past can stick. “We are dealing with college, where there is often times a fine line between having an experience where someone may unfortunately question whether or not
an encounter was rape,” Gradillas said. Any restaurant, especially one so close to a university, should not be making light of an issue that is so prevalent on a college campus. Gradillas similarly took it upon himself to change The Red Headed Slut to The Red Head without any efforts on my part. He also reminded me that if a woman or man ever feels disrespected by a client at the restaurant, they have bouncers who are well equipped to remove any individual. Although most people with whom I have spoken to agree at the obscenity of the title, those playing devil’s advocate, bring up the line that differentiates rape and statutory rape. The legal dictionary defines statutory rape as being, “…committed when an adult sexually penetrates a person who, under the law, is incapable of consenting to sex. Minors and physically and mentally incapacitated persons are deemed incapable of consenting to sex under rape statutes in all states.” There is the case where a young couple could be technically committing this crime even while having consensual sex, however, this is not always the case. As the legal dictionary addresses, this offense is serious and should in no way be taken lightly. This is not just an issue of feminism; these experiences can happen to anyone. It is our duty as students to call attention to these issues and spread awareness. Often times it just takes one voice to sway a cause. Although I have only spoken with the Blue Leprechaun, I imagine these drink items will be evaporating quickly off of university campuses. Although students do not carry the solitary responsibility to spark change, we do have the youth and passion to speak out about causes of any scale. — Originally published FEBRUARY 8, 2015.
A
Rethinking mobility
s a dusting of crystalline flakes morphs into another potential polar vortex, students will likely experience a myriad of emotions. My initial wonderment, for example, often dissipates into a slight annoyance and eventually MELISSA transforms into SCHOLKE a panicky concern to maintain my balance while dashing across campus. The University’s student body will soon be reintroduced to ever-too-familiar winter perils as they walk to class. Layers of ice will glaze sidewalks as we trudge through snow piles, and bitter winds will strike faces awaiting the arrival of delayed buses. Rather than endure the seasonal hazards, some students will choose encampment in the warm safety of dorms. For others, indoor confinement might seem like the only viable option. While winter poses safety risks to the student community, seasonal hazards illustrate an issue on campus. Wintertime proves a hindrance for able-bodied students, but for students with mobility impairments, the external conditions greatly diminish accessibility and aggravate existing issues. Able-bodied students and faculty — as they go through their routines — unintentionally overlook challenges students with physical disabilities encounter daily. We often move effortlessly through our personal spheres and never consider the tremendous capability of our limbs to do so. Rather, we automatically accept this particular physical status as “normal.” After a few minutes, a bus — which able-bodied individuals enter with ease — will come whisk them out of the cold. Students can strategically plan a walking route to minimize exposure to frigid temperatures by seeking out the
nearest entrances, utilizing stairwells and elevators and traversing across corridors. If students still feel frozen, they can warm up with food from a dining hall. In certain areas of campus, these options aren’t necessarily available to students with mobility impairments. Hindrances to mobility may be a seasonal affliction for able-bodied students, but for students with physical disabilities, they’re lifelong concerns. Numerous buildings currently pose challenges to students. According to Public Policy senior Ryan Bartholomew, chair of the Campus Accessibility and Disability Affairs Commission, “a lot of the buildings, even if they are accessible, sometimes are hard for people to access.” The commission works to address complaints and concerns about mobility on campus. Even recently updated dormitories, such as East Quad Residence Hall, pose problems to a segment of the student body. The handicapped-accessible door at East Quad is located far away from the building’s main entrance, and the door is locked throughout the day, which prevents students from entering the building for class or for a meal unless they live there. Although I previously lived on North Campus, I was surprised to learn of the multiple difficulties mobility-impaired students encounter there. Parents and hungry students are supposed to be reassured by the promise of convenient, healthy meals at the University’s various dining halls. Yet, Bursley Residence Hall lacks an elevator or any means that would allow its dining hall to be accessible to students with physical disabilities students. Likewise, the Duderstadt Center doesn’t possess a “continuous elevator” to the facility’s third floor, which hinders students who need to access resources at the Dude or to simply meet with a study group. However, the most striking example of inefficiency is located at the Bob & Betty Beyster Building. Although the BBB possesses
a fully functional elevator, it currently doesn’t operate after 8 p.m. — forcing mobility-impaired students finishing a late evening of studying to walk outside to a parking lot at the top of the hill to await Paratransit’s arrival. During a video shoot to raise awareness about inaccessibility, I accompanied a student as he ascended the steep slope. The sidewalk nearly encircles the building — as well as a surrounding cluster of trees — and the route is significantly longer than the distance one would take up the stairwell within the BBB. This extended exposure to the elements has drastic effects. As Bartholomew noted, “People with mobility impairments are not moving their body as much as someone who is able-bodied … so when they get cold, they typically stay cold for a long period of time.” Working in cooperation with University Housing and other University departments, the Campus Affairs and Disability Commission implemented measures such as snow removal procedures and protocols for removing bikes from ramps. The University has responded to requests and complaints in the past, but many issues persist. The University’s resources for students with mobility impairments are either non-existent, difficult to find, inefficient or unnecessarily distant. Mobility status is a social identity that far too often escapes consideration in our minds. Forming a diverse community requires acknowledging the need for a wide variety of resources for all students in order to aid them in achieving an education and personal growth. While the University must ensure resources for all students are consistently accessible and accommodating, we, as students, should work to raise personal awareness and reform our perceptions of a truly diverse student body. — Originally published DECEMBER 4, 2014.
6B — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FROM THE DAILY
It’s about time
SCOTUS declares constitutionality of same-sex marriages Originally published JUNE 26, 2015
L
ast Friday morning, after months of deliberation, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to legalize same-sex marriage across the country. Citing equal protection under the 14th amendment, this ruling also requires all states to recognize any same-sex marriage performed in another state. The Obergefell v. Hodges case provided a long-awaited resolution to tenuous legal battles brought forth by a consolidation of several cases — one of which was DeBoer v. Snyder, a case challenging Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban, which subsequently prohibited same-sex couples from jointly adopting children. This momentous but severely overdue ruling by the Court merely marks the beginning of striking down unjust legal barriers and taking steps to dissolve immense discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community. But by recognizing the diverse range of couples and families, last Friday’s decision sets forth a crucial historical precedent to ensure full equality for all.
Over the past decade, the movement for marriage equality has undeniably possessed immense momentum. Previously, same-sex marriage was legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia, but the ruling finally ensures that all government proceedings reflect the vast amount of support for samesex marriage across the country. According to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, 57 percent of Americans are in favor of samesex marriage. The Court’s actions end a decades-long debate that has slow-
ly inched toward altering the definition of marriage under the law. Most recently, two years ago, the Court declared aspects of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional. The complete legalization of samesex marriage nationwide was the next logical and inevitable step to ensure equality for the LGBTQ community. As both past and present actions illustrate, it’s integral to the operation of any government to realize the malleability of cultural values and to adjust our laws accordingly as we, as a
society, progress. In the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy described exactly why adjustment was needed: “As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from
one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” Finally, after denying these individuals their liberty for far too long, the Court’s ruling ensures each marriage will be upheld and recognized according to the same standards. The deci-
“
sion paves the way for equality not only in the realm of marriage and civil unions, but it additionally guarantees accompanying benefits and rights in a variety of areas, such as adoption, health care and financial matters. All that said, last Friday’s historic decision serves as a reminder of all the progress that has yet
to be attained. But certainly, the judgment in Obergefell v. Hodges will aid in successfully combating legalized discrimination that continues to exist in numerous states, including Michigan. For now, though, Friday’s ruling is a moment to celebrate and a testament to the will of a nation to enact necessary social change.
This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts. When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free.”
— President Barack Obama said on June 26, 2015 after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right.
HOUSING
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
7B — Fall 2015
FROM THE DAILY
Originally published APRIL 8, 2015 Editor’s note: Emily Campbell, one of the subjects of this piece, is a copy editor at The Michigan Daily. Campbell was not involved in the editing process of this editorial or the Daily’s special report. *** In a phone interview with University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald on Tuesday afternoon, the Daily requested specific information about the sexual misconduct investigation process in order to clarify several aspects of a news report published in today’s edition of the paper. On behalf of the University, Fitzgerald declined to comment and said the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy would suffice in answering the Daily’s questions. In February 2014, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights announced it would investigate the University for violations of Title IX legislation. In response to the investigation, the University issued the following statement: “We’re very proud of our student sexual misconduct policy, our prevention efforts and our programs to support survivors of sexual misconduct … we believe that a review of our policy, programs and investigations will conclude that the University of Michigan is doing what it should in this important area.” While the University claims it is doing “what it should” to support survivors of sexual misconduct, after reviewing documents and University policies, it is undeniable that the University’s sexual assault adjudication and education processes contain significant policy faults that cannot be ignored. First, the University’s sexual misconduct investigations function in a manner that brings their equitability into question. Second, there are discrepancies between the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center’s definition of consent and that of University policy it determines cases on, which raises concerns about the educational materials promoted by the University. In light of this specific case and the larger Title IX investigation, the University is left with one choice: It must change its sexual misconduct investigation policies and formulate better sexual education programs for its students. To persist with the current policies would only further discredit the University’s sincerity in combating sexual assault on campus. In December 2013, LSA sophomore Emily Campbell alleged that she was involved in unwanted sexual contact with then-LSAfreshmen Aaron Reuben and Jonathan Barnet. Campbell reported the incident to SAPAC, which referred her to a University hospital sexual assault nurse examiner, or SANE. A University Police Department investigation was automatically initiated. Information from this investigation was brought to the Office of Institutional Equity, where an adjudication process commenced. OIE found Reuben and Barnet in violation of University policy for disseminating electronic images of Campbell during the event without her knowledge, but did not find them responsible for unwanted sexual contact. Reuben and Barnet were suspended from the University for one year and will be allowed to return to campus in January 2016, pending the fulfillment of probationary stipulations. Part One: Equitability of the process The University has a right to conduct its misconduct investigations independently. However, OIE investigative proceedings must be altered to include safeguards that increase the equitability of the process and allow individuals a more just opportunity to file, pursue and defend any claims made by or against them. The Student Sexual Misconduct Policy explicitly states that both respondents and complainants “may bring a support per-
son or adviser with them to any meetings with the Investigator” handling the OIE investigation. However, there is no specific policy in existence governing whether complainants are advised to seek legal counsel, and Fitzgerald declined to elaborate further as to what standard procedure entails. Both Reuben and Barnet retained high-quality legal representation at the onset of the process, while Campbell did not retain attorney services until she decided to press civil charges 11 months later. Leaving the decision to retain counsel up to students who are involved with a stressful and likely emotionally damaging investigation could lead to a situation where ill-equipped individuals are pitted against experienced attorneys using experts to discredit and counter their claims. A system that provides guaranteed representation for all individuals involved with an OIE investigation must be created to ensure equitability. In addition to the retention of legal representation, paid expert testimony and analysis is allowed in the OIE investigation process. The OIE investigator in charge of the case consulted various experts for the investigation, including the SANE who examined Campbell and a University psychologist with post-traumatic stress disorder expertise. In response to these University-obtained testimonies, Reuben’s attorneys paid and consulted experts regarding the SANE examination, memory formation and PTSD to directly contradict the informed opinions of University employees. The allowance of this testimony is concerning. To maintain a standard of review, it is crucial that the opinions considered do not harbor a vested interest in the outcome of any contended issue, as is the case with paid expert opinions. OIE investigations include an appeals process that allows new, “appropriate and probative” material to be introduced after an appeal has been filed. This is entirely contradictory to the purpose of an appeal. An appeal is a review of an original decision to determine whether a “harmful legal error has occurred”; it is not intended to “give a litigant a second opportunity to reargue the facts of his or her case.” Complainants and respondents are allowed to submit objections to materials during the appeals process, which are considered and ruled upon by OIE staff. Permitting additional documents to be submitted during an appeal only muddles the factual findings of the University’s investigation and unnecessarily complicates and elongates the process. Furthermore, the policies governing students and their actions bear few definitive thresholds for punishment. The University only provides a list of potential sanctions, meaning very few violations of policy result directly in a specifically defined punishment being levied against violator(s). Alarmingly, academic standing policy is more concrete in its language and punishments than sexual assault policies. Leaving punishments undefined limits the ability of University policy to inhibit unwanted behavior. Punishments aren’t just undefined. They are, as in Campbell’s case, mercurial. E. Royster Harper, vice president of student life, after reviewing the materials from the OIE investigation and suggested sanctioning from the appeals process, wrote in a Dec. 17, 2014 memo addressed to Stacey Vander Velde, associate director of the Office of Student Conflict
A system that provides guaranteed representation must be created.
Resolution, that she had “chosen to modify the sanctioning recommendations” by extending the suspension period levied against Reuben; he will not be allowed to return to the University until January 2016. This was done without explanation or rationalization by Harper or her office, which further raises questions about the transparency of the process. Reworking the OIE investigation system is essential because it will benefit both the University and students, leading to a more equitable process and definitive outcome. Part Two: Consent definition and sexual education According to its website, SAPAC, the main campus provider of sexual education, defines consent as “when someone verbally agrees, gives permission, or says ‘yes’ to sexual activity with someone else.” However, the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy defines consent with less detailed description. It states that consent is “clear and unambiguous agreement, expressed in mutually understandable words or actions, to engage in a particular activity,” with the key issue being “whether the Respondent knew, or should have known, that the activity in question was not consensual.” Because of the University’s official policy, Reuben and Barnet were found not guilty of unwanted sexual contact during the encounter with Campbell. While we understand that SAPAC’s definition of consent is educational and not a standard used to hold individuals accountable to University policy, the large discrepancy between the two is troubling; “mutually understandable words or actions” is too ambiguous. The current policy sets a dangerously low threshold for consent that can be misconstrued and misunderstood. To remedy these ambiguities, the policy should clearly state that silence and inaction are not acceptable and do not, under any circumstances, constitute consent. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Barbara Niess-May, executive director of SafeHouse Center, further elaborated on the topic of consent. “It’s active, not passive,” Niess-May said. “Cooperation does not equal consent.” According to the American Psychological Association, immediate reactions to sexual assault include shock, disbelief and fear. While the lack of a response, as a result of these reactions, can cause confusion for involved parties, misunderstanding is not a viable excuse for sexual misconduct. The University’s policy must take into account the very real, biological reactions individuals may experience during a traumatic event. Beyond the pitfalls in the policy itself, sexual education on campus is minimal, at best. Currently, the University administers sexual education to incoming students indirectly through AlcoholEdu and directly through Relationship Remix. However, completion of these programs is fail>not strictly enforced, and neither of the programs detail the University’s sexual misconduct policy nor the investigative process. These programs are not rigorous enough educational tools because, even if enforced, such brief sessions can’t cover all of the material necessary for an adequate understanding of sexual misconduct. Therefore, the University must provide SAPAC with more resources to expand its educational programs for students. For students, a more thorough and prolonged curriculum should be taught to provide a comprehensive and continual education. A mini-course should be mandated for freshmen during their first semester aimed at clarifying all policies and punishments regarding sexual misconduct. In addition, online refreshers should be mandated before class
SAPAC needs more resources to expand sexual education for students.
registration each academic year to provide updated information regarding sexual misconduct resources and policy. That said, it would be unfair to claim the University is completely uncommitted to changing campus culture and policies. University President Mark Schlissel has announced a student survey on sexual assault to gather infor-
mation, UMPD has formed a sexual assault special victims unit focused on sexual misconduct and SAPAC is currently hosting round tables to provide feedback on the sexual misconduct policy. While these steps will improve awareness, gather information and better train UMPD officers — all critical to tackling sexual misconduct — they do not adequately
address the issues that currently exist within the system, the policy and how information is disseminated on campus. The University must own up to its faults and make integral changes to its OIE investigation process, sexual misconduct policy and education programs. Further inaction in this regard cannot be tolerated.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Ben Keller, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Derek Wolfe
FROM THE DAILY
A crisis of ignorance
S
Sexual assault on campus can be reduced through education Originally published SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
exual assault on college campuses is enabled by a multitude of influences, but cultural perceptions of women and sex undoubtedly have a significant effect. While ill-intent may play an undeniable role in many sexual assaults, ignorance and societal factors are equally at work, if not more influential. Educating university students and faculty about sexual assault may not directly help survivors, but creating a foundation of knowledge and compassion could potentially prevent these awful crimes from happening in the first place. According to the controversial first report published April 2014 by Not Alone, a White House Task Force created by President Barack Obama in an attempt to address sexual assault on college campuses, approximately one in five women ranging from freshmen to seniors indicated that they had been sexually assaulted at some time during their college experience. Despite typical critiques of data sampling, each one of these responses indicate an individual scarred by the traumatic experience of sexual assault who felt the need to share this information for a greater good. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has their hands full investigating 78 universities charged with mishandling sexual assault cases on their campuses, including the University of Michigan. In a study conducted by the Air Force Academy in 2003, female students who came forward to talk about their experiences described the problem of sexual assault as “widespread and the product of a culture hostile toward women.” Advocates for Human Rights and The First World Report on Violence and Health indicate that sexual assault seems to correlate with social conditions — societies that honor male physical aggressiveness, entitlement and dominance generally have higher numbers of sexual assault. Further exploration of sexual roles of the “male aggressor” and the “demure female” finds that “No” is seen as a kind of obstacle that the male must overcome because he is “not convinced she means it.” This kind of aggression is unfortunately well known on the college party scene. In this regard, the University’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center notes on their website, “Alcohol use may raise certain expectations about gender under the influence of alcohol. Men/ masculine individuals may feel as though they are expected to be sexually/physically aggressive, and may also ascribe to discourse about the sexual availability of women/feminine individuals who drink.” Faced with the facts that nearly one in five women will be sexually assaulted during college, that 78 universities are under federal investigation for mishandling of sexual assault cases, and our culture is primed with male sexual entitlement and the objectification of women, it’s not a question of should the University
do something to stop this alarming trend; it’s what are the fastest and most effective means of preventing sexual assault on our campus? If society does deserve some blame for these sexual abuses, then part of the problem must lie in how students think of and understand it. A 2010 study by The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction at the University of Indiana found 10.9 percent of survey respondents don’t consider it “having sex” if there’s no ejaculation, 29 and 27.1 percent don’t consider performing or receiving oral sex to be sex, respectively, and 55.1 percent don’t consider touching or manually stimulating a partner’s genitals to be sex either, indicating that many sex-related crimes may be attributed to ignorance. These blurred or misguided definitions of what constitutes a sex act may lead to sexual assault if the offender doesn’t consider certain acts to be “real” sex. The legal definition of sexual assault generally refers to any unwanted sexual activity. The 2010 study’s findings point toward a societal failure to adequately educate people about sex and therefore sexual assault. Current sex education briefly explains what sex is and the different ways to have sex while thoroughly covering sexually transmitted diseases. Sexual abuse, however, is often not covered or simply skimmed over, making it appear less important. A more productive route would be to educate students from a young age, eventually developing a working knowledge of sex and its potential for abuse as students come of age. Confronting this issue head-on would force students to consider the seriousness of sexual assault as much as, if not more than, the other risks of sex. However, changes made for younger generations still leaves the current student body without any immediate confrontation with issues surrounding sex and sexual assault. To compensate for this, the University should lead the way by addressing problematic cultural norms and educating students about sexual rights. It’s unreasonable and unrealistic to place all responsibility for student safety on the University, but the school clearly cares about the well-being of its students and can do more to protect them. This begins with educating and engaging the student body in a continuous discussion about sex and
consent. It’s important to combat complex problems like sexual assault at the source in order to cut down on its recurrence — preventing a tragedy is always better than having to deliver post-trauma care. Currently, the University offers Haven — an online course for incoming students to complete the summer before freshman year — and Relationship Remix, a 90-minute program covering approaches toward healthy relationships at the beginning of freshman year. Both of these programs are described as required, but are not seriously enforced. The logical aim for the University should be to implement a mini-course that is required for all incoming students. This course may model the current Race and Ethnicity Requirement in its mandatory and academic nature, or just a more in-depth orientation type course similar to AlcoholEdu that includes a regular discussion component. This requirement should apply to all students and take place during freshman year to address the issue as a preventative measure, instead of retroactively. The class, more far-reaching than current protocol, allows for time to discuss the factors contributing to sexual assault, as well as the definition of consent, the effects of misogyny in our daily lives, how to step in as a bystander and methods of practicing safe sex. Engaging student conversation is key, as merely presenting a slew of facts and numbers through a computer screen can hardly be expected to elicit any real empathy from students. Of course, the implementation and extension of a complete course takes time and isn’t immediately feasible. Possible intermediary solutions include comprehensive online courses or non-academic weekly courses taught in the dorms in a comfortable setting. The University should explore its potential to truly engage students and illustrate the significance of consent. Michigan has the capacity to play a key role in the protection of — and awareness among — its students and faculty. Gender roles and sex are shaped by societal norms, and the effect this has on student perception of sex and women cannot be understated. Combating sexual crimes means addressing ignorance, and the University has an opportunity now to lead the way in sexual education and prevent rape and assault on campus.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Barry Belmont, David Harris, Rachel John, Nivedita Karki, Jacob Karafa, Jordyn Kay, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck, Linh Vu, Meher Walia, Mary Kate Winn, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe
RACHEL DAWSON
Originally published JUNE 25, 2015
8B — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FROM THE DAILY
Reevaluating the system
The University needs more authority to sanction Greek life
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Originally published on MARCH 16, 2015.
ast week, a video surfaced of members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Oklahoma chanting a song littered with several racial slurs and profanities. David Boren, the President of the University of Oklahoma, reacted promptly to the matter. Within 48 hours of the video gaining national attention, Boren expelled the fraternity members deemed integral in the chant’s orchestration and ordered the members of the fraternity to vacate their house, severing all ties between SAE and the university. Many universities across the country, and their respective presidents, have acted poorly and inefficiently when issues have arisen in the Greek life community, but Boren had the power to enact strong university sanctions due, in no small part, to the University of Oklahoma’s claimed ownership of fraternity houses. However, recent claims have stated that the fraternity owns the land, while the university has legal claims over the house itself. This authority is essential to swift decision-making and assertion of power over Greek life when inappropriate behavior occurs.
At the University of Michigan, President Mark Schlissel doesn’t wield such authority over Greek life, limiting his ability to act as effectively in enacting sanctions for the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, which vandalized a northern Michigan ski resort, resulting in over $100,000 in damages. According to Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones’ letter outlining the sanctions to the fraternity, SAM has been suspended from the Interfraternity Council for four years, and the chapter is no longer recognized by the University. Due to the way in which Greek life is organized at the University, these sanctions become questionable and arguably useless unless the national chapters take action. These kinds of sanctions have been put in place here at the University in the past, such as those levied against the University’s SAE chapter. But, under this problematic system, SAE is able to function in largely the same way. Since their house isn’t owned by the University, they’re still able to act as a fraternity; they’re simply no longer a part of the Interfraternity
Council after being suspended for several hazing allegations. The most recent sanctions will place SAM in a similar situation. Unlike SAE, SAM has been indefinitely suspended by its national chapter. However, the sanctions the national chapter has taken against the University’s SAM chapter are unclear. The University must reevaluate how fraternities are punished. Fraternities that are suspended and/or kicked off campus are sanctioned for a reason. It’s problematic that they are still able to exist. Currently, all violations by Greek life chapters are run through the Greek Activities Review Panel. Because all members of GARP are affiliated with Greek life, bias potentially becomes an issue when bringing forward issues within the Greek system. Self-governance has its inherent issues. It would be more beneficial to include non-Greek life members, administration and the University’s president on the board. As more and more fraternity scandals are erupting across the country, it’s vital that universities hold the proper power
in order to act in an effective and meaningful manner. Recently, too many fraternities have made headlines, and not for respectable reasons. This week alone, University of Maryland’s chapter of Kappa Sigma has taken the spotlight after an e-mail promoting racism and non-consensual sex was leaked. A common theme between these scandals is that something, whether an e-mail or a video, is being leaked. Although the e-mail from the Kappa Sigma member was dated January 2014, it’s only surfacing now. The recently leaked media from various chapters across the country seems to indicate that there’s a systemic and institutional problem that needs to be examined. This calls for universities to be making more investigations of chapters to regulate the ideals of such institutions. It’s not the exclusive responsibility of universities’ respective authorities to do the policing of Greek life. There should be a common understanding within these communities that these behaviors are completely unacceptable. Greek life members
across the country should be taking the responsibility to improve the reputation of their organizations, but more importantly to ensure that the beliefs and values of their chapters are concurrent with positive goals and acceptance across the board.
When functioning properly, Greek life provides several benefits to its members. The recent scandals from fraternities across the country have shown that there is a problem with these institutions. Ultimately, it’s essential for presidents of
the universities to have more authority over the system and for leaders of these communities to self-evaluate whether or not the values of its members are acceptable in order to combat these issues and make Greek life reach its potential.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Ben Keller, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Linh Vu, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Derek Wolfe
FROM THE DAILY
Fair funding
The state legislature must review its higher education funding
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Originally published on JULY 9, 2015.
n Tuesday, Oakland University announced it would increase tuition by 8 percent starting in the fall semester. The drastic tuition increase is well above the state-imposed cap of 3.2 percent that colleges must meet in order to receive their performance-based aid from the state. OU joins Eastern Michigan University — which increased its tuition 7.8 percent in midJune — in being the only colleges in Michigan to forfeit their performancebased aid by increasing tuition well above the cap. In 2013, Wayne State University similarly increased its tuition by 8.9 percent. These exuberant increases help to highlight inefficiencies in the current higher education funding system. The state legislature must alter the performance-based aid in order to ensure students are able to access the education they deserve.
Gov. Rick Snyder introduced the performance-based education funding system when he first took office in 2011. The budgetary system is popular throughout the United States, with 34 states utilizing it in some form because it aims for schools to graduate as many students as possible, as efficiently as possible. In Michigan, higher education appropriations makes up 1.7 percent of the School Aid Fund and performance-based funding makes up about 5 percent of the aid schools receive from the School Aid Fund. The model was introduced by supporters who believe performance-based funding will motivate schools to adhere to state standards and
practices in higher education. However, according to students and faculty at OU, WSU and EMU, the current performancebased aid isn’t always beneficial to the higher education cause. WSU President M. Roy Wilson criticized the performance funding system, claiming that it penalizes the university for having a more inclusive enrollment policy and doing a large amount of research. Furthermore, students from EMU are worried about how they will be able to pay for the increased cost their colleges now require from their students. Performance-based funding clearly isn’t working
if universities are willing to forgo the funding to obtain enough money to provide the necessary resources to maintain operations. This “all-or-nothing” mentality of this funding system has forced universities’ hands to burden their students unnecessarily. If a performancebased model is going to continue, colleges must be rated against similar institutions; WSU caters to a different type of student than OU or the University. There needs to be understanding and accommodations when it comes to funding. If the state of Michigan wants to reward based on performance, it should look at the bigger picture.
The Michigan Daily-michigandaily.com New Student Edition
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CAMPUS LIFE
TCF bank to end its MCard affiliation
in
review 2015
Students no longer able to use student IDs as valid ATM, debit cards
September 5, 2014 Mark Schlissel is installed as president of the University after his career as Provost of Brown University.
January 22, 2015 SAM fraternity suspended after members cause thousands of dollars of damage to Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
February 1, 2015 University cancels class for the second time since 1978 due to inclement weather.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Michigan governor Rick Snyder congratulates Mark Schlissel at his University Presidential Inauguration.
Schlissel installed as fourteenth president Day-long events celebrates the start of new leadership By CLAIRE BRYAN Daily Staff Reporter
February 17, 2015 Daily staff members examine the salaries of the University’s top executives in an evaluation of a potential gender gap.
March 28, 2015 Cooper Charlton and Steven Halperin secure the Central Student Government presidential and vice presidential nomination by five votes.
March 31, 2015 Central Student Government votes against a proposal to cut University investments in companies accused of violating Palestinian Human Rights .
SEPT. 5, 2014 - It’s official. Students, faculty and administrators filled Hill Auditorium Friday afternoon for University President Mark Schlissel’s inauguration, the ceremony where he was formally installed as the University’s 14th president. With speeches from Republican Gov. Rick Snyder; University Provost Martha Pollack; Ruth Simmons, Brown University president emerita; and Schlissel himself, the inauguration focused on the significant issues facing modern public higher education. In his inaugural address, Schlissel articulated his vision for a University community marked by inclusiveness, accessibility and a vibrant civil exchange of diverse viewpoints. “I firmly believe that we cannot achieve true excellence without leveraging the experiences and perspectives of the broadest possible diversity of students,
faculty, and staff,” Schlissel said. “This is challenging work. Not only building a diverse student body, but also creating an inclusive campus climate that is open to difficult discourse.” Despite delivering a clear promise to aggressively pursue an agenda of inclusion, Schlissel said the process of exploring the University he now leads in ongoing. “I am walking in new directions, and I am asking a lot of questions,” Schlissel said. “I am meeting with students, staff, and faculty, learning their aspirations, what they are most proud of, and what they are anxious about as we move forward together.” Pollack, the University’s provost, gave opening remarks welcoming the community and introducing the University’s governing Board of Regents, deans and faculty, as well as Schlissel and his extended family. She also stressed the responsibility Schlissel has to respond to the challenges and trials facing public higher education. Following her speech, Snyder noted Schlissel’s eagerness to learn, alluding to the new president’s recent trip around the state. He added that Schlissel
will serve as the cornerstone of humanity at the University. “What makes the University of Michigan a truly special place is not one area or sectors, it is the humanity of the University, the people,” Snyder said. In an address that elicited thunderous applause multiple times, Simmons, who served as the president of Brown University and appointed Schlissel it’s provost, called on universities to devote more attention to ensuring students leave prepared to resolve conflict and treat others with respect — even as they increasingly push forward new innovations in science and technology. “Respect for others is a goal worth setting and worthy of presidential leadership,” she said. Regent Kathy White, who is the chair of the Board of Regents, outlined a history of past University presidents, concluding with Schlissel’s formal inauguration. The crowd gave an overwhelming standing ovation. An hour before the inauguration ceremony, Schlissel joined the regents, executive officers, deans, faculty and representatives from 100 other universities
By ANASTASSIOS ADAMOPOULOS Daily Staff Reporter
TCF Bank announced Monday that it will end its MCard partnership with the University effective April 30. According to an e-mail distributed to students, TCF account holders will no longer be able to use an MCard as a valid ATM or debit card. The announcement marks the end of an almost 14-year partnership between the University and TCF. Kim Broekhuizen, a University public affairs representative, said TCF informed the University last fall they would not renew their partnership. “While the features associated with TCF bank accounts held by students and employees won’t change after the contract ends, it will no longer be possible to use the MCard as an ATM card,” she said. “Customers can still use their TCF Visa Check Card to access their accounts, including through ATMs.” Mark Goldman, TCF director of corporate communications, said the bank and the University have worked well together throughout their partnership. “Whenever our contracts with our various University partners are due to come up for renewal, we look at a variety of factors, including the length of agreement, service expectations and overall financial commitments,” Goldman said. “We ultimately make a decision that in the best interest of both the University and TCF.” Goldman said he could not
See SCHLISSEL, Page 12C
See TCF, Page 12C
April 7, 2015 Daily staff members research the administration’s handling of a sexual assault case on campus and a student’s challenge to University policy.
April 7, 2015 UMix won’t screen “American Sniper” in wake of complaints from Students Allied for Freedom and Equality and the Middle Eastern and Arab Network among others.
May 2, 2015 Zingerman’s cofounders emphasize generosity in 2015 spring commencement address.
June 5, 2015 Your application to the University has been received. Now what? The Daily takes an investigative look at what happens when you apply.
July 20, 2015 Autonomous vehicle testing “Mcity,” the world’s first driverless,connected car test site, opens on North Campus.
AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw, co-owners of Zingerman’s, address graduating seniors at Spring Commencement at Michigan Stadium.
Zingerman’s co-founders emphasize generosity in Spring Commencement Graduation 2015 speakers stress importance of citizenship By JENNIFER CALFAS and SAM GRINGLAS Editor in Chief and Managing News Editor
MAY 2, 2014 - Before the Class of 2015 graduates received degrees Saturday, University President Mark Schlissel posed a question to them as they crowded the Michigan Stadium
bleachers: “What are you going to do now?” He was not referring to the jobs or graduate school programs that will be the next steps in life for many of them. Instead, he was asking the graduates to consider what they were going to do next as citizens. “Over time, citizenship has changed,” he said. “Responsibilities are now codified as laws, and rights are guarded by lawyers and judges. But the fabric that ties the system together is a common identity that we share with a nation or community of people.”
In his first Spring Commencement speech as University president, Schlissel stressed the power of shared identity. “There is one more category of citizenship that applies to you no matter where you come from,” he said. “It is not defined by blood or by soil. It is determined by the mind, by the spirit and by the heart. Today I want to consider with you what it means to be a citizen of the University of Michigan community.” Members of this community include commencement speakers Paul Saginaw and Ari
throughout Weinzweig, University generosity alums and co-founders of his life. He focused on Zingerman’s Community instances in which giving of Businesses, who spoke and selflessness mattered after Schlissel. more than anything, and Rather than describ- urged the graduates to ing their much-discussed treat every moment like business model and mar- that. For him, he said, keting strategy at Zinger- Zingerman’s’ success was man’s to the graduates, not defined by the line Saginaw and Weinz- of customers stretching weig asserted their per- down Detroit Street. “When you leave here sonal and philosophical beliefs. The ideas of gen- today with your musterosity, joy and unrecog- have list, I invite you to nized work stood at the measure your successes forefront of both of their not so much by what you gain or accomplish for messages. Saginaw opened the yourself, but rather what address, detailing exam- you contribute to others,” ples of what he believed Saginaw said. “I believe See GRADUATION, Page 12C were moments of
2C — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Pending ongoing litigation, Make Michigan team wins CSG executive seats by five votes Final outcome of lawsuits could flip the student government race By TANAZ AHMED and EMILIE PLESSET
Daily Staff Reporter and Daily News Editor MAR. 28, 2015 - The results are in, and Make Michigan has done it again. LSA junior Cooper Charlton and LSA sophomore Steven Halperin will be the Central Student Government president and vice president, respectively, according to unofficial election results released early Saturday morning. The vote tallies were released 24 hours after polls closed for the CSG elections. Charlton and Halperin won with 4,041 votes, beating The Team’s presidential and vice presidential competitors, LSA junior Will Royster and LSA sophomore Matt Fidel, by five votes.
Charlton is the current president of the University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Halperin currently serves as an LSA representative. This is the second year the Make Michigan party has secured the two CSG executive positions. Litigation against both parties is still pending. Make Michigan has filed a suit against The Team and LSA senior Andrew Loeb for harvesting 534 e-mails; The Team filed a similar suit against Make Michigan for harvesting 5,719 e-mails; and Make Michigan filed a suit against LSA junior Will Royster, The Team’s presidential candidate, for inf luencing a student while voting. E-mail violations are assessed per e-mail recipient. Candidates are not allowed to solicit votes through listservs they don’t own, for example. Candidates or campaign volunteers are also not allowed to harvest student e-mail addresses for campaign purposes, according to the CSG Compiled
Code. “We’re going to fight them on whatever we have,” LSA junior Jacob Abudaram, The Team’s campaign manager, said Saturday morning. “Win or lose, we’re still here.” According to Law student Paige Becker, the University’s elections director, if both parties are found guilty of harvesting emails, their entire slates could be disqualified. In this scenario, the Defend Affirmative Action Party would take office. DAAP’s executive slate amassed 742.05 votes — over 3,000 votes less than either Make Michigan or The Team. “It would be all of the next highest vote getters that are actual students,” Becker said in an interview Sunday. “So for example, the DAAP ticket would take over the presidential and vice presidential seat, and everywhere where there were DAAP candidates for the assembly or independent candidates for the assembly they would take over the seats. Any that weren’t filled were be
RUBY WALLAU/DAILY
filled in the fall.” The election results came in after Make Michigan filed complaints against The Team for destroying campaign materials. The party alleged that members of The Team erased a Make Michigan chalk advertisement on the Diag and replaced it with an advertisement reading “Vote for the Team.” The University Elections Committee ultimately found The Team guilty of the charges in a twoto-one vote and assessed them four demerits. Demerits do not affect a party unless it receives 10 demerits, which then disqualifies the candidates. Make Michigan also filed a complaint against The Team for campaign finance disclosure violations. However, The Team filed a counterclaim against Make Michigan for filing a frivolous complaint. Both parties were found not guilty Saturday night, yielding no demerits on either side. The Make Michigan platform addresses several issues
regarding campus safety and diversity. The party’s platform outlines goals to improve campus safety by working with the city of Ann Arbor to improve off-campus lighting as well as launch a new safety mobile application. The party also intends to promote an inclusive campus environment through the implementation of SEED faculty training, a for-profit faculty education program. During CSG debates earlier this month, Charlton addressed the party’s commitment to improving diversity and inclusion on campus. “Diversity is more than skin deep,” Charlton said. “The University of Michigan is where great minds come. With Make Michigan, we are going to be able to make the difference.” In a statement, CSG President Bobby Dishell, a Public Policy senior, said he wished his successors luck in the next year. “I’m incredibly proud of the
work of Cooper and Steven and Make Michigan,” he said. “I can’t think of any other individuals who are more qualified to take over these roles and lead this University.” The release of the results coincided with the deadline for filing litigation. According to Law student John Lin, CSG’s student general counsel, this change was implemented in spring 2014 to expedite the litigation process. The former election policy stated that results would be announced after litigation was resolved. Under the previous policy, the announcement of last year’s CSG election results was delayed until five days after polls closed. “The intent behind this rule change is that, say if you won, you can drop all the claims you filed against the other party and that would reduce litigation a little bit,” Lin said. Daily News Editor Michael Sugerman contributed reporting.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
3C — Fall 2015
Ruth Bader Ginsburg talks law at University
U.S. Supreme Court justice talks gender, prominent cases
By TAYLOR WIZNER and SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter and Daily News Editor
ROBERT DUNNE /DAILY
A student exits the Law Library as a snow falls heavily during the winter storm on February 1, 2015.
