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Thursday, July 10 , 2014
BUSINESS
Local cafe opens new E. Liberty location
NEWS
Sexual assault University ranks second in reported number of sexual assaults. >> SEE PAGE 6
OPINION
HIV education
Sweetwaters expands to ecofriendly location in old Borders building
From the Daily: New methods needed to spread awareness of disease >> SEE PAGE 4
ARTS
By JOSH QIAN
‘Obvious Child’ Film takes new, innovative look at abortion using comedy, drama >> SEE PAGE 9
SPORTS
The fast lane Tyler Clary will turn in his swim cap for a race car as he finds a new career >> SEE PAGE 11
INDEX Vol. CXXIV, No. 114 | © 2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ...............................4 ARTS ......................................9 CLASSIFIEDS.........................8 CROSSWORD........................8 SPORTS................................. 11
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
A ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the Blake Transit Center on Fifth Ave. The ribbon was broken by an AAATA bus following a ceremony that featured Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje.
Blake Transit Center reopens on Fifth Ave. Rep. Dingell, Mayor Hieftje speak at project’s opening ceremony By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily News Editor
Monday morning, Ann Arbor residents joined federal and local legislators to commemorate the grand opening of the new Blake Transit Center on Fifth Avenue. The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority’s $8.1 million
project included demolition of the previously existing transit center to build a 12,019 square-foot facility that lawmakers and contractors hope will become a social hub in the downtown area. In addition, architects employed sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives and designs for the new building. The center is the first step in the AAATA’s plans to modernize and increase public transportation in the area. Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti passed a millage early May to include more night and weekend bus routes, extend routes to Ypsilanti and offer more services for elderly and disabled
passengers. “Today’s grand opening ushers in a new era for public transportation in Ann Arbor,” AAATA CEO Michael Ford said. “The new Blake Transit Center represents a unique opportunity to promote Ann Arbor as the home of one of Michigan’s effective, efficient, environmentally-friendly public transportation services.” The building received the LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its environmental excellence, and it also complies with guidelines required under the Americans See TRANSIT, Page 7
Daily Staff Reporter
Monday, Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea opened its fourth Ann Arbor location in one section of the former Borders building on E. Liberty and Maynard streets. The cafe, which specializes in featuring tea and coffee from different cultures around the world, is the fourth company to open in the building. Knight’s Steakhouse, Huntington National Bank and Slurping Turtle, a Japanese sushi and noodle restaurant, all moved in earlier this year. Several other spaces in the building have not yet been leased. Brendan Cavender and Jim Chaconas, brokers at Colliers International who have been responsible for leasing the two-story, 44,000 square-foot facility, said their goal has been to maintain a high level of diversity among businesses. “As soon as we started leasing, we had almost every fast-food restaurant imaginable call us right away wanting to get into the buildSee CAFE, Page 7
2 NEWS
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
UMHS opens parking structure over city objections Location on edge of campus leads to clash of interests between residents, University By SHOHAM GEVA Managing News Editor
The $34 million, 725-space University parking garage that opened Monday on Wall Street was never one of the big ticket items in the University of Michigan Health System’s 2005 expansion plan. Located on the edge of the medical campus but bordering the Ann Arbor Lower Town residential neighborhood, the garage wasn’t even the focal point of planned development in its corridor, which also included a major 2006-2010 renovation to the Kellogg Eye Center. Furthermore, it built on previous efforts in the area, adding on to an already existing lot. However, over the years between its first approval in 2008 and second approvalwith modifications in 2012 following an unsuccessful attempt at a city partnership to place it elsewhere, the project found plenty of visibility from a different sector. Along with a net gain of 509
parking spaces for UMHS, the opening also came with a history of years of disagreement between the University and Lower Town residents, prompted by its location between campus and city. Jim Kosteva, University director of community relations, said in an e-mail interview the University was pleased to be able to open the garage and fulfill a major need on campus. “The medical center area has seen the greatest growth in new employees over the past decade, yet no additional parking spaces have been added in this part of campus,” he wrote. “Many employees have been inconvenienced by having to park greater distances from their workplace or spend time hunting for a space.” However, in a series of community meetings in both 2008 and in 2012, residents expressed concerns about the structure’s impact on the city ranging from increased traffic to environmental complications and aesthetic problems with the way the building matched others nearby. In 2008, the Ann Arbor City Council got involved by passing a resolution asking the University to pause plans, which led to the unsuccessful attempt at partnership later that year. Executive Parking Director
Steve Dolen said the garage did receive more attention than can be typical. “This one, there may have been more of a level of engagement because of the proximity to private residence,” he said. “But I think there’s always a level of community engagement with our projects.” The final design of the newlyopened garage included several features designed to address community concerns, including a rain garden for runoff, a layered pattern of darker brick to blend more with surrounding buildings and panels detailing the street’s history. However, Tim Mortimer, president of the Riverside Park Place Condominium Association, said nearby residents remain dissatisfied with the final product. “None of the genuine concerns were addressed,” he said. “They essentially put lipstick on a pig.” He cited unresolved issues of increases in traffic and noise as well as potential danger to children from busier streets, adding that the environmental impact from the pressure of 700 additional vehicles in the area also remains a broader, fundamental split of interest between the city and the University. “The last thing the city needs
is to have more single-occupant vehicles commuting back and forth near the center of the city and back out again,” Mortimer said. “What’s needed is the University to be genuinely committed (to environmental stewardship.)” This isn’t the only University project in recent years to run into issues due to a location on the edges of campus. When North Quadrangle was proposed in 2006, original designs were rejected by the regents because of concerns about walkability and fit. Several features, including the courtyard, were added to help blend the building more with its surroundings. Kosteva said the primary consideration when deciding to build on outer parts of campus is whether the project fulfills the University’s core purposes. “We are attempting to provide the residents and the taxpayers of the state of Michigan, and our student and our healthcare customers, with quality facilities to provide research and teaching and healthcare environments that satisfy and enhance our mission,” he said. He added that while he hoped residents would agree that community input was incorporated in the garage, he recognized that See GARAGE, Page 8
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Lilee, an Ypsilanti resident, gets a quick flute lesson from an Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra member at their instrument “petting zoo” while visiting the Ann Arbor Farmers Market with her grandmother Wednesday.
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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
A2 Election Commision meets to discuss response to ballot error
City Council approves Main Street road closures for football Saturdays Ann Arbor residents express concern over traffic, accessibility to downtown area By IAN DILLINGHAM Editor in Chief
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Tom Wieder, Bob Doscola’s attorney, voices concerns about the state’s desicion to count the misprinted ballots at a meeting of the Ann Arbor Election Commission Tuesday.
