Issue 17

Page 1

TOWER the

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

Volume 88 Issue 17 thetowerpulse.net @thetowerpulse

Gross e Pointe S outh, 11 Gross e Pointe B oule vard, Gross e Pointe Far ms, Michigan 48236

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA GRAPHIC BY ERYKAH BENSON ’17

Flint’s situation causes concern in the Pointes as well ERYKAH BENSON & ANTON MIKOLOWSKI, BOTH ’17 // Page Editor & Staff Writer wo-hundred seventy-four pages of emails. That’s what Gov. Rick Snyder’s office released to the public on Jan. 19. The 274 pages of emails are meant to serve as an explanation for the 9,000 poisoned children, 15,000 damaged homes and an estimated $45 million in damage to the city’s pipe system, according to the Washing Post. And according to CNN sources in Flint, the residents are outraged by the events. One resident, Helena Jones, a homebound senior citizen, told reporters Joseph Netto and Joshua Berlinger that the people of Flint have worked hard and do not deserve a catastrophe such as this. “We’ve worked hard all our life, and we’ve paid our dues and pay our taxes. And this is what we get,” Jones said. In short, the state government’s carelessness can be traced back to 2014.

T

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM In 2014, Snyder ordered a state takeover to tackle the financial crisis in struggling Michigan cities. He appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley in Flint to solve the city’s spending problem. Earley was simultaneously the emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools, but has since resigned. Claiming it would save the city $6 to $8 million, Earley decided to divert water from the Flint River, rather than continuing to use the Detroit River’s

system. According to Flint Water Study Updates, the city’s river water was found to have a higher concentration of chlorine than the Detroit’s River, which corroded the outdated Flints lead pipes resulting in high levels of lead-to-blood in Flint children. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan investigative reporter Curt Guyette reported about how a previous Snyder emergency manager had considered switching to the Flint River over the long-term in 2012, but rejected the idea after consulting with the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. On Jan. 19, Snyder took partial responsibility for the crisis. During his State of the State Address, he voluntarily released emails and documents he had exchanged on the subject in an effort to promote transparency between the government and the affected community. However, the emails left people with more questions than answers, as it was redacted for public viewing. President Obama spoke on the issue when he made a visit to the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 20. During his speech at the UAW-GM Center, he commented that if he were a parent in Flint, he would be beside himself that his child’s health and well-being were at risk at the hands of the government, according to the Washington Post. “It is a reminder of why you can’t shortchange basic services that we provide to our people, and that we together provide, as a government, to make sure that public health and safety is preserved,”

Obama said. For now, the blame game has residents and government officials alike bouncing back and forth, as the city continues to lack safe drinking water, and residents are forced to use plastic water bottles donated by a generous combination of businesses, community service groups, celebrities and foundations, according to the Detroit Free Press. COULD IT HAPPEN IN GROSSE POINTE? Gary Huvaere, public service director of the city of Grosse Pointe’s Water Department, says no. “It wouldn’t have happened. We (Grosse Pointe City Water and Sewage) test for lead and copper in the water every three years, as required by Water and Sewage at different sites in the community,” Haere said. Additionally, phosphate is added to the water at the Grosse Pointe Farms Water Department so that lead and copper can not leach into water, Huvaere said. There is also more direct communication between the residents of Grosse Pointe and the Water Department, Huvaere said, and that the communication benefits the community. “A water report is provided to residents on a yearly basis which can be found on each city’s website,” Huvaere said. Whether it happens in Flint or Grosse Pointe, contamination in public water systems is a tragedy, Jyen-ai Jones ‘17 said. “Especially in regards to how it was handled,”

Jones said. “It could have been addressed way before it happened, I think. I mean, I would be even angrier if this happened in my own community.” While some think it unlikely that it could happen in any of the Pointes, community activist Michael Trudel, discussing the potential of moving the water source of Grosse Pointe Park Fox Creek, a nearby canal in the Alter area down towards Jefferson in the park, instead of Detroit Sources. He said this would negatively impact citizens of the Park because of the further expenses for little benefit. “In terms of water quality, (it would be) the same as the Detroit water downstream,” Trudel said. “But the problem is that nobody in the Park has any experience working a water facility, which would be (a further expense).” Trudel had said that this was negative, but he has a firm belief as to why it would be so detrimental to Grosse Pointe citizens. “(We have been told) Detroit keeps raising water rates, but the fact of the matter is that that is a very small amount of our water bill, and would only save us $2-3$ each month (on our bill)” Trudel said. Trudel also said the Park could do better with its water treatment and where the funds are allocated. “The pipes in the Park are 60-80 years old,” Trudel said. Trudel said if Grosse Pointe Park were to improve on existing infrastructure, it would work out better for all residents in the end, and that switching to another source “would not be worth it.” See INSIDE THE WATER CRISIS on Page 3