‘U’ cancels classes due to inclement weather Snow storm forces the University to close for the second time since 1978
By IRENE PARK and AMABEL KAROUB Daily Staff Reporter and Daily News Editor
FEB. 1, 2015 - The University has canceled classes and events on Monday due to inclement weather. This is the second time since 1978 that the University has canceled classes for weather conditions. The Division of Safety and Security issued a notice of “emergency reduction in operations” late Sunday evening. The alert said classes and events would be canceled through 6 p.m. The University’s hospitals will remain open. Classes have also been canceled at the University’s Dearborn and Flint campuses, though those campuses cancel classes at their own discretion. According to the National
Weather Service, southeast Michigan is predicted to experience subzero wind chill and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour on Sunday night, and eight to 12 inches of snow by Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 15 degrees and a low of zero degrees. The last time the University canceled classes due to inclement weather was Jan. 27, 2014, the first time in 36 years. Following the closure, the University established an updated policy to address concerns raised by the faculty, staff, students and parents. At a meeting of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs last January, University Provost Martha Pollack said the University did not have a substantial plan in place to guide the closure of classes. “By the time it became clear that we were facing an extraordinary weather event, we realized that we didn’t have appropriate mechanisms to close the University even if we wanted to,” she said. “Closing a university is more like closing a city than
closing a building. You can’t just close; there is a hospital, there is a police force, there are students on campus who need to be fed.” After last January’s cold day, the University created a committee to update its severeweather policy. The updated policy, released in October, provides more detailed protocols for reducing service in the situation of severe weather. To do so, the executive director of the University’s Division of Safety and Security and the executive vice presidents assess the weather conditions and provide recommendations to the University president, who makes the final decision. Eddie Washington, executive director the University’s Division of Public Safety and Security, wrote in a release that dangerous road conditions factored into his recommendation to cancel classes. “Snowfall totals of 12 to 18 inches with high winds are making the roads dangerous, especially for the many faculty, staff and students who live outside the city of Ann Arbor,” he wrote.
UMix program pulls ‘American Sniper’ Students claim film is insensitive to certain communities on campus By LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter
APRIL 7, 2015 - The Center for Campus Involvement announced Tuesday afternoon they would cancel a planned showing of “American Sniper” at UMix following a student petition over the depiction of certain communities in the film. In a statement posted on Facebook by CCI, which runs UMix, the organization said the choice
was made in response to concerns raised by students about the film in the petition. “Student reactions have clearly articulated that this is neither the venue nor the time to show this movie,” the statement read. “We deeply regret causing harm to members of our community, and appreciate the thoughtful feedback provided to us by students.” LSA sophomore Lamees Mekkaoui started the petition Tuesday morning after discovering that UMix, a University program dedicated to providing students with alcohol-free events on Friday nights, would be showing the 2014 war drama “American Sniper” this Friday. Mekkaoui, who is a a member
of Students Allied for Freedom and Equality and the Middle Eastern and Arab Network on campus, said she found the choice of film disconcerting because of its depictions of the Iraq War and residents of the Middle Eastern and North African region. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, is based on the autobiography of Chris Kyle, a U.S. Navy Seal who served in Iraq and has the most confirmed kills as a sniper in U.S. military history. “As a student who identifies as an Arab and Middle Eastern student, I feel that ‘American Sniper’ condones a lot of anti-Middle Eastern and North African propaganda,” Mekkaoui said.
FEB. 6, 2015 - The national U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke about her life and opinions on Supreme Court cases at Hill Auditorium Friday morning as part of the annual Tanner Lecture. Speaking to a full auditorium of over 3,000 students, faculty and community members, Ginsburg discussed the issues that have defined her career, such as gender and voting equality. Ginsburg, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, has seen several landmark civil rights cases during her time on the Court. These include United States v. Virginia, which discussed whether state-funded educational institutions could refuse to admit women, and Shelby v. Holder, which considered portions of the Voting Rights Act. During her time as a lawyer, she litigated multiple major cases concerning several aspects of gender discrimination. Law Prof. Scott Hershovitz and Assistant Law Prof. Kate Andrias, who were both former clerks for Ginsburg, moderated the Q&A discussion-style event, using their own questions and some supplied by the audience prior to the event. Andrias began the Q&A, asking why Ginsburg went into law when so few women were in the field. Ginsburg said she was inspired by the atmosphere around civil rights, citing in particular the Red Scare during the 1950s, which led to many individuals being arrested on suspicion of Communist ideology. “The idea was that lawyer is the profession, but it’s also something that arms you with the skill to make things a little better for other people,” she said. She added that her choice lay between business and law school, and her graduate school of choice, Harvard, had not yet opened its business school up to women. At a time when there was very little mention of women’s status in the law, Ginsburg said she subsequently began her legal focus on gender equality in the 1960s, while she was teaching at Rutgers University and serving as a volunteer lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union. Rather than being self-initiated, she said both a student push for a class on gender equality law and a growing number of complaints to the ACLU concerning gender equality drew her attention to the subject. Her first foray into the area came when the legal director from the New Jersey ACLU affiliate asked her to review
three cases brought by women about gender discrimination at work and in school, part of the first wave of court cases involving that issue. “Women who until then just accepted the way things were, and then because the women’s movement was reviving all over the world, decided they shouldn’t simply submit to the way things were — they should decide the way things should be,” Ginsburg said. Ginsburg said the turning point for gender equality in the Supreme Court came after the unanimous decision on the 1971 case Reed v. Reed, in which the Court amended the social security law to ensure equality for women as estate holders. Ginsberg discussed how the court perfected the law to say sole surviving parent, whether male or female. “If a law is imperfect, sometimes the appropriate cure is not to strike it down, but to extend it to the let down people,” Ginsberg said. Ginsburg also spoke about some of her recent dissents on the court, in particular the Court’s 2014 decision to overturn a portion of the Voting Rights Act and 2010 decision to modify campaign contributions . Addressing the Voting Rights Act, she said she viewed the case primarily as a determination of who is more suited to decide electoral issues. “The legislature had overwhelmingly said the Voting Rights Act should be extended,” she said. “Should nine unelected judges trump that decision of the legislature? And my attitude was no, that the members of the political branch probably knew more about voting and elections then the unelected Supreme Court Justices do.” Asked what decision she would overrule if she could, Ginsburg pointed to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. She said whenever she goes abroad she is faced with questions about why the United States allows unlimited campaign contributions, which many say allows officeholders to be influenced by campaign financiers. “There will be a time where people are disgusted with this and the pendulum will swing the other way,” Ginsburg said. When asked about her approach to reading the Constitution overall, Ginsburg said she relied primarily on the first three words of it — “We the people” — though she noted that her interpretation of their meaning is fluid. “I think the genius of our country is that now over two centuries, this notion of who counts in ‘we the people’ has grown,” she said. Ginsburg may have surprised the audience by expressing criticism of the Roe v. Wade decision, and said the ruling created more of an uphill battle than if state legislatures had approved abortion rights on their own. “If the court had been more modest, than the change would
continue to move in the direction it was already moving,” she said. “Instead, there was one target for those who opposed a woman’s free choice, and that one target was Roe v. Wade.” Ginsburg also touched briefly on the Equal Rights Amendment — language first proposed in 1923 that specifies that states may not deny “rights under the law” on the basis of sex — when asked what amendment she’d most like added to the Constitution. “I would like to take my Constitution out and show it to my three granddaughters and say ‘This is a value of our society, just like free speech — the equality of men and women,’ ” Ginsburg said. Toward the end of the discussion, Hershovitz asked if Ginsburg had any advice for young people in the audience. “If you think of yourself of a professional, well you’re not just going to get a job so you can turn over a buck,” Ginsburg said. “If you do that you’re like a plumber. You’ve got a skill and you can earn a living from it. But if you think of yourself as a true professional armed with a skill, you could help someone who is less fortunate.” Ginsburg did not touch on a Michigan case that is slated to go before the U.S. Supreme Court in April, DeBoer v. Snyder, which concerns the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. However, in an interview after the event, Law Prof. Margo Schlanger, also a former Ginsburg clerk from 1993 to 1995, said she was confident Ginsburg would vote to strike down the ban. “I have no doubt in the world that she will think that equality demands nondiscrimination in marriage,” Schlanger said. “I don’t know what the court will do, but I don’t have a minute’s doubt about what her vote will be.” Law student Lauren Dansey said she was excited to hear Ginsburg’s speech as she has long been a fan of the justice, having read many of her opinions. “Right now she is my modern day heroine,” Dansey said. “After reading her opinions, she is not only a beautiful writer and articulate theorist, but she’s also inspirational.” Dansey added that she appreciated her comments about the Voting Rights Act. “Relative to what she voted for, I would not have thought that was not something she was passionate about,” she said. LSA senior Victoria Bell, who noted she dressed up for Halloween as the persona associated with Ginsburg’s popular nickname, the Notorious RBG, said she found hearing the justice speak in person inspirational. During the session, Ginsburg also said she finds the nickname amusing. “I dressed as notorious RBG for Halloween, and I think it was really inspirational to be here, hearing her speak,” Bell said. “My favorite part was probably hearing about what she had to say on the UVI case and all the arguments she did before she appointed a justice, because that was some really powerful work that she did.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4C — Fall 2015
Student challenges ‘U’ sexual misconduct policies on campus
ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY SCHUMER AND SHANE ACHENBACH/DAILY
Amid investigations, questions of equity arise for one student By EMMA KERR Daily News Editor
APRIL 7, 2015 - Editor’s note: Emily Campbell, one of the subjects of this piece, is a copy editor at The Michigan Daily. Campbell was not involved in the editing process of this story. For further information regarding the reporting process of this story, see this Editor’s Blog. Documents reviewed by The Michigan Daily, detailing a 2013 sexual assault complaint filed by a University student, raise questions about the University’s process for investigating allegations of sexual misconduct. In February 2014, the U.S. Department of Education launched a formal investigation into the University’s handling of sexual misconduct cases. In the months since federal officials commenced their investigation, the University was subject to another Title IX complaint. Title IX is a component of federal education law that prevents discrimination based on gender in any education programs that receive federal funding. In December 2013, thenLSA-freshman Emily Campbell reported to the University that she had been sexually assaulted on campus by Jonathan Barnet and Aaron Reuben, who were LSA freshmen at the time. The University’s judicial process determined the two were not responsible for sexual misconduct — a decision Campbell unsuccessfully appealed — but were sanctioned for disseminating photos of the incident without Campbell’s knowledge or consent. Barnet and Reuben were ultimately suspended, effective in January 2015, on that charge — a decision they unsuccessfully appealed. They will remain suspended until January 2016. Campbell’s mother, Maria Mortellaro, filed a Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education on Campbell’s behalf. The complaint argues the University mishandled her daughter’s sexual misconduct case. The Department of Education has taken on the complaint and added it to its ongoing investigation of the University. This complaint details several steps of the University’s process that Mortellaro says were handled unfairly and alleges the University failed to provide a prompt and equitable response to Campbell’s report. The complaint centers around Campbell and Mortellaro’s view that a discrepancy persists between the standards of consent taught by the University’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center and those used during the University’s judicial process. The complaint also alleges that the University does not employ adequate protocols for determining what types of evidence and witnesses are permitted in proceedings. Another key part of the complaint is Campbell’s claim that the University advised her that
hiring a lawyer was unnecessary. However, without a lawyer advising her throughout the University’s appeals process, Campbell said attorneys for the respondents blocked several documents from being considered in the appeals deliberations. These documents included a letter from the University Police detective who investigated her case, in which he called the panel’s decision to find the respondents not responsible for sexual assault “unfathomable.” The Daily reviewed the documents pertaining to the University’s investigation, including the Office of Institutional Equity’s investigation report, appeals documents filed by both Campbell and the students who she alleges assaulted her — referred to as “respondents” in the University’s documents — and the final findings of an appeals board. Attorneys for the respondents chose to speak on behalf of their clients and did not comply with the Daily’s requests to interview the respondents directly on Tuesday. The Daily filed a Freedom of Information Act request in January 2015 regarding documents considered in the U.S. Department of Education’s March 2014 investigation of the University. The Daily has not received these requested documents. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald could not provide more information regarding any questions raised by the documents related to this case and declined to comment regarding the University’s general processes at large. It could not be confirmed whether the documents reviewed by the Daily for this case encompassed all of those generated by the investigation and judicial proceedings. The incident occurred after Campbell, according to OIE investigation documents, attended a date party as a Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority pledge. Both Reuben and Barnet attended the same party. Campbell alleges she was coerced into participating in unwanted sexual acts with both Reuben, a Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity pledge, and his roommate Barnet, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity pledge, at approximately 2 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2013 in their Mary Markley Residence Hall dorm room. Campbell reported the alleged assault to SAPAC later in the day on Dec. 6, where she was advised to go the University Hospital. At the hospital, a sexual assault nurse examiner, also known as a SANE, administered a rape kit. At the hospital, University Police Detective Ryan Cavanaugh was the first to ask her questions about the previous night’s events — the initial step in a yearlong series of hearings, interviews and discussions regarding the incident. After Cavanaugh’s interview with Campbell, the Office of Student Conflict Resolution and Anthony Walesby, the University’s Title IX coordinator, reviewed the case and transferred it to the Office of Institutional Equity, which launched a formal internal University investigation in accordance with the University’s publicly available process for handling reported
sexual assaults. The University’s Office of Public Affairs offered to schedule an interview with Walesby on Tuesday, which they did, but it was ultimately canceled by Fitzgerald. “Upon further consideration and hearing your several followup questions, I am afraid we will not be able to come to the Daily this afternoon to respond to your questions,” he wrote in an e-mail. Campbell said she reported the incident to a confidential employee at SAPAC and also chose to have a rape kit administered at the University Hospital. Whereas confidential employees — such as SAPAC volunteers — are permitted to keep their conversations private if requested by the alleged victim, University employees are required to report any incidents of sexual assault when they become aware of them. As a result, hospital employees are mandated to report incidents of sexual assault to the University, as they did in Campbell’s case. The University was then obligated to pursue the issue and decide whether the case would be investigated. The University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy was last updated August 19, 2013, four months before Campbell’s alleged assault took place. The process for Campbell’s case followed this updated policy. Four criteria must be met for a respondent to be found responsible for some form of sexual misconduct through the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, according to the final and appeals process reviewed by the Daily. First, the investigation must establish that sexual contact did occur. Second, the encounter must violate the University’s Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Third, the encounter must have been unwanted by someone involved. Lastly, the party responsible for the unwanted sexual acts must have been aware that those actions were unwanted — requiring a verbal dissent expressed by one of those involved. According to the documents reviewed by the Daily, the first three criteria were met in Campbell’s case but not the fourth. During the investigation, neither Campbell nor the respondents testify that she said “no” or asked the respondents to stop at any time during the alleged assault. However, Campbell maintains that the contact was not consensual. There are four different avenues through which Campbell’s case has been investigated: the University’s OIE-conducted investigation, which included a review by an appeals board after the initial decision was made to find the respondents not responsible for the alleged assault; a criminal case filed in the 14A District Court; an ongoing civil case filed in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court; and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. The University found Barnet and Reuben responsible for taking and disseminating compromising photographs on the night of the alleged assault without Campbell’s consent. The Univer-
sity did not find them responsible for sexual assault. During the preliminary examination of the criminal case, in which Barnet and Reuben were charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, District Court Judge Richard Conlin determined there was not enough evidence to go forward with a trial. Campbell’s civil lawsuit against Barnet and Reuben alleges eight different counts, including assault and battery, criminal sexual contact and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On April 1, the attorneys for both Barnet and Reuben filed motions for dismissal of the civil case. David Nacht, an attorney representing Barnet, argued in his brief: “The simple truth is that no matter how many times Ms. Campbell brings the same claims, Defendants cannot be responsible for sexual assault where her actions did not manifest any lack of consent.” Judge Timothy Connors has not ruled on their motion. Campbell’s case raises a central question: What is consent? Is a verbal dissent required to signal unwanted contact, as in the University’s policy, or, as taught by SAPAC, does a sexual action require an affirmative “yes” to satisfy consent? The University’s final decision found the respondents not responsible for sexual assault, arguing that they were never made aware their actions were unwanted since Campbell never explicitly said “no.” John Shea, an attorney representing Reuben, cited a document written by Campbell to the Appeals Board that he says demonstrates a misunderstanding of how consent is defined for the purposes of the University’s sexual assault investigation process. “She even cites the reader to SAPAC’s definition of consent, which is not the University’s definition or that adopted in state law,” Shea wrote in a statement to the Daily. “There may be a larger social problem in this country related to sexual assault, but you cannot from that draw any parallel to this case when there’s abundant proof that these boys in no way assaulted a fellow student.” This discrepancy is seen in what is taught by SAPAC and what is enforced by the University and Michigan State Law. According to the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, consent is “Clear and unambiguous agreement, expressed in mutually understandable words or actions, to engage in a particular activity. Consent can be withdrawn by either party at any point.” The definition provided by SAPAC on its website goes further, saying body language or silence do not constitute consent; only words do. Though Campbell testified she never verbally said “no,” she stated both in her testimony in the criminal preliminary examination and in a letter to the University’s appeals board that she asked to leave the room before the alleged assault took place. The testimonies of both Barnet and Reuben corroborate Campbell’s statement, though all three disagree about the exact way
in which she asked to leave and how they responded when she asked. “After 10 minutes in the room, things felt scary and wrong,” Campbell wrote in a letter to the appeals board. “I asked to leave and was told ‘no’ by Mr. Reuben. After that, I froze. Did nothing to protect myself, just froze. There was no way to fight, no where to flee. I do not know how to explain that reaction. Something just takes over and you just want to live.” Campbell argued Barnet and Reuben had malicious, premeditated plans to engage in sexual behaviors with her. Barnet testified he offered to leave the room but was told he could stay, according to the OIE investigation documents. According to Elizabeth Seney, an OIE investigator, in the OIE’s investigation report, Reuben said, “She could have left at any time” and testified that he did not remember the complainant asking to leave the room. SAPAC’s website includes a list of five definitions of what does not qualify as consent. Among them is “Silence is never consent. If a person does not verbally say no, it does not mean that they mean yes.” The literature also says, “It is never acceptable to assume that consent is given. Each one of us is responsible for making sure we have consent in every sexual situation. If you are unsure, it is important to clarify what your partner is feeling about the sexual situation. Consent can never simply be assumed.” However, the investigation and the appeals board found that because Campbell did not provide verbal dissent at any point, the incident could not be considered sexual assault because the men involved would have had no way of knowing their actions were unwanted. In response to this argument, and to the appeals documents Campbell submitted, the appeals board wrote: “Complainant contends that the training and documentation about sexual misconduct provided by SAPAC to all students, which encourages students engaging in sexual acts to solicit and receive affirmative verbal consent, constitutes the University’s policy on sexual misconduct. We understand why Complainant is espousing the affirmative verbal consent standard, and we are sympathetic to her reasons. However, the ‘Policy on Sexual Misconduct by Students’ that OIE and this Board are obligated to apply states otherwise.” According to documents from the OIE investigation, a text message conversation between Barnet and Reuben from the night of Dec. 6 consists of a discussion about whether Barnet should leave the dorm room, and Reuben said he was already “hooking up” with Campbell on their way back to the dorm. The conversation continued, and Reuben and Barnet discussed how to set up the room to make a “threesome” possible. Once Campbell and Reuben returned, Reuben texted, “Should I make a move right now,” to which Barnet replied, “Let’s try this turn lamps on lights off. Trust me it is def doable,” and a minute later, “Ok now I will sit on couch and u sit on couch too. On opposite sides tell her to koi. Join.” In a letter to the appeals board, Campbell said the text messages retrieved from Barnet’s and Reuben’s phones show that she was not aware of the plans they were making. She said this signifies they knew she was unwilling to participate in the activity they were discussing. “If they thought I would consent, they would have been talking to me instead of secretly texting each other,” Campbell wrote. In her appeals letter, Campbell also wrote, “The defendants are hoping you will not notice how they plotted for hours by text before trapping me in their dormitory room, nor do they want you to see the forensic and physical evidence and witness testimony, all of which corroborates my story.” Campbell said she froze and was silent at the time of the alleged assault — a reaction she said was considered a common response to sexual assault by University witnesses. Appeals documents from the respon-
dents, however, show expert witnesses hired by Reuben and Barnet to testify during the University’s proceedings refuted these arguments. In a letter submitted to the University for review by the appeals board, the lawyers representing the respondents argued that the central issue in this case is whether or not Campbell did or said anything that would have indicated she did not wish to engage in sexual activity. “If Emily failed to do or say something to communicate lack of consent, the fact that after the fact she experienced some psychological reaction (such as, e.g. PTSD) is of no relevance from the point of view of what the boys saw and heard or what consent Emily did or did not give at the time,” the statement read. In the letter to the appeals board, Campbell expressed her frustration with the University’s decision to allow the respondents to use their own expert witnesses — an issue Mortellaro said is just one example of inequity during the investigation of her daughter’s complaint. Expert witness Suzanne Rotolo, a certified forensic nurse and certified medical investigator, testified that none of the injuries Campbell sustained are definitive for sexual assault. Katherine Okla, a clinical psychologist, and Roger Pitman, a psychiatrist, were also among those that presented their opinions to the OIE during their investigation. Mortellaro said she initially chose not to hire a lawyer for her daughter after being told by the University’s investigator Elizabeth Seney that seeking outside counsel was unnecessary during the University’s investigation. Seney referred an interview request to the University’s Office of Public Affairs. Mortellaro said the respondents used financial wealth to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. During an investigation of this nature, the University is responsible for finding witnesses to review evidence from the case. The University did in Campbell’s case, and in response, the respondents’ lawyers presented testimony from hired expert witnesses. “The University should not rely on paid witnesses from either side, because it just inherently makes the playing field uneven,” Mortellaro said. “It makes the richest person have their vision of the truth presented to be considered as opposed to unpaid, unbiased opinions.” These three expert witnesses were hired by the respondents “to assess the opinions of the University’s experts,” according to documents included in OIE’s investigation, submitted by the respondents’ lawyers. People who are approved by a judge as expert witnesses — typically based on their education or specialized knowledge — are often hired to provide testimony in court proceedings. It is unclear how the University governs expert witnesses during disciplinary proceedings. The respondents said the nurse examiner mishandled the physical evidence. They alleged that the University’s psychological expert was “incorrect in her understanding of how memories are formed and retrieved, and the effect trauma may have on memory formation and recall.” “The opinions of experts the University has chosen to employ simply do not address any question that is at issue in this case. However, because the University has chosen to introduce ‘expert’ testimony to support Emily’s claim that she was sexually assaulted, the defense has retained three experts in the field of SANE examinations, memory formation, and PTSD to assess the opinions of the University’s experts,” the respondents’ lawyers wrote. The SANE nurse documented physical evidence, particularly a certain laceration, which the nurse described as a key indicator of sexual assault. Despite these injuries, one of the witnesses used by the respondents said, “This injury is no longer considered a ‘hallmark of sexual assault,’ ” and the document continues to say their witnesses said the injuries Campbell sustained could have been the result of many possibilities, including consensual or nonconsensual intercourse or trauma induced See POLICY, Page 10A
5C — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Dance Marathon raises $460,000 in ‘For the Kids’ 2015 competition Students participate in 24-hour long fundraiser benefiting Beaumont and Mott hospitals By EMMA KILBANE Daily Staff Reporter
MAR. 15 2015 - Standing for a cause was taken literally Saturday as hundreds of students remained on their feet for 24 hours during the University’s 18th annual Dance Marathon. Participants raised more than $460,000 to support pediatric rehabilitation therapies for children with disabilities at William C. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and the University’s C.S Mott Children’s Hospital. The marathon edged past last year’s fundraising total, which drew more than $446,000 in donations. “The importance of standing on your feet is to show your dedication to the cause, that you’re willing to make this sac-
rifice for those that may have challenges that they face on an everyday basis,” Brian Dobmeier, DMUM communications chair said. “This is one day where you’re going out of your way to challenge yourself.” However, participants were only required to stay on the dance f loor for 24 hours, instead of 30, which they completed in previous Dance Marathon events at the University. Engineering senior Jayesh Srivastava, the DMUM executive director, said the change was made to increase participation. “There was an aspect of 30 hours that we felt excluded people from everything that we have to offer,” Srivastava said. “What we feel and believe is that anyone who wants to contribute and put their effort towards the cause should be allowed to do so.” The dancers make up 64 teams with 15 to 20 students in each. The teams compete against one another in different activities, such as a hula-hooping contest, a Miss America pageant and a cheering contest.
Teams are partnered with one of the 35 families of a child with a disability, who they interact with at the marathon as well as at events throughout the year. Some families were partnered with multiple teams. DMUM, which is the largest student-run non-profit in the state, fundraises these large sums because participants are each required to raise a certain amount. Dancers raise $300 and team leaders must collect $350, for example. The marathon is also the culmination of a year’s worth of fundraising activities. This year, teams attended a charity ball, a family fashion show, a talent show and 26 other fundraising and bonding events. To participate in the marathon, dancers must remain standing for the full 24 hours. Dancers were provided with standing homework tables, a snack station, a photo booth and other games and activities during the course of the event. An “inspiration tent” was also set up for participants needing a reminder of why they chose to spend the weekend on their feet.
LSA sophomore Claire Laing, co-captain of the Delta Gamma team, returned to DMUM for her second year. Laing said the event is a great way to finish off the year. “Throughout the year you work so hard to raise money and you get to interact with the families and really see where everything you’re doing is going,” Laing said. “To be able to come to the marathon and have this big culmination and celebration of all the hard work you’ve put in and seeing all the kids, it’s awesome.” Srivastava, the DMUM executive director, said the organization plays a role in choosing what area of the two hospitals funds go to each year. “We have this unique opportunity to take in requests from lots of the different therapies and programs at both the hospitals, go through their requests and see exactly what they’re asking for and really evaluate how that aligns with what our mission is,” Srivastava said. “Then we get to allocate the money towards those programs.” The event kicked off with
warm-up events on Saturday, including an address from University President Mark Schlissel. Schlissel commended DMUM participants, and highlighted the participation of fraternities and sororities. “The news media loves to write about problems and disasters and misbehavior,” Schlissel said. “I want to make sure they write about the contribution that the Greeks are making to events like this.” Entertainment from groups such as the Pompon Team, the Ballroom Dance Team and Groove kept dancers on their toes as the event drew to a close. The event also featured a late night rave complete with glow sticks and flashing lights, where other students could dance and support their friends. Wendy Muzzarelli has a daughter in Beaumont’s therapy programs, for which DMUM is a benefactor. When asked how DMUM has affected her family, Muzzarelli teared up. “There are no words to describe how these college kids impact our family,” she said.
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6C — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ILLUSTRATION BY ELI SCHEINHOLTZ/DAILY
This infographic illustrates which University executives held top 10 earning positions from 2012 to 2014, and their respective genders.
Evaluating the gender gap among top University officials Daily staff members compare data among female and male execs
By ALLANA AKHTAR and RACHEL PREMACK Daily Staff Reporters
FEB. 17, 2015 - The University’s administration exhibited an intriguing quality in 2013: a
large amount of female representation. Twenty-five of the 41 top positions at the University, including three of the highest positions — president, provost and executive vice president for medical affairs — were held by women in 2013. Though President Emerita Mary Sue Coleman has since retired and Ora Pescovitz, executive vice president for medical affairs, stepped down last year,
women hold about half of the University’s executive officer seats. However, data from the University’s 2014 salary report, released in December, indicates that only two women held a spot on the list of top 10 highest-paid University executives. The University’s compensation philosophy specifically outlines an aim to “(a)ttract, retain, reward and motivate the pro-
ductivity and commitment of highly qualified, diverse faculty and staff.” The statement also promises the University does not “practice, or tolerate, unlawful discrimination in pay.” This piece examines whether a discrepancy in base salaries between male and female executives exists within the University’s administration. Doing so required extensive data analysis — namely, comparing the salaries of more than 40 positions across the University. These positions include, but are not limited to, the executive vice presidents, deans and provosts. This article also analyzes the salaries of executives at 11 other top colleges with which the University competes for faculty. Ultimately, this article attempts to determine whether or not instances of comparatively higher salaries for male executives are anomalies, or if there is a traceable wage gap within the University’s leadership. Simply — is the University adhering to its own philosophy? Though salaries from a sample of a dozen peer institutions appear to illustrate wage discrepancies based on gender, a Michigan Daily analysis of compensation for top University officials shows the gap may not be statistically significant among University executives. The Provost: A case study Perhaps the most notable salary trend in the University administration is that of the provost. In 2006, Teresa Sullivan became the University’s provost after having served as a vice provost, vice president and graduate dean for the University of Texas at Austin. She had also been the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for the entire University of Texas system. Sullivan’s base salary at the University was $340,000. By the time she stepped down in 2010, it had grown to $366,331. President Emerita Coleman appointed Philip Hanlon to succeed Sullivan when she departed to assume the University of Virginia presidency in 2010. Hanlon worked at the University as a math professor and was promoted to associate dean for planning and finance in LSA in 2001. He also served as the vice provost of academic and budgetary affairs from 2004 to 2010. As provost, he received a starting salary of $470,000, which increased to $509,292 by 2012. Hanlon’s starting salary was more than $100,000 greater than Sullivan’s ending salary, and it increased by an additional $100,000 in half the time it had taken for Sullivan’s to increase $20,000.
At the time of Hanlon’s promotion, Kelly Cunningham, then a University spokesperson who now serves as a special counsel to the provost, said the wage discrepancy was due to higher provost salaries among peer institutions across the board. “As is often the case, the University Human Resources Office conducted phone surveys among peer institutions to determine the appropriate market rate,” Cunningham wrote in a 2010 e-mail interview with the Daily. Hanlon left to serve as the president of Dartmouth College in 2013, at which point current University Provost Martha Pollack was promoted to the position. Before coming to the University in 2000, Pollack worked at the University of Pittsburgh as a professor of computer science and intelligent systems and as director of the University’s Intelligent Systems Program. She came to the University as a professor of computer science and engineering, and served as an associate chair for that department from 2004 to 2007. In 2007, she became dean of the School of Information, and held that role until 2010. Before her appointment to serve as provost, she was vice provost for academic and budgetary affairs from 2010 to 2013 — the same position Hanlon held before his promotion. When Pollack took office, the provost’s salary decreased by nearly $60,000 — her salary, which opened at $450,000, has since been raised to $460,800. This is still less than Hanlon’s starting salary in 2010. Hanlon held a place on the top 10 list of highest paid employees for each year of his tenure. Sullivan never made the list; Pollack did just once, in 2013. When asked about this discrepancy in an interview last month, University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said Hanlon’s higher salary stemmed from his level of experience — when he assumed the provost role in 2010, he had been a vice provost for six years. Pollack had only served as vice provost for three years. Fitzgerald added that Hanlon’s experience as an associate dean in LSA also contributed critical skills, noting that the college alone is larger than some universities. “It was a reflection of what he was bringing to that position,” Fitzgerald said. Furthermore, Pollack’s contract when she took the position of provost was only for two years — comparable to the number of years interim executives often serve. Fitzgerald said this shorter-term appointment, combined with previous experience that was less extensive than Hanlon’s, could be the reason for her lower salary. Pollack’s contract was renewed through 2018 at the University’s Board of Regents meeting in December 2014. Fitzgerald noted that executive officers can expect a pay increase with reappointment. “I would expect that Provost Pollack … when her reappointment takes effect, she would probably have a pay increase along with that extension,” he said. However, not all interims receive lower pay. When Suellyn Scarnecchia, a former University general counsel, stepped down from the position in 2012, for example, the female interim who replaced her received a starting salary equivalent to Scarnecchia’s. Pollack’s case is not alone in showcasing pay discrepancies. Michael Johns, the interim executive vice president of medical affairs, earns 2 percent more than Pescovitz did in that role. He earns $769,080, while Pescovitz received $753,805. In reference to this raise, Fitzgerald said Johns’ previous experience as the executive vice president for health affairs at Emory University made him a remarkably qualified interim. Both Pollack and Hanlon were vice provosts for academic and budgetary affairs. Pollack had three years fewer experience at this job than Hanlon. Prior to that, for three years each, Hanlon was an association dean for planning and finance at LSA, while Pollack was a dean at the School of Information. Hanlon was a mathematics professor before that — a faculty member, not administrator. Pollack was an associate chair for computer
science and engineering. She directed an engineering program at the University of Pittsburgh prior to joining the University’s faculty in 2000. Before taking the provost position, Pollack had 11 years of administrative experience, and Hanlon had nine years. Presented with this summary, as well as the fact that interims do not always receive pay decreases, Fitzgerald said he had no further comment. This infographic compares female salaries to male salaries within the University on a yearto-year basis. (Illustration by Eli Scheinholtz) How the University decides salaries Both Fitzgerald and Laurita Thomas, associate vice president for human resources, said setting salaries is a complex process. Thomas said University President Mark Schlissel ultimately decides salaries for top administrators, such as the University’s vice presidents or the athletic director, because they report directly to him. The president may consult with human resources or an outside search firm for additional assistance in determining salaries, Thomas said. She added that the Board of Regents determines the president’s salary. Thomas said, overall, salaries are decided by the individual or body that supervises the employee. These decisions are influenced by an array of factors. “The person doing the hiring looks at market data, the knowledge the candidate brings and their performance data,” Thomas said. “The hirer establishes values, comes up with a fair range for a salary with those values and the hirer and the candidate negotiate within that range.” These market rates are a significant factor in determining pay, Thomas said. Because the University competes with other collegiate institutions and private sector corporations for faculty and administration, it must ensure that its compensation package is comparable. “All executive positions are market sensitive,” Thomas said. “We depend on how fast the market changes. We want top leaders in this country, and we have to be very market sensitive in these roles.” This means salaries are determined in a way that retains employees and attracts new ones. Both goals are meant to ensure the University touts highcaliber people who do high-caliber work. In the case of a new employee, other salary factors include but are not limited to the candidate’s background and experience, and the costs required to bring that candidate to the University. Studies: Gender wage gaps exist, even if it’s unintentional Whatever explanations there may be for salary discrepancies between those who have filled the University’s provost position in the last nine years, the female provosts were paid less than the male provost. At the University, the top 10 highest base salaries have belonged to mostly men since 2008. In the last seven years, men have held 80 percent of the top-paid positions — including vice president for medical affairs, chief financial officer, vice president for development and dean of the Law School. Exceptions to this trend include President Emerita Coleman, whose salary, not including bonuses, peaked at $603,357; and Ora Pescovitz, who served as EVPMA from 2009 to 2014 and whose ending salary was $753,805. (Coleman declined several offers for bonuses from the regents throughout her tenure.) Fitzgerald re-emphasized that salaries are based on individual qualifications and the responsibilities required of a given position. Neither of these criteria, he said, favor a certain gender. “If you are looking at the top 10 positions in any given year and what those positions are, it’s really more of a function of the market for those specific positions,” Fitzgerald said.