After name omitted, Ward 3 candidate files motion in federal court By SHOHAM GEVA Managing News Editor
Tuesday morning, the Ann Arbor Election Commission met to discuss issues with misprinted absentee ballots for the August primaries, focusing on a motion filed in federal court Monday that seeks to bar the city from counting one of the races on the incorrect ballots. The ballots, which left off the name of Ward 3 City Council candidate Bob Dascola due to a proofing error, were sent out to roughly four hundred individuals in the ward June 20. After the error was pointed out to the city clerk’s office on June 27, new, corrected ballots were sent out on June 30. Dascola is running in the Democratic primary against Julie Grand and Sam McMullen. No Republican or independent challengers are currently running for the seat. On the day the error was discovered, the state Bureau of Elections initially instructed the city clerk’s office that all votes on the first, incorrect ballot except for the Ward 3 City Council seat should be counted if the second, corrected ballot wasn’t returned. However, on June 30 the state reversed its position, instead instructing
the clerk to count every vote on the first ballot, including for the Ward 3 seat, if the voter didn’t return a second ballot. Only if a second ballot was returned would the first ballot be discarded. In a letter to the clerk’s office, Christopher Thomas, state director of elections, cited potential concerns about voter disenfranchisement as rationale for the new decision. As of a motion filed Monday afternoon, Dascola’s campaign is contesting the state’s revised instructions and asking the court to enjoin the city from counting Ward 3 votes on the incorrect ballots. During the public commentary section of the meeting, Dascola’s attorney Tom Wieder said it is the campaign’s position that a ballot can only be counted as a ballot if it’s an accurate representation of the race, and that the state has not yet presented any legal evidence to prove the opposite. “It’s a piece of paper that has two names on it but that’s not the contest in this primary,” he said of the original ballot. “To say that you can count votes from a non-contest just doesn’t make any sense as far as we’re concerned.” City attorney Stephen Postema, one of the commission’s three members along with City Clerk Jacqueline Beaudry and John Seto, Ann Arbor chief of police, said at the meeting that the city will look to the courts for guidance on whether or not the votes should be counted. He added that he considers the
issue to be primarily between the state and Dascola, though the lawsuit is filed with the city. “When I talk about the dispute, there is a dispute between the state and Mr. Dascola as to this interpretation of the counting of the ballots,” Postema said. “The state has clearly weighed in in a manner that (the Dascola campaign) disagrees with, and that’s why the court’s going to rule and of course we will follow any ruling.” The city attorney’s office has not yet expressed an opinion on whether or not they believe the votes are valid. Postema said the city’s position will be made clear in a response to Dascola’s motion that will be filed with the court this week. He added that the city is still waiting to receive some additional materials from the state about the issue. Beaudry reported at the meeting that only somewhere between zero and ten voters have returned just a first ballot thus far. She added that her office has also been telephoning affected voters in the area in an effort to reduce that number. However, margins in City Council Democratic primaries have traditionally been tight — in 2010, current Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3) won the Ward 3 primary by six votes — and Wieder said especially given how close races have been, the misprinted ballots are a concern for the campaign. The commission will meet again next week to continue discussing the issue and receive updates on the lawsuit.
NEWS 3
At their bimonthly meeting Monday night, the Ann Arbor City Council debated proposed road closures during football games at Michigan Stadium after receiving input from John Seto, Ann Arbor Police Chief. The council addressed the closure of northbound Main Street three hours prior to games and the closure of southbound Main Street one hour prior — procedures that have elicited concerns from residents in the area. Following a 2013 report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ann Arbor Police and University Police implemented new safety procedures regarding traffic flow around the stadium. After receiving input from the community, several proposed modifications to the procedures were enacted in an effort to alleviate congestion for local residents. Seto held a forum on July 1 to discuss the potential impacts of road closures with city residents. “It’s a balance between security and inconvenience,” Seto said at the July 1 meeting. At Monday’s meeting, Seto said his experience with crowds during the 2013 season led him to believe that closing northbound traffic three hours prior was an appropriate response, because it allowed officers to secure half the road before the largest crowds began descending on the stadium. After hosting the public forum, he noted that residents primarily voiced concerns over post-game congestion, not the pre-game closures. Councilmember Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4) opposed the mea-
sure, stating that he was generally opposed to the closing of any roads on game days. However, Eaton — along with Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje — commended Seto’s efforts to involve community members in the implementation of such procedures. Also opposed to the proposal, Councilmember Sabra Briere (D– Ward 1) expressed doubts that the measures added considerably to security, and questioned why similar closures were not instituted after the games if vehicle traffic was considered such a danger. She suggested that Council amend the proposal to close northbound traffic for one hour after the game. Seto said after games, police must balance security with the need to move fans away from the stadium efficiently. “We’ve made those considerations and thought about it last year,” Seto said. “To reduce the risk to stadium (patrons), one of the ways is to get people out of there as quickly as possible.” He also noted that, once closed, the road could be overrun with pedestrian traffic and therefore difficult to reopen until all the crowds fully disperse. Those in favor of the proposal cited the 2013 federal report and the general need to promote safety as justification for any inconvenience in traffic flow. “This came from federal security officials,” Councilmember Margie Teall (D–Ward 4) said. “The idea that we would second guess this is kind of scary to me.” “When you have vehicles and that many pedestrians at the beginning of the game, we certainly can’t stop everything, but we can certainly minimize the opportunity,” added Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3). “I see this opportunity as minimizing the opportunity for something bad to happen.” The measure eventually passed Council with Briere, Eaton and Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1) opposing.
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4 OPINION
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu IAN DILLINGHAM EDITOR IN CHIEF
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Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
FROM THE DAILY
Eradicating HIV More awareness needs to be directed toward diverse demographics
W
ashtenaw County recently reported a total of 33 new HIV cases for 2013, increasing reported cases by 37 percent since 2012. With seven more cases than 2012, Washtenaw County experienced the largest number of new infections since 1999. Similar to historical statistics, men who have sex with men, or MSM, still comprise the majority of new infections at 80 percent in the county. However, the number of new cases among young adults and African Americans MSM are rising rapidly. In order to decrease the number of new infections, the county, state and national governments must work to emphasis the severity of the disease to younger and more racially diverse audiences. Washtenaw County’s increase in positive cases mirrors trends in Southeast Michigan and the United States as a whole. While a 37-percent increase in cases in Washtenaw County is dangerous by itself, the spike also has the potential to set a deadly precedent within the next few years. Since people contract HIV through other humans, having more uneducated or unaware citizens causes a harmful domino effect. When HIV was first discovered in 1981, several grassroots organizations — and eventually the federal government — began movements to educate the public and raise awareness about the disease. Unfortunately, with the continued development and effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs used to combat HIV,
awareness and education towards the youth has tapered off. Given the disconnect between the severity of the disease witnessed when it was first discovered and the demographics of recently transmitted cases, creating a new campaign targeted at younger and more diverse audiences is a necessary step in decreasing the number of newly infected patients. The predominant way to stop this hazardous cycle is through raising awareness and educating others on HIV prevention. This task, however, proves difficult given teenagers and young adult’s disaffiliation with the HIV/AIDS movement. About one-third of new HIV cases in Washtenaw County are those between the ages of 15 and 24. Similarly, in 2013, the Center for Disease Control reported that young, Black
MSM is the demographic most seriously affected by the HIV/ AIDs epidemic with 55 percent of all new infections among young MSM. A higher number of youth and minority race infections disproves the notion that HIV is a disease of the past. However, those under 30 often believe that contracting HIV isn’t a realistic possibility. This incorrect perception likely contributes to the infection spike with those under 30. Millennials must receive comprehensive and resilient education about effective methods for preventing HIV infection and the detrimental effects it has on its victims. By heavily engaging youth, minority races, MSM and other severely affected demographics, we can work toward eradicating HIV from the nation’s population.