Kalamazoo Uber driver kills six, hospitalizes two “Many of us didn’t hear of the shooting until just after midnight, ZOE JACKSON ’16 // Page Editor after the event had ended,” Prophit said. “My roommate and I were When Western Michigan University student Lydia Burton ’15 going to head out, but after hearing that the shooter was still at large, learned that six people were gunned down by an Uber driver on decided to stay in.” Saturday, Feb. 20 in Kalamazoo, she realized that the accused, Jason Kalamazoo College sent students a “K-Alert,” the college’s mass Brian Dalton, had been her Uber driver two weeks earlier. notification system for crisis situations, warning them to stay inside. “It’s crazy to think that could have been me on that night,” Burton “My roommate and I were very concerned, as were other students, said. especially because it was about two blocks from our campus. We could “I’ll be completely honest, I was really scared,” Burton said. “A hear the sirens very clearly, ” Prophit said. SWAT team arrived and ordered everyone to get inside, turn off the Western Michigan University, on the other hand, has come under lights, keep our heads low and not to leave any house until we were fire this week after failing to notify students of the violence that was cleared.” occurring so close to campus. The shooting Burton is referring to is one in “The WMU Student alert system is under a lot of which Dalton is charged with six counts of murder, It’s crazy to think that controversy right now. Students were not warned of as well as two counts of assault with intent to could have been me on the incident, most found out from outside sources,” commit murder and eight firearm violations after a that night. Burton said. “I understand why WMU doesn’t send shooting spree that left six dead and two others in out alerts for off campus situations, but this being the hospital. LYDIA BURTON ‘15 an extreme circumstance, I do think that we should According to a CNN.com article from Feb. 22, WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY have been warned because the shooter was so close STUDENT scant clues from the five-hour rampage have left to campus. ” officials grasping for a motive. In response to the concerns of students and The murders and their proximity to both parents, WMU President John M. Dunn released a statement on Feb. Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College has caused 21 . some to question the universities’ policies regarding active shooting After offering his condolences to the families and loved ones situations, Kalamazoo College student Maren Prophit ’15 said. of the victims, Dunn’s statement said that there was a need to “The night of the shooting our school actually was hosting a rather make adjustments in their procedures to respond to extraordinary large event, similar to prom, where students dress in formal attire and circumstances. can ‘gamble’ for fun,” Prophit said. “We are looking carefully at our guidelines and the possibility of Many students chose to go out afterwards for further partying, developing a public safety advisory covering a broader array of public Prophit said.

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH

04

march

march

03

The girls soccer team has a meeting in the Mezzanine of the Bolls Center after school tomorrow.

Cases of water can be donated to Room 184 to help Flint residents until this date.

safety issues. We’re also exploring more effective ways to use social media,” Dunn said. The university said it failed to provide adequate information and updates to students. “Bad things are going to happen, and they happen everywhere,” Burton said. Because of this incident, the safety of popular ride sharing companies like Uber has been Uber driver Jason Brian Dalton called into question, as yet is accused of killing six people another violent situation is and injuring two. associated with a driver. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS “I certainly feel more wary of who might be driving me places, and I think a lot of students are reconsidering their modes of transportation,” Prophit said. Burton, however, has vowed not to live in fear. “I’m not going to live in fear of another shooting while on campus or off. May I be a little more cautious at night? Sure, yeah. All in all, WMU is a very safe campus that I am very proud to call home,” Burton said. Prophit agrees and said while she feels fairly safe on campus, she is much more cautious when she is out walking, both downtown and in the normally quiet surrounding residential areas. “Honestly, I will probably continue using Uber because of its convenience, and it’s also really cheap in Kalamazoo,” Burton said. “Last week, those bad things just hit closer to home.”

All registration for AP testing must be turned in online via their website by this Friday.

Sign ups for the North vs. South Dodgeball Marathon end today for the March 12 tournament.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.