Read more at MichiganDaily.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
7C — Fall 2015
Your application has been received. Now what? University admissions officers discuss application review process By SHOHAM GEVA Daily News Editor
JUN. 5, 2015 - Through the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, students can view their applications to schools where they were accepted and attend, as publicized by Stanford University newsletter The Fountain Hopper in January. Earlier this year, with the hopes of gaining insight into the admissions process, the Daily worked with nine students who viewed their applications to the University, along with evaluative comments made by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The nine students represented a variety of genders, class standings, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, in- and out-ofstate residencies, nationalities and geographic areas. The University did not allow the students to make copies or photographs of the applications, but did permit them to take handwritten notes, which they provided to the Daily for the purpose of this article. This article was written with the purpose of providing more first-person information about a typically closed process often surrounded by assumption and myth, with the understanding that among an application pool of tens of thousands, testimonials from individual applications will not necessarily be definitive of the overall process. The process Cumulatively, over the three years covered in student applications reviewed by the Daily — 2012, 2013 and 2014 — nearly 140,000 prospective students
applied to the University. What the admissions office’s final decisions stemmed from, according to the applications we reviewed, were largely an average of two- or three-page-long evaluations and a rating between 1 and 15 — 1 being the highest rating an application can receive, 15 being the lowest. Among the nine students’ applications, there were several different paths taken through the admissions office before being admitted to the University. Some were only evaluated by an admissions staff member and a senior admissions staff member, for a total of two evaluations. Others, however, had an additional evaluation from an admissions territory counselor. In an interview with the Daily, Erica Sanders, interim director of the Office of Admissions, and Melissa Purdy, assistant director of the Office of Admissions, said applications receive differing numbers of evaluations based on the first evaluator — one of 82 part-time staff members who are assigned files at random. According to the admissions office website, the staff members are “former educators and admissions professionals.” LinkedIn searches of employees who reviewed applications provided to the Daily showed backgrounds including a substitute teacher and tour guide staff coordinator. A particularly high or low rating at this stage, Sanders said, causes an application to be expedited, meaning it goes directly to a senior admissions staff member who assigns the applicant’s second and final rating. Among applications reviewed, scores of 1, 2 and 3 were all expedited. Applications that are not
expedited instead go to the applicant’s territory counselor — a member of the admissions office who serves as the liaison for a particular geographic area — for a second evaluation, and then typically move to a senior staff member for a third and final evaluation. “The territory counselor is able to add that added nuance to the review process that the
ronment, counselor and teacher recommendations, and any other evaluative measures or considerations. Additionally, evaluators filled out an overall comments section, which was typically where the rationale for the rating and a more subjective evaluation of notes in the rest of the form was found. Among applications the Daily
drawn either from information provided by the high schools or from Descriptor PLUS, a College Board data set purchased by the University. According to Sanders, when it comes to academic performance, evaluators not only look at the raw numbers, but also at what an average student looks like in the applicant’s high school and geographic area.
first evaluator isn’t necessarily going to be able to do with a lack of familiarity of that particular high school,” Purdy said. Regardless of which path the Daily-reviewed applications took through the system, their evaluations were largely similar in format — a standardized form accompanied by an overall rating. Four main types of information were highlighted by the standardized form: personal or extenuating circumstances, high school academic performance and overall educational envi-
reviewed, academic record stood out as a key focus. Both in the section for academic performance and in overall comments, each evaluator noted the applicant’s GPA, standardized test scores and the number of core, honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes taken compared to the number available at the applicant’s high school. Also noted were average standardized test scores and the four-year-college-going rate at the applicant’s high school,
“So, that (as) we’re evaluating the application, we’re able to determine — is this a student who took advantage of curriculum opportunities that were available, or were there no opportunities available to the student?” she said. For many of the applications reviewed, in written comments, evaluators paid special attention to coursework, noting varying facts about levels of rigor and more unique opportunities. Part of the overall comments for one applicant read, “Is taking a rigorous schedule. Has chal-
lenged by dual-enrolling, taking summer workshops.” A second evaluator wrote that the same applicant had taken four AP classes, and added, “which is not out of ordinary at school.” For another application, an evaluator noted the “challenged rigor available at (applicant’s high school).” A second noted the applicant had taken six AP classes, characterizing that as “strong curr(iculum) for school.” Other applications specifically noted student interest in University academic units, such as the Residential College, or professional career tracks, such as premedical. Grades also were subjects of additional comments in some cases. Several application evaluations referenced an upward grade trend, and several others noted class grades below a B. In one application, the high school in and of itself garnered attention, and was identified as “high priority underrepresented” due to the school’s “cluster.” Sanders said the term referred to a classification system provided as part of Descriptor PLUS. Descriptor PLUS groups high schools in “clusters” through similarities of factors including average AP and standardized test scores, percentage of first-generation students, median family income, racial demographics and percentage of adults with professional jobs, according to College Board. Beyond academic record, multiple other demographic characteristics and extracurricular experiences were also highlighted. Online admissions materials note that the University has a holistic process that takes into account “participation in extracurricular activities, professional arts training, and evidence of leadership, awards, and service” as well as “educational and cultural diversity.” See APPLICATION, Page 13A
8C — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
RUBY WALLAU/Daily
LEFT: Students gather at the Central Student Government meeting in support of the divestment resolution in Rogal Ballroom on Tuesday. RIGHT: Students wait in line to enter the Rogal Ballroom.
CSG votes against divestment resolution Hundreds gather to hear argument about the proposal By TANAZ AHMED and LEA GIOTTO Daily Staff Reporters
MAR. 31, 2015 - After more than four hours of discussion and public comments, the University’s Central Student Government voted to reject a resolution calling for the creation of an ad hoc committee to investigate the University’s investments in companies that allegedly facilitate human rights violations against Palestinians. The resolution failed to pass with a vote of 15 in favor and 25 opposed. There was one abstention. A roll call vote determined that the vote on the resolution would be public instead of a secret ballot. The resolution asked for CSG
to support the creation of a committee through the University’s Board of Regents to examine the University’s investments in four companies: Boeing Company, Caterpillar Inc., G4S and the United Technologies Corporation. The resolution claims these specific companies profit from violations of Palestinian human rights. Hundreds of members of the University community packed the Rogel Ballroom in the Michigan Union on Tuesday evening to hear dozens of speakers express reasons to vote for or against the resolution. Similarly to last year’s CSG vote on a similar resolution, attendees entered the meeting on a first-come, firstserved basis and were given tickets once allowed into the room. Department of Public Safety and Security officers monitored the entire meeting from both inside and outside the room and officers organized a line for people to enter the meeting.
CSG speaker Christian Bashi, an LSA senior, said Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs staff was available outside the meeting room for students who felt they needed a break from the meeting to speak with someone. Students Allied for Freedom and Equality is the University’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, an organization that advocates for Palestinian solidarity across campuses. One of the group’s main initiatives is promoting the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement. As defined by BDS, divestment calls for institutions to divest from companies involved in alleged violations of Palestinian human rights. The meeting began with guest speaker Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian American journalist who writes for The Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times, speaking in favor of the divestment resolution. Abunimah called the situa-
tion in Palestine an emergency and said social change needs to occur. He said he did not believe a peace process is currently being discussed between Israel and Palestine. “Just a few weeks ago, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected after publicly repudiating the two-state solution and saying he would never allow a Palestinian state on his watch,” he said. Abunimah compared divestment from the companies listed in the resolution to divestment for apartheid South Africa. “We heard the argument divestment is divisive,” he said. “But, who looks back now and says divestment in Africa was a mistake.” History Prof. Victor Lieberman, who currently teaches the course “The History of the ArabIsraeli Conflict,” spoke against the divestment resolution. At last year’s meeting concerning a similar divestment resolution,
Lieberman offered his recount of the history behind the conflict. Lieberman said the resolution rested on untenable premises and the resolution assumes that Palestinians are solely innocent victims without responsibility for their own conditions. He also gave examples of conflicts in other nations with worse human rights records — such as Syria, Russia and India — that should be given increased attention. “Israel has offered to recognize Arab sovereignty on five occasions,” Lieberman said. “If any of those offers had been accepted, there would be no refugees. Lieberman did not directly speak against divestment last year, though in response a CSG representative’s question, Lieberman did say the resolution would have furthered the larger Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel. During the Community Concerns portion of the meeting,
speakers were heard in random order. The speakers included students both for and against the resolution. Community Concerns lasted 90 minutes instead of the usual 30 minutes due to CSG voting twice to extend the time limit. Speakers in favor of the resolution spoke about how they believe there is consensus that human rights are a universal right. They also emphasized that the resolution did not call for CSG to make a decision on divestment, but rather to support a University committee investigating the University’s investments. Speakers against the resolution discussed the perceived lack of consensus on campus on the alleged violations. They also spoke about the issue being a divisive subject on campus. Speakers urged students to focus on dialogue between groups instead. See CSG, Page 13C
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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
9C — Fall 2015
Fraternity suspended after resort vandalism Members of SAM charged thousands of dollars for damage to Treetops in Gaylord By AMABEL KAROUB Daily News Editor
JAN. 22, 2015 - The Sigma Alpha Mu national office has suspended the University’s chapter after several of its members reportedly caused thousands of dollars worth of damage at a northern Michigan ski resort over the weekend. SAM caused extensive damages at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich., according to the resort’s manager. Members from several other University Greek Life chapters also caused damage at Boyne Highlands, a ski resort in Harbor Springs, Mich.
In an interview Friday, Barry Owens, Treetops Resort manager, said the resort is now anticipating $85,000 or more in damages, almost twice his original estimate of $50,000. “We haven’t presented them a bill yet because we’re still doing work,” Owens said. “We’re now concerned it’s going to be in the $85,000 to $100,000 range.” Owens said Treetops Resort plans to press charges over the incident. “The State Police are involved, so they’re doing their investigation,” Owens said. “They’ll make a recommendation to the prosecutor so I hope they discover enough evidence of individual people that have been doing it to allow for charges to be pressed.” He also added that he believes the damage was caused by only a handful of students. “There was about 270 kids in
this group,” he said, “I’m sure there was a handful of power drinkers, or whatever you want to call them, that are the ones that caused the majority of the damage.” One of the most significant damages to the resort was the demolition of the third floor ceiling, which Owens said he believes was fully intentional. “They obviously threw stuff at it and started jumping up and grabbing it,” he said. “You can see where some of the metal tracking was pulled down.” Despite the damages, Owens said the resort is currently open and business is running as usual. Thursday evening the University released the names of five additional Greek Life sororities and fraternities allegedly involved in the incidents at the Treetops Resort or Boyne Highlands over the weekend. The chapters at Treetops
Resort were the fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu and the sorority Sigma Delta Tau. At Boyne Highlands, fraternities Pi Kappa Alpha and Chi Psi and sororities Delta Gamma and Alpha Phi were present. The University is currently investigating the involvement of these members in the damage at the resorts. In the statement, University spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald said the suspension of SAM would include meetings, chapter events, philanthropy, recruitment, candidate education, social activities and other Greek life activities on the Ann Arbor campus. “The university’s Office of Greek Life is asking the national offices of the other five Greek organizations involved to take similar action,” Fitzgerald wrote. Fitzgerald said the University will sort out additional details before considering sanctions on
University launches first autonomous vehicle test site “MCity” aims to enhance passenger safety by testing driverless cars By LARA MOEHLMAN Summer Managing News Editor
JUL. 20, 2015 - On Monday morning, Michigan’s leading auto-industry experts and government officials, alongside University leaders, gathered in a brand new city, “Mcity,” the world’s first controlled vehicle test site designed to research and refine automated vehicle technology. The project aims to pave the way for mass-market driverless cars. With the sponsorship of 48 top industry and auto companies, such as Honda, Ford and General Motors, Mcity was created by the University’s Mobility Transformation Center in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation. Located off of Baxter Road on the University’s North Campus, the facility itself is a 32-acre test track equipped with intersections, traffic lights, signs and signals, building facades, sidewalks and construction obstacles. Mcity even incorporates such minor details drivers may encounter on the road as faded lane markings, potholes and traffic signs covered in graffiti. In an interview with the Daily, University President Mark Schlissel said Mcity reflects the University’s ability to bring together different economic sectors, including technology, insurance, city planning and government at the local, state and federal levels in an effort to address a major societal problem: driver safety. He added that Mcity enhances the University
of Michigan community by providing unparalleled research and employment opportunities for students of different backgrounds. “It’s great for the University of Michigan,” Schlissel said “It provides educational and internship opportunities for students. It provides employment opportunities for our graduating engineers and other specialties. It involves 6 or 7 different schools and colleges, so it’s really a fantastic project.” In his speech to the roughly 300 guests in attendance at the opening of Mcity, Schlissel said the University’s groundbreaking research in transportation safety and efficiency is in accordance with the University’s impressive history of innovation. “Michigan was the first University to own and operate its own hospital, the first to teach aeronautical engineering, the first to create a program in human genetics, and we are the University that tested the Polio vaccine and proved it safe for the world,” Schlissel said. He added that Mcity has similar potential to leave a positive impact on society by preventing driving-related deaths. Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, also addressed the large crowd, expressing pride in not only the project itself, but also in the partnerships formed by Mcity between industry competitors with a common goal to improve driver safety. “What is really promising is that many...are fierce competitors working side by side to figure out this mobility challenge for the future,” Steudle said. “At the end of the day, there’s still 33,000 Americans–motorists– that lost their lives last year on highways. The future of automated/connected vehicles holds
the promise to drive those numbers down significantly…This is the facility that’s gonna help us get there.” In her speech to attendees, congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI–12) said connected and autonomous vehicles could eliminate 80 percent of crash related deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Board. In addition to Mcity’s impact on advancements in driver safety, Dingell also spoke of the facility’s clear benefits to Michigan’s auto industry and economy. In an interview with the Daily, Dingell, former president and executive director of Community Relations and Government Relations of GM, said the research and partnerships formed through Mcity will keep the latest automotive technology within Michigan’s borders. “Transportation’s always been the backbone of Michigan’s economy, and we don’t want to see the cutting edge technology go to any other state,” Dingell said. “This is what happens when you bring University, business, government, academia– all together, and you work together– you stay at the cutting edge.” In an interview with the Daily, senator Gary Peters (D.–Mich.) said Michigan’s brand new facility will attract top notch transportation innovators from all over the U.S. “Having this track at the University of Michigan– having University of Michigan’s leadership– will act as a beacon to bring researchers from around the country to Michigan to do their work.” In his address to the audience, Peters said Mcity would maintain the center of transportation technology in Michigan, rather than in California. “We are not gonna let Silicon Valley take this technology
because this technology is born at the University of Michigan– born in the greater Detroit area, and we’re gonna be the global leader of this technology that will transform mobility,” Peters said. Peters said he’s been supporting Michigan’s transportation research in Congress by introducing legislation in the Transportation Bill that aims to allow Michigan to use federal money for transportation research, including funding for sensors that are crucial to the infrastructure technology associated with automated vehicles. For instance, with the development of new technology, innovators are designing sensors that alert automated cars of approaching dangers, such as a bridge that is icing over. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D– Mich.) addressed the fact that, although many may find it difficult to envision a world in which cars completely drive themselves, Michigan innovators and industry experts would show us through findings at Mcity that automated vehicles have the potential to be safer, more efficient and therefore more popular than the current technology. She equated the concept of self-driving cars in the present to Henry Ford’s revolutionary idea of replacing horse transportation with automobiles at the beginning of the 20th century. “At the last century, when Henry Ford was first talking about the automobile, the horseless carriage, and everybody said he was crazy– that nothing would replace the horse. We’ve been riding horses since the dawn of civilization, and so nothing was gonna change– except the horse,” Stabenow said.
the organizations or individuals involved. “The executive boards of the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association on the Ann Arbor campus have initiated their own reviews of this situation that could lead to sanctions against the fraternity and sorority chapters,” he wrote. There is a pending Michigan State Police investigation that could lead to criminal charges. At Treetops, damage included felled ceiling tiles, broken walls and destroyed furniture. Similar damage occurred at Boyne Highlands. In a statement Wednesday, Sigma Alpha Mu president Joshua Kaplan, a Business sophomore, apologized for the damage done by the fraternity. He said those responsible would be held accountable, and that the fraternity would work with Treetops to
pay for the damages. “We are embarrassed and ashamed of the behavior of a few of our chapter members at Treetops Resort over the weekend of January 17-18,” Kaplan wrote. “This behavior is inconsistent with the values, policies, and practices of this organization.” E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life, wrote in a statement that the incidents don’t reflect the University’s values. “The university is investigating this fully and those responsible will be held accountable. It is especially disappointing since this behavior does not reflect the broad majority of U-M students who participate in Greek Life and compromises the many valuable contributions these student organizations provide.” Correction appended: The fraternity Chi Psi was involved in the incident, not Chi Phi.
4 T H O F J U LY F E S T I V I T I E S
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Ann Arbor residents celebrate America’s Birthday at the 25th annual Fourth of July parade.
10C — Fall 2015 by the examiner. J. Samuel Holtz, Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor, prosecuted the case in district court. In an interview with the Daily, Holtz said the SANE report was not something that would have been used in the criminal case’s preliminary exam. In the district court procedures, SANE reports are only used to show that sexual contact occurred, he said. “What a SANE report cannot show, except in the most extreme circumstances where there’s significant injuries or that type of thing, is a SANE report cannot show whether or not something was consensual or whether it was forced,” Holtz said. Another piece of contested evidence included a letter written during the appeals process by Cavanaugh, which was not admitted for consideration by the appeals board. In this letter, which was written after the original University investigation was completed, Cavanaugh summarized his findings for the use of the appeals board as they considered revising the University’s original decision to find Reuben and Barnet not responsible for sexual assault. “On the night of the incident, Lt. Neumann (now University Police Chief Robert Neumann) with over 20 years of police experience and I thought there was enough probable cause to believe a criminal sexual assault occurred,” Cavanaugh wrote. “The investigation by Elizabeth Seney was very thorough and filled with details. But finding Barnet and Reuben not responsible for
POLICY From Page 4A
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com the criminal sexual assault of Emily Campbell is unfathomable. I could not respectfully disagree more with the final findings of the OIE investigation.” When contacted by the Daily, Cavanaugh said he wanted to discuss the case for this article, but his supervisor and Diane Brown, the Division of Public Safety and Security spokeswoman, prevented him from doing so. Brown said University Police Chief Robert Neumann was unavailable to answer questions Tuesday afternoon regarding the role of UMPD in these types of investigations or whether detectives are used as expert witnesses in University proceedings of this nature. Timothy Lynch, University vice president and general counsel, wrote a letter to Campbell — which was reviewed by the Daily — in December 2014, stating that the OGC, OIE and OSCR had reviewed all the documents submitted by both the complainant and respondents “in light of continuing objections” raised by both parties. “Detective Cavanaugh’s personal opinions on the findings of OIE, the credibility of the parties or the ultimate issue before the Appeals Board are neither relevant nor appropriate,” Lynch wrote. He elaborated to say Cavanaugh acted outside of University policies as an impartial investigator by sending his letter, and that his letter “cannot be characterized as new information.” In the letter, Lynch briefly explained what types of evidence are and aren’t used in University investigations. “The University of Michigan’s sexual misconduct policy and procedures are not designed to mimic the criminal justice system or civil litigation; they are student disciplinary proceedings,” he
wrote. Lynch’s letter continued that while “formal rules of evidence do not apply,” the University attempts to keep the investigation fair to all parties, which might mean “disallowing proffered information from being considered.” Other documents presented by the respondents in advance of the appeals process were also blocked from consideration. Jane Briggs-Bunting, an attorney and former director of the Michigan State University School of Journalism, said University disciplinary proceedings are often less formal than a criminal case, and standard rules of evidence do not generally apply. However, she said if the University is allowing one party to bring in extra witnesses, the other party should be notified. Lynch could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, and the University’s Office of Public Affairs declined to make him available for an interview. During the appeals process, Mortellaro said the respondents’ lawyers were meeting with various University officials and staff members to discuss this case. The Daily attempted to confirm these meetings with Lynch, but he was unavailable for comment. The respondents’ lawyers also declined to comment on this matter. “I think it’s highly unusual for generals counsel to be involved in student disciplinary proceedings and talking to attorneys on one side and excluding the party on the other side,” Briggs-Bunting said. Following a meeting with Stacy Vander Velde, associate director of OSCR, Mortellaro said she left with
more questions than answers. “I had a long conversation with (Vander Velde) and I just asked her what policy and procedure they were using to make these determinations and she said she had no idea, that it was all coming from the general counsel’s office, and later we found out that the respondents’ attorneys were having undue influence over the counsel. We were never made privy to that or allowed to respond in any way.” The University’s Office of General Counsel is not mentioned in the University’s Policy on Student Sexual Misconduct, which lists offices such as OIE and OSCR that are traditionally involved in the proceedings. An OSCR staff member said Vander Velde was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, and the Office of Public Affairs declined to make a representative from OSCR available for comment. Fitzgerald declined to discuss policy used to determine admissible evidence or testimony, referring the Daily to the University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy. He also declined to discuss standard language used for advising students on hiring an attorney during the process, citing the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy’s provision that students may have a “Support Person” participate in the process. The policy does not stipulate whether the University is required to notify the other party when a complainant or respondent involves a support person, such as an attorney. “It’s just about equity, and that’s why we filed with the federal government,” Campbell said. “Their rule is that the University can decide either way as long as it is equal, but it wasn’t. You can’t pick and choose what evidence is seen.”
Campbell did not hire her own lawyer until November 2014, 11 months after the alleged assault, when she decided to file a civil suit against Barnet and Reuben. The decision not to hire a lawyer, Mortellaro said, was made based on trust in the University’s process — trust she and Campbell said they feel the University abused. Because they were advised that they did not need a lawyer, Campbell and Mortellaro said, the investigation and appeals process was filled with miscommunication and confusion. “They told us it was completely unnecessary to have a lawyer to work through the University process,” Mortellaro said. Nacht, the attorney representing Barnet, said he regularly represents women and men in the University’s sexual assault process. “It is normal for a student or for that matter a university faculty member or staff member going through the process to want the assistance of counsel,” he told the Daily in a statement. “The fact that women and men continue to contact our firm indicates that the need is there.” Mortellaro said the status of Campbell’s case was always unclear during the appeals process. “All of the sudden, this had gone up the chain of command, and no one could tell us why or who was making decisions, or what they were basing those decisions on,” Mortellaro added. Prior to submitting Campbell’s request for appeal, however, the University was clear about its policy. As is publicly stated, the process did
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Administration releases sexual misconduct survey results Findings prompt University to review prevention, awareness policies By EMMA KERR Summer Editor in Chief
JUN. 24, 2015 - University President Mark Schlissel spoke at a conference today following the release of survey results from the University’s Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Misconduct that Schlissel said sought to conduct a “thorough, transparent and honest self-examination” of sexual misconduct on campus.
Accompanying Schlissel at the conference were William Axinn, a professor at the Institute for Social Research, and Holly Rider-Milkovich, director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center. The survey, which Schlissel announced on January 12, was distributed to 3,000 randomly selected students throughout the spring semester. In response to the survey’s results, Schlissel said the University is taking immediate action by increasing the number of staff members involved in handling sexual misconduct on campus in addition to moving forward with a review of the current Sexual Misconduct Policy. “We are adding staff to help us develop and deliver the best possible prevention and education programs, to speed up sex-
ual misconduct investigations and to help counsel and support survivors,” Schlissel said. While the timeliness of the University’s process in handling sexual misconduct cases has been a criticism in the past, Schlissel said due to the complex nature of sexual misconduct cases, the University is seeking to “make sure that our process is both fair and thorough.” In 2013, the University received national attention following the University’s decision to permanently separate from Brendan Gibbons, the Michigan football team’s starting kicker, four years after allegedly violating the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy. Highlighting survey results relating to number of reported instances of sexual misconduct, Schlissel said only a “small fraction” of sexual misconduct incidents are reported — an issue Schlissel said needs to be further addressed by the University. RiderMilkovich cited the need to adjust current methods of educating students on sexual misconduct, saying work needs to be done to ensure students feel safe and comfortable reporting instances of sexual misconduct.
“This data is critically important to our work on this campus because it provides institution specific information for the first time that we will use to shape additional prevention efforts going forward as well as identifying increased efforts educating our students on our policies, our resources, and to strengthen and refine our already existing significant educational efforts, which include four trainings for our incoming students,” Rider-Milkovich said. Survey results show that 51 percent of female undergraduates and 39.2 percent of male undergraduates have attended or participated in Relationship Remix, a University program created for first-year students that seeks to educate students on relationships, sex and decision-making. Data from the survey revealed that 42 percent of respondents were “very likely” to report incidents of sexual assault to the University’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center. Another initiative Rider-Milkovich said is new to the University is the expansion of educational and prevention programs for graduate and professional students. Schlissel said though some of the survey’s content was explicit, the level of the survey’s detail should help the University determine what methods of prevention and support are working, and gaining a more clear understanding of to which avenues students feel most comfortable reporting cases of sexual assault. The survey asked students to identify themselves in different demographics,
an aspect of this survey that Schlissel said is unique to the University. According to the survey, females are 7.7 times more likely to experience non-consensual oral, vaginal or anal sex than males. Sorority and fraternity members are 2.5 times more likely to experience nonconsensual oral, vaginal or anal sex than average students. Axinn said verbal pressure was another particularly important new finding discovered through the survey. Eight percent of female undergraduates answered yes when asked if verbal pressuring was involved in their experiences of non consensual oral, vaginal, or anal sex — a finding Schlissel and Axinn cited as significant and new. Finally, the survey found that among undergraduate students who did experience some form of sexual misconduct, 41.2 percent of sexual misconduct cases occurred off-campus. “This was a baseline survey,” Schlissel said. “We intend to discuss the findings more broadly in the fall with our student, faculty and staff.” This is a developing story. Stay with The Michigan Daily for an updated analysis of the survey’s data. Correction: A previous version of this article included inaccurate references to a previously published article, and those references have been removed. This article was also updated to clarify a distinction between the University’s Campus Climate survey and a survey administered by the Association of American Universities in April.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
11C — Fall 2015
‘U’: regents complied with Open Meetings Act BAMN activists disrupt proceedings By CLAIRE BRYAN Daily Staff Reporter
DEC. 9, 2015 - November’s University Board of Regents meeting did not go according to schedule. Ten minutes into the meeting, members of the organization By Any Means Necessary rose from their seats in the audience and began disrupting the proceedings with shouting until the regents and executive officers vacated the room. The regents later reconvened in the Regents Room of the Fleming Administration Building to approve the month’s agenda items, including a $49 million renovation to the Dennison Building and the construction of a $261 million Biological Sciences Building. The meeting was closed to members of the general public. Though members of the press were alerted to the venue change, University officials did not publicly announce that the proceedings would be relocated. “It was a complicated decision,” said University President Mark Schlissel in an interview with The Michigan Daily. “We certainly didn’t want to move it out of the public eye.” The state of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act requires public governing bodies such as the regents to host meetings “in a place available to the general public.” The law says votes must occur in the presence of the public and members of the public must have the opportunity to comment on the proceedings. That evening, signs on the Fleming Administration Building read “The building is LOCKED.” Security guards explicitly blocked members of the public from entering the building.
After he reopened the meeting inside Fleming, Schlissel said public safety concerns necessitated the meeting’s relocation. Though the Open Meetings Act states that “no one may be excluded from a meeting otherwise open to the public except for a breach of the peace actually committed at the meeting,” there are not specific provisions for excluding members of the general public at large. Douglas Smith, a former University medical professor and one of the public speakers on the original agenda for the meeting, told the Daily in an interview Dec. 4 that he was denied entrance to Fleming. “After a while (University spokesman) Rick Fitzgerald began to whisper something to the reporters at the media desk so I went up and asked him if they were moving the meeting,” he said. “He said they were and that I could follow him.” Smith said a public safety official at the Fleming doors told him only those with approved media credentials would be granted access to the building. “Then the chairman of the regents, Regent (Kathy) White, came to the door and told me they were not going to have public speakers today and that I was not allowed to come in,” he said. In an e-mail Friday, Fitzgerald said the University maintains it fully complies with the Michigan Constitution’s requirement that formal sessions of the Board of Regents be open to the public. “Regarding the November 2014 meeting, we believe the state constitution also gives the University latitude to take prudent measures to assure those attending board meetings are safe,” he wrote. In a Dec. 5 e-mail, Diane Brown, spokeswoman for the Division of Public Safety and Security, said public safety officials and law enforcement
are charged with assessing any potential threats to the community. “If there is a condition in which the people or property in a particular location are threatened or where parties present have a heightened sense of fear for their personal safety based on an escalating situation, there may be a determination of a public safety threat,” she wrote. The Open Meetings Act does not include specifications for relocating a meeting due to a public safety threat. However, in 1980, the University faced a similar situation when students and members of the Washtenaw County Coalition Against Apartheid protested the University’s investments in South African corporations at meetings of the regents. The protests forced the regents to recess their meeting multiple times over two days. The board ultimately obtained a restraining order against WCCAA which allowed the regents “to recess, move its location and exclude from attendance those persons who breach the peace.” The coalition sued, arguing the regents violated the Open Meetings Act by preventing them from entering the new meeting location. In Regents of the University of Michigan vs. Washtenaw County Coalition Against Apartheid, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled the regents’ actions acceptable, noting the presence of the restraining order and that both the press and members of the general public were notified of the room change. “We do, however, share the concern obviously felt by defendants and the trial court that a meeting which is recessed remain open to the public,” the ruling read. “In order to remain faithful to the spirit and purpose of the Open Meetings Act the Regents were required to provide notice of the new time
and place of the reconvened meeting. Plaintiff complied with the court order to this effect by posting officials at the Regents Room to advise the press and members of the general public of the room change.” The University, however, did not notify members of the gen-
until all members of the news media were present,” Fitzgerald said. “We believe these steps provided for a balance between keeping those in attendance safe while still providing public access.” Schlissel said members of the general public not involved in
of the public by the courts. “In this case, given exigent circumstances, the situation with the disruption, I think it was a justifiable action to move the meeting and to allow representatives of the public in,” Fink said, referring to the media. “I think it then constituted a sub-
ANDREW COHEN/DAILY
Members of By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) protest for increased minority enrollment outside of the Board of Regents Meeting at the Michigan Union.
eral public of the room change in November. According to Frank LoMonte, Student Press Law Center executive director, based on the precedent from the 1980s case, the difference in whether the public was advised might be key in determining whether November’s meeting violated the Act. “It seemed really important to the judges in the 1980s case that the public had a chance to go to the recessed location,” he said. “If the public wasn’t give the opportunity to go to the recessed location than that really might put a legal cloud over the move of location.” Fitzgerald said because members of media were present, the University upheld the provisions of the Open Meetings Act. “The meeting was reconvened at a different location, but not
the protest were not permitted to enter the relocated meeting because the University did not have proper means to determine what members of the public were or were not part of BAMN. “I don’t think we had a way to sort the general public into members of BAMN and nonmembers of BAMN,” he said. “So I think in real time as the decision was made, not knowing how to do the sorting without being prejudiced against certain people, we didn’t think it was appropriate to try.” “We ended up striking a compromise that the general counsel thought was legally consistent with the Open Meetings Act,” he added. Herschel Fink, editorial legal counsel for The Detroit Free Press, said members of the press are often considered surrogates
stantial compliance with the law.” The Free Press is currently involved in a lawsuit against the University over a separate violation of the Open Meetings Act, filed in July. The suit alleges that most decisions made by the University’s Board of Regents are made in private. “We are still several months away from depository motion stage, where we will be filing a motion with the court asking them to declare whether or not the University is violating the Open Meetings Act,” he said. At the end of November’s meeting, several BAMN organizers said they had plans to return to the December regents meeting. “We were very disappointed that the meeting was disrupted See REGENTS, Page 12A
12C — Fall 2015
SCHLISSEL From Page 1C for a formal robing ceremony held in Rackham Auditorium. In an interview with The Michigan Daily during the ceremony, Schlissel said he was impressed by the number of guests who came to represent their university, department or college. “It is one of the most amazing days of my life,” he said. “I’m humbled.” Though he technically assumed the presidency in July, Schlissel said the past week has been an experience apart from the rest of his time at the University. “It really changed a lot when the students came back to town a few days ago,” he said. “I’ve been running into students all across the campus. The energy level went up a notch and it’s just really exciting.” However, Schlissel said there’s more he can do to become further acquainted with the campus community. “I have to continue my efforts to getting to know people, getting to know the faculty, students and staff and what their aspirations are and how I can add to the work of the University to make it better,” he said. After the ceremonial robing process, a processional of hundreds of gowned academics and officials marched down the steps of Rackham Auditorium and through the Diag, ending at Hill Auditorium. Students and members of the community who lined the pathway cheered and applauded. Some event attendees reached for members of the procession-
REGENTS From Page 11A and we are trying to develop ways to allow groups their free speech rights, to have a civil protest, which is very important to us, but not to disrupt a
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com al, including President Emerita Mary Sue Coleman, to snap a photo. In the Diag, student volunteers in maize T-shirts created a tunnel for the processional to walk through. Students chanted, “It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine” and sang Hail to the Victors. When Schlissel exited the student volunteer tunnel, many students jumped at the opportunity to give him a high five and take a selfie. Dozens of those participants also took positions in a postinaugural community festival set outside the auditorium. A few hundred people gathered for University-sponsored food and music set up around Ingalls Mall. LSA sophomores Kasey Wright and Stephanie Saravolatz served as event volunteers earlier in the day and helped cheer on the processional as it passed through the Diag. “I am a scholarship student here and this was something I could do to give back to the University (that) has given me so much,” Wright said. “Students started joining even though they didn’t have t-shirts and I thought that was pretty cool and I think everyone enjoyed it a lot,” Saravolatz said. LSA junior Joe Murray, another student volunteer, said he was impressed with Schlissel’s inaugural speech and his push for valuing all voices, despite conflict or disagreement. “I would love to see him implement those ideas he talked about as far as making sure the University stays really open to people and that we seek people from Michigan and around the country and the world, making sure everyone who deserves to go here has the opportunity to.”
meeting or the rights of others,” Schlissel said. Schlissel declined to discuss the University’s plans to address similar BAMN protests in the future. “Rest assured, there are specific plans,” he said.
GRADUATION From Page 1C practicing generosity is the way to joy. It’s free for taking — or, should I say, for giving.” “Half of what you have belongs to those who need it, and, if you’re successful, make your friends successful,” Saginaw said, followed by applause. Weinzweig echoed Saginaw’s sentiments, urging students to measure themselves on the scale best fit for them, rather than ones constructed by society. “I believe that going for greatness — greatness for you, and not how everyone else in the world identifies it — is energizing,” Weinzweig said. On the central tenet of generosity, Weinzweig said acts of kindness are underappreciated, yet perhaps most important in our efforts to give back. “I believe that simple kindness matters more than most people will admit. That instead of getting angry at others, we appreciate. That instead of blaming, we give blessings,” Weinzweig said. “...Kindness is free and kindness counts.” Schlissel’s address paralleled these themes, saying University of Michigan citizenship means leading the way for others to have the greatest possible impact on society. He noted that in his first year at the University, he saw students practice these values in numerous ways, including working to combat LGBTQ homelessness in Metro Detroit and advocating for changes to student services related to mental health and sexual misconduct. “You’ve organized and spoken out in support of increased diversity and greater inclusiveness
within our campus community, and your activism has been deeply influential both on campus and in the national academic community,” he said. He also lauded students for educating him about campus during his transition into the presidency throughout his first year. He specifically mentioned students who protested on his lawn in the fall, calling for the firing of former Athletic Director Dave Brandon. Schlissel said these students “educated” him on the state of University athletics. Schlissel also acknowledged School of Public Policy graduate Bobby Dishell, former Central Student Government president, for committing himself to helping other students. In opening the ceremony, University Provost Martha Pollack emphasized the continuing importance of receiving a university education, particularly at a time when many value workplace skills over the well-rounded nature of a traditional college experience. “I believe that as you reflect on your time at Michigan, perhaps not today, but in the future, you’ll find what you gained here goes well beyond your skills for the workplace,” Pollack said. Pollack also discussed the importance of the lessons students learned outside the classroom, as they will draw on these lessons as they make decisions and navigate society in the future. “Graduates, here’s what I want to ask you: As you go through life, pay attention,” Pollack said. “...You can and should also push yourself to draw on your knowledge intentionally. Use what you’ve learned, and use it in all aspects
of your life.” In her speech to graduates, Catherine Huang, an LSA graduate and a leader of MPowered Entrepreneurship, told students and members of the crowd to take selfies with as many people as they could. Huang said these photos, filled with friends, strangers or both, can serve as reminders of the memories and shared moments students had at the University. Schlissel conferred honorary Doctor of Law degrees to Saginaw and Weinzweig, and gave honorary degrees to five other individuals: John Dingell, the former congressman for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District; Sanford Robertson, the founding partner of the private equity firm Francisco Partners; economist and Nobel laureate Robert Shiller; journalist Robin Wright and gastroenterologist Tadataka Yamada. Engineering senior Connor Toohey, who participated in Saturday’s ceremony but will officially graduate in December, said he liked the casual nature of Weinzweig and Saginaw’s speech. “I thought they were very entertaining to listen to, and that’s what you want to hear at a commencement speech,” he said. “They were definitely inspiring, too.” At the end of Schlissel’s speech, he urged graduates to use their abilities as citizens of the University community to create change and progress within society as a whole. “You are the leaders and best of today, and you are the vanguard of a better tomorrow.”
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TCF From Page 1C comment on the process by which the decision was made or whether there were negotiations between TCF and the University for renewal. “The same benefits that students are receiving through the specially-designated student account with TCF will continue despite the exit of the relationship with the University,” Goldman said. According to a 2014 University finance department document, about 40 percent of new students open a TCF Bank account. The announcement also states that some of the bank’s ATMs will stay in University buildings. Goldman said the exact buildings and ATMs are up for consideration and TCF is working close with the University to keep as many as TCF ATMs possible. “This discussion is ongoing and we expect some kind of resolution in the very near future,” Goldman said. “And of course we are committed to letting our customers and all of the campus community know when that decision and when that agreement is reached.” TCF currently has 18 ATMs in University buildings across campus, including in the Michigan Union and the Michigan League. Goldman said TCF is also working with the University to make the transition away from the partnership they have using the MCards as seamless as possible and added that the bank still plans to serve the Ann Arbor community and the University’s students. “We are committed to doing everything we can to continue to help students and continue to serve the interest of the community,” Goldman said. “That could come in a variety of different ways, sponsorship of various charitable events as well as continuing to provide a compelling banking solution for the entire community.” “The University has been reviewing proposals to select a new banking partner and expects to finalize its decision in the near future,” Broekhuizen said.