Skill over beauty I f you’ve turned on the computer in the past couple days, chances are that you’ve come across talk — or maybe even some pictures — of Prince Fielder’s shoot for the ESPN Magazine’s Body Issue. Well, if you haven’t, the former Tiger and Home Run Derby Champion VICTORIA posed nude for NOBLE some photos to appear alongside other (slimmer) athletes like Venus Williams, Jamie Anderson and Michael Phelps. And while others have slammed ESPN’s decision as a gross publicity stunt, and complained of their indecency, I would like to applaud the message ESPN has sent. While I definitely liked Prince a little more when I could call him “my Tiger,” I really appreciate his and ESPN’s willingness to ignore American beauty standards. And that’s exactly why he belongs on the pages of a major magazine — not in spite of his weight, but because of it. The outrage over Prince’s photographs shows the degree to which big media has institutionalized thinner beauty standards, and gradually prompted American readers to accept them. While the naked photos of traditionally attractive celebrathletes were celebrated for depicting strength and discipline, Prince’s was written off as inappropriate. Why? As a culture we’ve moved from appreciating function, to appreciating aesthetics. The body of an incredible athlete is worth less than if it were more attractive, regardless of the power capability of either. For some, it can be extended to other objects as well. Food is better if it looks better in an Instagram post, not if it delivers the best nutrients. Clothes are judged on their style and brand name, not their quality. Which is fine — we’re entitled to our own preferences. But this superficiality shouldn’t be applied to everything. Especially people. The best thing about the placement of Prince in the magazine is that it can help us move away from those hurtful judgments. Exposure breeds acceptance, and printing and posting
these images is an excellent first step in correcting media bias. But, more importantly, it’s just more normal. More American bodies resemble Prince’s than any of the other athletes pictured. And while theirs should be celebrated too, it’s important to recognize that perfection isn’t the standard. Another great addition to the ESPN’s series is paraolymipan Amy Purdy, and the general diversity in sport, race, gender and ability is also awesome to see. But while the pictures of Prince are wonderful, I can’t help but wonder if it points to another double standard in sports. Would the pictures have been used if the heavier athlete were female? I kind of doubt it. While American culture is exceptionally aesthetically focused for both genders, it’s less so for males. In business, sports, music and other arenas, the focus seems more on performance than on beauty. Take the sport of alpine ski racing for example. Run a quick web search of Ted Ligety, the preeminent American athlete in that sport. Very few articles will focus on his physique, or cast him into the “sex symbol” role. Now do the same for Lindsay Vonn, a female of similar status in the sport. So many more are about her dateability, past relationships and body. Both are attractive, yet Ligety is mostly photographed in action or by the podium, while several, if not most, of Vonn show her in a bikini and on the red carpet. Fair? Not really. Women lose out on the opportunity to be appreciated for their talent and dedication for their sport. They don’t train year-round just to be sex icons, but rather to be the best in their sport — just the same as the men do. So I didn’t mean to make this positive addition of naked Prince into a negative, but its implications are clear and important. We can’t give acceptance a gender. For a while, the trends were for both genders to face body scrutiny. That trend is dangerous and unacceptable, and it goes without saying that everyone deserves to love their bodies. It’s time that we throw that trend in reverse, and it’s refreshing to see ESPN doing so — but improvement isn’t just for the guys.
It goes without saying everyone deserves to love their bodies.
— Victoria Noble can be reached at vjnoble@engin.umich.edu.
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MELISSA SCHOLKE | VIEWPOINT
The muddling
Since I was little, my dad warned me of three “dangerous” conversation topics that inevitably lead to arguments: money, religion and politics. My status as a broke college student usually saves me from offending anyone within the first topic. However, the following two subjects continually find pesky ways of intertwining and infringing upon human rights. Religion and politics provide us with societal frameworks. These very, separate spheres of thought and belief encourage humanity to flourish, to foster goodwill towards one another, to seek peace and to provide guidance amidst the towering specter of uncertainty. Yet, when these vastly different and complicated worlds of subjectivity collide, we, as citizens dismantle and scatter into our respective corners like billiards balls at the start of a game. When religion and politics are muddled together, the shouting match commences and we begin to disregard the impact our beliefs hold over the rights of our fellow citizens. For example, an offensive — well, in my opinion — float appeared in my hometown’s Fourth of July parade. It was merely a pickup truck with a trailer scuttling behind it; the float’s message was a crudely sprayed equation upon the trailer’s side. In black spray paint, the message read: “God’s marriage= 1 man + 1 woman. Honk if you agree.” I most certainly wasn’t about to honk. The only reaction the supposedly “correct” equation incited was a fervent desire to display a particular finger to the elderly, scruffy “mountain man” sitting in the trailer. However, the presence of children and the realization my reaction would encroach upon the freedom of speech of these individuals stopped me. Even if I didn’t agree with the message or if I believe it was displayed at the wrong place and time, the parade was open to all forms of speech. Yet, I possessed a sneaking suspicion if a promarriage equality float appeared, its creators would be accused of shoving their beliefs down the townspeople’s throats. While the parade incident was a minor example, last week the infiltration of religion upon politics led the Supreme Court to disregard the rights of thousands of female workers. In a close 5-4 ruling last Monday, the Supreme Court
justices ruled in favor of owners of the Hobby Lobby retail chain in a dispute regarding the responsibility to cover contraception in the insurance offered to their employees. The Christian families who own Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties challenged a provision of the Affordable Care Act requiring them to offer contraception coverage. Under the grounds of protecting their religious freedom, the owners argued offering insurance coverage for contraception forced them to endorse abortion. The Affordable Care Act provides exemptions to religious institutions, hospitals and schools, but for-profit companies, like Hobby Lobby, were originally expected to cover contraception in employee health care plans. Now, because Hobby Lobby is considered a privatelyheld company — or a company with the majority of shares owned by five or less people — they’re no longer required to cover birth control methods such as Plan B or intrauterine devices. Prices for birth control methods like IUDs can range up to $1,000, and now the entirety of these costs must come directly out of female workers’ pockets. Although the company may only be owned by a small number of Christians, the numerous individuals employed by the company most likely come from a diverse array of creeds and shouldn’t have their employers’ beliefs imposed upon them. The women requesting contraception coverage may not even wish to prevent pregnancy. According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, 1.5 million women use birth control aid in the treatment of ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts, endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Likewise, Guttmacher also found 58 percent of birth control users utilize these methods to reduce menstrual pain, prevent migraines and treat acne. Like many other treatments and prescriptions, birth control can be a costly medical necessity. A decision of women’s health rests exclusively with the woman affected by it and the beliefs she follows. I find it preposterous an issue of women’s health was decided by five men, the justices who comprised the majority decision, and will continually be decided by religiously motivated employers. Melissa Scholke is an LSA junior.
OPINION 5
Beautifully messy politics
I
n the halls of Capitol Hill, one can feel the history of the decisions that were pondered and fought for, and also the intensity of the history being made. Members of Congress attend votes and hearings, HARLEEN listening KAUR to opinions on key issues in our nation. Bills are passed, legislation is debated and amended and the cycle continues. Washington, D.C. is the never-ending grandfather clock ticking away in the heart of our nation. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that politics aren’t easy. I think the recent activities in D.C. are a fairly obvious hint to that. The Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner, is suing President Barack Obama for what Boehner calls a “flippant dismissal of the Constitution we are both sworn to defend.” Last week, a significant Supreme Court ruling deemed the HHS Mandate of the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, preventing some women from getting birth control and abortion coverage from their work, opening up the floodgates on religious liberties and civil rights. Immigration reform is coming to a head as Obama visits Texas this week and attempts to receive billions of dollars of funding to solve the broken immigration system. All of this, of course, on top of a key election year where the GOP could take the majority of the Senate, and maintain the majority in the House, leaving the last two years of the Obama administration a potential bi-partisan gridlock. This Congress has been called one of the least productive in
history. With many key policy reforms on the table, Congress has been unable to even take some of these policies to committee, like the critical Voting Rights Amendment Act. Without the VRAA, the November midterm elections will be the first time in nearly five decades that voters aren’t protected at the polls by the Voting Rights Act. This means that discriminatory procedures that are put into place to disenfranchise minority voters will continue to function without any repercussions. Many voters may be turned away from the polls because English isn’t their first language, because of the color of their skin or simply because they appear to not fit what a standard American “should” look like. The purpose of policies are understood in different ways
Our Congress isn’t a representation of the makeup of our nation. at their very core — is our immigration system broken because so many individuals can immigrate here or because they are forced to do so in secret? Does religious liberties mean protecting minority faiths that are targets of bias, discrimination and hate or majority faiths that feel targeted by the ways that others choose to practice their lives? The fundamental beliefs of so many members of Congress are so starkly different that I sometimes wonder if compromise, if a decision on any legislation, is even possible. As the parties of Congress move further and further apart it will become more difficult for these compromises to occur.
And yet, this is why I love D.C. Despite the seemingly endless chaos and the neverending policy issues whichever way you look, this is the hub that creates policy. This is the place where our laws are formed, where civil rights are debated and fought for, and where our nation’s democracy is upheld. Regardless of which side of the aisle you stand on, this is a system that is meant to represent the people of our nation. Each individual has a right to voice their concerns on how our nation is run and there will be someone to listen to them, even if it’s an unpaid intern. Granted, it doesn’t always work. There are communities that are underrepresented, and there are policies that fall through the cracks. Our Congress isn’t a representation of the makeup of our nation. If that were the case, there would be more Congresswomen, more people of color and more members of other faiths in Congress, just to name a few. But that’s why it is so critical for us to stay engaged and involved in our government. Advocates can make change by not only voicing concerns for discriminatory policies, but also by making sure they are at the table. The moment you’re in a Congressional office and someone discusses an issue that is pertinent to you, you will no longer be the protester on the street or the lobbyist on the phone, you will be the expert at the table who’s ready to advise your peers on this legislative action. Directly engaging in our government is the best solution, because it was a system that was created “by the people, for the people,” and maintaining that purpose will create the most successful democracy possible. — Harleen Kaur can be reached at harleen@umich.edu.
Interested in writing for the Michigan Daily next semester? Apply to be an opinion section columnist or blogger for Fall 2014! Email tothedaily@michigandaily.com or opinioneditors@michigandaily.com for more information.
6 NEWS
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
DESIGN BY AMY MACKENS
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
‘U’ ranks second in total number of reported sexual assaults More survivors coming forward first step in changing campus culture By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily News Editor
According to a recent analysis done by the Washington Post on data from the U.S. Department of Education, the University of Michigan had 34 total reported instances of sexual assault last year — the second highest number in the nation. The University had 64 total recorded instances of sexual assault on campus from 2010 – 2012. There were 0.78 reported offenses per 1,000 students in 2012. Of the nearly 1,570 colleges and universities listed, Pennsylvania State University had the highest number of reported sexual assaults with 56 in 2012. Harvard ranked third, behind the University, with 31. In contrast, 45 percent of universities with enrollment of 1,000 or higher had 0 reported instances of sexual assault last year. Over the past year, the University has been no stranger to scrutiny by both outside law enforcement and students over its handling of sexual
assault allegations. The Michigan Daily reported in January the permanent separation of Brendan Gibbons, a kicker for the University’s football team, from the University for sexual misconduct. Following a complaint filed by former University professor Doug Smith, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation on the University’s handling of the separation. Central Student Government also commissioned a task force to review the circumstances surrounding the separation. The task force found the University responsible for mishandling Gibbons’ sexual misconduct case after two months of scrutiny. Though high reporting rates, coupled with the allegations surrounding Gibbons’ separation could create an unfavorable perception of the University, Holly Rider-Milkovich, director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, said she believes the rates are likely not different from other universities nationally. What’s different, she said, is the atmosphere around reporting incidents when they happen, making high reporting rates more of a positive than a negative. “When I see those high reporting rates, I think to myself that’s one more student who has felt comfortable in sharing the feeling of harm and has connected to the spectrum
of resources,” she said. “I am proud of the reporting rate that we have achieved.” Recent changes to University sexual misconduct policy In January 2014, the White House Council on Women and Girls published a sexual assault report entitled “Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action” that stated nearly 1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted while in college and 7 percent of college men admitted to committing rape or attempting rape. The data reveals that only 12 percent of student survivors report the assault to law enforcement. To combat these statistics and others on sexual assault on campuses, the University began a 30-month long study on campus climate regarding sexual assault and new methods to prevent and respond to it for the purpose of revising the sexual misconduct policy at the University. The policy sets the University’s procedures for responding to sexual assault cases and issues on campus. During an initial interim stage beginning in 2011, the directors of Office of Student Conflict Resolution, the Office of Institutional Equity, SAPAC and a staff member in the Office of the General Counsel gathered to review data and brain-
storm new initiatives. Survivors of sexual assault and others impacted by the previous policy were also consulted. Rider-Milkovich said the new policy respects the values and expectations of University staff, students and faculty. “Unlike many campuses, the University of Michigan’s policies are unique to our needs and it’s unique to what we value,” she said. “It’s not an off the shelf product.” The new University policy encourages any and all reporting of sexual misconduct, and gives faculty and administration a greater responsibility in investigating assault allegations. Two full-time investigators also work regularly on analyzing and studying sexual misconduct cases. Since the implementation of the interim policy in 2011, the University has seen far greater reported instances of sexual assault — the number of reports in 2012 is more than double that of 2010. SAPAC student director Kathryn Abercrombie attributed the spike of reported incidences to the policy change. “We’ve seen the number of reports rise because there has been a different reporting process that make it easier for survivors to come forward,” Abercrombie said. LSA senior Katelyn Maddock
agreed. She lauded the University’s system of supporting sexual misconduct survivors and giving them the confidence to report crime. “High reporting doesn’t really reflect that we have a problem,” Maddock said. “I think it does reflect that people are coming forward. We have a really good system in place.” Reporting sexual assault across U.S. universities In light of the White House report, the Obama administration created a task force to combat campus sexual assault as well as nationwide sexual violence. “To make our campuses safer, change still needs to come from many quarters: schools must adopt better policies and practices to prevent these crimes and to more effectively respond when they happen,” the report stated. “And federal agencies must ensure that schools are living up to their obligations.” Federal law agencies took action again last May when the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation on over 60 universities for possible violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits gender-based discrimination in federally funded programs and organizations.
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Among these schools is Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State, like Michigan, received nation-wide scrutiny on its administration’s response to sexual assault following allegations of sexual abuse by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Although Penn State had the highest number of reported instances of sexual assault from 2010 to 2012, it also had the greatest rise of reported allegations in that time frame, from 4 reported assaults in 2010 to 56 in 2012. Penn State has recently implemented several programs to aid students, faculty and staff in responding to and preventing sexual misconduct. These include self-defense courses, mass educational initiatives, open campus discussions and changes to police protocol. Lisa Powers, director of the Office of Strategic Communications at Penn State, said the university takes the issue of sexual violence on campus very seriously and encourages open, national discussion on the issue. She added that she believes high rates of reported assault reflect victim comfort with coming forward. “We certainly believe training is effective, and we know that if more people are aware they are generally more likely to come forward and report,” she said. “That’s a good thing,
since we know this is a crime that is vastly under-reported.” Lisa Lapin, associate vice president of University Communications at Stanford University, which had the fifth highest number of reported sexual offenses in 2012, echoed similar attitudes toward reported assault. “We consider the numbers actually a success, because underreporting is a chronic problem in all colleges and universities,” she said. “We look at the increase in our numbers to mean that our outreach programs are working and we’re helping people get access to the resources that they need.” On the other end of the spectrum, Johns Hopkins University, which only had 6 total reported instances of sexual assault from 2010 to 2012, started taking steps to improve their sexual misconduct policy following the Department of Education’s mandate clarifying university’s active role in investigating allegations of sexual assault under Title IX, though the school isn’t currently under investigation. Dennis O’Shea, executive director of Media Relations and Crisis Communications at Johns Hopkins University, said the university revised their sexual violence policy in December 2012. It has created a 24/7 crisis hotline for survivors of sexual assault to feel comfortable reporting
CAFE From Page 1
ficient green wall that features live plants, as features she was particularly proud of. The cafe will be the first coffeehouse to be certified LEED by the U.S. Green Building Council, she said. LEED certification indicates that a business has met certain construction and building prerequisites that reduce the impact they have on the environment. Sweetwaters founder Lisa Bee said they are thrilled to be in the East Liberty space. The energy level and the business at the new cafe have been great and it’s getting busier every day, she added. “We have a lot of students who are customers,” she said. “I really think students are going to make the cafe their own and we’ll adopt to their taste.” Slurping Turtle Sous Chef Juan-Paulo Garcia said his restaurant, which neighbors Sweetwaters, has been successful since its April 21 opening and the location has exceeded their initial expectations. “Sweetwaters will be a great addition and will definitely bring a lot of foot traffic to the area,” he said.