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CSG From Page 8C munications portion of the meeting, CSG President Bobby Dishell, a Public Policy senior, as well a CSG Vice President Emily Lustig, an LSA senior, said they were against the resolution. “This resolution in no way embodies or is in concert with the University’s mission statement,” Dishell said. After the vote on the divestment resolution, LSA freshman Ean Seinfeld said he was pleased the resolution did not pass. “I think the committee was created to investigate divestment would place the University in a conflict it does not belong,” Seinfeld said. “It’s easy to say human rights violations have been committed without knowing the root causes of them.” LSA sophomore Danielle Rabie expressed disappointment at the outcome. “In terms of the processing and the vote itself, I wasn’t particularly surprised because this University has never been inclusive of Palestinian students,” she said. “Although I was not surprised, I am extremely disappointed in CSG. SAFE introduced a similar proposal to the student assembly last March. Last year, CSG initially voted to suspend the vote on the resolution indefinitely. This decision led to a sit-in at the CSG chambers. The following week former
APPLICATION From Page 7C such as leadership in extracurriculars, artistic talent, academic and professional honors, cultural identity, and aspects of essays, were noted in at least one of the applications. For extracurriculars, many evaluators noted, in particular, the number of years the student had been involved. Some also commented specifically on the
CSG President Michael Proppe, a current Business graduate student, motioned for the assembly to reexamine the resolution. That year, CSG ultimately voted not to pass the resolution in a 25-9 vote with five abstentions. This year’s resolution received six more votes in favor over last year. The University has only divested twice in the past. In the first instance, the University divested from apartheid South Africa due to the “serious moral or ethical questions” raised by the investments made in South Africa at that time. In 1999, the University divested from tobacco companies because of their distorted advertising and presentation of health information. After the meeting concluded, members of SAFE gathered around the Cube in Regents Plaza and thanked the supporters before disbanding for the evening. Correction appended: This article has been updated to reflect the accurate vote count. The resolution failed with 25 votes opposed, not 29. Clarification: The story has been updated to clarify Prof. Lieberman’s remarks. The section now reflects Lieberman’s statement that other conflicts and countries should not be given more attention than Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but that they should be given increased attention generally.
diversity of the students’ activities as a positive, characterizing the students as well-rounded. One resume that received such a comment, for example, included journalism, religious activities and student government. Several applications reviewed also referenced alumni family connections, income and parents’ educational levels, which aren’t factors listed in the main online materials as under consideration. On one application, low
13C — Fall 2015
income and parent-education level were specifically noted as extenuating factors. Several applications mentioned alumni connections both in the overall comments and as an extenuating factor. Those three, as well as a number of other factors such as military service and being a scholarship athlete, are referenced in an appendix to the online materials, but not on the main site where factors like extracurriculars are listed. A changing admissions environment When evaluators look at applications overall, Sanders said, they place emphasis on understanding a prospective student’s individual situation and resources — what she termed “context.” That context, she added, could come from a number of factors — aspects of the student’s personal background, their parent’s background, the school they went to, extracurriculars or a multitude of other experiences. To understand the current admissions process of any public college in Michigan, it’s important to note that what applying those kind of factors means — and more specifically, which of them admissions offices can and can’t consider — has changed significantly over the past 12 years. At the University, the basic structure of the current admissions system was first created in 2003 following a pair of Supreme Court decisions that found the University’s specific practice of awarding certain minority groups “points” in the admissions process was unconstitutional, but upheld the overall use of race as one of many factors. However, in 2005 a coalition of interest groups began campaigning for a ballot measure to ban public colleges in Michigan from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin entirely in their admissions process. Proposal 2 was passed by statewide referendum in 2006, requiring the change in all application cycles past December of that year.
For the University’s admissions process, the restrictions seem to have lent an increased focus to socioeconomic status and other measures of access to higher education — such as the cluster classifications of high schools as underrepresented or notations of average high school academics in applications reviewed — as evaluative factors. Sanders noted that many colleges, even those not operating under the constraints of measures like Proposal 2, have begun to highlight information about students’ economic backgrounds as more data has become available. She said at the University, that kind of information has become particularly useful because of the restraints on using other demographic factors. “I think that schools and colleges have made the process more robust because that information is available to us now,” she said. “But (socioeconomic status) is really, for us, more important because we can’t use race or gender.” She described ways socioeconomic status can be used when evaluating applications, giving the example of a student with strong grades but standardized test scores around the average, whose family might have faced a financial hardship in paying for the student to take the test more than once. “The readers would take that into consideration in the evaluative process, recognizing that this is a student who, based upon the context of their school, may be one of the top students there,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily make the decision for us, but it gives us context.” Along with the cluster high schools and average high school academics noted in evaluative comments, several other questions about demographic factors — many tied in some ways to economic background — were also present in applications reviewed. Those factors included gender, county, city, ethnicity, academic interest, residency, date
of birth, birth country, highest level of education obtained by each parent, estimated gross income, number of dependents and whether or not the applicant was raised by a single parent. Evaluators are instructed not to consider some of the answers, such as gender or ethnicity, because of Proposal 2. Other factors, namely state residency status, aren’t considered relevant for evaluating individual students. But for many of the rest, such as family educational level, number of dependents, or single-parent status, Sanders said they’re further examples of ways the University works to understand an individual applicant’s situation. “There are a lot of questions about, you know, parents and family members and background and some of that is to give us an idea of context for socioeconomic status, (for) support you have,” she said. “Did you have other family members that are in college that could provide support, a college-going culture?” Many of the these demographic factors used to add context can also come into play at a later part of the admissions process — yield. Yield, which occurs after all the applications have gone through the evaluative system in each application cycle, refers to the practice of determining how many and which students to offer admittance in order to secure a full — but not too full — freshman class. The final decision on an application file is based on both its rating and the yield assessment of how many students to offer admittance overall. Because it occurs after evaluative process, documentation of this part of the process was not included in applications provided for review. However, Sanders said, at this point, demographic factors are considered both for the applicant pool as an overall group and for individual applicants. For example, residency status becomes
relevant as a statistic about the applicant pool as a whole because the overall residency statuses of the pool help inform how likely students are to attend the University if accepted. But, especially as the decisions get tighter, not everyone in a particular rating can be offered admission, which requires ways to distinguish between applicants with the same rating. Characteristics noted in individual evaluations — such as familyeducation level or income — can then become relevant in deciding who makes the cut, aiding University initiatives to increase representation of certain groups. “Even within (yield), we might look at additional information there,” Sanders said. “So the priorities of then looking at, ‘We’d really like to increase the number of students that are first generation or low income,’ so those things would come into play as another characteristic that could even hone in more the specific numbers of students that are offered admission.” However, in response to a hypothetical scenario of two students with borderline ratings for admission, one first generation and the other not, Sanders said that factor wouldn’t necessarily move the decision in favor of the first generation student. “It would depend on really all characteristics in the application,” she said. Usage of this kind of demographic information in any part of the admissions process appears to differ at institutions across the state of Michigan. In response to e-mailed questions, LaJoyce Brown, Wayne State University interim senior director of undergraduate admissions, wrote that WSU does not consider factors such as socioeconomic status or geographic area. In contrast, Jason Cody, Michigan State University spokesman, wrote that at MSU “all factors other than race, gender and eth-
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14C — Fall 2015
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ALBUM REVIEW
in
review 2015
The year of 1989
August 11, 2014 Beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams was found dead in his California home. The actor, known best for his roles in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Good Will Hunting” and “Dead Poet’s Society,” was 63.
September 10, 2014 Miley Cyrus appeared on the cover of V Magazine’s “Rebel Issue.” The singer posed nude and was photographed by ledgendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. BIG MACHINE RECORDS
She’ll never go out of style
October 7, 2014 Following a nude photoleak which exposed hundreds of celebritites’ private photos, Jennifer Lawrence declared, “This is not a scandal. It’s a sex crime.”
Taylor Swift gloriously transitions to pop By GIBSON JOHNS Daily Arts Writer
November 12, 2014 Reality television star Kim Kardashian “broke the internet” with her now-infamous cover at Paper Mag featuring herself popping a champagne bottle over her head into a glass propped up on her butt.
December 16, 2014 Following threats of 9/11-esque attacks to movie theaters that show “The Interview,” Sony cancelled its Dec. 18 premiere.
Taylor Swift recently moved from Nashville to New York City. She craved a change in A+ scenery that would match 1989 her new outlook on life: an Taylor Swift outlook devoid of famous ex- Big Machine boyfriends and full of famous girl-friends, an outlook that required her to cut her hair and look effortlessly put-together at
all times, an outlook that saw her finally make the switch from country to pop. And it’s an outlook that is not-so-subtly evident on her fifth album, 1989. To be sure, Swift’s in-yourface approach to her newfound pop persona works tremendously well. Throughout 1989 we hear a Taylor Swift that is more confident, bold and self-aware than ever before. It’s clear that she knows exactly what she’s doing. Her welcoming embrace of pop freed her from the constraints imposed on her by the “country” label, she’s experimenting with new sounds, intonations and writing techniques. The 13-track album begins with “Welcome To New York,” a love song co-written with Ryan Tedder that pays homage to, you
guessed it, The Big Apple. If 1989 had been filled with 13 songs like this, it would have been an uninspired disappointment — the lyrics play on clichéd ideas of being young and independent in New York City and the production, though technically sound, presents nothing that new. But by predictably opening 1989, her first pop album, with a song about moving to New York, Swift feeds into our expectations only to immediately turn around and shut them down. “Took our broken hearts / Put them in a drawer,” she declares. And on the rest of 1989, though she opens that drawer a few times, she proves that her heart is anything but broken. On the ironic “Blank Space,” which follows “New York,” Swift
directly acknowledges these expectations and the image of her that have been constantly perpetuated in the media (“Got a long list of ex-lovers / They’ll tell you I’m insane”). She’s in on the joke and she doesn’t really care if you believe her or not. This sentiment is also echoed on the album’s first single, “Shake It Off,” which is another direct call at her haters who, regardless of what she does, will continue to “hate hate hate.” Most of 1989’s standout moments are the ones during which we hear Swift’s voice in settings where we haven’t heard it before. On “I Know Places,” her voice is eerie and pointed in its verses but as soaring and hopeful as ever in the refrains. “Wildest See 1989, Page 2D
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
January 7, 2015 “Empire” premiered on FOX. The primetime soap that tells the fictional tale of hip hop’s royal family, The Lyon’s. It is the first show in over 20 years where ratings continuously increased over the first five episodes.
February 22, 2015 Following her win for Best Supporting Actress at the 67th Academy Awards, Patricia Arquette declared, “It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all.”
March 30, 2015 Jay-Z unveiled new streaming service, “Tidal,” which is co-owned by a handful of music’s elite including his wife Beyonce, Madonna, Daft Punk, Kanye West and Rihanna.
April 24, 2015 Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner, spoke to Diane Sawyer about his transgender identity in a two hour primetime interview.
May 17, 2015 Don Draper and company had their final scotch. After seven seasons, the AMC period drama “Mad Men” aired its last episode.
June 11, 2015 Netflix Original “Orange Is The New Black” premiered its third season two hours early for Netflix subscribers to frantically binge through.
July 21, 2015 Following “Anaconda” ’s snub for video of the year, Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to tweet her frustrations about VMA’s lack of diversity. Taylor Swift took Minaj’s tweets personally, resulting in a “fued.” After much talk of “white feminism,” Swift apologized two days later, tweeting, “I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki.”
Pussy Riot comes to AA Michigan Theater welcomes Russian punk protest band By GILLIAN JAKAB Daily Arts Writer
Patriarch Gundyay believes in Putin / Would be better, the bastard, if he believed in God! / The Virgin’s belt won’t replace political gatherings / The eternal Virgin Mary is with us in our protests! These are some of the lyrics from Pussy Riot’s “Punk Prayer,” performed by five masked faces in Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow in March 2012. They criticize, among other things, the lack of separation between the Russian Orthodox Church and Putin’s increasingly totalitarian government. The Pussy Riot members brought their
message of rights for Russia’s marginalized — women, LGBTQ, youth — up from Moscow’s underground scene and into view of the world. But they did so at a price. Nadezhda (Nadya) Tolokonnikova and Maria (Masha) Alyokhina, two of Pussy Riot’s members, were among those arrested for the performance and were sentenced to two years of prison on charges of “hooliganism” and disrupting public order with a religious hate crime. Amnesty International and many other human rights organizations decried the prosecution as suppression of free speech and politically motivated. The women’s trial and imprisonment under harsh conditions gained international attention and an outpouring of sympathy from artists around the world. Vigilance and pressure from the international com-
munity may have contributed to the Pussy Riot members’ early release in December 2013, though some said it was because the expiration of their terms would have coincided with the Winter Olympics in Russia. Having endured the horrors of Russia’s prisons and legal system, Masha and Nadya have founded Zona Prava (Justice Zone), a prisoner’s rights NGO that offers advocacy and aid to prisoners, and MediaZona, a media forum that reports on issues of prisons and legal systems worldwide. The rockers-turned-revolutionaries are publicizing their experiences and aims in a world tour that includes a stop in Ann Arbor. This Thursday evening in the Michigan Theater, University organizations The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies are co-pre-
senting the Pussy Riot/Zona Prava members’ lecture “Punk Prayer.” In curating the Stamps series, Chrisstina Hamilton — director of visitor’s programs at the Penny Stamps School of Art and Design — tries to choose speakers that reflect the issues of concerns and interest on campus and in the classroom. The lineup is created via nominations from throughout the University, but the particular invitation to Pussy Riot and Zona Prava members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, was a whim of Hamilton’s own. Hamilton was in New York this past spring when the two Pussy Riot members gave a public interview on Randall’s Island organized by London’s Frieze Festival. The interview was conducted in a room that allowed only 100 seats and left See RIOT, Page 2D
MOVIE REVIEW
‘50 Shades’ buries inner goddess Film adaptation loses seductiveness in subtleties By CHLOE GILKE Managing Arts Editor
By 2014, E L James’s erotic fantasy “Fifty Shades of Grey” had sold over 100 million Bcopies, been translated into Fifty more than 50 languages Shades and unseated of Grey J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” Universal series as the Pictures fastest-selling novel of all time. Some critics reviled the book for its inaccurate portrayal of the BDSM community and glorification of an “abusive” relationship, but U.S. sales continued to skyrocket. With a novel
this virile and phenomenal, the obvious next step was to adapt it into a movie so the series could rake in even more cash — and, more importantly, give millions of fans the opportunity to see all the bondage-suffused, manipulative romance played out on a screen, not in their imagination. As I have never read James’s novel, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I saw “Fifty Shades.” But upon leaving the theater, I was struck by how seriously the film took itself. “Fifty Shades of Grey” rejects its trashy pedigree, using an R rating and the stylistic specificity of film to transform the scruffy plot and find its inner goddess. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson (“Nowhere Boy”) swathes the film in desaturated tones and gorgeous closeups and sets the action to the pulsing musical beats of Beyoncé and The Rolling Stones. The film uses every tool in its cinematographic playroom to let viewers know that this isn’t the same
fantasy they read on their flight to Newark. It’s a slow, sleek and sexy film, markedly subtle even when it doesn’t have to be. The film’s two-hour runtime unfolds in languid confidence. At times, the deliberate pacing borders on sluggish, but oftentimes this carefulness works in the plot’s favor. After Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson, “Ben and Kate”) attempts her fateful interview with millionaire entrepreneur Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan, “The Fall”), the pair take almost 40 minutes to climb into bed. But their ensuing foreplay is delightfully fun, and these awkward encounters serve as a means of demonstrating who they are as characters. Christian meets Ana in the hardware store where she works and asks her to show him where he can buy the cable ties, ropes and tape he needs for his handyman collection. It’s a cheeky way to introduce that Christian is into all things kinky, and Ana can’t
look into his dreamy gray eyes without blushing. The film is surprisingly wellcast, and Johnson’s performance as Ana is especially strong. She embodies the dichotomy of Ana’s character perfectly — despite her contractual status as a submissive, she’s smart and self-confident, always setting her limits and pulling back when Christian doesn’t treat her with respect. Dornan gives a slightly less compelling performance as Mr. Grey, but with those eyes that seem to simultaneously scream “fuck me” and “I have a room full of zip ties and tape and I might use them for more than just sex stuff,” he embodies the character even without a spectacular performance. Despite rumors that the two actors despise one another in real life, they exude chemistry whenever they share the screen. Especially in the more tender scenes where Christian exposes his emotional vulnerability, See SHADES, Page 3D
2D — Fall 2015
1989 From Page 1D Dreams” sees her channeling Lana Del Rey’s enchantingly drowsy vocalization in a call to past lovers to remember her. “I Wish You Would,” one of two songs written with fun.’s Jack Antonoff (who also happens to be the boyfriend of Swift’s pal Lena Dunham), would fit right in with the late ’80s electro-pop that Swift said inspired most of the album. Perhaps the most anticipated track on 1989, “Bad Blood,” lives up to its hype. The foot-stomping, hand-clapping, anger-fueled
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com track was written about a fellow female popstar, who’s all but confirmed to be Katy Perry, that apparently scorned her unprovoked (something tells me John Mayer, an ex they both share, had to do with it). It’s a clear single candidate and represents a rare example on 1989 of Taylor doing what we have come to expect from her in the past — singing songs written about famous exes (friends and boyfriends) in a tongue-in-cheek manner, baiting us into guessing who they’re about. The funky “Style,” another probable single, also exemplifies this Swiftian tendency, albeit (again) not-so-subtly. Let’s just
say there’s only one member of One Direction that she used to date and who essentially shares a surname with the song’s title. While 1989 excels by playing down this celebrity callout style of song, what it’s lacking is another quality of songwriting that has become classic Swift: that of little, personal details that accentuate the imagery in her music. Part of what made Taylor Swift’s previous work so special were those instances where she got so specific with her writing that, at least on the surface, it appeared as though we were present in those intimate moments with her. Though we do get some
of that on 1989, like on the building ballad “Out Of The Woods” when she sings about “[moving] the furniture so we could dance” and “Remember when you hit the breaks too soon? / 20 stitches in the hospital room,” there is markedly less detail here than on her past efforts. Is this a result of Swift’s heavy collaboration with pop mastermind Max Martin? Probably. But it’s also not necessarily a negative. Sure, we all loved that knack for detailed lyricism that characterized Swift’s first four albums, but what we get on 1989 is more honed-in songwriting and more complex lyrical structure. We get songs
that are more universally relatable. In other words, what we get is massive, glorious, no holds barred pop. There was a lot riding on 1989. Swift’s break-up with country music was risky and had the potential to turn away loyal country fans. The aggressive marketing and social media presence surrounding its release implied that there is something to be wildly excited about. The troubling decline in music sales this year only increased that pressure (as did the fact that Swift’s last album, Red (2012), is the most recent album to sell over a million copies in a week). But, just like
she knows exactly what people think of her and her image and her music, Taylor Swift knew this. So she delivered. 1989 is as fresh a pop album as we’d ever hope of having the pleasure to listen to, especially these days when producing a cohesive album seems to be the last thing many single-track-minded pop stars have the intention of doing. It may have been inspired by an era of pop that ended 25 years ago when Swift was born, but it brings something new and something much-needed to the mainstream pop landscape. Taylor Swift: the pop star who will never go out of style.
TV REVIEW
Too thin ‘House of Cards’ NETFLIX
Ain’t nobody fuckin’ with my clique.
Season three narrative arc doesn’t deliver By MATT BARNAUSKAS Daily Arts Writer
This article contains spoilers from the third season of Netflix’s “House of Cards.” “The Presi- B dency is the House of illusion of choice,” Frank Cards Underwood Season 3 (Kevin Spacey, “Ameri- Netflix can Beauty”) muses late into season three of Netflix’s “House of Cards.” Over the first two seasons, Frank fought, lied and killed to become the leader of the free world. Now, in season three, he finds the position he sought might not have all the power he hoped for. In the visually dark and unsaturated world of “House of Cards,” Frank works best in the shadows, but now, the harsh spotlight is on him. With his approval rating sink-
RIOT From Page 1D many disgruntled feminist punk enthusiasts on the outs. “When I was there, I said to the organizers: please put me in touch with them because I actually have a 1,700 seat theater,” Hamilton said. “Obviously they want to speak to people about what they’re doing; I can give them a much more public voice and venue in order to do that.” The Michigan Theater is an icon in a city steeped in the his-
ing, he is a character far more desperate than the cold, calculating schemer seen in the first two seasons. Spacey still delivers the cruel bravado of a Shakespearean villain even as Frank fights for a f latlining political life. Beset by attacks from both parties, Frank tells Stephen Colbert (playing his alter-ego from “The Colbert Report”), “Both parties want the same thing,” to which Colbert replies, “A new president in 2016.” Frank is no longer able to execute the well-laid plans from previous seasons. Instead, he grasps at straws in a desperate attempt to survive, and fails more often than he succeeds. While this brings some humility to the character, it does cause the momentum of the season to break up, and is not nearly satisfying as Frank’s rise to power. The struggle to succeed places character development before moving the plot forward with mixed results. The impeachment of President Walker (Michael Gill, “Person of Interest”) last season has blown a powder keg in D.C., and both sides are rushing for power among the wreckage. The first
episodes of the season lay this landscape out well with different characters set up to challenge or work with Frank, but the series fails to capitalize on the potential. The worst failing is when Hector Mendoza (Benito Martinez, “The Shield”), a promising Republican candidate, is abruptly written out halfway through the season’s run. Other primary characters struggle to make a mark this season. Notably, Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel, “Law & Order: SVU”), Frank’s rival for the 2016 Democratic bid, begins to sink into the shadowy morality Frank occupies until the man she hates says, “You’re finally one of us.” Dunbar is interesting because she is unaware of her growing hypocrisy, caught up in her delusions of idealism. But like many storylines this season, her relevance is inconsistent. She is important one moment, takes a backseat the next and then comes to the forefront in fits and starts. After being nearly beaten to death by Rachel Posner (Rachel Brosnahan, “Manhattan”), Doug Stamper’s (Michael Kelly, “Person of Interest”) survival
and recovery brought forth the most engaging subplot in season three. Physically and mentally broken, Doug has to come to grips with his reality. He’s a wounded animal put out to pasture by Frank, except Doug’s not ready to quit. The character has an addictive personality, and for years has filled his life serving Frank. Now that what defines him is gone, Doug spirals into self-destruction as he relapses into alcohol addiction and obsesses over finding Rachel. But he contains an unstoppable resilience, even in his lowest state, when he drunkenly declares to Frank, “I’m not Peter Russo; I won’t go like he did.” One of “House of Cards” ’s biggest weaknesses following its stellar first season is the absence of Russo (Corey Stoll, “The Strain”). Stoll brought forth a man trying to get his life right in order to be a better father for his children and partner for his girlfriend. His relationships and promise made his orchestrated demise by Frank the series’ greatest tragedy, and the show has struggled to create a worthy followup. Doug’s storyline in season three, while overextended and
taken slightly too far near the end, is the closest “House of Cards” has come to equaling Russo’s conflict. Kelly captures a man in flux, desperately trying to claw his way back into the world he’s been cast out of. His attempts to stabilize also bring genuine, humanizing moments to a stoic character as Doug reconnects with his brother and his family. But Doug is disturbed man by nature, and in his final arc in the last three episodes, he cements his dark path beside Frank. As Doug tries to fall back within Frank’s good graces, the series’ second lead, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright, “The Princess Bride”) slowly begins distancing herself from Frank. Frank and Claire realize the integral role each has played in their rise, but what bound the two together soon becomes a problem for the pair. Visually striking motifs such as eggs and Buddhist sand art emphasize the fragile state of their union as Claire tells author Tom Yates (Paul Sparks, “Boardwalk Empire), “I hate how much I need us.” Frank and Claire’s partnership is meant to be equal, but it becomes more apparent throughout the season that the end result
is anything but that. Claire may be just as tactile as Frank but she possesses the flaw of humanity. It’s what makes Claire see the pair as “murderers” while Frank says, “We’re survivors.” It’s these emotions of empathy that hold Claire back from achieving what the brutal Frank has gained. Claire has sacrificed so much to put Frank in power so she would one day find herself at the top. Sadly, she sees that because of her smallest hint of decency, she will never gain her end goal. Meanwhile, Frank refuses to see or acknowledge this. In the final episode, all this comes to head in a battle of wills inside the Oval Office. The focus on character development sets up many of the series’ main characters for promising arcs in season four. But it still feels like setup. After 13 new episodes, “House of Cards” season three did not made great strides. The acting by Spacey, Wright and Kelly, complemented by fantastic, dark cinematography, carry the season. However, the narrative feels stretched too thin, unable to fully deliver on several promising setups. Instead, it’s left waiting for another season to pick up the pieces.
tory of political activism and influential artist communities. Though the scale and methods of protest at the University have shifted since the 1960s, students today grapple with issues of identity through publications such as The Michigan Daily’s “Michigan in Color” series and “What the F,” and voice their passions for social, economic and political justice locally and globally. Pussy Riot’s words, their credibility rooted in deeds, will find a warm reception here. “Russia’s in the news constantly right now,” Hamilton
said. “The fact that these young women were able to stand up to Putin, be in prison, and … have garnered this international attention, gives them a lot of power.” Masha and Nadya are harnessing this power to shed light on the oppression of feminist and LGBTQ* communities in Russia, the consequences of dissent, and the brutal Russian penal system. “A lot of the people who are going to come obviously know something of the story of what’s happened to them up to this point, but I think it will be very
excited to hear about what their plans are now that they’ve captured the world stage, what are they going to do with it?” Though they are rock stars on the metaphorical stage of world politics and media, they will not be performing in the musical sense on the stage of the Michigan Theater. Right before coming to Ann Arbor, Pussy Riot joined many punk bands at Riot Fest Chicago, not on the lineup to play a concert, but to give a panel discussion. “They won’t actually be performing,” Hamilton said. “I
asked them about it when we were discussing the whole thing
done.” “I’m looking at it more as the context of the moment that they’re performing in, which in some ways makes it more punk rock than any punk rock,” she added. In the field of performance studies, some scholars would disagree with this distinction and tend to define performance as a public practice, analyzing “performances” spanning the spectrum from religious rituals to Shakespeare on a proscenium stage. Though Pussy Riot did not achieve its fame by merit of its music and performance art, the group’s genre of conceptual art amplifies and articulates its political message. In their interview on the Colbert Report, Nadya and Masha say they’ve come to America to “look at American prisons, to talk to human rights activists, and to learn from their experience.” They explain that it presents a middle ground between the inhumane prison system in Russia and the mostly pleasant conditions of the prisons they visited in the Netherlands. On campus, Nadya and Masha will get to learn more about the American prison system when they meet with Lisa Greco, the Prison Creative Arts (PCAP) events coordinator and Washtenaw County Youth Center Director, as well as Carol Morris, a local artist who works with women in prison and youth in detention and treatment. They will tour the facility and discuss the work of Youth Arts Alliance! and PCAP. “Performing” or not, the only way to experience the power of Pussy Riot is live, and this Thursday’s Penny Stamps lecture is one of a select few opportunities in the U.S. to do so.
They shed light on oppression and feminism and their response was: they don’t perform … they’re activists. They would perform if there were a reason to, as they have
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
3D — Fall 2015
Lamar is genius on new LP ALBUM REVIEW
TOP DAWG
“i” am better than “u.”
By ADAM THEISEN Senior Arts Editor
All of us have voices in our heads that tell us we’re not good enough. They feed into our insecurities, saying we’re not strong enough, smart enough, talented enough, rich enough, determined enough, A sane enough To Pimp a to be successful, to do what Butterfly we need to Kendrick do. Kendrick Lamar Lamar hears these voices, Top Dawg too — probably much louder than most of us. But these voices don’t stop Lamar. Instead, they’ve fueled him, providing the unrelenting engine that has created To Pimp a Butterfly, an album that will never be forgotten by anyone who listens to it. You could compare To Pimp a Butterfly to other anti-fame albums, ones that express the dangers of celebrity. You could compare it to other records that seem to capture mental breakdowns on tape. You could even compare it to other trippy, paranoid masterpieces that have been produced in studios. But you won’t, because
SHADES From Page 1D Johnson and Dornan shine as a couple. But their romantic encounters translate rather poorly to the screen. Maybe it’s because the film is rated R instead of the NC-17 that the book surely merits, but the sex scenes are remarkably unsexy. Nudity isn’t a crucial component for a scene to be steamy; still, it’s unfair that the woman must bare all and the camera cuts away before viewers could glimpse a naked man. For a film shamelessly marketed for female viewers, and written and directed by women, the film displays Ana like some piece of spineless meat rather than the strong lady we (and Christian) know she is. Christian holds his whip and leers at her, while the camera shows her suffering from his point of view. The screen rarely affords us her perspective. This is quite a far cry from a novel narrated by Ana. And much of what goes
while there’s other music that tries to capture some of To Pimp a Butterfly’s essence, Kendrick Lamar’s latest work is so strong and singular, grabbing you by the collar and dragging you into its world from the opening seconds, that your mind won’t be able to focus on anything except what Lamar wants you to hear. The trajectory of the album can be summarized by a poem repeated and expanded upon by Lamar throughout the tracklist. Lamar’s self-doubt and conflict leaves him “screaming in the hotel room,” surrounded by evil. So he goes home (to Compton? To Africa? To his true inner self? All are possible interpretations). “But that didn’t stop the survivor’s guilt,” Lamar says, so he realizes he needs to teach others about his message of respect, unity and love. The biggest reveal of To Pimp a Butterfly is just how deep Lamar’s post-fame depressive spiral was. Opener “Wesley’s Theory” recalls Kendrick’s early dreams of hitting it big and reminds him that the rise is the easy part — it’s staying on top that’ll stress you to the point of insanity. Next, on “For Free?” Lamar is berated by women who attack his insecurities over a classic jazz beat. Additionally, “u” simulates a true breakdown in a hotel on in the playroom doesn’t read as particularly titillating. Everyone around me in the theater burst into giggles when Christian tickled Ana with a giant, absurd prop peacock feather. This silliness is characteristic of the sex scenes in the rest of the movie; for an adaptation of an erotic novel, the bedroom action is fairly flaccid. “Fifty Shades of Grey” may be best encompassed with the words of Christian Grey: this movie is “fifty shades of fucked-up.” While it’s endowed with a good cast and features solid filmmaking, like Christian himself, the movie has a hollow heart. With the abusive undertones implied in Christian’s final seduction and an ending that gives viewers the cinematic equivalent of blue balls, the film wipes out any semblance of fun it built up in the previous two hours. “Fifty Shades” tries to be serious, but its inner goddess gets buried under a mountain of narrative problems that might have been avoided had the film just embraced the beautiful trash it was meant to be.
room, as Lamar hears a drunk former friend from his neighborhood tear him to shreds for abandoning where he came from. Lamar raps these verses with theatrical pathos that he’s brought before on songs like “Sing About Me,” and these tracks are just as intense. But Lamar saves his sharpest barbs for celebrity, record companies and the culture of fame. The album’s character of Lucy (possibly short for Lucifer?) tempts Lamar on “For Sale?” Lucy promises to move Lamar’s mother out of Compton and into a mansion — all she wants in return is trust, loyalty and a signed contract. Considering how wide in scope the album is, it’s incredible that the songs of To Pimp a Butterfly are somehow even more cohesive than the songs of the good kid, m.A.A.d city. Good Kid’s subtitle, “A Short Film by Kendrick Lamar,” was well-deserved — when you closed your eyes, you really could see Compton — but the singularity of Lamar’s creative vision is even more mature and more intense on this latest release. Every song plays a very specific role in the overall statement that To Pimp a Butterfly’s narrative makes. While on its own, “The Blacker the Berry” may have sounded like a complete indictment of the streets Lamar comes from, in context, it’s presented as one of many aspects
of the Black experience. Lamar sweats blood through his verses, alternating between proud and self-hating as he spits lyrics so deep that even Michael Chabon could only scratch the surface when he annotated them for Genius. Lamar fans who got angry and disappointed every time dozens of drunk people sung along to “Swimming Pools” at house parties, have no fear: While To Pimp a Butterfly is far too dense and layered for every part of Lamar’s message to be immediately and completely understood, there’s no way that any of these tracks will be mistaken for commercial turn-up party anthems. Lamar unequivocally eschews anything that would even remotely sound like a Mike Will Made It or DJ Mustard joint, even messing with previous single “i” enough that none of these songs will be played on the radio. Instead, he brings in artists like Thundercat and Terrace Martin, who ground the disorienting trippiness of songs like “Wesley’s Theory” and “King Kunta” with strong bass, jazz instruments and afro-centric beats. The only credited A-list cameo comes from Snoop Dogg on “Institutionalized,” but even he is raspy, nearly unrecognizable and gone in a flash of smoke. In fact, there’s not even a Black Hippy member to be found — a very noticeable omission that doesn’t bode well for the future of rap’s best collective. The most non-Lamar bars actually go to the little-known Rapsody, who delivers a verse of pride and love on “Complexion.” Lamar’s music touches on subjects including racial identity, the plight of inmates, Black beauty, the trials of fame, gang violence, police brutality, personal depression, the need for love and unity among all races and many more. Lamar spends To Pimp a Butterfly’s 80 minutes sharing almost all of his thoughts, and what he has to say is fascinating, a little schizophrenic and scattered, and incredibly smart. The combination of the sheer power of Lamar’s rapping with the hypnotic jazz fusion production makes
it impossible to tear yourself away from the record and commands an endless number of listens. Lamar’s talent makes it feel like you’re pulled entirely into his own separate world, but everything his says has relevance in our own. The most perfect, beautiful moment on To Pimp a Butterfly comes on “i.” After the confusion, anger and heavy, heavy darkness of the first 14 tracks, we hear the familiar voice of the same pastor who began this track when it was released six months ago. Except on that old release, the pastor said “He’s not a rapper; he’s a writer!” On this proper album track, he introduces Lamar as “the number-one rapper in the world.” It’s hard to understate exactly how important that difference is. For a while, it seemed like Kendrick Lamar was maybe too good for hip hop, preferring to be talked of in the company of dead white guys instead of 2Pac, Nas or Kanye. But that change, coupled with the faux-live setting that places Lamar right in the heart of his neighborhood and disarms any accusations of selling out for radio play, confirms the emergence of Lamar’s true inner self, the Lamar we’ve been waiting the whole record to hear. “i” ’s catharsis of self-acceptance, of putting the gun down and embracing love, creates a truly glorious moment. However, as the song goes on, Lamar’s audience doesn’t necessarily accept his message of love with open ears, and Lamar doesn’t exactly take their mixed reaction kindly. The unified clarity of the album doesn’t last long. An argument breaks out between fans, and Lamar stops the music, admonishing his crowd to “save that shit for the streets” and proceeding to deliver an a capella lecture/verse on the word “Negus.” On To Pimp a Butterfly we hear a certain kind of militancy in Kendrick Lamar — not militancy in the traditional Black Panther sense, but an indestructible conviction in his message that refuses to allow dissent. 12 years ago, Jay-Z released his “final” album, titled The Black Album. If Hov hadn’t taken that
name, it would’ve been an appropriate descriptor for To Pimp a Butterfly, a release that overflows with knowledge of Black history, attempts to cover as many parts of the Black American experience as it can and name-checks everyone from Moses to the Black Panthers to Malcolm X, MLK, Nelson Mandela and 2Pac. Nowhere is this more apparent than the album’s closer, “Mortal Man.” 12 minutes long and dedicated to Nelson Mandela, “Mortal Man” ’s verses deal with Lamar’s fear of being abandoned by his fans. “When the shit hit the fan, is you still a fan?” he asks. The actions-speak-louderthan-words message and the line “How many leaders you said you needed then left ’em for dead?” ring true, but Lamar might be a little too paranoid about the public’s potential betrayal. Of Michael Jackson, he says, “That nigga gave us Billie Jean, you say he touched those kids?” Hm. “Mortal Man” ’s lengthy outro that closes To Pimp a Butterfly is a conversation between Lamar and 2Pac, who’s recreated from old interview tapes. They discuss the future of Lamar’s generation, and Lamar explains a metaphor that “a good friend” wrote describing Lamar’s world. In the metaphor, which gives the album its title, there are enlightened “butterflies” and bitter “caterpillars” who are trapped in cocoons of their own environments and try to “pimp” the butterflies. The mission of the butterfly, Kendrick says, is to shed light on the caterpillars in order to end the “eternal struggle.” “What’s your perspective on that?” Lamar asks 2Pac. Pac doesn’t answer, and thus ends To Pimp a Butterfly. After taking in the whole album, you may be ready to follow Lamar to the ends of the earth, or you may dismiss him as an overdramatic egotist, but one thing is indisputable: To Pimp a Butterfly is mandatory listening from a rapper whose trials, tribulations and immeasurable ambition have helped create a once-in-a-lifetime record, one whose words, if their creator achieves his goal, will inspire and endure for generations.