ing, but we didn’t think that was the proper fit and wanted to do the leasing correctly,” he said. “We tried to select a good variety of retailers and restaurants.” “Sweetwaters is a wonderful tenant and a great addition to the building,” he said. “They are local, they have a great brand and a great image.” Sheila Li and her husband Roy Xu, owners of the new Sweetwaters cafe, said they were happy to be able to share more of the Sweetwaters experience with Ann Arbor customers. “It has been very exciting to have the grand opening and to see customers come in and enjoy the atmosphere and the design of the store,” Li said. “We already have a steady customer base, since Sweetwaters have been in Ann Arbor for over 21 years.” Li also highlighted several unique sustainable designs of the store, including LED lighting, an energy-saving instant water heater, motion sensors for lighting control and a self-suf-
attacks and hired a sexual violence prevention, education and response coordinator. They are working to reword their policy to make it more understandable to students. Though O’Shea did not wish to comment on the low number of reported assaults, he said the school is in the process of forming a Sexual Violence Advisory Committee with students, faculty and staff to help the school address prevention and response. “We’re in no way complacent,” he said. “There is more to do and we are determined to do it. We will live up to the standards we have set for ourselves.” Though university spokespeople and federal researchers believe greater numbers of reported instances of assault is an improvement, it is still only part of the problem in combating occurring sexual assault across campuses. For the University, Rider-Milkovich said it will take continuous, vigorous and community-wide effort to end instances of sexual assault on campus, both reported and not. “We’re looking at the long horizon here,” she said. “Anytime you’re talking about shifting culture, you’re looking at a long horizon, but I think that Michigan has the infrastructure, the commitment, the expertise and the will to make that happen.”
TRANSIT From Page 1 with Disabilities Act Some of the environmentallyfriendly features of the building include the use of storm water collected from the roof in public restrooms, heated driveways and sidewalks to decrease snow-salt usage and the reuse of materials from the former transit building in the new facility. Contractors and managers of the center also partnered with small Ann Arbor-based and Detroit-based businesses in excavating and facilitating the building. Managers chose these companies under the guidelines of federal programs devoted to fostering growth in local economies and helping minority individuals and women run businesses. The center received $7 million in federal funds towards the renovation project. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) spoke at the event on the importance of mass transit to help move communities forward. He said though he loved to see American automobiles on the road, mass transit is critical in helping those that can’t afford their own vehicle.
NEWS 7
Dingell also congratulated the Ann Arbor community for its achievement, and noted that this is one step of many to improve quality of life in the city. Quoting Churchill, he said, “It is not the beginning of the end, it is perhaps the end of the beginning. More needs to be done and has to be done quickly.” Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje echoed Dingell’s observations, speaking on the affordability of public transit for citizens. He also brought up the federal funds the AAATA received to build a new train station in Ann Arbor. “I think that this is one of the best things that we can do for our city in the future, it helps everyone, it lifts all boats,” Hieftje said. Larry Krieg, Ypsilanti representative on the AAATA’s board of directors, was in attendance at the event. He said he was excited to see the center transform into a social gathering site over the next few years and was proud of the eco-friendly and user-friendly features of the building. “The whole thing is so accessible to mobility challenges, that’s a very important thing,” Krieg said. “People say that if a system, a building or a transportation system, works well for disabled people, it’ll work better for everyone else.”
8 NEWS
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
GARAGE From Page 2
Classifieds
Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
PARKING
RELEASE DATE– Thursday, July 10, 2014
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Limo rider 6 Skilled 11 Old map letters 14 Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” e.g. 15 Super Mario World dinosaur 16 Own, to Burns 17 Like him or her 19 Morticia’s cousin 20 Roman sun god 21 Bon __ 22 Years in Madrid 23 Campfire remains 26 Cleaning tool 28 Easily perturbed 30 Reagan/Carter debate catchphrase 34 Disney film based on Chinese folklore 35 Steed’s partner 36 Giant thing in a kids’ game 37 Problem with pictures 38 Neeson of “Taken” 41 “Dead Souls” novelist Gogol 43 Summation symbol in math 44 Fail completely 47 Mobster’s code of honor 48 Bart, to Homer 49 __-Mex 50 “Alice” diner 51 Nonetheless, briefly 54 “Oedipus __” 56 Completely 57 Weakening, in a way, or what 17-, 30- and 44Across are literally doing 62 Inconclusive result 63 Edmonton skater 64 Gladiator’s venue 65 Row 66 First name on a historic B-29 67 Long and lean
DOWN 1 Base bed 2 Bk. before Philippians 3 Hawaiian ring 4 Messes up 5 13, to many 6 Sailor’s agreement 7 Temporary quarters 8 Canadian gas brand 9 Occasions for shooting stars? 10 Its chemical symbol is Sn 11 Illuminate, with “on” 12 Zen enlightenment 13 Certs ingredient 18 Sneaky tactic 22 Like cherubs 23 Alternatives to tellers, briefly 24 Close 25 “Light in My Darkness” author 27 Grapefruit cousin 29 Singer Carly __ Jepsen 31 Slender swords
32 Like some legends 33 Columbia garb 37 Add gradually to a cycle 39 Gallic girlfriend 40 Tailless feline 42 Young fox 43 Dakar is its capital 44 __ paste 45 Bloomer of bloomers fame
46 __ of plenty 52 Radiant ring 53 Hershiser of ESPN 55 Ad come-on word 57 Angst 58 Portfolio holding, briefly 59 Egg layer 60 Octopus’ defense 61 Bit of Senate dissension
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they were advocating for other uses for the space. “You would understandably get two different opinions about the extent of accommodation and how much of the commentary and comments are reflected in it,” he said. “I think, as I outlined, this was a case where the University did listen, and we did hear the expressions of concern and the expression of interest regarding the architectural treatment and the facility’s impact on the neighborhood.” In the end, Councilmember Sabra Briere (D– Ward 1), whose ward includes the project, said legally there’s not much recourse available to residents. The University isn’t currently obligated to compromise with the city on this, or on other construction projects. However, she added that while she recognized the University’s desire to meet its needs, she hopes in the future they’ll do it in a way that’s more conciliatory with the city. “I don’t fault the University for having its own agenda,” she said. “I just wish that they’d recognize that other people and groups have rights as well.”