HEALTH, BEAUTY, & FASHION
4D — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
B-SIDE LEAD
A look into The Blind Pig Rock ‘n’ roll never dies at the Ann Arbor institution
By CHRISTIAN KENNEDY Summer Managing Arts Editor
There’s no handle? There’s no handle. How the hell do I get inside? I’m supposed to be interviewing the talent buyer of The Blind Pig at 6 p.m. and it is 6:03 and there’s no handle on the door to get in. I feverishly check my e-mail to avoid being later than the three minutes I’ve already lost. “I’ll meet you in the 8 Ball.” I trudge down the gravel hill to the graffitied door of the 8 Ball, The Blind Pig’s basement bar, to meet Jason Berry. I step into the 8 Ball Saloon, multi-colored Christmas lights wrap around ceiling pipes, and the dimly lit room is filled with dart boards and pool tables. Two men at the bar alternate between popcorn and beer, their eyes fixated on Alaskan Troopers busting a coke house on a TV. My phone says it’s 6:20 when Berry walks into the saloon. He is clearly busy, fumbling papers in his hands as he goes to shake mine. “Can you ride with me to the post office?” he asks. “I’ve got a few errands to run.” Berry has worked at The Blind Pig as talent buyer for more than 17 years and is an essential part to the smooth running machine that is Ann Arbor’s premier music venue. The Pig puts on more than 200 shows per year, a mixture of live bands and DJs, with an average ticket price of $15. Berry chalks up his 17-year tenure to the support of his boss, Blind Pig owner Betty Goffett. “Buyers don’t last more than two years on average. They’re under tremendous pressure, from the community, from the ownership,” Berry said. “So, if the owner doesn’t have your back or is some sort of flake, then you’re going to burn through buyers. The owners have got to have your back. I’ve been mega lucky that I’ve had Betty.” Goffett and her late husband came to own the Pig in 1981. Roy Goffett grew up in Liverpool, England, witnessing The Beatles gain traction in the Cavern Club. Owning a music club was his dream. After he made a small fortune in the steel industry, his wife, who also came up from money, bought him the Blind Pig as a gift. Roy passed away in 2001. The Blind Pig’s history can be seen in two distinct phases: preGoffett and post-Goffett. Prior to the Goffett’s ownership, the Pig was a much smaller strictly blues club. “They were the ones who said, ‘Yeah, we aren’t just going to do blues. We’re going to do everything, so that’s when The Blind Pig became what it is today,” Berry said. “No one remembers the old Blind Pig except the old-school hippies. That was all Betty.” While the current owner
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Put another dime in that juke box, bb.
made the room what it is today, the Blind Pig has always been wildly successful. Previous owners sold the Pig not out of financial concern, but out of diverging aspirations. The first was big into espresso machines and left Ann Arbor to pursue that business; the next started Blind Pig Records with recording artists who were booked at the time. Soon after, that venture moved to San Francisco, allowing Betty to purchase the Pig for Roy. “If you talk to anyone who knew the Pig back in the day when it was a blues bar, everyone will say it was fucking packed every night. This was where you bought all your coke, so that didn’t hurt. It wasn’t like the Pig was ever not profitable, it was just that the owners were off to different shit and they wanted to sell. The Pig has always been blessed like that,” Berry said. The Pig has had continuous success over the past 40-plus years, though that doesn’t mean it hasn’t faced a few challenges. Berry recounts the drop in sales following September 2001. He said if a club was doing live bands and guaranteeing funds to bring them in and business was cut in half due to public fear, it ran a serious risk of going out of business. Quick on his feet, he booked solely local bands for the remainder of the 2001-2002 academic year. “For the first time we saw something affect the bar business because people drink when they’re up and they drink when they’re down, so we are recession proof. So when that happened and people were afraid to go out, all of our numbers were just cut in half,” Berry said. “The rest of that school year there was just a pittance of tours. People were like, ‘What the fuck, man? Put some real fucking shows in there.’ I had to listen to that for a while. Then we got to summer …” He mimes pushing a throttle forward, “and we are so badass
and we were just back.” Aside from the post-9/11 slump, Berry chalks up the Pig’s financial stability to owner Betty Goffett. At age 87, she is frugal-minded and does not live beyond her means. Her financial outlook works to keep the Blind Pig rallying through tough economic times. “Honestly, she does not fuck around. When a beer cooler goes down, she replaces it. She doesn’t play with money. It’s really boring actually, but it’s through her leadership that we haven’t struggled.” Frugality aside, the Pig is not afraid to spend for what it needs. By now we are done at the post office, and are heading back to the 8 Ball. Berry begins telling one of his favorite stories about Betty. Last month, New York DJ and producer Kap Slap headlined the Blind Pig, but they did not have turntables compatible with Kap Slap’s USB hub. Two hours before show time the staff was looking for CDJ 2000s, the newest, top-of-the-line turntables, but no one had them because they’re so expensive. Finally a friend of Berry called and said Guitar Center in Canton had them and you could return products the next day. Without the 2000s, the show would have to be cancelled and money would have been returned to over 200 ticketholders. “Without missing a beat (Betty) was like, ‘OK, cool. Let’s go.’ She calls ahead and has them stay open for her to make this purchase. She bought $7,500 turntables to return them once their check cleared, so they didn’t think we were playing them,” Berry said. “There’s no owner like her. That’s Betty. She’s progressive and passionate about groups, people and the quality of the experience.” That experience starts with the shows’ lineups. Berry brings in a mix of local talent and national tours to Ann Arbor, and
between the wealth of local talents and the national recognition of The Blind Pig as one of the best college-town clubs. Local bands are begging for shows, and agents send national acts to the Pig as a proving ground. “Pound for pound, in terms of sound quality, experience of the patron and consistency of what’s happening there, we are often told we are one of the best (clubs) for our little size,” Berry said. “The reality is in the Detroit market we are the smallest of the clubs we compete with. We are competing with The Crofoot, St. Andrews and the Magic Stick. Every one of these rooms is bigger than us, so our advantage is that we are the college town.” Musicians come to Ann Arbor to tap into the college-student demographic. The booking process differs slightly between local bands and national tours. Local bands either e-mail the Pig looking to play a lineup, or Berry is aware of a band through word of mouth and looks into them before offering them a spot. They start on a Wednesday or Thursday, and once they get a following they’ll move to a weekend. For national acts, agents offer a night to Berry, and, if available, he gives them first hold, meaning that if no one is currently booked that night, they get first opportunity. He then sends in an offer, most times a flat rate plus a percentage if profits hit a certain mark. Agents may accept immediately or negotiate for more. After the show is booked, announced and on-sale production is taken over by the staff, the general manager or manager on duty pays the band, and Berry is already looking for the next show. “It’s really smooth. Every club has the same procedure, but every club has its own tweak on it. The Magic Stick’s process has far many more people involved
in it than we do, but that has to do with their size,” Berry said. “Coming from The Blind Pig and seeing that, it gives a nice perspective on how well the Pig is actually doing what they’re doing.” While the playing field is somewhat leveled by the Pig’s status as a college-town club, they also have money on their side due to the affluence of the Michigan student body and Ann Arbor residents, so they are able to spend a lot to bring in acts the community wants to see. Berry recounted how they began to shell out for big shows. Lee Berry, then-Blind Pig talent buyer who is now chief development officer at the Michigan Theater, and then-newly hired Jason Berry began hosting dance nights featuring international DJs. Back in 1998-99, flying DJs in from Europe was a revolutionary idea. He recounts that a club on Main Street would play ghettotech every Wednesday, but only feature Ann Arbor DJs. “We were like, ‘Fuck that,’” he said. “We spent money, but it was because Ann Arbor. We could do that and charge 25 bucks to get in, which would have been ludicrous, but because of the affluent student body, we could just go for it. And now it’s the norm. People would be surprised if that wasn’t happening now. “The Pig is fucking great. As a talent buyer I can just sit there. It’s like painting.” He motions moving a paintbrush across a canvas. “The club is so solid, and it has a magnificent owner who rolls with the punches and understands the nature of the live music industry.” The Blind Pig’s backlog of shows is impressive. Jason Berry has brought in John Mayer, The White Stripes and Wiz Khalifa’s first show in Michigan. Prior to that, Lee Berry brought in Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Dave Matthews Band and Nirvana,
who famously stated the Blind Pig as their favorite venue to play in an MTV interview. Nirvana’s legendary show took place in 1990 on its Bleach Tour. The tour was receiving lackluster response until the Monday before they were set to play; Soundgarden frontman, Chris Cornell, told a sold-out Blind Pig crowd to come back next week for Nirvana. Between that shoutout and some momentum built from opening for Tap and Screaming Trees, Nirvana took the stage to a sold-out crowd instead of the expected half-empty venue. After the show, Nirvana didn’t have a place to stay, so the band crashed the Prism Productions offices on Fourth Street. Lee Berry walked into his office the next morning only to step over Krist Novoselic’s legs and see Kurt Cobain passed out on his sofa and in his plush office chair. “I booked a bunch of great shit for my little 17-year tenure, but Lee booked all that famous shit,” Berry said. “But he’s got Dave Matthews and Godsmack. He is the Don Dada.” (Urban Dictionary: “A combination of Don and Dada. Meaning the top pimp, the biggest player and even one step above mack daddy.”) “He booked everything the Pig is really famous for, including every damn time Nirvana played. He is the man.” Step one: buy your husband a blues club. Step two: host all types of bands. Step three: profit. It was the perfect storm that has led to the local goldmine called The Blind Pig. It feeds off the vibrancy of Ann Arbor and the affluence of its inhabitants to put on legendary music shows. “The point of it all is to sell beer, and we are just very good at selling it the way we sell it. It could be simpler, but that’s what the 8 Ball is for,” he said. “That’s just a beer and shot bar and the Pig is some complicated bells and whistles to sell a glass of beer. It all just works really well.
STYLE NOTEBOOK
The style of the self: Why I like fashion One writer’s bizzare infatuation with the fashion world By CAROLINE FILIPS Summer Senior Arts Editor
When people ask me why I like fashion, or why I intend to work in the industry, I never have an immediate, straight answer. At the initial utterance of the question, my mind is instantly flooded with images of iconic Vogue spreads, sketches, fabrics and troops of models trotting down the runway. I often retort with my usual sartorial spiel — how fashion is pertinent to all of our lives, a reflection of the past and an indicator of the future … paired with other eye roll-worthy answers that the inquirer
undoubtedly tunes out. Sometimes I even share a favorite childhood anecdote: the time my fifth grade teacher complimented the way my baby-doll Hollister blouse matched my blue braces, swearing I was destined for a career in fashion design. Though my tweenage concept of “fashion” (RIP Limited Too) evokes pain and shame, it was when I truly understood what fashion was all about — how style choices could be an extension of your character. Beyond that, fashion says what we can’t; it’s a voice we don’t have on our own. Yeah, there’s some heavy stuff beyond the cloth. Yet when I mull it over, reflecting on the countless documentaries of doyens I’ve watched, chic PR-girls I’ve internet-stalked and industry editorials I’ve re-read endless-
ly, I’m reminded of the fashion world’s inimitable icons who keep me so bizarrely infatuated. Though all unique in their signature idiosyncrasies (i.e. Tom Ford bathing thrice daily, Valentino Garavani’s place-setting fetish, Largerfeld’s … well, everything) the industry’s key contributors are all bound by one distinctive characteristic: they’re all so unapologetically themselves, and that individual eccentricity is translated into their work. True fashion icons don’t subscribe to any notion of normal. Like any arts-related endeavor, success in the industry is equal parts raw talent and being atypical in whichever facet you pursue. It’s a sphere for weirdos to thrive and the most quirky to flourish. Normalcy doesn’t exist in fashion; it’s about the misfits. Fashion applauds the
individual and gives a resting bitch face to the conventional. Ranging from the gamechanging theatrics of wonderfully outrageous shows (see: McQueen’s Dante, Fall 1996), to Linda Fargo’s trademark platinum bob — figureheads know it’s all about their schtick. Famous for her strictly hyperbolic candor along with her suc-
Normalcy doesn’t exist in fashion. cinct and sassy memos, there’s no one who emulated fashion’s uncanny uniqueness better than Diana Vreeland.
Vreeland once said, “You gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs. It helps you to get up in the morning. It’s a way of life.” Though I regrettably wasn’t alive at the height of her editorin-chief reign at American Vogue in the early ’60s-’70s, it’s clear she lived out her mantra, embodying everything style was, is and will continue to be. In any and all clips of Vreeland, particularly throughout her documentary, “Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel,” she’s brash, outspoken and 100 percent herself. Her brand of style consisted of accentuating her anomalous features and larger-than-life personality. She didn’t care what anyone thought of her, she trusted her instincts and her irrefutable eye for style and ran with it. And if that leads you to Vogue by way of Harper’s Bazaar, you’re doing something right.
Vreeland emphasized her own imperfections and those of others (she literally discovered Twiggy — THE TWIGGY — at the peak of youthquake). She knew perfection was bogus and uninteresting, she foresaw fashion’s globalization; in life and death, Vreeland is all that fashion was and ever will be — genuinely absurd, somewhat misunderstood and perpetually one step ahead. And that’s why I’m enthralled with the sartorial sphere. Though I fawn over the sheer art of couture and commend the unparalleled creativity of les artistes, that’s not the ultimate answer to “why, fashion?” It’s the allure of the edgy factors possessed by all the greats — from Anna Wintour’s polarizing snark to Diane Von Furstenberg’s effortless elegance; that nth degree that is so fantastically fashion. That’s why.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
5D — Fall 2015
B-SIDE SECONDARY
Cherry tree grows in the Arb Renowned music producer returns to his roots By GREG HICKS Daily Arts Writer
“Everybody’s in shorts? That sounds like Ann Arbor.” The city is hitting the 50-degree mark, and Martin Kierszenbaum knows just how University of Michigan students react to the slightest hint of the new season. Kierszenbaum is the Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter known as “Cherry Cherry Boom Boom,” the founder of Cherrytree Records, the senior A&R executive of Interscope Records and, most importantly, a fellow Michigan Wolverine. Well, perhaps not most importantly. That’s quite a list of achievements to compete with, after all. The alum has done A&R for Enrique Iglesias, Sting, Marilyn Manson and produced nearly one third of Lady Gaga’s first record, The Fame, which was released on his label, Cherrytree Records. Cherrytree Records — home to artists Ellie Goulding,
LMFAO, La Roux, Sting and more — celebrated its 10th anniversary this past year, and while the label has officially been up and running for more than a decade now, the concept began many years prior, right here in Ann Arbor. While at the University, Kierszenbaum earned a triple major in music, communications and Spanish literature Quite the academic juggling act, one might say What’s not shocking, however, is that of those three degrees, music sits at the forefront of the all-star alum’s career. At the age of eight, Kierszenbaum met the musical instrument that would lead him to his interest in the industry: the piano. “I was lucky that I grew up in East Lansing and had a great piano teacher in the neighborhood,” Kierszenbaum recalled. “She required us to take theory concurrently with our piano lessons, so I had a theory class and playing class every week ... I started to understand the building blocks and how it all related to each other. That got me into writing music, and I was really drawn to pop music.” Kierszenbaum’s achievements could easily be credited to his parents for tolerating the
hectic household that became something of a musical tornado alley for the children of the family. “I don’t know why, but my parents let me set up my band and the equipment in the living room, and they didn’t care if it was there for months. They were super cool in that way. They were scientists and worked at Michigan State, but they were really tolerant. My sister was usually with a quartet in the basement, while I was there in the living room with a drum kit — literally there for three months.” Rather than set up his own music conservatory (similar to what the Kierszenbaum household became) the Cherrytree Records founder began developing an interest in the commercial music business — even if only to initially preserve his own musical merits. “I was a musician and a songwriter, so I quickly started to realize in high school when I was organizing a band that it was really easy to get ripped off by club owners. I was like, ‘You know, this feels bad. I’m writing a song, I’m rehearsing and then the club doesn’t pay us. I’ve gotta figure out how this all works.’ ” That was when Kierszen-
baum began digging for clues. “So I wanted to find out more about where the interaction of music and business is because, if not, I was going to be at the mercy of whomever as a musician and a writer,” Kierszenbaum continued, “and then I thought, ‘Well, it seems like the center of it all is the record label,’ you know? They’re the ones that take a chance on the artist and invest in them … So I thought, ‘I think I want to be in a record label.’ ” A wise thought, surely, but with one major obstacle: There were no record labels in Ann Arbor for the then-college student Kierszenbaum to join. Then, a wild idea flew in. Kierszenbaum decided to create his own record label in Ann Arbor — Arb Recordings. “We started (Arb Recordings), and were recognized with an office in the Union, which meant we could post banners on the Diag, and we basically used all students to run our label.” Kierszenbaum said. “We had photographers from East Quad, recording engineers and we used the East Quad musical studio … We’d record stuff there and in our dorm rooms.” The label became home to Kierszenbaum’s own rap group, Maroon, as the label sprouted on
campus. After Maroon released its first record on Arb Recordings, door after door began opening for Kierszenbaum, having acquired this newfound knowledge of label foundation and management — knowledge that is still applied to this day at Cherrytree Records, according to Kierszenbaum. And the label was covered from head to toe with Ann Arbor memorabilia. “I remember naming it Arb because it was kind of like an ode to Prince’s Paisley Park (Records) and I was a big Prince fan, so I was like, ‘You’ve got Paisley Park, we have the Arb, that’s our park.’ ” The logo creation for Arb Recordings was not a story to be ignored either. “Do they still give out tickets like crazy in Ann Arbor?” Kierszenbaum asked. “I used to get ticketed all the time on my car senior year … so I just took the tree from inside the logo on the ticket, and I made that the first label. And then we started getting some attention and I thought we might get in trouble for that … so we changed it to look like a very kind of generic, iconic tree.” There truly is an idea hiding around every corner — or in this case, slapped to every car wind-
shield. And despite being such a small idea initially, the tree concept grew into Kierszenbaum’s future platforms. “Really that’s kind of the genesis of the Cherrytree (Records) logo. When I started the Cherrytree label I thought it was kind of a continuum of the stuff I learned at Arb (Recordings), so I made it look like that.” And there is certainly something to be said to that tune. Kierszenbaum started Cherrytree years after developing a solid musical footing here in Ann Arbor. He took many of the same courses that University students take now (be it History of Opera or Javanese Gamelan Performance). He walked through the same Arb. He posted f liers on the same Diag. He probably lost a fortune in the same parking fees. In his current music and business, you’ll find these bits and pieces of Ann Arbor because Kierszenbaum planted many ideas here — some that he took with him, and others that he left behind. And in this past and present, Martin Kierszenbaum has quite a lot to be proud of, and Michigan is proud to have been a part of his venture to success.
MOVIE NOTEBOOK
In defense of thought-provoking ‘Sniper’ War film, in actuality, says nothing about war By JAMIE BIRCOLL Senior Arts Editor
Warning: The following discussion of “American Sniper” contains mild plot spoilers. This is a defense of “American Sniper.” But it’s also more than that. It’s an attempt at understanding the role of cinema in a society so politically inclined, so blinded by its own ideological trappings that it has ceased to examine cinema for its cinematic quality but for its realism. The loudest proponents
and detractors of this film alike extract the same meaning from it: validation of their own political leanings. What people have failed to see is that “American Sniper” rises above politicization to give to the public a narrative. Not the narrative, mind you, but a single perspective: of one American soldier delegated immense power, and how that power takes its toll on him and his family. As far as the media is concerned, there are two reactions that one ought to have after a viewing of the film: “Go America!” or “This is propaganda bullshit.” Of the former party, such subscribers include Blake Shelton and Charlie Daniels, and of the latter, Michael Moore
and Seth Rogen. The Twittersphere has tended to align with either of these opinions as well. If you walked out of the theater believing one of these two assertions, then one of two things has happened: you watched the wrong movie or you watched the movie the wrong way. To have these kinds of opinions after leaving the “American Sniper” that I saw is to admit that you either went into the movie with your own opinion already formed or that you only selectively paid attention. If you went into “American Sniper” believing it was an affirmation of American military ideals and/ or the idealization of a trained killer, then it actually does make perfect sense to have that “go
America” or “fuck war” attitude, depending on your political leaning. But to do so isn’t fair to the filmmaker or to yourself. Because “American Sniper” doesn’t make a single statement about war, about America, about Iraq or about politics. So what is “American Sniper”? It’s the single narrative view from the perspective of an American soldier, raised on a set of values, constantly trying to reconcile those values, his love for his family and his anger with the atrocities he commits. And director Clint Eastwood makes this perfectly clear in the first scene: A sniper peering down his scope sees a young boy carry-
ing what appears to be an antitank grenade, running toward a group of soldiers. Oversight cannot confirm if the boy is in fact carrying a grenade. They defer to the sniper’s judgment. He hesitates. The boy prepares to throw the object. The sniper has his finger on the trigger … cut. Watch the hesitation in Bradley Cooper’s eyes, how tense his face is; contrast that with the stillness of his body, the calm of his breathing. He is at once at peace and at war with himself. Above all else, this film is about internal conflict. And the film itself captures that conflict in its structure. Shifting between scenes of intense action with apprehen-
sive home life, the film, like Kyle himself, is never still. There’s always something stirring: an enemy militant, a lingering memory. These are equally legitimate forces that eat away at a man’s psyche, at Chris Kyle’s psyche. By the time Kyle has finished his four tours, he is but a vessel of his former energetic, amicable self. Eastwood and screenwriter Jason Hall want you to know this. Sure, Kyle looks calm, he looks in control, but you, the viewer, know what he’s seen. You can sense the burning underneath his skin. You should fear Chris Kyle. But it’s more complicated than that: A news clip of the See SNIPER, Page 7D
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
6D — Fall 2015
TV REVIEW
‘Parks & Rec’ ends perfectly Series Finale reminds fans why they’ve watched By ALEX INTNER Daily Arts Writer
Tuesday night marked the end of an era at NBC. That evening, we said goodbye to the last of the A+ network’s niche, quality com- Parks and edies that have defined its pro- Recreation gramming for Series Finale the past several years. “30 Rock,” NBC “Community”
and “Parenthood” survived for much longer than they normally would have due to NBC’s perpetually low ratings. Ending its run this week, the brilliant “Parks and Recreation” left us with a beautiful finale that gave us insight into the characters’s futures and allowed us to say goodbye to one of the all-time greatest comedies on television. The “Parks” finale followed the former members of the Pawnee Parks Department as they worked to complete “one last job” by fixing a broken swing. As they went through the process, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler, “Saturday Night Live”) had a final moment with each core ensemble character, then flashed forward to detail each character’s definitive end.
Donna (Retta, “Drunk History”) moved to Seattle with Joe (KeeganMichael Key, “Key & Peele”) and started a nonprofit to help finance education. Craig (Billy Eichner, “Billy on the Street”) married Typhoon and grew old with him. Jerry (Jim O’Heir, “Strip Mall”) lives happily as mayor until age 100. April (Aubrey Plaza, “Safety Not Guaranteed”) has a child with Andy (Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”). Tom’s (Aziz Ansari, “Human Giant”) restaurant goes under and he writes a best-selling book about his failures. Ron (Nick Offerman, “Children’s Hospital”) becomes the superintendent of the Pawnee National Park — and our endearing Leslie becomes the governor of Indiana with Ben’s (Adam Scott, “Party Down”) sup-
port. She is finally one step closer to her presidential dream. This episode did exactly what all series finales should: It reminded viewers about why they followed — dedicated themselves — to the show for so long. The hour never lost track of the warm sentimentality that made the show great. The entire idea of the finale was built upon how much these characters truly love one another, and especially how much Leslie cares about each of them. It was simply another episode, without any gimmicks that made the show feel like it was something it wasn’t — just a piece fit for the final run. What really made this episode special were the little moments within the flash-forwards. One
of the best was the return of Ann (Rashida Jones, “The Office”) and Chris (Rob Lowe, “The West Wing”), allowing us to check in with characters we still care about, even after they left Pawnee (even if it did lead to Ron bashing the University of Michigan). What made the scene was Poehler’s delighted delivery of “Ann’s here!” before running up to hug her. Another favorite was Ron out on the lake in a beautifully composed sequence and location. There was also Jerry’s 100th birthday party, giving the often-bashed character one last chance to celebrate. “Parks” had several landmark moments over the course of its long run (like the Harvest Festival in the third season), but what really built the show were the commonplace
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
interactions between these characters. The finale was able to honor that with small character notes of its own. It’s fitting that “Parks and Recreation” closes this particular chapter of NBC programming. The show survived for seven seasons mostly because NBC had other problems to fix. This little show ran its course naturally, creating episodes that were managed to be both hilarious and heartwarming. The finale served as a reminder of what made this show great and how much it will be missed. TV is a sadder place without new stories from Pawnee, but “Parks” undoubtedly leaves a legacy as one of the best TV comedies of all time.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
7D — Fall 2015
B-SIDE LEAD
AA’s home-grown pharmacy A profile of People’s Choice, marijuanna dispencary By KATHLEEN DAVIS Senior Arts Editor
Editors note: Due to the legal sensitivity of the topic, some names have been changed. I pulled into the parking lot of People’s Choice of Ann Arbor on a gray and slushy afternoon, equal parts excited and nervous to step into a medical marijuana dispensary for the first time. A large purple wall greeted me in front of my windshield, featuring a large mural with the name of the establishment and the painted skyline of Ann Arbor. Sun-deprived from months with Michigan weather and kicking the snow from my boots, opening the door to the dispensary provided a sensory explosion to contrast the dreariness of a January afternoon: walls painted in warm hues of orange, reggae playing softly on the waiting room speakers and that distinctive skunky smell. Sarah, the manager of People’s Choice, greeted me promptly with a warm smile and a handshake, and gave me a tour of the store. We walked from the waiting room to the managerial office to the product room, where shelves of various marijuana strains sat behind a large glass cabinet filled with edibles (marijuana-infused food or candy products) and lined with pipes and bongs. The store in its entirety was modest-sized, but what it lacked in size, People’s Choice made up for coziness and comfort. I was brought back to the private office where I was introduced to owner and president of People’s Choice, Daryl. Sarah and Daryl, both softspoken and easygoing, radiate a vibe that rides the threshold between humanitarian and business. They did not come into the medical cannabis business to find a legal way to help
SNIPER From Page 5D 9/11 at tacks, t he screa ms of a young boy get ting his skull drilled in — what is one supposed to feel t hen? Do we not echo Kyle’s initia l ent husia sm or feel his sense of dut y, his urgency? All of this goes back to that central idea: conf lict. As you walk out of the theater, you should have not one idea, but multiple; you, like Kyle, should be trying to reconcile all of these contradictory emotions. You should sympathize with Kyle’s family, you should fear for them. Simply, you should think about the film you have just seen. Part of the controversy, I
their friends get high, a stereotype enforced by years of dispensary raids on cop shows and Showtime’s addictively popular “Weeds.” In fact, that could not be farther from the truth. Both have personal histories of why they became acquainted and interested in the medicinal effects of marijuana due to watching loved ones suffer from the effects of debilitating diseases and the harsh prescription pills that come with it. “When I started five years ago, I had a true reason to jump into this business and try to help people who need it. My mother has MS (multiple sclerosis), and she tried different medications her whole life and nothing really worked,” Daryl said. “My cousin has R A (rheumatoid arthritis) very bad, and the first time I gave him medical cannabis he called me the next day and said, ‘Daryl, last night is the first time I slept through the night in three years.’ For that powerful of a statement to come out of someone’s mouth re-solidifies our purpose.” Both Sarah and Daryl became involved in the medical cannabis industry in California when it became legalized in the state for medical purposes. Both Michigan natives, they returned after Michigan voters passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative, also known as Proposal 1, which allows patients suffering from debilitating conditions, inscribed as including cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV, to use marijuana with a Medical Marijuana Card. The store itself has been around since July 2010. Before her introduction to the medical cannabis industry, Sarah’s husband had been suffering from substantial back pain, and was trying to find alternative treatment options. It’s the understanding of marijuana as a medicine that drives the work at People’s Choice, and the passion of helping others that encompasses the attitudes of Daryl and Sarah. The two believe that the general
public’s changing attitudes toward medical cannabis has been greatly positive. “I would say that the general population has really turned a corner,” Daryl said. “When medical marijuana first came out, I think there were a lot of questions like, ‘Oh, is this really medicine?’ or, ‘Does this really work?’ or, ‘Are these people just hippies trying to find a reason to get high?’ But as time goes on, more and more medical evidence comes out, and people are opening their eyes and saying, ‘Wow, this is real medicine that is changing people’s lives daily.’” And Daryl used science to back this up. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active physiological compound naturally found in cannabis. This compound treats nausea in cancer patients and increases appetite, also called “the munchies.” CBD, or cannabidiol, is another active compound found in cannabis, which researchers say treats a wider range of disease than THC. Your brain does have cannabinoid receptors, which are associated with mood, appetite, pain sensation and memory. Your body, like many mammals, also produces cannabinoids naturally, which attach to these receptors. When a body ingests cannabis, the body can test positive for marijuana for around 30 days. “When your body holds onto something for a month, like marijuana, it’s because it wants it. Your body has natural CBD receptors in it, pre-built in. When people understand this, they can understand cannabis as a medicine and understand how it helps people.” Lloyd Johnston, a distinguished senior research scientist at the University’s Institute for Social Research, has studied the effects of drug use on young people for decades. While he does believe the pro-medical testimonials of those suffering from certain illnesses, Johnston is skeptical of laws increasing the availability of marijuana to the general public, as he still sees marijuana as a drug.
“The jury is still out on what all the consequences of marijuana are,” Johnston said. “We know it is very rarely lethal, but it does have the potential to create dependence, contrary to what was believed for some years. And there’s increasing evidence accumulating that it may interfere with brain development when used chronically in adolescence and early adulthood, when the brain is still developing.” Johnston is not convinced that medical marijuana will become legal nationwide, and sees an increase of non-medical use of the drug as an extraneous result of legalization for medical purposes. “I’m not at all sure that (legalizing medical marijuana) is likely to happen,” Johnston said. “Young people have come to see marijuana as considerably less dangerous in recent years, no doubt in part because of the medical marijuana and legalization debates, and their use of it has been rising.” Daryl disagrees with Johnston’s prediction of nationwide legalization. “There is not an inkling of doubt in my mind. About half on the Union is already in some stage of the medical level, so at some point the national government has to recognize that,” Daryl said. “I would say within the next three to five years we may see some sort of national marijuana policy change in favor of medical.” Daryl cited a 2014 House of representatives decision to limit the Drug Enforcement Administration from pursuing medical marijuana use in legal states. With help from high-profile physicians, like University alum Sanjay Gupta, a staunch medical cannabis advocate, more people are being turned on to the idea that marijuana can be a medicine rather than a taboo. “We see a lot of people who come in (to People’s Choice) for the first time and they feel the stigma, and are worried about what to expect,” Sarah said. “Once they realize that it’s no big deal, they can finally relax,
feel, stems from one’s inability to differentiate between “Chris Kyle the man” and “Chris Kyle the character.” I have never liked the label “based on a true story” because, once reading it, the viewer can only associate a film based on its ability to stay true to history instead of evaluating it on its own cinematic merits. The fact is, I do not know what Chris Kyle the man was like. I do not know if Bradley Cooper’s portrayal of him is accurate. I do not know the degree of factuality of the events of the film. What I do know is Cooper’s Chris Kyle is a haunted, imposing human who faced trauma, tragedy and suffering, who caused his family pain, who could never separate himself from the battlefield, who killed because he felt it was his duty,
who killed women and children, could look them in the eye even if they couldn’t look back. It’s a testament to Cooper’s ability that he invigorates the film where the script is lacking and elevates the film above a standard character drama into a deep, thorough analysis of one man exposed to the harsh environment of war. Cinema can certainly be political, but to immediately ascribe a film “conservative” or “liberal” without analyzing what makes the film tick is a disservice. “American Sniper” is not a political film. It’s a contemplative film, a tense film and a sad film, but it neither upholds nor denies any ideology. I urge all to see it, not because it’s the best film of the year, not because of my personal leanings, but because it got
me to think and ref lect. Good art, really good art, doesn’t agree with you; it rebuffs you. It presents an entirely new way of looking at something once thought fully analyzed. It gets you to think, to question, check and re-check the facts, discuss, debate. Roger Ebert, I think, summed it up best: “We live in a box of space and time. Movies are windows in its walls. They allow us to enter other minds, not simply in the sense of identifying with the characters, although that is an important part of it, but by seeing the world as another person sees it.” “American Sniper” isn’t taking sides. Good film doesn’t take sides. It enlightens. It shows the best and the worst of society, of people.
and that attitude has definitely changed over the years as well.” “You can go all the way from babies having seizures and give them a high CBD dose in medicine and their seizures will stop,” Daryl said. “You can look at an older person with serious chronic pain who has been on Vicodin for years and it’s tearing up their GI tract. When they switch over to medical cannabis they get away completely from the Vicodin, and their GI tract will start to heal itself, and they’re actually starting to feel better because they aren’t dealing with the bad side effects of the narcotics.” “We see examples of this daily,” Sarah added. “We’ll have a Crohn’s disease patient feeling sick and as soon as they start medicating they gain 40 pounds and they’re finally feeling healthy again. There are just countless stories like that.” “From the outside looking in, it’s hard to see these examples because you don’t see the pain coming from these people’s faces,” Daryl said. “People come in crying, or they leave crying because they’re so elated, they’ll say, ‘Oh my God, I finally feel normal and well, instead of high off these narcotics, off the Oxycotin and the Vicodin,’ and they can go back into their lives and function again.” The business of a medical marijuana dispensary is, according to Sarah and Daryl, not much different than that of any other local pharmacy. People’s Choice is a firm supporter of buying locally, and all the product within the store is Michigan grown. The glass pieces sold are almost all from local artists, and the pair pride themselves on being a Michi-
gan-based company. “I’d say 90 percent of the operations are the same as any other business,” Daryl said. “You need to have a patient database, a record of everything they’ve purchased, so it’s looked at in mostly a pharmaceutical light, which it should be. If it’s medicine, you need to treat it as such.” People’s Choice relies on the help of volunteers for secretarial functions and has a small paid staff, all of whom are required to hold Medical Marijuana Cards of their own, and well as to be licensed Medical Marijuana Caregivers. “I’d say the volunteers who are drawn to this are somewhat humanitarian, in the sense that they see there’s a need for their help,” Daryl said. “And they’re willing to risk a little, if you will.” The risk Daryl referred to was exemplified by an unexpected DEA raid on People’s Choice in August 2013. The event was traumatizing for the workers of the dispensary, but the owners fought and won their case against the federal agents, as there was nothing incriminating or illegal at the scene. “The people working (at People’s Choice) at that time were here because they were willing to put themselves on the line in order to get people the medicine they need,” Daryl said. As I finished my interview with Sarah and Daryl, I was filled with a sense of humanitarianism I did not expect from my experience at the dispensary. Walking back through the hallway I first came from, mentally saying goodbye to the calming reggae and the poster of Bob Marley on the wall, I had nearly forgotten how gray and cold the world outside was.
8D — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FILM NOTEBOOK
Uncanniness & horror films ‘It Follows’ captures true and unrelenting fear
By CATHERINE SULPIZIO Senior Arts Editor
The evaluative index for scary movies is rarely their ability to be re-watched. Even the scariest disintegrates under a second viewing — neither makeup nor special effect nor narrative arc can launch itself very far without the element of surprise propelling it. “It Follows” is different. Traditional scares still abound in the film, mechanized by the now famous score and figures that loom into central focus. But just as “It Follows” raids the toolbox for formal techniques, its real sticking power is less synthetic. “Sticks” is a fitting word. After all, the fear “It Follows” generates isn’t of the atomized variety, like in a movie like “The Conjuring” where the monster can be categorized, and therefore predicted, by its phenomenon. The monster of “It Follows” is formless: With no back-
Checking for followers
story or recognizable figure, the monster is a flytrap for the characters’ various psychic configurations. Fathers and mothers take on the nude form of “it,” a trick which exploits our visceral disgust to anything Oedipal. The movie harnesses yet another Freudian principal, the uncanny. On one hand, unheimlich, its German term, connotes the familiar and at-home; on the other hand, its second meaning refers to the
concealed and secret. So the word itself holds a dialectic set of meanings at its pole and antipode: the domestic and the strange. Under the uncanny, the entire landscape becomes fair game for this ambivalent hold. “It Follows” plasters pulpy references across the screen — female protagonist Jay’s lurid blonde hair and lingerie glisten in the moonlight while she makes seamy love in an old sedan’s backseat. But the film’s most potent
chemical for the uncanny is nostalgia. Teen crushes are imbued with life-or-death stakes; childhood friends band together to ambush the monster like the gang in Scooby Doo. Though Michigan natives will recognize some locations, the suburbs are indistinguishable from Anywhere, USA. Most importantly, parental figures are reduced to generic peripheral blurs that hover in the background. And instead of thrusting the
teens into the realities of adulthood and responsibility, the monster is an extension of adolescence. After all, the purely physical aspect of sex is not the ground that the monster preys on. Rather, it’s teenage sex’s clearinghouse of lore — its urban myths, its allures, negotiations and anxieties — that produces the monster. Even the name “it,” which is all one can call the monster, turns a condition into a taboo. If a 30-yearold contracted “it,” she would go to a doctor covered by ObamaCare or take the morning after pill. But for the adolescent sequestered from the adult world’s decisive rationality, the monster festers. This dark side that dims adolescence’s halcyon glow marks “It Follows” ’s turn into the uncanny, because there is something off about the world. Unlatched from temporal referents, the film derives its nostalgia from cans of soda with brands that don’t exist and a strange e-reader nestled in a clamshell compact, all cast under a Polaroid hue. The result is a familiarity that is hollow, a nostalgia that rings false. Even the camera lacks
a grip on identity. In one shot, Jay, tied down to a wheelchair, shudders. And almost imperceptibly, the camera shudders as well, as if it forgets who it is. It forgets what its job is too. During moments of suspense, the camera discards its role to telescope details with a hyper-aesthete’s eye, lingering on vivid green grass à la “Blue Velvet” or a shock of shimmering hair. In another much talked about shot, Jay and company talks to a school administrator as the camera scans the office in a slow, 360-degree circle of paranoia, trying to apprehend if “it” is among the strangers in the room. The evaluative index for a scary movie comes down to “does it scare you?” “It Follows” doesn’t just scare, it crawls under your skin and casts the film’s aesthetic glaze on everything you see. I saw “It Follows” twice. The first time I jumped more, the second time I was no less engaged. The adrenaline spikes are exhaustible, but what pervades is the sense of dread — not an accelerating anxiety, but a deadening gloom.
STYLE NOTEBOOK
Seriously, out with the shorts, dudes Keep your calves covered, no matter the temperature By ANDREW MCCLURE Daily Arts Writer
Dudes, out with the shorts. I wish I could spin this as my own, but I hold too much respect for Fran Lebowitz, the sardonic author and commenter who, as her 1993 Paris Review interview put it, “disapproves of virtually
everything.” This week ELLE interviewed her and, per usual, she said something inspired and funny and realized: Men in shorts are disgusting. It gets better when she says she’d rather “see someone coming toward me with a hand grenade” than sit next to shorted men “on the subway in the summer.” Even though Lebowitz is cooler than I ever was when I peaked socially back in the late 90’s, and her voice has a lower register, and her opinions are sharper and
leaner than things that are at once sharp and lean, I agree with every boner in my body: Shorts are vile. First, the anatomical. Calves are, in the main, gross to look at. It’s the one body part that is never <em>just right</em> by any measurable function. Faces have the “golden ratio” and penises have rulers. Calves are invariably too skinny or too fat or too unshapely or too shapely. Even when they are close to “nice,” you can thank some bulging purple vein or a
moon-sized mole to fuck it all up. Rats! Try again! To be sure, calves are nasty and unflattering and exposing yours makes you look like a GSI who doesn’t know what year it is. Second, the, er, anatomical, again. Legs are, in the main, on dudes, gross to look at. This bit for the the homies who thought they could justify shorts by skipping my first point since they like their thighs and wear fourinch inseams. The only thing more exposed leg flesh does to
you is expose more of your veins and moles. So unless “veins and moles” falls under your mating market’s searched-for buzzwords, light your shorts on fire or give them to someone who hasn’t had braces yet. He’ll rock ‘em better than you and wear a Pull-Up underneath. Spring is here and that means snapbacks, sun, Sperry’s and style bloggers saying, “Spring is here and that means…” ad nauseam. I understand the utility of a tee when it’s hot AF outside, I really
do. Nobody has ever proven to me that moist weather demands veins and moles and calves. Throw on some slacks and roll those cuffs like they do in Esquire. There’s a reason that publication remains important: good writing, captivating interviews, sound advice and no calves. Because syntax was never my thing, here are other articles to avoid this season: socks that people can see, flip-flops, tanks, frayed belts, unironic graphic tees and serial commas.