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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ARTS 9
WEEKEND
FILM REVIEW
R O U NDUP
ROOKS NEST ENTERTAINMENT
Jenny Slate as Donna Stern
Fresh ‘Obvious Child’
Film manages to tackle abortion with boldness and humor By JACOB RICH Daily Arts Writer
A brief note before we begin: you should not watch the trailer for “Obvious Child.” It is deceptive, poorly cut, and spoils many of the film’s funniest moments. The trailer would also A have you believe Obvious that the film is a traditional Child romantic comedy, Rooks Nest which it isn’t. Nor Entertainment is the film a purposely subversive Michigan Theater lampoon of romcoms in the vein of “They Came Together.” “Obvious Child” is a powerful, emotional story about people, and about abortion. It’s also absolutely hilarious throughout, something I wasn’t expecting considering its subject matter. The film opens with genuinely funny stand-up comedy. Donna Stern (Jenny Slate, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”) is onstage at a dingy comedy club in Brooklyn, the kind whose black marker-coated unisex bathrooms are crammed with hipsters every weeknight. While you may not remember her from SNL (her run only lasted a year and was cut short in part due to an accidental f-bomb), Slate is unforgettable here, dropping uncouth joke after uncouth joke about Judaism, dirty underwear, and farts. Each lands with the audience both onscreen and in the theater. Immediately following her set, Donna is dumped by her boyfriend. Then she loses her job. Then, after a drunken one-night stand, gets preg-
nant. Donna seems to be locked in a continuous loop of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances. Her plight reaches a climax of irony when she decides to get an abortion — the procedure must be done on Valentine’s Day. Despite these trying circumstances our heroine must face, this film about an abortion is rarely dark or depressing. For Donna, comedy is more than just a hobby; it’s a coping mechanism. Donna sees the humor in even the most unfortunate of situations. Expect the film’s frequent, funny jokes to range from the macabre, like comparing an abortion clinic to the DMV, to the just plain nasty, like when Donna contemplates the logistical challenges abortion faced in the 60’s because “the bushes were so big back then.” Gillian Robespierre (a writer/director so fresh-faced her Wikipedia page was literally written and published WHILE I was writing this review) jokes about the obviously controversial subject with a balance of poise, brains, and blunt honesty. Much like a great episode of “South Park,” you will laugh both at the crudeness of the humor and the topical cleverness behind it. And unlike the vast majority of today’s comedies, nothing will insult your intelligence in this film. Slate’s performance, which due to the limited release and controversial subject of this film will likely not receive the praise it deserves, is frighteningly human. Donna is hard-drinking, crude, and sometimes obnoxious, but she deftly balances her character’s negative and positive traits to seem almost … real. It’s in stark contrast to comedies like “Juno,” where characters talk and act in ways only people with memorized scripts could. Donna does pathetic real- people things, like spending hours leaving drunk-
en messages on her ex’s voicemail. I’ve met people just like Donna. I’ve never met anyone like Juno. Miraculously, Robespierre managed to find a supporting cast that stands up to Slate in both their ability to act like real people and to be hysterical. Polly Draper (CBS’s “Golden Boy”) stands out as Donna’s mother, who impressively balances neurotic with wise and mature in several key scenes. Several comedians are also allowed scene-stealing moments, especially unknown Gabe Liedmen, who spews a cavalcade of fantastic one-liners as Donna’s “gay best friend” Joey. Robespierre did not simply succeed in garnering laughs through dialogue — clever film techniques and ironic juxtaposition lead to some of the film’s funniest moments. A somber scene in which Donna, a sobbing wreck, stands outside her exboyfriend’s apartment, got big laughs as country singers croon “single girl, single girl, always dressed so fine.” In another scene taking place in an abortion clinic, Donna hauntingly and hilariously sports a shirt printed with adorable baby footprints. If I had to find one criticism with this film, it would be that Donna’s love interest, Max (Jake Lacy, NBC’s “The Office”) is a bit too much of a white knight. The film tries to counterbalance his chiseled looks and tendency to always have the right thing to say with a touch of awkwardness, but it’s not enough to keep his character from feeling far less realistic as Donna. I realize I have been frustratingly vague about the direction the plot takes, but I wouldn’t dare spoil anything else about this funny, fearless movie. Know this: it never gives in to any sort of Hollywood cheese. “Obvious Child” is the best movie I’ve seen this year, and the best comedy I’ve seen in several.
GERMANY FACES ARGENTINA IN WORLD CUP FINAL GAME
SUNDAY, JULY 13 AT 3 P.M. NO COST
OK, so Charley’s and Ashley’s won’t be as packed for Sunday’s World Cup final as they would be if the U.S. were playing. But a matchup between Germany and Argentina — ranked Nos. 2 and 5 in the world, respectively, in the current FIFA poll — will generate plenty of hype. The skilled, efficient Germans will roll into the Estádio Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday after an incredible 7-1 victory over Brazil in the semifinals Tuesday. Germany pulled its best blitzkrieg on the hosts, knocking them out with five goals in the first 30 minutes— including four in a six-minute stretch. Then they added two more in the second half just for fun. Cue the images of crying Brazilian fans. Meanwhile, Argentina has perhaps the world’s best player in Lionel Messi, who is a star for FC Barcelona but whom World Cup success has eluded. He has found some this year, with his four goals putting Argentina into the semifinals and a shootout win over the Netherlands vaulting them into the final. Some 5,000 miles separate Ann Arbor and Rio de Janeiro on the map, but all eyes will be on the Maracanã. The world’s most popular sporting event’s final game is a must-watch.
BY JAKE LOURIM
DISC GOLF
SUMMERTIME ACTIVITY VARIOUS ANN ARBOR LOCATIONS FREE Disc Golf. The ultimate activity for when you’re stressed about classes, wanting to let loose with friends, or just make a good summer day great. Ann Arbor is notorious for having high-quality disc golf readily available at nearly every corner; you simply have to know where to go. The most popular location is Bandemer Park, whose wooded riverside location near Argo Dam makes the nine-hole course a hit amongst Ann Arborites, even prompting many disc golf entrepreneurs to sell discs out of their cars in the parking lot. Other popular choices include Mary Beth Doyle’s 18-hole course off of Stone School road. Bratsholme Country Club sports one of the best disc golf courses in the area, but with lush planted trees and a hired course designer, the new course lacks the organic feel that makes disc golf special. Courses vary, but ultimately, true disc golf enthusiasts will find satisfaction anywhere, even if it’s with homemade discs and your lifelong buddies at the Arb.
BY ZACH SHAW
10 ARTS
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
TV REVIEW
Sluggish ‘The Strain’ still manages to terrify New thriller struggles with pacing, but still proves worthy of a primetime slot By ALEX INTNER Daily Arts Writer
FX has a lot riding on “The Strain.” While a lot of their recent premieres have been critical hits, including “The Americans” and “The Bridge”, none of them have particularly large B+ audiences. They’re putting The Strain a lot of hope on this show First four because they’re episodes it using to enter screened the very crowd- for review ed Sunday FX drama space for the first Sundays at 10 p.m. time since the Courtney Cox (“Friends”) drama “Dirt” aired there in 2008. They have put a huge marketing push behind the show, starting with a spot in the Super Bowl and continuing with billboards that have garnered controversy because of their grotesqueness. The campaign largely relied upon shocking, grotesque imagery and Guill-
ermo del Toro’s (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) name. It’s evident that FX believes in this show, and based on this early episodes, that belief appears to be justified. “The Strain” follows what happens when a “dead” plane with 200 people aboard lands at JFK Airport in New York. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll, “House of Cards”) leads the CDC team called to the scene, and starts the investigation behind what happened. On that plane, a mysterious box is found in the cargo hold, bringing inside it a threat that can cause the endof-days. The story takes its time unfolding, letting the little cogs in the machine get their time on center-stage. This is probably the show’s biggest detriment, especially in the show’s second episode. However, the slow plot development is mostly mitigated by the fantastic work done by the writers and directors to create some terrifying scenes. Del Toro knows how to create fear, and throughout the pilot he wrote and directed, he masterfully creates tension through multiple means. The episode moves slowly from scare to scare creating a palpable sense of tension. There’s a big scene on the plane, which is the best of the series so far. Over its several minutes, the shots were drawn out and always
slowly moving. The later episodes don’t quite have this masterful build because del Toro went back to making other things and the other directors don’t quite have the technical skills that he does. There are some great moments in these episodes which are as good as the scenes in the pilot, they’re just fewer and farther between. Miraculously, “The Strain” finds a way to make good use of it’s incredibly talented cast. On “House of Cards”, Stoll proved that he could be an incredibly compelling actor, and he does some great work here. Even if he’s saddled with an unfortunate wig, he provides a center for the show to build around. David Bradley’s (“Broadchurch”) character is forced to be the “mysterious old figure who knows about the threat” for the first few episodes, but once they allow him to get more involved in the story, he’s great. “The Strain” isn’t a perfect show. The first few episodes had pacing issues and couldn’t quite match the tension of the pilot. However, the show’s scares are effective and the producers filled the cast with fantastic actors. Despite the problems, once the story picked up and the scares became more plentiful, it became clear that “The Strain” was worth the huge investment from FX.
BOOK REVIEW
The Fever
By CHLOE GILKE Daily Arts Writer
Mystery and noir can have a rather unfair reputations. They’re novels practically built for bent spines and yellowing pages — reading for the throwaway thrill of solving the crime. The best mysteries, though, aren’t B+ just devoured. The Fever The literature devours you, and Megan Abbott the power of the words stays long Little, Brown past the turning of the final page. Megan Abbott’s “The Fever” is one of these uniquely poignant novels. “The Fever” is a harrowing portrayal of a community devastated by mass hysteria and the mystery of young femininity. At the heart of the narrative is the Nash family. Everyteen Deenie navigates the rivalries in her friend group, Eli is a sensitive soul with a weakness for pretty girls, and single dad Tom is a dedicated father and high school teacher. Their small town is relatively quiet, but a certain darkness haunts Dryden. There’s the chemically technicolor lake, roped off after a child’s death in the water. A woman still bears the scars of being bashed in the head by a hammer, though her husband’s long gone. Maybe Tom’s wife had the right idea leaving the family and starting a new life away from the toxicity of the town. When girl after girl collapses in sudden and inexplicable illness, the townspeople come up with increasingly panicked answers. Could it be exposure to that murky lake? A bad batch of the HPV vaccine, so foolishly recommended by school administration? A strange new strain of STD? One girl even points toward Deenie as being the cause of the illness, which may not be so far off, considering that Deenie’s friends are dropping like flies while she remains unafflicted. Abbott wonderfully illustrates the risk of being a teenage girl. No matter how good parents might try and protect their daughters, youth brings an inevitable pliability. The affected girls are diverse, but have one characteristic in common — visible scars from a dark past. Between Lise’s weight struggles, Jaymie’s mommy issues and Gabby’s felon father, these girls are even
more vulnerable than most. Tom says something along the lines of “it could be anything” harming the girls. It doesn’t matter if it’s a freak disease or the too-relatable risk of abuse and assault. Being a young girl is scary as hell. Another affecting part of “The Fever” is the terrifyingly warped stream of gossip that pervades the halls of Dryden High. Photos and videos of the afflicted girls are shared through YouTube and social media, and even the teachers sit in the lounge, rewatching and perusing for clues. While Deenie is reeling over her friends’ illness, she can’t escape the constant buzzing of her phone, often receiving mysterious threatening comments from unfamiliar numbers. When Eli loses his cell, he’s at first excited for the freedom, but then afraid of what sinister meaning its absence might entail. Even the way Abbott chooses to tell this story enhances the frantic flow of information — each of the Nash family takes turns narrating, but just when one story seems on the edge of breakthrough, we’re thrust into another. As gripping as the plot and underlying themes are, parts of “The Fever” don’t function quite so well. Eli Nash is thinly drawn compared to his more interesting sister, and he verges on being a collection of conflicting traits rather than a real character. (His passionate need to protect his sister is a little ridiculous.) Tom Nash is likable enough, but I’m not convinced his point of view adds anything to the story. In a story about mass hysteria and the danger of femininity, a subplot about a middle aged man’s love life doesn’t really resonate. The twist at at the end is thrilling and smart, but the ending feels rather rushed. Many interesting characters and individual cases don’t get the closure they deserve. Still, “The Fever” is a wonderful dichotomy. It manages to be both a fun mystery and an interesting dissection of the dangers of femininity. There’s enough teen drama to make a Pretty Little Liar roll her eyes, but the surreal small-town horror reads like David Lynch pressed to the page. Its 300 pages are the very definition of a “fast read,” but it’s the sort of book that leaves you with breathless nightmares for days. “The Fever” is dark and twisty fun, worthy of being devoured and capable of devouring.
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS 11
FOOTBALL
Four players on early watch lists Gardner and Funchess for Maxwell, Ryan and Clark for Bednarik By JAKE LOURIM Managing Sports Editor
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Tyler Clary starred at Michigan and then in the Olympics. Now, he’s trying race car driving while training for the 2016 Games.
On the fast track: Gold medalist takes the wheel By MAX BULTMAN Daily Sports Writer
Known for his quick starts off the blocks into the pool, former Michigan swimmer Tyler Clary couldn’t have gotten a much later jump into his most recent venture. Clary won the gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2012 London Olympics, fulfilling a dream and setting an Olympic record in the process. Shortly after those Olympics, though, Clary was presented an opportunity to pursue another childhood dream — race car driving. The seed for Clary’s pavement dreams were planted at a young age, ironically through his other passion of swimming. The Clary family often went to the Fontana Speedway to run a merchandising booth to fundraise for his club team. “Being around the cars all the time, I knew it was something that I wanted to do,” Clary said. “I just never really had the opportunity until after the London Olympics.” An interview with Dave Despain on the popular auto racing show WindTunnel publicized Clary’s interest in racing, leading to Benny Gordon contacting Clary on Twitter, offering a test run in a stock car. Gordon had driven on the Nationwide Series and been around
the sport a long time, but had never met Clary prior to offering him an introduction to the sport he had always harbored interest in. It must have been surprising to both when Clary’s test run placed him just a quarter-second slower than the racers who had competed on the same track in Kenly, North Carolina just hours earlier in a ProCup race. More impressive than that was that it was just the second time Clary had even driven a manual transmission car, a significant barrier to racing that Clary apparently handled quite easily. Still, a lot of other things had to fall into place for Clary’s lifelong interest to materialize into a budding career opportunity. “The nice thing about being in Charlotte is that all of those opportunities are really close,” Clary said. “So that lessens the time commitment needed in order to get out to the track and develop. My schedule works out perfectly with a couple of the series. For example, the U.S. Legends Summer Shootout Series I’m able to do because we don’t have practice Wednesday mornings.” Moving to Charlotte, while not solely fueled by his endeavor to the race track, is a clear signal of the drive Clary possesses, willing to uproot himself from a comfortable situation training at
Michigan to live where his passions can intersect. When he finishes swimming, he says, he plans to pursue auto racing as a full-time career. Clary acknowledges the hurdles that remain between where he is now and the point he would someday like to be — the Sprint Cup Series. While currently training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he is also working on reaching a level of driving where he can earn sponsorships to drive faster cars on more reputable tours. But he’s also embracing the fun aspects of being a semi-pro race car driver. Clary reminisced about one of his first test runs in Barstow, California, where he and his girlfriend, Caroline, were allowed to take a trophy truck out for a spin, going 100 miles per hour through the desert. He hopes to do something similar with friends from his other job, the one that’s already earned him national fame and some impressive hardware. “There’s been a lot of support (from the swimming community) and a lot of people that think it’s cool,” he said. “One of the things I do want to do with a couple of my swim friends is get them together at a track and get them in a car with me and see if I can’t scare the crap out of them going really fast on a road course.”