The Michigan Daily-michigandaily.com New Student Edition
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review 2015 August 30, 2014 Seven years after a shocking upset to Appalachian State, the Michigan football team gets revenge with a 52-14 win
September 27, 2014 The football team loses three games in September for the first time in 135 years as a program
October 31, 2014 Dave Brandon resigns as Michigan Athletic Director after a number of nationally-publicized controversy
November 29, 2014 Michigan loses to eventual NCAA Champion Ohio State for the ninth time in 11 seasons
December 30, 2014 Former star quarterback and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh becomes the next head coach of Michigan football
January 10, 2015 Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson wins his 800th game as coach, becoming only the fourth coach in history to reach that milestone
February 28, 2015 The men’s swimming and diving team wins its fifth-consecutive Big Ten Championship before finishing third in the country
March 21, 2015 Michigan hockey, men’s and women’s basketball fail to make their respective NCAA Tournaments. It is the first time the Wolverines missed the postseason in hockey, basketball and football in the same season since 1973
April 4, 2015 A school-record 60,000 fans attend the annual Spring Game to see Harbaugh coach his first game — even if it was just a scrimmage
May 24, 2015 Michigan baseball beats Maryland to win the Big Ten Tournament, clinching its first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2008
June 3, 2015 Michigan softball falls to Florida in the WCWS national championship, snapping a 27-game win streak and giving the Gators their second-consecutive NCAA crown
July 6, 2015 Michigan agrees to a 15-year, $169 million contract with Nike, the largest apparel deal in the history of college athletics
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Jim Harbaugh was introduced as the next Michigan football coach on Dec. 30. He went 44-19-1 in three seasons as coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014.
Harbaugh comes home Baseball Former Michigan QB turns down NFL offers to coach Wolverines
You probably thought Jim Harbaugh was joking. Everybody else did, too. Tripping and catching his balance when he walked to the podium was the second thing Harbaugh spoke about Tues- MAX day in his COHEN introductory press conference as Michigan’s football coach, after he apologized for his hoarse voice. “A lesser athlete would’ve gone down,” Harbaugh proclaimed about his misstep. It was his first bold statement as Michigan’s head coach, one that emulated a famous Bo Schembechler quote. The room filled with Michigan football dignitaries was overcome by laughter and clapping, the Wolverines’ new football coach seemingly fit for both a side job as a comedian and the ability to fill the shoes of Schembechler. Harbaugh was only half joking. Last week, his former players at Stanford remembered a similar moment from when he coached them, when he used the famous Schembechler saying again. That time, he reacted differently. It was during a team meeting when Harbaugh spoke in front of
auditorium-style seating. In the middle of his speech, he headed toward the steps to continue to make his point. When he walked up the first step, he tripped. The entire team laughed. Harbaugh popped to his feet and looked at his players until they were completely silent. “A lesser man would have gone down there,” Harbaugh said. His players don’t remember a hint of exaggeration or tomfoolery. “It was just one of the most ridiculous things that I think I’ve ever heard come out of anyone’s mouth,” said former Stanford offensive lineman Bert McBride with a laugh. “But he was serious.” That’s why Michigan fans are so excited for Harbaugh, why the press conference felt more like a coronation than an introduction. It’s not because of his outstanding record as an NFL head coach, the fact that he’s coming home or even the fact that Bo is his coach and mentor. It’s because Harbaugh believes in himself to such an extent that it’s nearly impossible to envision him failing to get the job done. He’s so competitive he makes tripping a point of pride, that he runs drills with his players only to yell “halftime” when they think they’re finished, and that he’ll even smear their blood on his face if it means inspiring the team. He has told recruits he’ll be calling Tuesday night and even mentioned how excited he is to start winter conditioning. That’s right, winter conditioning. The idea of working on the field with his players excites him more than anything else. If he could, he’d strap on pads every day. His players have seen
it before. Former Stanford and San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Chase Beeler remembers a 2012 rookie mini camp, when the team’s front office had neglected to sign a quarterback to attend the camp. The rookies had no idea who would run the offensive drills. Then one of the rookies noticed something unusual. Along with his customary khaki pants and black Nike sweatshirt, Harbaugh was wearing cleats. When the veterans finished their workout, Harbaugh approached the field where the rookies gathered. A trainer approached him, carrying a football helmet. Harbaugh took the helmet and put it on the ground. Then Harbaugh ripped off his sweatshirt and the T-shirt underneath. He was wearing a No. 4 49ers jersey. The khakis came off next. Underneath? Game pants. Harbaugh was 48 years old and 11 years removed from playing in the National Football League, but he played quarterback and administered the team’s offense that day anyway. That’s what Harbaugh has done for Michigan, coming out of left field to reinvigorate the program. The Wolverines have struggled for the greater part of a decade, a Big Ten title absent from the trophy case since 2004. There have been bad losses to rivals, even worse losses to rivals, fired coaches and changes of athletic director. Michigan has stumbled, and it’s Harbaugh’s job to fix. It’s not a task for a lesser man.
SOFTBALL
Michigan falls one game shy of National Championship By TED JANES Daily Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY — After falling to No. 1 Florida, 4-1, in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series final, the Michigan softball team came just shy of a national championship. A complete performance from NFCA Player of the Year and right-handed pitcher Lauren Haeger carried the Gators to an early lead, and they never looked back. Haeger dominated on both sides of the ball, shutting down the third-ranked Wolverines’ offense which didn’t register a single hit until the fifth inning. The Gators wasted no time on offense. In the bottom of the first inning, Haeger flared a 1-1 pitch to shallow center with runners on first and second. One run scored, and Florida was off to the races with no outs. A pair of batters later, Florida’s Taylor Schwarz dropped a double into left field, making headway for outfielder Nicole Dewitt and Haeger, who reached home safely, increasing their lead to three before the first inning came to an end. “They were the best team tonight,” said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. “They’ve been
No. 1 all through the season. They showed up to come after us, and that first inning broke our back. We gave them a lot of free bases, too many, and you can’t do that to a team like Florida.” Florida’s leadoff hitter Kelsey Stewart came up to bat for the second time in just the second inning and blasted a double to left that scored outfielder Justine McLean from second base. The Gators’ fourth run of the day prompted Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to take senior left-handed pitcher Haylie Wagner out of the circle for sophomore righthander Megan Betsa. Betsa solved the immediate puzzle and struck out two straight batters to strand three Gators on base. Freshman first baseman Tera Blanco recorded the Wolverines’ first hit of the night, ripping a full-count pitch to left field in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore shot stop Abby Ramirez followed up with a single of her own, and the top half of the order would come up. With two outs and two on for junior second baseman Sierra Romero, if there was a time for the team’s superstar to step up, this was it. Romero sent the first
pitch to left field and Blanco, from second base, was able to score. The Gators got out of the fifth inning, but Michigan had finally gotten on board. Freshman pinch-hitter Amanda Vargas stepped to the plate in the sixth inning and produced, lining to center for a base hit. Next, Wagner, now the designated player, was hit in the shoulder. Another two-on, two-outs situation for Michigan’s offense, and this time it was Blanco’s turn. But yet again, the Gators got out alive when Blanco grounded out to the short stop. Overall, the Wolverines could not handle Haeger in the circle Wednesday night. She was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. “(Lauren Haeger) was great tonight,” Hutchins said. “A very deserving champion. She definitely took care of business.” Against Betsa, the Gators couldn’t get a single run, as the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year handed Florida eight strikeouts. However, she hit a multitude of batters to load the bags and was taken out in the bottom of the sixth when Wagner returned to the circle. In the final inning, Ramirez got onto first base as Florida’s See SOFTBALL, Page 4E
wins Big Ten title
Wolverines earn first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008 By ZACH SHAW Daily Sports Editor
MINNEAPOLIS — Michigan coach Erik Bakich was missing all the fun. Doing post-game interviews while the team’s celebration moved to the outfield, the Michigan baseball team shouted for its leader. Bakich eventually headed toward the heart of Target Field’s outfield. Much like his team, he picked up steam the closer he got to the celebration, eventually working into a full sprint that could rival the Wolverines’ five straight wins over NCAA Tournament teams to end the season. But he wasn’t done yet, and neither is Michigan. Seeing the “2015 Big Ten Champions” banner held by his team, Bakich lunged into a headfirst slide, dousing his brand-new championship T-Shirt in the rainsoaked grass before sliding right into position for the photo. Safe. Michigan’s coach made it into the photo, and the Wolverines (14-10 Big Ten, 37-23 overall) have secured a spot in their first NCAA Tournament in seven years. Sophomore left-handed starting pitcher Brett Adcock earned his third win in eight days, junior right-hander Jacob Cronenworth earned his fourth save of the fourgame tournament and Michigan — seen as the only one of the eight tournament teams that didn’t have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament — took down Maryland, 4-3, and is a champion once again. “I’m so proud,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich. “I’m so proud for our kids, proud for this program — standing on 148 years of baseball tradition with a lot of great men and a lot of great teams that have come before us. Our guys wrote their own page when no one expected them to, and that’s awesome.” Before the celebration, it was about doing enough to win. Although he didn’t look like his usual overpowering self, Adcock (10-4) earned his third win in eight days, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing just two hits. At the plate, Michigan — entering the game as the conference’s top offense — struggled to get things going, only accumulating six hits in the game. After falling behind, 1-0, in the third inning, however, the bats seized every opportunity from a Terrapin error to extend the inning. Seeing-eye RBI singles by junior designated hitter Cody Bruder and senior outfielder Kevin White opened the scoring, and from there the Wolverines rolled, batting around in the inning and providing enough offense to win. See BASEBALL, Page 6E
2E — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
What Michigan football could have been COLUMBUS — It began with Devin Gardner, the fifth-year senior quarterback, throwing an early interception. He hung his head the same way he always has as he rushed off the field to the Ohio State march- GREG ing band GARNO piped in through the speakers. It ended with Drake Johnson, the sophomore running back, shaking his head in disbelief as he handed in his helmet to a manager one last time this season, all while fans heckled him from the concourse of Ohio Stadium. Saturday’s game began and ended in the pain you had expected and dreaded for a week. But somewhere, right in the middle, for 28:27 worth of game time, there was everything you had dreamed this team could be. After it had failed to do so for much of its season, Michigan had finally “executed.” It ran an offense that rushed the ball well with a running back corps that was three deep. When it didn’t, it turned to its quarterback, who escaped pressure by scrambling to the outside. He was capable of handling pressure and making throws to his No. 1 wide receiver, just as the fifth-year senior had been projected to do. The Wolverines scored points, stopped one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in J.T. Barrett, and, for 28:27, their performance was everything you had hoped and dreamed it could be. You forgot about the 5-6 record, the blowout in South
Bend, the rain-soaked nightmare against Utah and whatever that was against Northwestern. You forgot about Joe Bolden’s stake, Dave Brandon’s resignation and Mark Schlissel’s candid remarks about the role of athletics on campus. You forgot, because you saw what the Michigan football team could have been. You saw Michigan coach Brady Hoke smile, wearing his sunglasses as he high-fived Jack Miller after the Wolverines grabbed the lead. Maybe you smiled, too. Michigan could have been a team, which, stuck on its own five-yard line, ran the ball to Johnson enough to create space to throw. It could have been a team that utilized its best wide receiver to get in front of defensive backs, as junior Devin Funchess did twice, and pick up a first down. It could have been a team whose quarterback, when no other option was available, scrambled to find room. A 95-yard drive caught you by surprise, just as it caught Hoke by surprise. He pumped his fist like you pumped your fist, and you thought that maybe, even if you didn’t have a reason to, this was the Michigan team you wanted to support. “It’s a beautiful thing,” Hoke said, “when you see a 95-yard drive. That was neat.” You forgot about the painfulness of the season when, on the next possession, after receiving a pitch, Johnson stopped, turned around six yards behind the line of scrimmage and lofted a pass to an open Gardner. And you laughed because it worked, and it hadn’t been tried yet, and you knew what Michigan could have tried it at any other point. You didn’t think about how angry you were with Brady
Hoke and how much you clamored for a new coach in the 28:27, because the team you had expected to see all along enthralled you. As Hoke paused in his press conference, he stuttered over his words and forgot about the questions on his future and his impending conversation with Athletic Director Jim Hackett, just like you forgot in that moment. Those 28 minutes and 27 seconds didn’t erase the sting that came with losing the third straight in the rivalry and missing out on a bowl game. They can’t erase the image of Hoke and Gardner looking up at a scoreboard at the same time during the final minute, with a hand on their hip to see all that could have been come to fruition. “Would we like to be that way?” Hoke said. “Yeah, we’d like to be like that all the time. Have we been? No.” But was this the type of team Michigan could have been? “Yeah. Absolutely,” said Jake Ryan. Then, in the 28th second, the Buckeyes marched 81 yards down the field, running for 30 yards until they decided they would pass instead. They stopped the Wolverines on the next three possessions, built up a 21-point lead and ruined any hopes of making the game close. So you remembered what Michigan has been, and it was the same feeling you had before the game as you had after it. It was irritating because it had been missing for nearly all of this season. It was maddening because those 28 minutes took so long to arrive, yet lasted so briefly you didn’t get to savor them. It was painful because you saw it taken right out in front of you. But, damn, it was fun.
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Brady Hoke was dismissed of his head coaching duties in December. Michigan’s win total declined in each year of his tenure.
Hoke fired after 5-7 season By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA Daily Sports Editor
Brady Hoke’s last words to the public as Michigan’s football coach were an answer to whether he wished he had done anything differently during his four-year tenure. “I don’t think so,” he said immediately, then paused briefly. “I don’t think so.” It was the afternoon of Nov. 29, minutes after the Wolverines had dropped a season-ending contest to Ohio State. Hoke hadn’t been fired yet, but he had to have known the decision was coming. You can’t go 20-18 over your last three years and expect to keep your job — not at Michigan. But since it had to end, at least it did in the right way. Hoke learned of the decision in a meeting with interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett, not through a press release or a media leak. And before addressing his players, he allowed them to vote for the 2014 team captains. Hoke put the team first, just as he always did. He was virtually everything the Michigan football program thought it needed from its 19th head coach. He was a Michigan Man, one who had helped guide the Wolverines to the 1997 national championship as an assistant coach. He
played football the Wolverine way, ignoring the flashy spread offense for a system based on power running and stingy defense. He hated Ohio State so much he refused to call it by its name. But most of all, Hoke loved Michigan, enough that, in his introductory press conference on Jan. 12, 2011, he discussed how there was “no doubt” he wanted to stay in Ann Arbor forever. “This is, to me — and has been for a long time — the ultimate place where I wanted to be as a football coach,” he said then. He certainly didn’t envision the season of nightmares he endured, knowing that every loss brought him closer to saying goodbye. But as he understood from the beginning, at Michigan, 5-7 in year four was unacceptable. You probably remember Hoke’s oft-repeated line from his introductory press conference, when he pounded the lectern and delivered the message that became the mantra of the 2011 season. “This is an elite job and will continue to be an elite job. This is Michigan, for God’s sakes,” he said, proving from day one he understood the importance of coaching the Wolverines. It was what Michigan fans needed to hear. But then Hoke led the Wolverines to a string of results he
knew would be unacceptable from the get-go, when he gave himself lofty annual expectations. “Our goal is to win the Big Ten Championship,” he said that January afternoon. “Multipally, consecutively. I made that word up, the first one.” And he stood by that expectation, even calling the 2011 season a disappointment because the Wolverines failed to reach the Big Ten title game. When the expectation was set at “consecutive” titles, Hoke knew a 12-12 Big Ten record over a three-year span wouldn’t be tolerated. Hoke knew a 2-6 record against Ohio State and Michigan State wasn’t acceptable, either. Hoke loves Michigan. He did from that first day, when he spoke of how he “would’ve walked here from San Diego” to accept the job. Maybe that was part of the problem — he set expectations too high and delivered too little. Michigan thought it needed Hoke, and the marriage seemed perfect from the start. Certainly, the response to his firing from players demonstrates how Hoke’s love for the program and everyone associated with it was genuine. But when it comes to athletics, passion for a school is always trumped by the necessity to win. Hoke knew that from the start.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
3E — Fall 2015
all their glory, I was practically crying from laughing so hard. “The pick-up lines those guys put on their profiles gave us a whole new level of debauchery. We made sure to make the experience completely mortifying — calling out parents and waving the posters up against the glass. The game was one for the books.” With fans cracking up, players peeking to see themselves and visiting parents lowering their heads in shame, the idea was a hit. The Tinder posters were alive and well Sunday against Ohio State, as were a number of cheers both new and old. Some made sense. Some — like chanting for an adult fan to hold a baby up to replicate the Lion King scene — did not. However, the fun-loving nature of the section, according to Brown, allows ZACH MOORE/Daily the group to continue to The Children of Yost are regularly cited as one of the best student sections in the country — in any sport — due to their tenacity and creativity during hockey games. keep things fresh. “Most of the stuff we do in the student section is directly for supporting the team and heckling away players,” Brown said. “But occasionally we’ll do things that are more for our entertainment, not worrying if the other of his worst games, and we felt Playing at a bunch of rinks line proudly.” team can hear us, but just to By ZACH SHAW like we were a part of that. So across the country now, it’s by The line forces Brown and crack a joke. Daily Sports Editor we kept it going even after play far the best student section. company to get creative. Online “The funny thing is that The cheers they have and the forums and groups encourage sometimes it catches on, The applause and name resumed.” After the win over Minneso- way they get up for every game suggestions and new ideas, and and suddenly we have a new chanting poured down to the sometimes they stick. cheer.” ice at Adam Wilcox. The Min- ta, the Wolverines embarked on is just really special.” For Brown, that has always Since Novem“We nesota netminder had heard it an eight-game road trip. Michiopposing know we all before, but unlike his stand- gan went 4-4 in the stretch, been the easy part. Growing up ber, have to out performances in net in Min- bringing its record away from around hockey and still sport- hockey players bring it neapolis, the junior wasn’t used Yost to 7-9. ing the same have been greetNeedless to ed to large printfor the big to this kind of applause. off-maize games,” That’s because Wilcox had say, the team mesh jer- outs of their happy bios, Brown just surrendered his fifth goal was sey from a Tinder adding a more said. in 16 shots in an eventual 7-5 to return to Michigan “They loss at Michigan on Jan. 10, and the arena in hockey camp personal touch don’t lose was being pulled for the first which it is 10 years ago, to the welcome. at home time in his career. As the reign- 10-2 and averBrown had What began as an very ing Big Ten Player of the Year aging nearly no hesita- accidental findmuch, and skated off the ice, the cheers 4.5 goals per tion getting ing on the popufrom the student section only game. hockey sea- lar phone dating app by a few we think we’re a big part of that, “I think it grew louder. son tickets fans quickly opened doors to a so we feel the urgency just like the team does.” The section, commonly impacted our his fresh- whole new realm of trash talk. “The Tinder tradition was There’s no real way to prove referred to as the “Children of record,” said Michigan coach man year. When he arrived to Yost,” has developed a reputa- Red Berenson of the road trip. his first game, he learned he totally unexpected,” said soph- just how important the student omore Anna Moshkovych, one section is to the team’s success. tion as the nation’s rowdiest, “It was so good to be back (Sun- wasn’t alone. smartest and — most impor- day). It was wall-to-wall, fans “The big difference between of the original sources of the But after playing and coaching tantly — effective fans in col- were all in, you never know Yost and other sections is the idea. “After posting screenshots all over the continent, Berenwhat you’re going to get at five legacy here,” he said. “A lot of in the Facebook page, the whole son feels that together, special lege hockey. After dropping four of five o’clock on a Sunday, but our us grew up around the pro- thing took on a life of its own. things are always on the horiOne alumni zon. games on the road and falling fans really showed up. gram or grew “This is such a special place, up offered to get “It’s the sound, the students, out of the NCAA Tournament loving the pictures the band, the sightlines, the picture, the No. 17 Michigan and it’s such a home-ice feeling hockey, and blown up on other team can get that uneasy hockey team needed all of the that we haven’t had in a long those who a poster in feeling,” he said. “Our team gets above from its fans on Sunday time.” don’t catch Every Kinkos, but this confidence that’s really against Ohio on quickly team has fans to be a part it was only special, and all of a sudden, State. The and an arena of it. a few hours you’re better than you were last team got its to call home, prior to puck week because you’re at home. wish, return“It’s not so what the popular drop and I “I can tell you, we wouldn’t ing home for makes Yost sport to go to, didn’t think be the same team or program the first time special? To but people really, really want to they’d actually follow through. without our student section.” in over six the team, it’s be there.” Once I showed up to the game Neither would opposing weeks and an unnerving cruising to a For the students, passion and saw the physical posters in goaltenders. passion for was the easy part. The hard 5-2 win. not just the part was utilizing that passion Leading the charge from the stands in both team, but the game itself. without making the experience “They’re not just a bunch detrimental to others. Though games was Marcus Brown, a senior in an off-yellow mesh of rowdy students,” Berenson this year has been incidentjersey in the third row. Brown said. “They know the game and free, that hasn’t always been fondly remembers sending Wil- what’s going on, and they’re the case. cox off, saying it was a prime huge supporters of what we do.” “There have been times Added junior forward Justin when (Berenson) came out at example of what the student Selman: “It can be one o’clock intermission and asked us if section was all about. “We knew he was one of the on a Wednesday afternoon or our parents knew the things best goalies out there,” Brown Sunday night, the Children of we were saying,” Brown said. said. “We knew he had had one Yost show up no matter what. “There’s a line, but we walk that
Think about the Children: Hockey’s student section carries Wolverines
“We wouldn’t be the same team without them.”
“Our team gets this confidence that’s really special.”
“A lot of us grew up around the program.”
“We feel the urgency just like the team does.”
A legend left emptyhanded Berenson, Wolverines once again denied tournament berth DETROIT — Red Berenson leans back in his chair with a scowl. He sips some water as he tries to process how the past hour could have left him smiling. For the third straight season, he finds himself in the same position with the same discomfort and the JEREMY same questions to SUMMITT answer. But that doesn’t make it any easier. For the third straight season, his team has missed the NCAA Tournament. For the third straight season, it has been only one game — in fact, one period — that has kept the Michigan hockey team from receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Sometimes, even legends are defeated. Berenson hasn’t been to the national tournament since 2012. Before that, he had led his team there for 22 consecutive seasons. His glossy eyes match his players’. It isn’t any easier for a 75-year old Hall of Fame coach to stomach the gut-wrenching blow his team was dealt on Saturday — a 4-2 defeat against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament championship. “He was pretty heartbroken like we were,” said freshman defenseman Zach Werenski. Berenson didn’t say much to his team after the game. Words are tough to construct in a state of such heartbreak. There’s little you can say to the faces of grown men when those faces are coated with tears. Even in his 31st season behind the Wolverine bench, Berenson is often stoic and stern. He would have welcomed a reason to smile after Saturday’s loss, but there wasn’t any. After fielding questions from reporters, Berenson walked straight to the team bus. He sat there as his team filed out of the locker room, heads down and optimism dashed. Berenson sat in the front of the bus as thoughts on another season of underachievement rushed through his head. Hardly anyone takes losing as hard as Berenson does. “You know what, I went through that three-year stretch where we didn’t make it,” said Minnesota coach Don Lucia. “You don’t even want to See BERENSON, Page 6E
DELIVERY
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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4E — Fall 2015 the “Purple Three” play into motion, designed to get freshman guard Katelynn Flaherty open. It worked in getting Flaherty space at the top of the key, and she let loose a 3-pointer that could have given Michigan the lead. Goree thought that would be the moment. Eagerly waiting under the basket for the rebound, she remembered Flaherty sinking the exact same shot from the exact same spot months earlier against Ohio State, a shot that ultimately paved the way for a win. But this was different. Instead, Flaherty’s 3-pointer rimmed out before dropping into the hands of a Bruin. Goree thought that maybe Flaherty was “just too open.” ***
ROBERT DUNNE/Daily
The Michigan women’s basketball team came within two wins of its first-ever banner in the NIT before losing to UCLA.
Women’s basketball closer than ever before
The Michigan women’s basketball team’s season ended when the buzzer sounded. Senior forward Nicole Elmblad bit into her jersey and rested her hands on her hips as she watched UCLA celebrate a BRAD WNIT WHIPPLE championship berth, something she has never experienced. The senior’s decorated career was over, and all she could do was stare at the ground as her teammates lined up to congratulate the victors. Along with the team, she waved to the crowd for their support and hustled into the tunnel one last time. After a 69-65 loss to the Bruins ended the Wolverines’ season in the WNIT semifinals, they left behind a crowd that filled Crisler Center with more noise than ever before. More importantly, though, they left behind an empty space above the team’s bench — one that will have to wait a little
longer to be filled by a banner. During postgame interviews, Elmblad was red-eyed as she rested her hands on her cheeks. Emotionally overwhelmed by both the loss and the effort her team had put in until the end, she knew it was her last time donning the maize and blue. But Elmblad and her team didn’t go out without a fight. Michigan refused to turn down the high-tempo game that led the Wolverines to a WNIT semifinal for the first time in five years. Even after a season filled with over-the-top victories coupled with heart-wrenching losses, the spirit was still alive and the confidence continued to grow. A few weeks ago, it was no different when the reality sunk in that Michigan would miss another NCAA Tournament. Instead, Elmblad and fellow seniors Cyesha Goree and Shannon Smith got together for dinner before the WNIT and vowed that they would maintain the winning mentality, even if it wasn’t for <em>the</em> national title. “We want to do something — make a name for ourselves,” Smith said. “I feel like we put it all
out there.” Michigan did put it all on the floor. The Wolverines could have packed it in after a blowout loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, but they stuck with it and ended up being one of the final eight teams in the country still playing basketball. And they were so close to being one of the final four. They were so close when sophomore guard Danielle Williams hustled back on defense with a UCLA guard on a breakaway, eventually planting her feet and drawing a charge. They were so close when Smith drew a foul afterward and tied the game with two freebies that put everyone in Crisler on their feet and into an absolute frenzy. It was shortlived, though, and a jumper from guard Nirra Fields stymied it moments later. They were so close with 52 seconds left, when the team put
Michigan was so close each time sophomore guard Siera Thompson planted her foot and launched the ball, putting fans on the edge of their seats as they hoped she could finally make one. Instead, Thompson was held scoreless for the first time in her career. A California native, Thompson’s nerves got the best of her as she played against players she grew up with. “She’s been having a hell of a career,” Barnes Arico said. “And then tonight, she’s playing against her best friends she grew up with. That killed her. … That one’s gonna bother (Thompson) for a long time.” And it was so close when the Wolverines were down by three and UCLA missed the first of a 1-and1 opportunity. But the Bruins grabbed the rebound, forcing Michigan to foul once more and make it a two-possession game. “We’ve had a lot of games that have went down to the wire like this, (and) we’ve kinda been through this before,” Goree said. “We thought we had it and knew what to do at the end.” But despite how close this individual game may have been — a game that had 12 ties and 11 lead changes — the Wolverines are even closer to finally hanging a banner when the next season rolls around.
“I hope they come back super motivated.”
When the day comes for a banner to fill the only gap left inside Crisler, Barnes Arico said she is going to give this year’s senior class the net that she cuts down. They not only allowed the team to get this far by embodying the grit and passion Barnes Arico wants to instill in every player, but also by setting the example that playing hard is mandatory, even if it’s the WNIT. Because Michigan still wanted to rewrite history, and it will. Elmblad, Goree and Smith represent Barnes Arico’s most successful experiment. During Barnes Arico’s second year, Elmblad became a more efficient player, ultimately finding a new niche at the forward position and improving in nearly every statistical category. In her final two seasons, she was the unanimous choice for the team captain. Smith was a latecomer, joining the squad in Barnes Arico’s second year, but still scored 920 points during her two years at Michigan, eclipsing 1,000 career points. Barnes Arico took a 5-foot-7 point guard and turned her into a versatile and speedy guard-turned-rebounder that was ruthless in transition. Then there’s Goree, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament twice and played just 32 total minutes before Barnes Arico’s arrival, but ended her career as the only Michigan player to post back-to-back seasons with 300plus rebounds. Now, Barnes Arico has
another recruiting class to toy with. The skilled freshmen will complement an already impressive group of rising sophomores and a senior class made up of Madison Ristovski and Kelsey Mitchell. Even in their absence, Smith, Goree and Elmblad will leave around a legacy that will live with the program for years to come. The winningest senior class has changed the Michigan program for good, because they have proven Barnes Arico will foster the growth these players are looking for at the collegiate level. For the returners, Wednesday’s loss means one thing. “It’s, ‘Hey, if I’m ever in this position again, I’m gonna make this play,’ ” Barnes Arico said. “I hope they come back super motivated that this is never going to happen to (them) again.” No matter how close the Wolverines came to reaching the WNIT championship, getting this far has meant enough. Elmblad, Smith and Goree defied the odds even after they had switched coaches or switched schools. They showed anything is attainable. And next year, when — not if — Michigan reaches the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines will continue to inch even closer toward a banner. Wednesday night, the record book didn’t close. In fact, it has turned to a blank page, because Michigan is closer than ever before.
“We’ve had a lot of games that went down to the wire.”
SOFTBALL From Page 1E shortstop couldn’t handle her slapper in time. Michigan’s next batter, junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence, struck out looking, and Romero returned to the plate. Romero grounded to the shortstop, who tossed to second for the next out, and sophomore outfielder Kelly Christner stepped into the box, Michigan’s last chance. But after three pitches, Christ-
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
ner grounded out to first, and the season was over. The Florida Gators were the 2015 National Champions. “I told my team today, and I told my team (Tuesday), ‘Tonight doesn’t define our season,’ ” Hutchins said. “We would’ve liked to walk out of here with the other trophy, but this has been a great team. I’m really proud of them.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
5E — Fall 2015
Unfinished business draws LeVert back By MAX BULTMAN Daily Sports Editor
Caris LeVert talked his teammates’ ears off when he was trying to make his NBA draft decision. He picked their brains, and he tugged at their heartstrings. “I talked to them a lot, whether they wanted to talk to me or not,” LeVert said. “They probably think I’m crazy, because I went back and forth a lot.” But at the end of it all, he got to give them the good news — he’s returning to Michigan for his senior season. After an offseason that included two separate submissions to the NBA Draft Advisory Committee, LeVert officially announced Tuesday his intentions to finish his degree and play his senior season for the Wolverines. While many mock drafts had LeVert being selected as a late firstround pick, it wasn’t enough to sway him. “It would have been tough leaving a great university like this when I’m so close to graduating,” LeVert said. “I’m a couple semesters away. This is a great team coming back. We have a lot of experience at a lot of positions.” LeVert broke his foot at the buzzer of Michigan’s narrow win over Northwestern on Jan. 17. Immediately after discovering he would miss the remainder of the season, LeVert felt like he should return. “The day I got hurt, or maybe the day after I got hurt, (Michigan assistant coach LaVall Jordan) texted me and asked me, ‘So what are you thinking for after the year?’ and I told him, ‘I’m coming back.’ ” Jordan cautioned him that his decision might change over the rest of the season, and according to LeVert, he was right. LeVert said there were multiple points between his injury and Tuesday where he felt like he would turn pro, but he ultimately decided to go with his gut and stay in Ann Arbor. “I went back and forth a couple of times for various reasons,” LeVert said. “At the end of the day, my heart was here at Michigan.” While he was one of the first names evaluated by the NBA’s Draft Advisory Committee, LeVert submitted his name for a second evaluation when so many underclassmen declared early. That influx of new names changed the draft landscape enough to alter his evaluation. There were many factors at play, but LeVert conceded that the Draft Advisory Committee’s recommendation played a “heavy role.”
Staying for his fourth season has the potential to increase LeVert’s draft stock toward the top of the first round, but it does come with the risk of re-injuring himself. That was a risk LeVert was willing to take. “I have a very heavily faithbased background, so I put that all in God’s hands,” LeVert said. “I could get hurt walking down the street, so I tried to take that out of the equation when I was trying to weigh my decisions. If I get hurt, I get hurt. But I’m coming back to win games, get my degree and be happy.” With LeVert’s return, the Wolverines now look primed to contend in what should be a loaded Big Ten. That’s cause for excitement in Ann Arbor, which saw the Wolverines miss the NCAA Tournament after trips to the National Championship Game and the Elite Eight in the previous two years. Not even Michigan coach John Beilein was immune to the enthusiasm. “He was pretty excited. He gave me a hug,” LeVert said. “He actually made me call Mrs. Beilein as well.” After LeVert and sophomore guard Derrick Walton Jr. both suffered foot injuries this season, Michigan’s bench saw heavy minutes in the second half of the season and will now have remarkable depth off the bench, especially at guard. That will only be compounded this summer, as LeVert and the entire freshman class will stay and work out with strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson. LeVert said his priorities are his lower body strength and developing a more efficient jump shot. “I think we have a lot of potential coming back,” LeVert said. “But potential is a dangerous word. I think going after those goals and going after those expectations will be a challenge, but I think we’re all ready for that. We were really disappointed with how the season finished off, we felt like we were playing pretty good basketball, and then not being selected for either tournament was pretty heartbreaking for us.” That unfinished business played a big role in LeVert ultimately resisting the temptation of the NBA. While it remains his long-term goal, he couldn’t pass up one more year at Michigan. “College is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” LeVert said. “I think if I had left, I may have looked back and kind of regretted that decision. “At the end of the day, my heart was here at Michigan.”
“It would have been tough leaving a great University.”
“At the end of the day, my heart was here at Michigan.”
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Plane crash survivor Austin Hatch showed that John Beilein’s best traits exist well beyond the basketball court.
The best of both Beileins By LEV FACHER Managing Editor
John Beilein started his morning in Crisler Center’s north tunnel, telling Austin Hatch that he was “going to do just fine.” As the pair was prepped to appear live on ESPN’s College Gameday, the 1,000 or so Michigan students who spent their Saturday morning representing their school on television chanted Hatch’s name. As ESPN previewed a feature about the freshman guard’s life story on the video board, its subject sat beneath. As the film rolled, showing the two plane crashes that took the lives of Hatch’s mother, siblings, father and stepmother, Beilein wiped away tears. He placed a reassuring hand on Hatch’s leg as GameDay continued through audio of 911 calls and images of mangled propeller planes. The guests and hosts talked about Hatch’s recovery and what it meant for him to play for Michigan. The video board played the highlight of Hatch’s first point at Crisler Center, a free throw in an exhibition game against Wayne State on Nov. 10.
Then ESPN’s Jay Williams asked Hatch about his relationship with Beilein, the man who honored his scholarship knowing full well he might never contribute on the court. Hatch didn’t mince words. “Obviously, he’s a great coach,” he said. “But I would say he’s 10 times the man that he is a basketball coach.” Saturday morning, John Beilein the man was on full display. Saturday night, it was John Beilein the coach’s turn. He didn’t disappoint. In his eighth year at Michigan, Beilein has become a fan of the mix-and-match lineup, especially in light of junior guard Caris LeVert’s season-ending injury. He can use both of his point guards at once. He can play the hot hand. He can go big, or he can go small. He can even use the players nobody expects him to use. Sometimes he’ll even do it in the first half of one of the most important games of the season, because he wants to send a
message. “I want to make a point,” Beilein said. “I think it’s really good for our team and for chemistry for those guys who work so hard to see playing time. Even if it’s short.” Sophomore guard Andrew Dakich had never played a meaningful minute for Michigan before Tuesday’s 54-50 win over Rutgers. Sophomore forward Sean Lonergan’s career high in scoring is two points. That didn’t stop either from appearing on ESPN in the first half of a back-and-forth clash against the No. 6 team in the country. “I want to get them in there,” Beilein said. “Those two guys are so respected by their peers and everybody wants them to do so well, it could be a catalyst for us in some games.” Hatch’s presence and his energy are catalysts in and of themselves. But Hatch, of course, isn’t nearly ready to see the floor against Wisconsin.
“He’s 10 times the man that he is a basketball coach.”
For the time being, that doesn’t seem to bother him or Beilein. “I’m a part of a miracle right now,” Beilein said of Hatch, his career, his very presence on planet Earth. Beilein’s role in that miracle is made obvious by his tears, his sighs, his reassuring squeeze of Hatch’s arm. And the reason he played a role in that miracle is evidenced by his confidence in a pair of players in whom he has been given little objective, ingame reason to be confident. Andrew Dakich and Sean Lonergan were on the floor with the game tied against Bo Ryan’s juggernaut Wisconsin team. And that says everything about John Beilein, the man who has stuck with Hatch every step of the way and the coach who believes as steadfastly as anybody in the world that hard work, effort and sheer desire deserve to be rewarded. John Beilein the man and John Beilein the coach are obviously not separate entities. Both of them have the unlikely trio of Ricky Doyle, Mark Donnal and Max Bielfeldt containing Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky, one of the country’s premier big men, for 45 minutes. Both of them sat alone at a table until they were sure there wasn’t an NBA draft selection to accept on Jordan Morgan’s behalf. Both trusted Derrick Walton Jr. with the improbable game-tying 3-point shot that sent Saturday’s game to overtime. With LeVert gone, the man and the coach might be reaching a limit. One has to keep an inexperienced group of teenagers emotionally intact as they face the pressure of living up to consecutive Final Four and Elite Eight appearances. The other has to coax as much production as he possibly can out of the same group. Beilein has proved time and time again the two aren’t mutually exclusive. He wore both hats Saturday, and he wore them well. In Austin Hatch, in Andrew Dakich and in Derrick Walton Jr., everything that is good about Michigan basketball was on full display. Five-point loss aside, you can’t ask for much more.