The Preseason Watch Lists for the National College Football Awards Association awards come out from July 7 to July 18. On Monday, two Michigan players made the Maxwell Award watch list and two more made it for the Bednarik Award. Senior defensive end Frank Clark, Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Clark has struggled with inconsistency for parts of his career, but he earned All-Big Ten second-team honors last season. He made 43 tackles and led the team with 12 tackles for loss while starting all 13 games. His 4.5 sacks were second on the team to linebacker Cam Gordon, and his two fumble recoveries were first. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Cleveland native topped his freshman and sophomore years combined last season in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, putting his name on the list of 76 players to watch for the nation’s best defensive player. Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan, Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Ryan also made the watch list for best defensive player despite missing the first five games last season with a torn ACL he suffered last spring. He managed to play in the last eight games, however, starting five and making 30 tackles, 4.5 for loss. Ryan made a name for himself as a redshirt freshman in coach Brady Hoke’s first season, playing in every game and starting 11. He then broke out in 2012 with 88 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, the last of which ranked third in the Big Ten. Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner, Maxwell
Award (college player of the year): Gardner enters his second full year as a starter with 16 starts under his belt. He started 12 games last year, missing the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl with injury, and he earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media. He passed for 2,960 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and added 483 rushing yards and 11 more scores on the ground. His 376 total yards and five total touchdowns against Notre Dame earned him Maxwell Award Player of the Week honors, and he set a program record with 503 passing yards against Indiana. This year, he’ll cap a career that he started as a third-string quarterback in 2010 and continued as a starting wide receiver in 2012 before assuming the starting quarterback role late in 2012. Junior wide receiver Devin Funchess, Maxwell Award (college player of the year): Funchess will officially move to wide receiver this year after appearing in every game and starting 15 at tight end his first two seasons. Last season, he caught 49 passes for 748 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media. His 748 yards were a program record for a tight end. This season, he figures to step into a starting role at wide receiver to fill a need. The Wolverines lose wideout Jeremy Gallon (1,373 yards) from last year’s team, and the top returning receiver is redshirt sophomore Jehu Chesson, who caught 15 passes for 221 yards last season. Notable upcoming watch list announcements: July 14, Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker); July 15, Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best wide receiver); July 16, Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s best quarterback); July 18, Walter Camp Award (nation’s most outstanding player).
For more awards updates
Check MichiganDaily.com throughout next week
12 SPORTS
Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
‘M’ players off to hot summer start Maezes swinging hot bat on Cape Cod; Hill, Cronenworth shining on mound By JAKE LOURIM Managing Sports Editor
The Michigan baseball team suffered its share of growing pains last season, flirting with the .500 mark all season against an average Big Ten. But a change of scenery has been good to the Wolverines this summer as they tune up in summer leagues around the country. Michigan players are seeing time in the Cape Cod League, the New England Collegiate Baseball League, the Coastal Plain League down south and the Prospect League throughout the Midwest and the Great Lakes. These summer leagues, most competitively the Cape Cod League, give players an opportunity to stay in shape over the summer while away from college. Any player can play provided that he does not get paid and has college eligibility remaining. The Daily does a quick rundown of the Wolverines in action this summer. Senior outfielder Jackson Glines, Brewster Whitecaps/ Cotuit Kettleers (Cape Cod Baseball League): Glines has played in just seven games for Brewster, but he made them count. He was 8-for-21 — good for a team-leading .421 average — with two RBI and a run scored. But he was just a temporary outfielder for Brewster and was released early in the season when the Whitecaps regained their regulars. Since joining Cotuit, Glines has cooled off, hitting .242 in nine games with six runs and a stolen base. Junior infielder Travis Maezes, Brewster Whitecaps (CCBL): Maezes ranks second for the Whitecaps in batting, trailing only his Michigan teammate Glines. In 17 games, he’s hitting .385 with 12 runs, a homer and five RBI. He has added two stolen bases.
Junior infielder/righthanded pitcher Jacob Cronenworth, Orleans Firebirds (CCBL): Cronenworth, Michigan’s last season, has pitched in nine games for a total of 12.1 innings. He leads the league with five saves and has a 2.18 earned-run average. His bat has been slumping this summer with just three singles and eight strikeouts in 24 at-bats.
Fifth-year senior catcher Kendall Patrick, Sanford Mainers (NECBL): Patrick is another catcher who figures to be in the conversation for the starting role next year after the graduation of Cole Martin. He’s hitting .228 with a home run, four RBI and nine walks in 21 games for Sanford. He has also been hit by pitch a league-leading nine times.
Junior left-handed pitcher Evan Hill, Brewster Whitecaps (CCBL): Hill, who developed into Michigan’s ace last season, has been one of Brewster’s most reliable pitchers. His 1.92 ERA is second among pitchers with at least 10 innings pitched, and he has also shared some of the closing duty, ranking fifth in the league in saves. In his only start, he lasted just 3.2 innings and gave up six runs — three earned — with six hits and two walks.
Sophomore left-hander Brett Adcock, Sanford Mainers (NECBL): Adcock is picking up where he left off in Ann Arbor after a strong finish to the season earned him Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. In two starts for Sanford, Adcock is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA, including a five-inning, onehit shutout with nine strikeouts on Monday.
Sophomore catcher Harrison Wenson, St. Cloud Rox (Northwoods League): Wenson has struggled in the Northwoods League, hitting .210 in 81 at-bats — second-most among four catchers on the team. He has four doubles but also 24 strikeouts and has the worst average among the catchers. Junior right-handed pitcher Donnie Eaton, Kalamazoo Growlers (Northwoods League): Control issues have plagued Eaton this summer. He pitched 23.1 innings with a team-leading 0.77 ERA in 13 appearances for Michigan last season. Though he walked 16 for the Wolverines, he got out of trouble with 26 strikeouts and just eight hits. This summer, he hasn’t been so lucky, walking 19 and surrendering 25 hits in 24.1 innings for a 5.54 ERA. Sophomore infielder Hector Gutierrez, Danbury Westerners (New England Collegiate Baseball League): Gutierrez is another underclassman who has struggled with the bat, hitting just .200 in 65 at-bats. He has drawn seven walks and stolen a team-high four bases but also struck out 21 times, tied for the team lead.
Sophomore infielder Ramsey Romano, Morehead City Marlins (Coastal Plain League): Romano missed of his freshman season the beginning of the summer with a wrist injury, but he’s off to a hot start now. In six games and nine at-bats, he has four hits, two RBI and two walks. Since returning to action in late June, he has been used mostly as a pinch-hitter.
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Travis Maezes is hitting .385 for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League.
Sophomore infielder Carmen Benedetti, Morehead City Marlins (CPL): After a strong freshman season at Michigan, Benedetti also didn’t play his first game this summer until June 29. So far, he’s 1-for-4 with a single, a walk and a strikeout. Redshirt sophomore Cam Wysocki, Danville Dans (Prospect League): Wysocki’s strong start this summer earned him a spot in the Prospect League All-Star Game, where he pitched a scoreless inning with two hits and a walk. Overall, he’s 2-2 with a 2.38 ERA and two saves in 15 relief appearances. He’s also 2-for-3 at the plate. Sophomore right-hander Mac Lozer, Danville Dans (Prospect League): Though not in as much action as Wysocki, Lozer has also been strong for Danville. He’s 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in eight relief appearances and has struck out 13 in 10 innings.
TRACY KO/Daily
Jackson Glines has settled down to a .308 average after a hot start on Cape Cod.