6E — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
BASEBALL From Page 1E
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Despite having the fourth-most wins in college hockey history, Red Berenson will remember the stinging losses more.
BERENSON From Page 3E watch the NCAA Tournament because you’re bummed out, because you’re competitive, and Red is as competitive as anybody else.” Berenson has said he would be the first to step down if he thought he couldn’t lead the Michigan hockey program to its full potential. The team means too much for him not to. But his coaching ability hasn’t faded. The Wolverines needed their best weekend of hockey to have a chance at winning the Big Ten Tournament and, defensively, they got that. In the final month of the season, Berenson pushed his team to buy into a defensive philosophy that was lacking beforehand. Following a disheartening loss to Ohio State on Feb. 20, Berenson called a team meeting. The Wolverines’ defense was in flames, and Berenson’s message was simple — play better without the puck. It took time for the team to buy in, but it bought in this weekend, when it mattered most. Berenson preaches defense, and he preaches work ethic. His team played through the philoso-
phy of its legendary coach. The effort was there, the desperation was there and the defensive corps was consistently stout for the first time in a long time. Winning and losing are separated by the smallest of margins. The dichotomy between how a person feels after winning and how a person feels after losing, however, is immense. “Very few teams and individuals get to finish their season on a winning note,” said undergraduate assistant coach Mike Komisarek. “So, that’s where we want to be, and that’s where we want to get at.” And Berenson will be a part of it. He has one year remaining on his contract, and he has admitted he thinks about retirement a lot. But this is not the summer that Berenson walks away from what he’s most passionate about. He loves coaching because he loves competition, but he loves coaching most when he gets to watch his young players grow as people and as hockey players. “Our team really came up and our young guys came up,” Berenson said. “I mean, who would have thought (Cutler) Martin would be playing regular, the way he has, as an unknown coming in and so on. I could go through our lineup, and it wasn’t just the
freshmen, it was the seniors as well.” As a man of few words, Berenson likely won’t express how much this weekend stings, nor will he admit how long it might sting for. He’s used to being at the top of the hockey world. This is an uncomfortable and unfamiliar position for a coach of his stature. He has won two national championships with Michigan, coached dozens of NHL players and created a program built on hard work and integrity. After Saturday’s game, Berenson insisted the podium wasn’t his to take, though it has been his for the taking throughout his entire career. “Look, I don’t want to take any more time,” he said. “This podium should be for the winners, OK? Thank you.” He then sauntered out of the room as a coach whose season ended prematurely and as a legend who has been left emptyhanded. There wasn’t anything left to say anyway. Berenson had his chance to speak at the loser’s podium, but he’s more comfortable in the winner’s circle. He’ll have to wait a year before he gets back, but there’s little chance Berenson won’t speak as a victor once more.
“We always go out there and try to make the pitcher throw as many pitches as we can and see a lot of pitches, and when he makes a mistake, that’s when we strike,” said senior outfielder Jackson Glines, who led the Tournament with nine hits. “We’re an opportunistic offense, (Bakich) doesn’t always like that, but we try to take what we can when we can.” With the eight teams combining for a .238 batting average throughout the tournament, hits were at a premium on both sides. In addition to Adcock, the Wolverines’ defense ensured that the four-run fourth inning was more than enough, robbing base hits and killing rallies. Sophomore first baseman Carmen Benedetti made the most notable of the plays, leaving his feet to snag a foul ball that had drifted into the second row of the stands. With plenty of errors from high-seeded teams, the Wolverines’ ability to stay composed and avoid mistakes stood out. “We didn’t necessarily avoid those mistakes in the season,” Bakich said. “We dug ourselves a hole, and we had moments early in the year — starting 2-5 or 0-3 in the Big Ten — where those were learning moments for us.” “We’ve had our struggles, and
those struggles have made us stronger. That’s what you saw this weekend.” Tensions mounted in the top of the seventh, when Maryland grew upset with home plate umpire Jim Schaly’s strike zone. After multiple delays, Maryland coach John Szefc was ejected from the game. The Terrapins responded by tallying a second run in the eighth inning, but third baseman Jose Cuas was thrown out stretching a double into a triple, ending the rally with just one run. But Maryland wasn’t done yet. *** Brandon Lowe lived for moments like this. Maryland’s second baseman — seen as one of, if not the best, players in the conference — strolled to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning. The Terrapins had already scored one run to make it 4-3 in the ninth inning, and were one swing of the bat away from a lead. They were a swing away from erasing the fourrun Michigan fourth inning made possible by an early error, a swing away from completing a three-run comeback effort and a swing away from punching their own NCAA Tournament ticket. Lowe had gone 0-for-3 in the game, but his team-leading .342 batting average suggested he wouldn’t be hitless for long.
In the other dugout, Bakich took a walk. Usually perched on the top step, the coach felt compelled to calm his team down. As he told everyone they were fine, then turned to give his fielders adjustments without blinking, it became clear that the same coach who mentioned ‘Championship’ 19 times in his opening press conference three years ago wasn’t going to miss his first chance at one. Cronenworth, who would later be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, tried everything to stay loose. He clicked his heels to get the mud off, did arm circles and took a deep breath. Transofrming into a high-profile prospect at Michigan, Cronenworth was one Lowe swing away from ending his career at Michigan. But he wasn’t ready for that, not yet. Strike one. The next pitch was even better than a strike. Lowe popped up, the dugout exploded, but restrained itself because in a rain-soaked game and a tournament that had seen even the nation’s best teams self destruct from errors, you just don’t know. It was a high floater to left and senior outfielder Kevin White, who drove in the winning run in the fourth inning, camped out under it. White captured the ball, and Michigan captured its 36th Big Ten Championship.
ALEXANDRIA BODFISH/Daily
The Michigan baseball team had its most wins since 2008, won its 36th Big Ten Championship and returned to the postseason.
The Michigan Daily-michigandaily.com New Student Edition
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review
2014 - 2015 August 5, 2014
Christopher Taylor celebrates mayoral primary victory after 47.57 percent of votes
September 25, 2014 Historic Blimpy Burger looks to reopen by the end of next week on Ashley and West Liberty
October 23, 2014 Council looks to expand legal securities to protect survivors of domestic violence, gender expression, familial status, political beliefs, and arrest records with non-discrimination ordinance
November 6, 2014 Mayor Hieftje thanks councilmembers and staff at his last council meeting before Christopher takes assumes mayoral duties
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Mayor Christopher Taylor watches as results from polling stations around Ann Arbor are posted.
Christopher Taylor wins Democratic mayoral primary Crowded primary field features four City Council candidates By EMMA KERR and SHOHAM GEVA
December 16, 2014 In an effort to prevent police brutality in the city, Council approves a resolution calling for officers to use body and in-car cameras.
January 30, 2015 Prosecutor determines officer responsible for the death of 40-year-old Aura Rosser was determined innocent due to “lawful self-defense”
February 17, 2015 Ann Arbor’s homeless struggle to cope with the cold as many without homes refuse indoor shelter due to mental illness and drug or alcohol addictions
March 24, 2015 Ann Arbor police patrol city and receive help from neghboring departments to ensure safety on St. Patrick’s Day
April 14, 2015 Panel discusses election cycles in Ann Arbor due to the fact that many residents are absent during August primaries
May 4, 2015 Ann Arbor community members protest police brutality at organized a protest in commemoration of the Haymarket affair in 1886, a demonstration of police brutality in Chicago
June 26, 2015 The Ann Arbor community celebrates the supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage at a “Day of Decision Rally” organized by the Jim Toy Community Center for the LGBTQ community of Washtenaw County
July 14, 2015 The 56th annual Ann Arbor Art Fair returns to the city as representation fromt the city, University, and event organizers prepare for 500,000 visitors and hundreds of artists to take over the streets
Daily News Editors
AUG. 5, 2014 – Amid a crowded field in the Ann Arbor Democratic mayoral primary, city council member Christopher Taylor has won the position, carrying 7,070 of 16,591 votes cast for a total of 47.57 percent. He will face Bryan Kelly, an independent challenger, in the race for city mayor Nov. 4. “This has been truly incredible,” Taylor, who declared success at about 10 p.m. Tuesday night, said in a victory speech. “Politics is in many varying ways a very humbling thing to get involved in. I am so delighted that, this night, the form of humbling that I am receiving is one of confidence and trust. For all of you here and the voters of Ann Arbor, I want to thank you. This is incredibly meaningful and I will never forget it.” Fellow Councilmembers Stephen Kunselman (D-Ward 3), Sabra Briere (D-Ward 1) and Sally Hart Petersen (D-Ward 2)
also ran in the Democratic primary. Total voter turnout was at 16.67 percent. In an interview Tuesday night, Taylor said he sees multiple priorities to address for the city. “The city’s needs are multivariable, and our charge is to find the right balance among them,” he said. “There are big projects that we have: transportation, storm water infrastructure, the roads and the like.” In an interview last week, he said, if elected, he plans to continue creating new transportation options, including encouraging services like Uber and Bike Share to spread in Ann Arbor, and to support the expansion of the AAATA public transit system. Taylor also supports calculated, balanced development, as long as it does not affect the surrounding neighborhoods, promising to alter zoning ordinances to avoid situations like that at 413 E. Huron St., where residents took issue with the construction of a new high-rise complex. He also plans to make infrastructure improvements, specifically addressing the community’s need for better streets and more enforcement of parking laws throughout the city. In an interview Tuesday night, outgoing mayor John
Hieftje, who was in attendance at Taylor’s watch party, said he was happy to pass on the position to Taylor. Hieftje has served at his current position for 14 years. “There were some good candidates in the race, but Chris Taylor won and I am sure the city will be in good hands with him,” Hieftje said. “I have no regrets — everything I ever wanted to do is done and so I’m happy to leave it off to others to take over.” Among the candidates, Taylor’s voting history has been the most similar to Hieftje’s. Each candidate’s voting record, especially in relation to Hieftje’s policies, became a closely discussed theme throughout the campaign. In relation to the University, Taylor, like most city officials, is concerned about the potential decline of Ann Arbor’s tax base following University acquisitions of city land, which takes them off the tax rolls. He has advocated for requiring the University to pay for city expenses generated by events at Michigan Stadium, which could include the cost of closing streets and increased police security. In the past, Taylor has also advocated for heightened coordination with AAPD in relation to party control and vandalism, supported and made improvements to the pedestrian crosswalk ordinance and advocated
for the removal of hornets nests from parks. Donations for Taylor’s campaign totaled $75,698, significantly more than his fellow candidates. Among the other candidates, Petersen remains on City Council until the end of her term in November. Because of her run for mayor, she was ineligible to run for reelection. Both Kunselman and Briere have an additional year left in their City Council terms. In an interview Tuesday night, Briere said her goal is to continue working to accomplish the objectives set forth in her campaign. Also in an interview Tuesday night, Petersen said in regards to future plans, she’s looking forward to focusing on her ward. “There are a lot of issues in Ward 2, and I just want to make sure that I can move the resolution of those issues as much as possible,” she said. “For the last seven months I’ve been on City Council and I’ve been campaigning; for the next three months, it’s all Ward 2. We’re going to try to solve some of those issues the best that we can in the next three months.” Managing Editor Stephanie Shenouda contributed to this report.
Blimpy Burger looks to reopen by end of next week Ann Arbor favorite will celebrate grand return next week By WILL GREENBERG Daily News Editor
SEPT. 25, 2014 – Blimpy is back. At its new location on Ashley and West Liberty streets, the historic, Ann Arbor-favorite Blimpy Burger held an operational softlaunch Thursday in preparation for an anticipated full opening late next week. Rich Magner, owner of Blimpy for more than 20 years, said he invited about 50 people to the restaurant Thursday, calling it a “test run” for his staff at the new location. Magner said he invited investors, construction workers and others involved in getting
the restaurant up and running. “It went well; people seemed to like it,” Magner said. Following 60 years at its South Division Street location, Blimpy Burger was displaced in 2013 after the University purchased the property for $1.5 million to build the Munger Graduate Residence Hall. The graduate residence hall was funded in large part by a $110 million donation from University alum Charles Munger, a real estate mogul. At the time, the donation was the largest in University history, though it was topped a few months later by a $200 million donation from fellow real estate magnate Stephen Ross. The residence hall, projected to cost $188 million and house 600 graduate students, is expected to open in fall 2015. Magner said moving Blimpy Burger into its new home took
longer than he had originally hoped. After looking into a new location that didn’t work out, Magner signed the lease for the Ashley Street spot in spring 2014. Magner said he would have liked to reopen before the Ann Arbor Art Fair this past summer, but various delays arose with contractors and arranging permits with the city. The menu, prices and general operations are all the same, except for the basic burger, which raised from $2.35 to $2.99. Otherwise, Blimpy hasn’t raised prices since 2008. One addition will be credit card and debit card capabilities, as well as electronic gift cards to replace paper gift certificates. The restaurant is now further from Central Campus, a change that Magner said may decrease student patronage. But contrary to what most people think, Mag-
ner said, roughly half of Blimpy’s business comes from Ann Arbor locals. He said the new location will still draw plenty of townies, and he hopes students will still come out. “Our first two weeks of September (at the old location), when South Quad and West Quad had mostly freshmen in them, except for football Saturdays, are two of the slowest weeks of the year,” Magner said. “The reason is, the townies stay away because they think students are back and traffic and parking is worse the first few weeks of school.” Magner said his staff, about one-third of which carried over from the old location, may have another “super-soft” launch with another small group of guests before the full open, which is expected to be the end of next week.
Non-discrimination ordinance to expand protections Changes impact employment securities, living wage requirement By GENEVIEVE HUMMER For The Daily
OCT. 23, 2014 – With a new revision to Ann Arbor’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance, the City Council is aiming to extend legal
protections to a broader spectrum of the city’s residents. The Council approved a revamped ordinance Monday that includes provisions for gender expression and identity, survivors of domestic violence, political beliefs, genetic information, arrest record and familial status. Councilmember Christopher Taylor (D–Ward 3) applauded the city’s Human Rights Commission for their commitment to improving the existing ordinance.
“It has been an example of a commission doing right and doing good, so thank you,” Taylor said at Monday’s meeting. “These changes, I believe, reflect Ann Arbor’s values of openness and tolerance and will constitute a great step forward for us.” Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1), the Council’s liaison on the city’s Human Rights Commission, said the commission was motivated to revise the existing ordinance because of a technical flaw.
The city’s original Non-Discrimination Ordinance was passed in 1972 and later became one of the first in the state to include protections for sexual orientation and gender expression. The original ordinance also provided for a city director of human rights to oversee human rights investigations, but such a position doesn’t currently exist. The commission wanted to clarify the language so future invesSee ORDINANCE, Page 9F
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
2F — Fall 2015
Panel discusses election cycles, term lengths for Ann Arbor officials Several members of Council attend meeting on local electoral system By ANASTASSIOS ADAMOPOULOS Daily Staff Reporter
CHARLES KOWALEC/Daily
Mayor Christopher Taylor listens intently during the City Council meeting at the Washtenaw County Administration Building Monday.
In Taylor’s first meeting as mayor, council approves winter shelters Fuller parking lot lease to continue with University By EMMA KERR Daily Staff Reporter
NOV. 18, 2014 – Monday’s Ann Arbor City Council meeting marked the first in Mayor Christopher Taylor’s term. Councilmembers passed two key resolutions — one pertaining to winter housing for the city’s homeless and another continuing the lease of the Fuller Park parking lot to the University. Additionally, Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1) was appointed as 2015’s mayor protem; if Taylor were unable to perform his duties as mayor for any reason, Briere would fill the position. Winter shelter Councilmembers unanimously voted to increase the amount of money given to the Delonis Center, a winter emergency shelter in Ann Arbor. Extreme winter weather has been a concern for public speakers at Council meetings for the second week in a row, following a report filed by the mayor’s office at the last meeting. Briere said the money set aside by this resolution will also help support other warming shelters in association with the Delonis Center, such as three churches that have volunteered to host those in need during extreme. She said it is crucial that the Council give people a reliable opportunity to get off the streets. “We are all excited to have winter come so early, but it can be a problem for people who do not have a home,” she said. “This resolution allows us to support this center and help it be open longer and hold more people.” The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development formed a response workgroup following last winter’s extreme weather conditions and the subsequent calls for more shelters and warming stations for the homeless. The group began meeting during the summer months, publicly asking in August for any local facilities willing to provide shelter during the 2015 winter season. The committee announced in August that it had already determined a plan for staffing the location, but had yet to determine a proper place to hold the shelter.
The workgroup formed following public concerns surrounding the availability of shelters during record-low temperatures last year, especially at night when daytime warming stations are closed. Yousef Rabhi, chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, said he will also be supporting an increase in the funds designated for the Delonis Center. The Nov. 7 Council meeting included updates from the mayor’s office regarding the committee’s findings and an initial discussion of the city’s plan for expanding shelter offerings this winter. The Delonis Center was scheduled to open Monday night in light of predictions that temperatures would fall to 10 degrees. Another resolution, which was added to the agenda at the meeting and provided for re-opening the affordable housing site Burton Commons, passed unanimously as well. Resolution to approve Fuller Park parking lot land lease with the University The Council passed a resolution to alter the duration of the current lease held with the University for their use of the parking lots on Fuller Road from two years with an option for a twoyear extension to one year with a one-year extension. Discussion included two rounds of amendments, the first proposed by Councilmember Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4), that would change the lease to expire after one year, offering the University a one-year extension if it chose to continue leasing the property. The second amendment, proposed by Councilmember Chuck Warpehoski (D–Ward 5), would have changed the lease to be one year in duration without any option to continue the lease for another year. This amendment did not pass, and instead councilmembers voted unanimously to pass the resolution with Eaton’s amendments. “I would like to see this terminated, but not abruptly,” Eaton said. “This gives us time to look at what we would like to do with this property, and whether we want to provide the University parking. This gives them time to devise a parking management plan.” Eaton wrote in an e-mail correspondence with Jim Kosteva, the University’s director of community relations, that Kosteva
found this amendment of the lease from two years to one year agreeable. Taylor, who was in support of the one-year lease, said it is important for the city to maintain a strong relationship with the University, adding that this is the first step in addressing a larger parking problem. “Shortening this lease from two and two to one and one increases uncertainty,” Taylor said. “I am willing to support it because I want one and one more than zero and zero. I will say that I don’t see this as one and done; I am certain that there is an alliance of interest here given the history of parking problems in this area.” The city leases parking space to the University, which is used by its staff. This lease includes three parking lots, one of which has been leased to the University since 1993. The Fuller lot’s original lease expired Aug. 31. This resolution has been presented to the Council three times, once in August, once in October and once at the Nov. 7 meeting, but a decision was postponed each time. Public commentary and councilmember discussion have indicated the delay in renewing the lease stems from the possibility of the city using the area as the site of its future train station. The Parks Advisory Commission’s recommendation to the Council said the lease amount to be paid by the University will not increase this year because the University leases overflow Argo Canoe Livery parking to the city at no charge, but the Council will consider increasing this amount in the future. Councilmember Julie Grand (D–Ward 3) said she was hesitant to remove the option of extending the lease by a year because of the free parking provided by the University. “We don’t often hear about amicable or good relationships with the University, so for me this is a perfect example of our cooperation,” Grand said. “And you know, when times were hard, the money from this lease kept facilities open. So though this money may be small, it does matter to the park’s budget. The relationship that was established between the park and the University has provided for the city’s use of 100 free parking spots. There have been multiple locations under consideration for a new train station, with the Fuller Park location being one of three.
APRIL 14, 2015 – With a heavily Democratic electorate, Ann Arbor City Council elections are typically determined during primary season. But since a large portion of Ann Arbor voters absent in August, some residents have called for changes to election dates. According to an interactive panel discussion hosted Tuesday by the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, the dates aren’t likely to change in the near future. About 25 attendees, including councilmembers Jack Eaton (D– Ward 4), Julie Grand (D–Ward 3) and Kirk Westphal (D–Ward 2), joined a panel of experts inside the Ann Arbor District Library to discuss election dates, voter turnout and partisanship in Ann Arbor elections. Panelists first responded to questions prepared by the LWV — a nonpartisan organization that promotes political awareness and activism — and then took questions from attendees. The panel consisted of John Chamberlin, a professor of public policy, Lawrence Kestenbaum, the Washtenaw County clerk and Joseph Ohren, a political science professor at Eastern Michigan University. The panel stressed that election dates in Ann Arbor cannot change without changes toMichigan Election Law. “When we talk about changing the schedules of elections in
Ann Arbor, the elections pretty much have to be in November and the primaries in August,” Kestenbaum said. According to a 2005 amendment in section 168.641 of the Michigan Election Law, elections in cities across the state can take place in either February, May, August or November. Kestenbaum said there has been discussion at the state level about eliminating the February option. Grand said she is interested at looking into changing term lengths as well as the years elections occur. Currently, city council terms are two years, and elections take place annually — with half of the seats contested in odd years and half in even years. Holding elections every year creates problems for City Council, Grand said, as councilmembers are less willing to make compromises and cooperate when they are focused on reelection. “Having gone through it recently in the last couple of years, I am concerned about the amount of time and effort that it takes to run an election versus governing so I am interested in other ways that we could structure elections,” she said. Discussing term length, Grand said a change to four-year terms would help city councilmembers engage in increased coalition building and more substantive work. She also said elections should only occur on even years, so there would only be elections for new councilmembers every two years rather than every year. “I would love to see us go to four year terms and (only) even years,” she said. “I think that would help with voter turnout. I think it would also help constituents so they could more closely
identify their councilmembers. So if you have someone for a longer term you can develop a relationship with that person, you know that’s my person to go to.” The panel also discussed partisanship in elections. Ann Arbor is currently one of only three municipalities in Michigan that have partisan elections. A partisan election means candidates are permitted to have party labels attached to their names on the ballot. “I am inclined to think partisanship is not problem, at least in Ann Arbor, with the exception of the fact that Republicans don’t seem to want to run for office in Ann Arbor because the label is not something they wish to have tagged to their name these days,” Chamberlin said. In places like Ann Arbor, where most candidates represent one party, party labels matter less, and sub-parties or factions can form, he added. After the panel, Westphal, the city councilmember, said increasing voter turnout is critical. To this end, he is open to hearing new ideas, such as converting to a nonpartisan system. “My goal is to get meaningful ballots in front of more people,” Westphal said. “However that’s done, I think the voters choose to do that. I just want to have more participation.” Like Westphal, all three panelists articulated concerns with voter turnout. Ohren said the city does not need to increase the number of voters, but the engagement of those who vote. “I think the question really is how do we engage the community in the decision making process. I think that’s what’s important to us,” Ohren said. Not how many people vote but rather how many people participate in the discussions over issues.”
Community members protest police brutality during “Workers’ Day” rally Many stand in solidarity with Ferguson in march around the city By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter
MAY 4, 2015 – On May 1, which was International Workers’ Day in many parts of the world, community members protested for just policing policies for laborers of color. Members of the group Ann Arbor to Ferguson organized the event to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in 1886, where workers who were peacefully protesting job conditions were beaten and killed by the police in Chicago. Rackham students Maryam Aziz and Austin McCoy said holding the protest on International Workers’ Day ties together broader labor issues that impact both workers and Black Americans. “We decided to do May Day to commemorate what happened in the Haymarket Square riots back in 1886 in Chicago, so we’re tying this into how the labor of Black lives doesn’t matter, how labor activists have always been treated as if their lives don’t matter either,” Axis said. “So we’re tying to two together to say you can’t say that you can’t separate Black lives not being valued from also the labor of the working class and people of color not being valued.” McCoy said the protest was also held to raise awareness about larger issues regarding police brutality against communities of color. He mentioned specifically the killing of Aura Rosser by the Ann Arbor
Police Department in November. McCoy and Ann Arbor to Ferguson have been protesting and raising awareness about the issue, while also helping Rosser’s family, since her death. The protest also addressed recent killings of unarmed Black men, which have received national media attention, such as the killing of Freddie Gray, who suffered from a fatal spinal injury after being arrested by Baltimore city police officers. “I think today has larger meaning because of what’s going on in Baltimore, Terrance Kellom shooting in Detroit on Tuesday as well,” McCoy said. “So this is for Aura Rosser, but it’s also about all the Black folks who’ve been shot.” The protests began in Liberty Square and moved to State Street and Main Street before reaching the Ann Arbor City Council office. Traffic stalled in all streets where the protest took place, and many protesters shouted, “no justice, no driving,” at cars. Two police cars trailed behind the rally. Protesters held signs saying “Black Lives Matter,” “We Will Never Let You Forget Aura Rosser,” “Justice for Aura Rosser” and “Strong Communities Make Police Obsolete.” Jeffrey Sorensen, a University alum and co-founder of the startup optiMize, participated in the protest. He said he attended the protest because of his continued frustration over police brutality. “It’s just this story that keeps coming up again and again and again, and yet a huge, huge percentage of people just don’t pay attention at all, or are totally misinformed, or stop paying attention after an hour and just go about their lives,” he said. “Just the response is really sad
to me. A lot of people I grew up around, a lot of white people, just don’t give a shit at all.” Ypsilanti resident Anthony Morgan also participated in the protest, and brought along his two young daughters. He said he has been following Ann Arbor to Ferguson’s movement since its beginning, and finds it important to teach younger generations about social justice and community activism. “It’s a necessity, I’m at an age where we’re transferring the wisdom of the elders to the energy of the youth, kind of like Common said in ‘Glory.’ It’s a way to use new school understanding with old school experience and still fight some of the same shit, though. It’s constant, the fight never ends.” Many pedestrians on the streets looked on and recorded the march on their cell phones. Some onlookers yelled back at the protesters in frustration, while others showed solidarity by honking their horns or raising their hands in reference to the “hands up, don’t shoot” phrase and gesture that originated in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Engineering junior Josh Johnson saw the protest while he was on Main Street, and said even though it caused traffic standstill, because there was no property damage, he appreciated the demonstration. “If they’re not hurting anyone, if they’re not causing damage, I appreciate their opinion, but if they are destroying peoples’ property, then I think that’s wrong,” Johnson said. “If they are peacefully protesting, then I appreciate their opinions, no matter what side it’s on.”
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Ann Arbor community members react to Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage in U.S. Plaintiffs, residents celebrate victory By LARA MOEHLMAN Summer Managing News Editor
JUN. 26, 2015 - As news that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage swept across the U.S. Friday morning, supporters rallied in both downtown Ann Arbor and Washington D.C. in celebration of this historic decision. The Jim Toy Community Center, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer residents of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and the greater Washtenaw County area, hosted a “Day of Decision Rally” so supporters could gather in response to the Court’s decision. After quieting the crowd, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, one couple represented in the string of cases considered by the Court, offered remarks under rainbow colored streamers during the press conference portion of the event. DeBoer thanked her lawyers for their determination and hard work. In January 2012, Michigan residents April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, challenging Michigan’s ban on adoption by same-sex couples. DeBoer and Rowse separately adopted one son and two daughters, respectively, but were unable to jointly adopt their children because Michigan law did not recognize same-sex marriages, and only granted joint parent adoption rights to married couples. “It’s been a long, long, hard road,” Deboer said. “It’s been four and a half years in the making… We would not be here if it
weren’t for many people, and first and foremost our attorneys: Dana Nessel and Ken Mogill, Bob Sedler and Carole Stanyar. So I want to thank you guys as well. My last comment is to my beautiful children: We did this for you,” DeBoer said. Carole Stanyar, one of the attorneys for DeBoer and Rowse, also spoke at the press conference, praising her team and clients for their hard work and resilience. She expressed pride in the accomplishments of her case. “This was a definitive statement under equal protection, fundamental right, liberty, due process,” Stanyar said. “It was for now, and it’s for future generations. The bans are unconstitutional. States cannot treat people this way. They cannot treat people unequally. Same-sex couples, their families, their children, have to be treated with dignity and respect,” Stanyar said. In an interview with the press, Attorney General Bill Schuette said throughout litigations, his main argument challenged who would decide if same-sex marriage should be recognized in different states. “We argued this case is a question of who decides: the voters across the United States of America, or the Justices of the Supreme Court,” he said. “It was about voters and who decides, that was what the case was about.” Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor also offered remarks during the celebration. In an inter-
view with the Daily, Taylor was enthusiastic about this progressive milestone in Michigan’s history. “I could not be more excited for the people of Ann Arbor and for all Americans. This is a day when the Supreme Court has redeemed the American promise of equality before the law. It has ratified that gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people are fully and finally embraced into
riage. “We’ve been together for 21 years and we have two kids, and now it just means eventually we’ll be able to both be their legal parents. We were able to marry the one day in Michigan, but now it just means our marriage will be recognized, so it’s good for us and for our children.” University alum Alanna Maguire, a project manager of the National Marriage Chal-
“My last comment is to my beautiful children: We did this for you,” - Plaintiff April DeBoer
the American family. It’s just — it’s wonderful,” Taylor said. Beth Sherman, assistant professor of social work at the University and her wife, Karen Hawver, owner of Precision Accounting in Ann Arbor, attended the celebration and press conference at Braun Court with their two children. Sherman and Hawver were one of the 300 couples married in Michigan in March 2014 after a U.S. federal judge struck down s the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Both were excited that the Supreme Court’s decision would further legitimize their mar-
lenge, a non-profit committed to legalizing same-sex marriage in the U.S., said she was proud of her team. She also said she was proud of her fiancé Dana Nessel, also a University alum and an attorney for the April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse case. She said she was also excited that she and Nessel could now obtain a marriage license themselves. “I can get married in my home state. Dana Nessel and I are both from Michigan. We’re both University of Michigan graduates. We love our state. We just wanted to make it better, and I’m so, so proud of Dana particularly today.
She carried this case from start to finish,” said Maguire. Brad O’Connor, president of the Jim Toy Community Center, expressed enthusiasm for his own marriage, which was officiated in Illinois, to be officially recognized in his home state of Michigan. “It means that...my family, that was only recognized in twothirds of the country, is now recognized nationwide. I can go to Texas or I can go to Louisiana and Maine and California and have my marriage valid there,” said O’Connor. However, although O’Connor reserved today for celebration, he added that the Supreme Court’s decision resolves only one aspect of the LGBTQ community’s current struggle for equality in the U.S. “This is just something that we check off the list. There’s so much more left to do with regards to bullying in high schools, transgender rights — that’s huge— making sure that we’re protected at work, because we could be fired, still, for being gay. The fight’s not over. It’s just the battle’s won. It’s a big battle, but this battle’s won, and now it’s time to move on and keep fighting,” O’Connor said. Aside from granting same-sex couples the right to marriage, the Supreme Court’s decision could have further legal stipulations on health and work benefits. University spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald said the University will review the Court’s ruling and adjust benefits for same-sex couples in both a legal and timely
fashion. “We realize that some members of our community will be anxious to change their benefit enrollment status and we will study the ruling carefully to ensure that we offer new eligibility in a manner that is legal and timely,” Fitzgerald said. In an interview with the Daily, University law professor Julian Mortenson said the Court’s decision could have an impact on health benefits the University offers. “For every category as to which marriage triggers rights and responsibilities, like benefits, access, permissions to health care facilities, etc., samesex marriage couples will have exactly the same rights as opposite-sex couples,” he said. The Supreme Court’s ruling was thorough enough to address any other potential issues, he added, saying it was clear in its decision. “There were more complicated scenarios that could possibly have emerged from this opinion before it was released, but as it turns out, the Supreme Court has written a decision that is very straightforward and is very emphatic,” he said. Sen. Gary Peters (Mich.) lauded April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse in a statement for their courage in taking their case to the Supreme Court. “With this decision, thousands of Michigan same-sex couples will finally be afforded the same opportunity to marry as other Americans, including April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse of Michigan, who courageously took their case all the way to the United States Supreme Court,” Peters said. Summer Managing News Editor Alyssa Brandon contributed to this article.
4F — Fall 2015
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AAPD officers patrol city amid St. Patrick’s Day festivities Daily reporters ride along with city police on night of celebration By DAILY WRITERS MAR. 17, 2015 – Daily staff reporters filled the passenger seats of Ann Arbor Police Department and University of Michigan Police Department cars throughout the day Tuesday to get a taste of officers’ experiences on one of the most notoriously rowdy holidays of the the year — St. Patrick’s Day. Each reporter was assigned to an officer with whom they would spend the next few hours. Zero Minor in Possession tickets were issued on St. Patrick’s
Day this year. 7:00 a.m. St. Patrick’s day shifts began early. With bars such as the Blue Leprechaun, Ashley’s and Conor O’Neills opening as early as 7 a.m., AAPD Lt. Renee Bush met fellow officers at 6 a.m. by the Cube to divide and conquer over bagels. For the alcohol prevention team, St. Patrick’s Day began when the Ann Arbor police, along with volunteers from the University programs Beyond the Diag and Expect Respect, met to hand out cream cheese and bagels along with fliers that provided tips on how to “Stay in the Blue.” The group divided the bagels, split up and headed to their respective locations, focusing on popular bars. At 7 a.m. people were already lined up to take part in this day of drinking and mer-
riment; there was a line of about 20 people in front of the Blue Leprechaun, and an estimated 60 in front of both Ashley’s and Conor O’Neills. While the intent of giving out breakfast to the public was to help keep people who planned to drink in safe health, the gesture suggested the public and the police work together on major holidays to ensure safety for all celebrating. After handing out the bagels, groups reconvened in the Michigan Union to discuss how everything went and ways to improve next year. Bryan Baker, the University’s Division of Public Safety and Security’s liaison to the Office of Student Life, said he was happy with the way their initiative turned out. “I thought the bagels went
really well this morning,” Baker said. “The students and the audience that we were trying to reach were very receptive to the messaging of us having them think before they drink and get some food in their bellies before they go out and have any type of alcohol.” Students were the targeted audience of the campaign, but Lt. Bush handed the bagels with attached safety fliers out to anyone who wanted them. “It’s an important message no matter how old you are,” Bush said. “We don’t want anyone going to the hospital or getting hurt — nothing is worth that.” In addition to this event, last Saturday, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center held a bystander intervention training session, hosted by Beyond the Diag at the Luther Buchele Cooperative House.
The aim of these programs was to help inform students on how to react to potential dangerous situations and stay safe during the holiday and the weekend following. Baker said the outreach done this year, such as the free bagels, will continue next year. He reported the number of students drinking in the dorms the Saturday prior to St. Patrick’s Day was down by 50 percent from last year, but noted that Dance Marathon being held Saturday through Sunday was a contributing factor. “I think that we will continue on with these types of educational efforts and really getting out there and talking to the community.” Baker said. After the discussion was over, Bush went back to her duties as an officer and patrolled the streets, making sure to pass all of the pop-
BEST OF ANN ARBOR
ular bars and observe the crowd size in and out of the bars. By 9 a.m., the lines were gone and the bars were full. HopCat and Scorekeepers did not open until later on in the day, but Bush said that in previous years she remembers lines down the block in front of Scorekeepers, and that the amount of people out on St. Patrick’s day is really dependent on the weather and day the holiday falls on. 1:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the day, campus was quiet and most students attended class. AAPD Officer Jaime Crawford was assigned to traffic patrol as usual. She left the department around 1:45 p.m. and began her patrol.
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Prosecutor will not press charges against Annual Ann Arbor Summer Festival kicks officer who fatally shot Ann Arbor resident off with live music, outdoor activities David Reid found innocent, court cites use of “lawful self-defense” By ANASTASSIOS ADAMOPOULOS and LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporters
JAN. 30, 2015 – The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday afternoon it will not press criminal charges against Ann Arbor Police Officer David Ried for the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Ann Arbor resident Aura Rosser on Nov. 10, 2014. Prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie said in a statement the shooting was “lawful selfdefense.” The prosecutor’s office announced the decision after the Michigan State Police finished a two-month-long investigation. The shooting occurred after Ann Arbor police officers David Ried and Mark Raab arrived in response to a domestic violence call from Victor Stephens, with whom Rosser was living. According to the prosecutor’s report the police officers arrived on the scene and saw Rosser attacking Stephens with a knife in her hand, who then turned to the officers and moved toward them. After the officers ordered Rosser to put down the knife, Ried fired one gun shot while Naab fired a shot from his taser at the same time. The memorandum notes that Rosser suffered from mental illness but was not taking her prescribed psychotropic medicine at the time of the event. The toxicology report found cocaine and alcohol in Rosser’s system. Jeffrey Jentzen, Washtenaw County medical examiner, wrote in the report that the two drugs in combination with the discontinuation of prescribed medication could have led to aggressive behavior and delirium. In an interview Friday evening, Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1) said she was curious as to why it took so long to make the decision given that most information about the case was already known. She also said she found it interesting that Ried fired his gun while the other officer used a taser, and said she doesn’t know what protocol each officer followed.
“I think the most important thing we can do now is really address our expectations for training and police reaction,” Briere said. Briere said she thought it is important to talk about the potential of a citizen review board or a citizen oversight board that could help guide policies and procedure for the police when dealing with someone who is intoxicated or mentally ill. Earlier this month, the city’s Human Rights Commission announced it would establish a subcommittee to look into police policies, and is considering the creation of a citizen review board. Briere said she worries about how police are trained to interact with people with mental health issues, as well as intoxicated people who might have a lower capacity for restraint. She said this consideration is especially important in Ann Arbor, which is home to many college students who can often overindulge in alcohol. “If our police are not well trained in dealing with people who have control issues then that it is not an issue for just the Aura Rossers of our community, it’s an issue for everybody in our community,” she said. In response to Rosser’s death and several incidents across the nation in which Blacks were killed by law enforcement officials, most notably in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution in December 2014 to implement the use of body cameras by the Ann Arbor Police Department. Before the meeting, protesters marched in downtown Ann Arbor to protest Rosser’s shooting. In an interview with The Michigan Daily earlier this week, Greg Bazick, deputy chief of the AAPD, said body cameras overall represent a positive investment. The AAPD has used in-car video cameras for years, and Bazick said they serve to protect both officers and citizens. Bazick said he views body cameras as a “natural progression” from the in-vehicle cameras many officers currently employ. They would provide a more comprehensive coverage of police interactions than the in-vehicle cameras, which have limited access and microphones that reach only within the
vehicle area. “Oftentimes the interactions that folks have are usually when their emotional state is a little bit heightened, and perceptions sometimes aren’t as secure as if you look at them as an unbiased third party,” he said. Briere said the body cameras also serve as an important resource for officers. “Having the camera is to give us not just a recording, as if we are looking for someone doing something evil,” she said. “It’s going to give us an accurate tool for analyzing what happened: what went right, what went wrong.” Bazick said video footage of interactions is the best way to glean an accurate representation of the situation. “When there are complaints about the actions that an officer took, it’s much better to be able to have a recording of it,” he said. However, he also noted some drawbacks of body cameras, and voiced concern over the impacts of the public’s ability to request and obtain footage of officers on duty through mechanisms such as the Freedom of Information Act. “How do we manage the Freedom of Information processes whereby really anybody can get access to these videos, and they can do with them what they want?,” he said. “Privacy is an issue that’s probably larger than anybody has been able to experience the full effects of.” Though many municipalities have started employing body cameras in light of recent incidents in Ferguson and elsewhere, some critics argue body cameras do not represent a “silver bullet” for improving the ways in which law enforcement officials interact with the public. The AAPD has purchased 86 cameras, 80 of which will be issued to regularly uniformed officers. However, the AAPD consists of 122 sworn officers in total. Officers who will not receive the body cameras immediately include the police chief, the deputy chiefs, detectives, and officers working primarily administrative assignments. Bazick noted that the longterm goal is for every AAPD officer to be issued a camera, if future funding allows for it. The body cameras are slated for delivery toward the end of March, and Police Chief John Seto expects them to be in use by June.
Ann Arbor Police Department to use in-car and officer body cameras in future Protesters sitting in on meeting voice concern over police brutality By LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter
DEC. 16, 2014 – The Ann Arbor City Council unanimously voted Monday to appropriate $173,760 to upgrade police in-car and body cameras, a move intended to help officers objectively evaluate police interactions with the public. Before Monday’s City Council meeting, protesters marched from the Ann Arbor Justice Center on East Huron to the Washtenaw County Building to protest the death of 40-year-old Aura Rosser, who was shot and killed by an Ann Arbor Police officer last month. The protesters also marched in solidarity with Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. over the summer. Chanting, “Black lives matter” and “How do you spell murder? AAPD,” about 200 protesters blocked traffic and demanded justice in the face of police brutality. Many of the protestors filled the City Council meeting room and spoke in support of the resolution to equip Ann Arbor Police officers with body cameras. The resolution passed unanimously with the support of Ann Arbor
Mayor Christopher Taylor, who welcomed the large number of protesters who crowded the meeting. “I think this is an important national conversation we’re having,” Taylor said. “I believe that everyone in Ann Arbor has a right to be and feel safe and it’s important that we have that conversation here as well.” The protesters called on the city to fire David Ried, the 15-year AAPD veteran who shot Rosser while on duty. They also demanded the city pay for Rosser’s burial. The protesters argued that city officials must address what they perceive as the systemic nature of racist policing in the United States. Councilmember Chuck Warpehoski (D–Ward 5) echoed Taylor’s remarks, saying he was pleased with the high attendance of protesters and empathized with their frustration. “I absolutely understand the frustration and the anger and the concern that Black lives do matter and not always seeing that reflected in what they see happening across the country,” Warpehoski said. “We don’t know the details of this specific case so I understand why they’re frustrated by not having that information released yet, but some of the demands they’re making I felt were premature.” The Michigan State Police is currently investigating the shooting and additional information about the incident has not yet been made available. Ann Arbor resident Jef-
fery Harrold said he hopes the Council’s resolution would aid in repairing that relationship between police officers and community members. “The police have been an issue and a force of oppression for African Americans since the founding of this nation,” Harrold said. “We don’t trust the police. And so what we need is transparency, even in the killing of Aura Rosser. I would say it has taken too long to give us some information.” One public commenter asked for three minutes of silence as a sign of respect for each of Rosser’s three children. The crowd grew angry and began chanting when Taylor attempted to proceed with the meeting. He ultimately conceded the time. Though the resolution passed unanimously, some councilmembers, including Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1), expressed concerns regarding possible privacy issues, budgetary concerns and how to regulate a police officer’s ability to turn their cameras off. “I understand completely how powerless everybody engaged in this issue feels, members of Council, members of the public both,” she said. “And that a challenge we face is making good decisions when we have too little information. I tried very hard to exercise patience. It’s a little easier for me. I’m a middle-aged white person.”
Public block party attracts attendees from across Michigan By SAM COREY For the Daily
JUN. 14, 2015 – The annual Ann Arbor Summer Festival kicked off June 12 on North University Avenue with various activities and live musical performances. Established in 1984 by microfilm pioneer Eugene Power, in collaboration with the city of Ann Arbor and the University, the festival is known for its performances by eclectic groups of domestic and international artists. The festival is open six days a week and reins in close to 80,000 attendees each year for simultaneously occurring indoor and outdoors programs. Friday’s activities included entertainment by dancers, musicians, comedians and actors. Festival activities are made possible each year through the work of volunteers and donations from regular attendees. LSA junior Rob Smith said he enjoys how the event engages the Ann Arbor community. “It has a vast range of musical talent and is a place for people to gather and just see people that they wouldn’t be able to see throughout the year. It’s a wonderful community event,” said Smith. Outdoor programs, otherwise known as Top of the Park, make up 90 percent of the festival’s activities and include outdoor movies, concerts, workouts, organized dancing, educational programs and food vendors. According to Amy Nesbitt, the director of the festival, there has been a steady fusion between the indoor and outdoor
programs. “It used to be segmented between indoor and outdoor programs. Over the years, we’ve tried really hard to braid that experience,” Nesbitt said. Each year the nonprofit festival’s steering team sends a mass e-mail to Ann Arbor residents to ask about what artists they would like to see perform. According to Nesbitt, this year the team received more than 1,500 responses. Upon processing information about artist preferences, the festival team then collaborates with potential artists, while being conscious of providing a variety of genres for attendees. “Four hundred artists submit to play Top of the Park. We try to keep a broad mix of a lot of dif-
people, nice environment, great food, great music. You get the best of everything,” Magellin said. Magellin said he was particularly looking forward to hearing from “The Appleseed Collective” Thursday because of their “gypsy jazz, swing” genre. Top of the Park also provides activities targeted for a younger audience in a portion called Kidzone. At the Kidzone Friday, children were able to play orchestral instruments under the guidance of volunteers. Nick Penizinsky, a violinist from Milford, was one such volunteer, and said he felt nostalgic as he recalled learning to play the violin. “I liked playing string instruments, so I thought I’d help out, help people learn better. It’s been a lot of fun watching (kids) learn how to play. It reminds me of when I learned how to play,” Penizinsky said. While not that much has changed about the festival over the years, Nes- Festival Director Amy Nesbitt bitt spoke of the expanding reach of the festival due to technological advanceferent genres, so its accessible to ments. As of the festival’s people — bluegrass, punk, rock, opening night, 27,000 people R&B, etcetera,” Nesbitt said. downloaded the digital app to Ann Arbor residents like follow the event. Joseph Tau, a rising sophomore “So many people are living at the local Skyline high school, on their mobile device, there’s attend the festival as well. so much information,” Nesbitt Tau said he has partaken in its said. “To rise above that noise, events for several years. it’s a very different way to figure “I came here a couple times out what’s going on and engage.” last summer and I went almost Although the sights and every night the summer before sounds of the festival can be that. I like the movies a lot and found on the web, Nesbitt said hanging out with people and lis- she is weary of those who watch tening to music,” said Tau. the fun from the comfort of The festival also attracts peo- their own home. ple from outside of Ann Arbor, “I’m very about live events such as Ferdinand Magellin, — you can download this expean Ohio native who is on a road rience, but if you weren’t there trip with no final destination to get the ‘oohs’ and the ‘ahhhs,’ in mind. On his exploration you didn’t get the magic that of through America, he fortu- the event,” Nesbitt said. itously stopped in Ann Arbor The summer festival is and spoke of his admiration for scheduled to open every day, the city. excluding Mondays, from 5 p.m. “Ann Arbor is beautiful. It’s to 10:30 p.m., and will continue very nice — a lot of pleasant until July 5.
“...you can download this experience, but if you weren’t there to get the ‘oohs’ and the ‘ahhhs,’ you didn’t get the magic that of the event”
Hieftje leads his final Council meeting as mayor Protesters sitting in on meeting voice concern over police brutality
the Council voted unanimously to nominate Petersen as Chair of the Disabilities Commission. Petersen said she was grateful for Hieftje’s welcome to the Council, as he gave her the opportunity to take a leadership role on committees. By JACK TURMAN “I thank everyone here and EMMA KERR because people have been openDaily Staff Reporter and minded,” Petersen said. “People Daily News Editor have been willing to listen.” Known as a champion for the NOV. 6, 2014 – Thursday neighborhoods of Ann Arbor, night’s City Council meeting Teall has served on the Counmarked the end of an era. cil for 12 years for the fourth The weekly session was the ward. In addition to her last for Councilmemtime on Council, Teall bers Sally Hart Petersen also served on the Envi(D–Ward 2) and Margie “I thank everyone here because ronmental CommisTeall (D–Ward 4), as well sion, the Administrative as mayor John Hieftje, people have been open-minded. who will be succeeded People have been willing to listen.” Committee, the board of directors for the annual by current CouncilmemFestiFools festival and ber Christopher Taylor - former Councilmember the Labor Committee, (D–Ward 3). Sally Hart Petersen among others. When all was said and As Teall’s tenure done, Hieftje received a comes to a close, she said standing ovation from councilmembers after his clos- on Council ends this year, ran she has been nostalgic and has ing speech, and he thanked for mayor and therefore relin- looked at past e-mails to reflect quished her eligibility to run as on what being a councilmember councilmembers and city staff. “I think you have all served an incumbent for her Council meant to her and to sum up her very well,” Hieftje said. “But, seat. During her time on Coun- Council experience. “It’s meant a ton,” she said. I also want to mention all the cil, Petersen emphasized and councilmembers that I had the used her business background “You know, I’ve been here 12 opportunity to serve with over to focus on economic issues in years and I’m floored by how the city. the years.” much we’ve accomplished in During her campaign for the 14 years since we’ve had our He also expressed gratitude to the people of Ann Arbor for mayor, she ran against fellow mayor. We don’t talk about the the support he received. He said councilmembers Sabra Briere same problems now. I am very he was thankful for the people (D–Ward 1), Steve Kunselman lucky to have served with so who followed Council meet- (D–Ward 3) and Taylor, receiv- many fabulous staff members.” ings and spoke to the Council. ing 15.90 percent of the vote in Teall also said she has no Hieftje said the Council ben- the Democratic primary. intentions at this time of runAs her time on Council ends, ning for public office again. efitted from these gestures and the people’s engagements in city Petersen said she hopes to “Working with organizacontinue serving Ann Arbor tions, nonprofits and such,” she issues. City Administrator Steve through the Disabilities Com- said, “(that) would be something Powers thanked Hieftje and mission. At Thursday’s meeting, I’d like to do.” councilmembers Teall and Petersen for their work on the Council at their final meeting Thursday. “You will be missed and we are sorry to see you go,” Powers said. “Please accept our gratitude for your service and support.” As for the future, Hieftje said he plans to stay in Ann Arbor and live a simple life. “I’m going to continue to live here and be a taxpayer,” Hieftje said. Peterson, whose first term
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
6F — Fall 2015
The 56th annual Ann Arbor Art Fair returns to the city Event organizers and officials prepare for four unique fairs By JACKIE CHARNIGA and LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter and Summer Managing News Editor
JUL. 14, 2015 - After a year of intense collaboration between local officials and event organizers, the 56th annual award-winning Ann Arbor Art Fair returns to Tree Town Wednesday. Occupying 30 Ann Arbor city blocks, Art Fair draws roughly 500,000 visitors to the city to browse the work of a variety of Michigan-based artists. Many visitors don’t realize, however,
that Art Fair consists of four unique fairs: the “Original” Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, extending from North University southward to the Diag, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, located on Main Street, the State Street Area Art Fair and the South University Art Fair. According to Maureen Riley, executive director of the “Original” Street Art Fair, each individual fair reflects the unique personality of its location. “The character of the neighborhoods play heavily into the overall feel of each fair,” Riley said, adding that the State Street fair is known for its sidewalk sales while the Summer Art Fair showcases the many restaurants and shops that line Main Street, in addition to quality artwork. Riley said the “Original” fair is organized by a non-profit arts
organization, which explains the fair’s heavy focus on art over local businesses. “Our focus has always been on maintaining high-quality artistic standards. We remain small to accomplish that,” Riley said. “We also are committed to engaging the public in experiential and educational opportunities.” In addition to showcasing artwork, the “Original” fair offers art demonstrations, activities and other programs for students. Although the individual fairs offer different experiences, the Art Fair operates as one event. Each fair is set to run from Wednesday to Saturday. During the week the fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday the fair will close at 6 p.m. This year, the Art Fair will introduce the Art Go ‘Round, a free bus shuttle service that will
transport visitors between the four fairs throughout the day. For the enormous event to run smoothly, Art Fair requires communication between city officials, Art Fair coordinators and University representatives alike. Jim Kosteva, University director of community relations, said Art Fair takes a lot of planning on the University’s end. “Primarily, our activities revolve around trying to coordinate with affairs with the city on the street closures to make sure we can still conduct as close to business as normal as we need to and accommodate during the art fairs,” Kosteva said, citing the University’s need to accommodate summer students with disabilities who require handicap parking, as well as food and trash collection services that are restricted by the Art Fair.
Kosteva also said this year’s Art Fair organizers had to work around the University’s construction along Ingalls Mall off of North University. Along with University representatives, the City of Ann Arbor is also heavily involved in the preparation process for Art Fair. “The arts and culture are very important to Ann Arbor residents, so we provide a welcoming location for vendors and visitors alike,” Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said. The highly successful attendance rate of the Art Fair benefits downtown businesses despite the fact that Ann Arbor itself receives no direct profit. “Aside from revenue, there’s no sales tax — the city gets no revenue. It does increase the health of the businesses, but there is not a direct one-to-one economic ben-
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efit to the city,” Taylor said. In fact, the Ann Arbor City Council provides funding to the Art Fair to ensure the event runs smoothly each year. Due to the living wage ordinances in Ann Arbor, the Art Fair is required by law to provide more than minimum wage to its employees for the weeklong event, limiting the amount of people organizers can hire. Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1) said Council donates money to the Art Fair annually to ensure the efficiency of its operations. “The City has given funding to the Art Fair — we don’t just give money out; we give money to accomplish a goal,” Briere said. “Part of the goal that we have given the Art Fair to accomplish is rapid and smooth construction See ART FAIR, Page 7F
7F — Fall 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ART FAIR From Page 4F and demolition.” To have the Art Fair assembled and disassembled in a timely fashion, the event requires the use of many temporary workers. Because of the way in which the city provides funding for the Art Fair, members of council were unable to appropriate more than $10,000 in funding to the event without enacting the city’s living wage ordinance, which requires any state-contracted employer to provide a certain standard wage to temporary workers. Council voted to increase the threshold donation to as much as $25,000 so as to provide more funding to the Art Fair without straining their budget by increasing the wage standard of the temporary event workers. Briere said Council’s approval of this donation played an instru-
mental role in the expansion of the Art Fair. “In an effort to help the Art Fair make ends meet, the City changed the rules pertaining to the Art Fair — and only to the Art Fair,” Briere said. Ann Arbor’s Living Wage Ordinance was set at $14.18 per hour without benefits and $12.70 per hour with benefits last year. Under the new provisions for Art Fair, temporary workers are being paid minimum wage, which is $8.15 per hour in Washtenaw County. In addition to preparation from Ann Arbor’s government officials, University staff and event organizers, Art Fair requires planning from health and safety representatives. For the third consecutive year, the Art Fair will provide identification wristbands for young children so that if a child is separated from his or her parent, contact information may be easily found
by law enforcement. Rick Norman, Ann Arbor’s director of emergency management, implemented the wristband policy modeled after the one Michigan Stadium uses. With 30 blocks closed off in the city, emergency services have taken specific precautions for Art Fair. The fire department has a map and complete layout of the fair in order to plan alternative routes available to them in the event of an emergency. Norman said there is an emergency action guideline for the fair directors and volunteers to be used by the Community Response Team, a group of volunteers that patrol the Art Fair. “They know what to look for — suspicious activity or behavior or how to report any emergency they might see,” said Norman. Additional safety features at the Art Fair include 27 shelter locations in case of severe weather.
Ann Arbor’s homeless struggle to cope with cold Many refuse shelter due to mental illness, addictions By LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter
FEB. 16, 2015 - For the city’s homeless, staying warm has higher stakes as windchills dip well below zero. Last week, a 39-year-old man was found dead in a tent near the Amtrak station on Depot Street, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department. In an e-mail to Ann Arbor
City Council members, Police Chief John Seto said the Washtenaw County medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death. “Although the medical examiner has not yet released a final determination for the cause of death, it does not appear at this time that exposure was the cause,” he wrote. Police said the man did not have a house, and was living in a tent west of the long-term parking lot and north across the tracks in the woods near the river. Though police said there was a heating source in the tent, the heat was not turned on. This incident sheds light on the challenges for Ann Arbor’s
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homeless population during the winter season. In recent weeks, homelessness has sparked debate at several Council meetings. There have been efforts to recall Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3) from his position in response to comments he made last year calling for the eviction of a homeless tent community near Burton Road. Kunselman responded to these efforts at a review hearing in early January, explaining the need for a long-term approach to housing the homeless during cold weather. “No one in the city of Ann See HOMELESS, Page 9F
8F — Fall 2015
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For 44th year, legalize marijuana advocates assemble in Ann Arbor Hash Bash attracts roughly 9,000 from across the state By ISOBEL FUTTER and SAMIHA MATIN Daily Staff Reporters
APR. 5, 2015 – Marijuana smoke, along with screams of, “Free the weed, end the war,” filled the air Saturday as the 44th annual Hash Bash unfolded on the Diag and Monroe Street. The event lit up at “high noon.” Speakers included State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor), Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, City Councilmember Sabra Briere (D—Ward 1) and acclaimed comedian and activist Tommy Chong. Since its inception, Hash Bash has been an outlet for advocates of marijuana decriminalization. This held true Saturday. Charlie Strachbein, who coordinates the accompanying Monroe Street Fair, estimated that 9,000 people were in attendance. One of these attendees was the event’s originator: John Sinclair. The first Hash Bash was held in 1972 as a response to the 1969 arrest of activist and poet John Sinclair, who gave two marijuana joints to an undercover officer. Sinclair was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which sparked the “John Sinclair Freedom Rally” in December 1971. Held in the University’s Crisler Arena, the event featured a host of celebrities, including
John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder and Allen Ginsberg who came to protest for Sinclair’s release. The Michigan Supreme Court eventually overturned the law under which Sinclair had been convicted, and by the following April, the first Hash Bash was underway. “I started this and I’m still alive, so I like to come back,” Sinclair said. “This was all a little idea me and some other people had 44 years ago … One day, I’ll be here and we’ll be celebrating legalization in Michigan.” A large emphasis at this year’s Hash Bash was promoting a 2016 state ballot measure that would legalize cannabis and hemp use in Michigan. It also aims to remove past criminal convictions for the possession of marijuana. In Ann Arbor, marijuana possession is a civil infraction — offenders can incur a $25 fine. However, smoking marijuana on a state university campus is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $2,000 and up to one year in prison. The Ann Arbor Police Department and University Police patrolled the event and watched for any emergencies. Despite the fact that the usage of marijuana was illegal, and very prominent at Hash Bash, only three arrests were made. To Sinclair, addressing marijuana use as a criminal offense is a laughing matter. “Crime?” Sinclair said. “What kind of crime do they have here? I don’t worry about it, I’m going to get high anyways.”
The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Initiative Committee — which goes by MI Legalize — helped to both organize the event and book local speakers. The organization is an advocate of the pending legalization ballot measure. “We have been working hard to provide you with a uniquely thought-provoking and entirely radical rally,” said Nicholas Zettell, Hash Bash Director of Operations. “We’ve selected accomplished and knowledgeable figures within this diverse and colorful community to provide you with a savory blend of community leaders, elected officials, patients and much more.” Irwin, one of the elected officials, is the state representative responsible for drafting the pending 2016 ballot measure. He believes it is unethical to continue criminalizing individuals for smoking marijuana. “You’ve heard a little bit about how cannabis is a gateway drug, and I’m here to tell you folks it is a gateway drug to a real bad time with law enforcement,” Irwin said in a speech to Hash Bash attendees. “It’s a gateway to a criminal record; it’s a gateway to a misdemeanor or a felony; it’s a gateway to losing your financial aid. It’s a gateway to hundreds of millions of dollars wasted of taxpayer money arresting, trying, prosecuting and incarcerating marijuana users.” Bernero joined Irwin in saying that the criminalization of marijuana is damaging to the state of Michigan.
“The war on marijuana has been a war on the good and decent citizens of Michigan and America,” Bernero said. “It is a war against our children, a war against our communities, especially communities of color. The casualties from the war on pot are everywhere. I’ve heard you say, ‘free the weed,’ but I’ve come to realize that ‘free the weed’ means ‘free the people.’ ” In a phone interview prior to the event, Briere said it is important to remember that Hash Bash promotes activism and political commentary, not civil disobedience. “It’s a collection of speeches and live music where people from different areas collaborate to focus on reforming the marijuana laws of Michigan,” Briere said. Though Irwin, Bernero and Briere all spoke about the legalization of marijuana at Saturday’s event, there were many different ideas raised throughout the afternoon’s speeches. Chong called for the elimination of the Drug Enforcement Administration, claiming that marijuana advocates were winning the war on drugs. “It started as a protest, but it’s turning into a celebration because we are winning,” he said. “What we’re having today is the celebration of the greatest plant known to man. All pot use is medical.” Like Chong, many speakers shared anecdotes about how marijuana changed their lives for the better.
One speaker, Jim Powers, MI Legalize board member, talked about how cannabis oil saved his son’s life. Powers is also a cofounder of the Michigan Parents for Compassion — an organization dedicated to teaching others about the positive effects of medical marijuana on children’s health. His son, Ryan, suffers from Minimal Change Disease — an autoimmune disease of the kidneys. Powers said despite this, he and his son have not received medical protection from the state, which means his son’s successful medical treatment is still, technically, illegal. “Ryan has been on many, many different toxic medications and none of them have worked for him,” Powers said. “We basically came to the end of the line when we decided to try cannabis oil, but the result was immediate. Before cannabis oil, Ryan was able to maintain a remission of about 14 days. I’m pleased to report that today, on cannabis oil, Ryan has been in remission for 302 days.” Other highlights of the event included speakers from Students for Sensible Drug Policy, who talked about the effects of using marijuana on campuses with non-smoking policies and enforcement of state laws. SSDP Deputy Director Stacia Cosner cited a U.S. Department of Education policy that rescinds college students’ financial aid if they are convicted for marijuana possession. Consequently, because residence halls are mari-
juana free, she said, even students who legally medicate with medical marijuana could end up facing disciplinary measures. Law student Reid Murdoch and LSA senior Brian Kardell, executive members of the University’s SSDP chapter, discussed the impact the University’s policy prohibiting smoking in residence halls could have on students. Kardell urged the student crowd at Hash Bash to take a stance against such discrimination. “Just because I choose to use marijuana doesn’t mean that I don’t deserve a professional career or that I am a bad student and a person,” Kardell said. “As leaders of the future, we don’t want to feed into a system of misinformation and justice. We need to have our voices heard now.” After the speakers concluded, attendees moved to the Monroe Street Fair — now in its 14th year of partnering with Hash Bash festivities. The fair consisted of several street vendors, a meetand-greet event with Chong and numerous musical acts. Strachbein, the street fair coordinator, said these emerging artists were chosen because they could bring a new type of music to the fair and inspire the people. He also helped to sponsor Chong’s appearance at the fair and Hash Bash. “We are just so proud and happy to have Chong with us today,” Strachbein said. “For the future, we hope that even more people join us and we can generate more revenue to help in reforming marijuana laws.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
9F — Fall 2015
Poorly lit off-campus areas spark concern With lighting moratorium now lifted, community advocates for changes By ANASTASSIOS ADAMOPOULOS and ANDREW ALMANI Daily Staff Reporters PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ZACH MOOREW/Daily
Legality of Uber, Lyft in Ann Arbor still unresolved Taxi cab drivers express grievances at lack of rideshare service regulation By LARA MOEHLMAN Dailt Staff Reporter
JAN. 29, 2015 – Across Michigan, local governments have placed regulations on two prominent rideshare companies operating in the state, Uber and Lyft. However, breaking from that trend, this past August the Ann Arbor City Council did not passproposed regulations that would have placed significant restrictions on these rideshare services, requiring drivers to register with the city, provide proof of insurance and obtain a valid chauffeur’s license, among other regulations. No action has been taken on the issue since, leaving their status in Ann Arbor uncertain. Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1) voted against the proposed regulations. Briere said she opposed them because she believes that the Ann Arbor City Council has not yet figured out how to properly handle the operating models of companies like Uber and Lyft. “Part of the reason we strug-
HOMELESS From Page 7F Arbor, in the county of Washtenaw, should be left out in the cold or should be encouraged to live in the cold, to be given a tent and a sleeping bag and told to rough it and try to survive in the subzero, harsh Michigan winter,” he said. Council has since revised legislation in response to the conversations. A resolution now states that, though humane displacement of homeless camps on both private and public property is an appro-
ORDINANCE From Page 1F tigations can be managed more efficiently. The new ordinance states that the Human Rights Commission is responsible for overseeing these investigations. Ann Arbor’s ordinance is now more comprehensive than similar legislation in Berkeley, Calif., Boulder, Colo. and Austin, Texas. The ordinances in these college towns afford protections for race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age and ancestry. However, they do not include provisions for survivors of domestic violence, members of the military, an individual’s political beliefs or arrest record, and do not differentiate between gender identity and gender expression. During the public hearing at Monday’s meeting, local organizations voiced their support for the new ordinance. A representative from SafeHouse, a group that provides support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, was among those in atten-
gled with this is because the only model we have is an old model that doesn’t respond to modern technology,” Briere said. Rather, she said the ordinance proposed in August treated rideshare services as if they were taxi services, instead of a separate entity. “Trying to make (Uber) operate like a taxi would destroy it,” Briere said. Though she acknowledged that Uber has received negative press, she said there are distinct benefits to having an accessible rideshare service that doesn’t require a reservation an hour in advance. “All of the people I have spoken with who use Uber have felt comfortable and safe — which is not to suggest that every driver is perfectly vetted — I don’t know whether they are or aren’t,” she said. “It’s not to guarantee that every driver in every place that deals with Uber specifically is properly trained and has a properly safe vehicle, because I can’t guarantee those things either. I can only say that every rider with whom I’ve spoken to felt safe.” Safety questions surrounding Uber’s operation is just one facet of the Uber controversy, which has emerged internationally as well. In Ann Arbor, local taxi service owners and operators have raised
financial concerns in addition to the safety concerns raised by members of the community and City Council. Merlyn Wade, owner of Ann Arbor Cab, has been in the taxi business for almost 30 years. He submitted a five-page testimony to state legislators, outlining the flaws in a Michigan House of Representatives bill proposed in December. The bill called for statewide mandatory permits, insurance and screening for drivers for services such as Uber and Lyft. Wade said, if passed, the bill would have allowed Uber to continue operating the same way it has been, without following regulations taxicabs have to follow. “They would have been able to operate without a chauffeur’s license, without commercial insurance, without commercial plating,” he said. He added that those rules are put in place to protect both the passenger and the driver in a taxi. “They might seem archaic, but they’re there for a reason,” Wade said. “And the rules and the regulations that we have to follow out here are not excessive.” Wade also noted the unfair advantage he sees in the Uber business model. “I have a wife who’s terminally ill and I’ve got five children I’m trying to feed, and I follow the
rules and I come out here, just like my drivers do, and these guys are allowed to come out here and operate illegally, and take food off the table of my family? How is that right?” Wade said. “I don’t have a problem with Uber doing business. I have a problem with Uber not following the same rules everybody else follows,” he added. John Etter, president of Blue Cab Company, expressed similar views. His cab company pays $5,000 to $10,000 per car a year. “To have a competitor that doesn’t have to pay that? That doesn’t seem right,” Etter said. Etter said he has seen business suffer as a result of Uber, especially with the student market on weekend nights. In response to the new technology Uber on which operates, Etter said Blue Cab is working to develop an app of its own, which would allow customers to see where the cars are and keep their credit cards on file. While taxi companies attribute a drop in customers due to Uber, Ann Arbor taxis themselves are not immune to safety concerns from the community. In 2013, the Ann Arbor News reported a Blue Cab taxi driver was arraigned for two misdemeanor assault and battery charges after a female customer reported he kissed her.
priate response to private property and resident complaints, “it is not the practice of the City of Ann Arbor to proactively seek out homeless camps for removal, nor to broadly deploy strategies to render areas used as campsites unusable.” Amanda Carlisle, executive director of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, said the prevalence of tent communities in Ann Arbor is not a result of a lack of resources for the homeless, but rather a reflection of the homeless’ resistance to entering shelters. “We’ve put a lot of resources actually into shelter and specifical-
ly warming centers so that we do have the capacity to house all the folks who are living unsheltered,” she said. “I think the story is more so whether or not folks are willing to and able to come in and out from the cold, and into shelter, specifically whether or not they have a mental illness, or a substance use issue, or something that might be preventing them from feeling like they can seek shelter.” In response to last year’s severely cold temperatures, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance has made more resources available to Ann Arbor’s homeless population. Washtenaw
County and the city are now funding an overnight warming center operated by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County. In response to the political debates over tent communities in Ann Arbor, Carlisle said she would rather focus on the need for more affordable housing within the city. “If they were offered a place to stay inside, I think most of them would take that opportunity, but I just don’t think we have enough resources to be able to offer folks pretty barrier-free housing in our community,” Carlisle said.
dance. Barbara Niess-May, executive director of SafeHouse, said she was thrilled with the new ordinance. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking are often dismissed from jobs, restaurants and businesses because of their attacker’s behavior, Niess-May said in an interview with The Michigan Daily. The wider impact of the ordinance is also important to the organization, which works closely with the local LGBTQ community. “It’s not just about one sliver of society, it’s about its entirety,” Niess-May said. Kailasapathy said Ann Arbor is hoping to set an example for the state of Michigan through the revised ordinance. The state’s anti-discrimination legislation, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, does not include protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. However, it was amended in 2009 to increase protections for pregnant employees. State Rep. Adam Zemke (D–
Ann Arbor) acknowledged the state’s shortcomings in a statement read by Taylor at Monday’s meeting. “I would love to stand before you today and say that a comprehensive local ordinance is unnecessary because the state has included all persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression or identity under the protection afforded by the ElliottLarsen Civil Rights Act,” Zemke wrote. “That would be the right thing to do for all Michiganders, however, that is not yet the case.” Political beliefs are another protection many would like to see added to state legislation. In an interview with the Daily, Michael Steinberg, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, said an Ann Arbor doctor was fired a few years ago because she was an activist for Palestinian rights. Steinberg said he hopes state lawmakers will realize the importance of protecting people of all political views. “Ann Arbor is not alone; several states have political beliefs protected in their civil rights laws
— California, Colorado, Connecticut, South Dakota and Louisiana, just to name a few,” Steinberg said. “It isn’t radical or out of the ordinary.” He added that the ordinance is especially relevant to Ann Arbor. Because the town is home to one of the nation’s preeminent universities, the right to freely exchange ideas is important. William Hampton, president of the Ann Arbor chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, praised the Council for the work they did to improve the ordinance and noted Ann Arbor’s longstanding tradition of social progress. “It showed a lot of courage to have a human rights ordinance in the 1970s, and we did,” he said. However, Hampton added that without enforcement, the new ordinance will be meaningless. He hopes that if it is enforced it will encourage community members to value and celebrate diversity.
MAR. 12, 2015 - Ann Arbor might soon see the light. During the Feb. 17 Ann Arbor City Council meeting, the City Council adopted a resolution that lifted a moratorium on the installation of new lighting that had been in effect in since 2005. The moratorium has been in effect since fiscal year 2006 and was adopted due to the increasing costs of DTE Energy lighting. With the moratorium lifted, several student governments are considering proposals to evaluate off-campus lighting after hearing student concerns about off-campus safety. There are two owners of offcampus streetlights in Ann Arbor — the city and DTE. The city compensates DTE for the streetlights that DTE owns, both for their use and their maintenance. The city is responsible for the maintenance of the streetlights that it owns, but still pays DTE for the energy use. According to a streetlight whitepaper created by the Systems Planning Unit in September 2013, by the close of the 2013 fiscal year Ann Arbor had 7,437 streetlights. Of these DTE owned 5,234 while the city owned the remaining 2,203. The city began using LED streetlights in 2006, according to the whitepaper. LED lights are more expensive but have fewer maintenance and energy expenses, which makes them preferable. The moratorium does not mean that new lights have not been installed or that old ones have not been replaced in the city. The condition is that these replacements and installments do not cause a net increase in streetlight costs. The resolution for lifting the moratorium was introduced by Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3) and seconded by Councilmember Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4). Safety The streetlight whitepaper notes that a Streetlight De-energizing Pilot in 2010 found that the public believed more lighting increases nighttime personal safety and a lot of residents believed home thefts would be more likely in under-lit areas. However the report also found that there is no correlation between crime and lighting on streets, whether that is crime committed against pedestrians or occurs in the neighborhood. The student community has also expressed concerns about streetlights. LSA junior Michael Fakhoury, chair of the Central Student Government’s Commission on Student Safety and Security, said many students have complained to CSG about lighting on campus. “There’s a lot of safety issues — there’s actually being safe, and the feeling of safety, which are two different things,” Fakhoury said. “A lot of the areas that are not well lit on campus are being explored right now. Obviously we’re taking it one step at a time and looking at different issues.” At the CSG meeting on Wednesday, a resolution regarding the moratorium and lighting was presented. Assembly Resolution 4-033 expressed support for the city’s removal of the moratorium, and called for the addition of new street lighting in areas where students have expressed griev-
ances. CSG has begun collecting and analyzing data based off of student complaints, to establish a more comprehensive lighting recommendation to the city. “Before the moratorium was lifted, there wasn’t much we could accomplish at our meetings with the city,” Fakhoury said. “The city officials were very encouraging, telling us to look into this and gather data so they could examine it more and investigate these areas.” A map of lighting in the vicinity of Hill Street, Oxford Road and Geddes Road was included in the agenda. Other areas being investigated by CSG include South Campus and Kerrytown. “So we’re looking at areas where lighting is inadequate, and we’re welcome to receive any additional areas that students would want to see more lighting at,” Fakhoury added. “We’re gathering the data right now, and the points on this map represent areas that have more than 250 feet of space between lights, which is ridiculous … I welcome anyone to e-mail me with crossroads at areas of concern and we will definitely look into them.” LSA senior Serena Bidwell, a member of CSG, was one of the students who brought forward issues about lighting. “A lot of my friends have complained because we all live in off-campus housing, so the walks at night going home from the library or the weekends can feel very unsafe, and we shouldn’t feel unsafe on our campus,” she said. LSA Student Government’s Student Life Committee has also received complaints. Committee Chair Arun Datta, an LSA sophomore, said in the past year, two students have submitted complaints, one for catcalling at night and the other for feeling unsafe while walking off campus. “They didn’t give a specific location, but it is pretty easy to understand that the whole off-campus area isn’t really lighted well,” Datta said. “LSA Student Government also held a walk along with administrators around campus recently, in which members of the government helped point out spots that need lighting.” Greg Bazick, the deputy chief of the Ann Arbor Police Department, also said that perception of safety seems to be greater in places that have more lighting. “While it’s generally believed in crime prevention circles that lighting is a very effective deterrent to crime, studies conducted over time by various organizations have not been able to establish an absolute correlation between lighting and crime from a statistical perspective. Results have been mixed.” Bazick added that he does not expect the AAPD to be impacted immediately by the lifting of the moratorium. “The department certainly wouldn’t discourage enhanced lighting in public rights of way, yet at the same time there is no data to indicate that those enhancements would affect substantive change in those areas from a statistical crime measurement perspective,” he said. Eaton also noted that citizens have raised safety concerns due to lack of lighting on some streets. He gave Packard Street, from its intersection with State Street until Stadium Boulevard, as an example of an under-lit area people have complained about. “We can’t instantly solve everybody’s desire to have welllit streets,” he said. “But we can start the plan by identifying which areas are high priority. And I believe that those will really be matters of safety.” Funding The lifting of moratorium has no immediate effect on the city
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10F — Fall 2015
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