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University investment portfolio totals $10B Return on investment drops 15.3 percent since 2014 report By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter ALEXA BORROMEO/Daily
The Michigan Daily asked international professors and graduate student instructors what it’s like to teach classes in English. From top left, clockwise: “We are a minority on campus, and we do not have a good pathway to raise the community’s awareness of our difficulties and to understand and appreciate our efforts.” GSI Yidi Li, from China. “I feel like when they see me and when I speak that they think, in some form, that I am a second-class professor.” Professor Luis Felipe Sfeir-Younis, from Chile. “At the end of the day what is really hard, in my opinion is to just be yourself, not being fluent.” GSI Claudio Vilas Boas Favero, from Brazil. “Sometimes, I still feel nervous when students talk fast. And when I ask them to reiterate again I’d be worried if the students would be like ‘Haha, she didn’t understand me’ and they would be making fun of me in the back.” GSI Yang Wang, from China.
TEACHING IN TRANSLATION By ALEXA BORROMEO Daily Video Editor
“My calc teacher is so foreign that she spoke in Chinese for a full minute before realizing it wasn’t English” -Anonymous (Yik Yak, September 21, 2015, 100 upvotes) “Really wishing my foreign GSI came with subtitles right now.” -Anonymous (Yik Yak, October 2, 2015, 156 upvotes) Discriminating remarks like these have become
commonplace amongst undergraduate students on our campus. Maybe you’ve overheard side comments in the back of lecture filled with more than 100 students about your professor’s accent or listened to friends complain about having a “foreign GSI” in the dorms. Maybe you’ve even responded to these comments made on popular college campus social media platforms such as Yik Yak. This video series was made in an attempt to respond to these comments by providing a direct perspective and voice
from our professors and GSI’s who face discrimination because of their language and culture. Each interview was done in the instructor’s first language. “Having this conversation in English and reproducing the same feelings of feeling different is meaningless,” said Psychology and Women’s Studies GSI Özge Savas. Speaking in one’s first language on a daily basis is a privilege that many students at the University, including myself, have; we are able to fully express ourselves
and easily communicate our ideas without second thought or fear of being misunderstood or judged based on our ability to speak a language. To reverse this privilege, even if only within the scope of this video series, will hopefully put those of us at the University who do speak English as our first language, or speak English as our only language, in a role that we are not too familiar with - the patient role of translating and understanding in language that isn’t your own. See INTERNATIONAL, Page 2A
Students host vigil for victims of recent terror attacks in Israel Gathering on the Diag features prayer, songs, personal connections to events abroad By LEA GIOTTO Daily Staff Reporter
Students gathered on the Diag on Thursday night to honor victims of terror attacks that have taken place in the Israel over the past month. The event, which was co-hosted by multiple student organizations including J Street, WolvPac, the American Movement for Israel and I-LEAD, featured prayers and accounts from those somehow affected by the attacks. See VIGIL, Page 3A
WEATHER TOMORROW INDEX
Vol. CXXIV No. 12 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
HI: 50 LO: 28
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Engineering sophomore Kevin Wolf recites a prayer for those who have been affected by terror attacks in Israel at a vigil on the Diag on Thursday.
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FLINT — Though the University’s endowment continued to increase in fiscal year 2015, its return on investment decreased by 15.3 percent from 2014, University administrators announced at Thursday’s University’s Board of Regents meeting. The endowment is a pool of funds, much of which are received from donors. The principal amount of the fund remains untouched, but is invested and grows with interest from year to year. The University does not spend all the resulting interest, resulting in a theoretically neverending source of funding. “You can think of it, in a way,
as this giant bond … which pays out a certain amount of interest every year to the University,” said Rafael Castilla, director of investment risk management in the University’s investment office, said in a 2014 interview with The Michigan Daily. The total value of the endowment increased to $10 billion this year from $9.7 billion in 2014, due to a 3.5-percent return on investment in fiscal year 2015. The distributions from the endowment, which represent the money the University spends from returns on the endowment, were $292.5 million this year. In 2014, the endowment had an 18.8-percent return on investment, and chose to distribute $284.4 million. The University bases its distributions on a seven-year average of the endowment’s value, pulling a set percentage of that average value every year. In 2014, the University implemented a reduction to the set percentage, from 5 to 4.5 percent annually. “Our investment team’s longSee INVESTMENT, Page 3A
CAMPUS LIFE
SAPAC talks draft sexual assault policy Conversation focuses on ‘U’ definition of incapacitation By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
Seeking to gather input on how the University addresses sexual assault on campus, students and Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center officials gathered in the Michigan Union on Friday for a roundtable discussion. The forum focused on proposed updates to the University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy. A series of similar roundtable discussions are scheduled through Nov. 3 and SAPAC Director Holly Rider-Milkovich said she has already recognized potential improvements to the draft since the sessions began earlier this month. “We are learning from students every single time we do one of these roundtables,” Rider-Milkovich said. “We heard tonight, for example, that we should make clear on the policy who is responsible for ensuring that sanctions are enforced. That’s a really important point, and that is not a point we have heard from others. That’s just one example and we have
those examples for every single roundtable we’ve done.” The roundtables are the second of three stages RiderMilkovich said are in the works before a new policy on student sexual misconduct rolls out next semester, as part of a process that first began when the policy was last revised in 2013. In November 2014, the University began collecting feedback from the administration and external experts on sexual misconduct policies on campuses, as well as reviewing how other schools around the country were addressing the issue. A University survey released in June indicated that 22.5 percent of female undergraduates experienced sexual assault within the past year. A similar survey conducted at 28 research universities by the Association of American Universities, released in September, showed about 30 percent of undergraduate women at the University reported experiencing nonconsensual penetration or sexual touching by force or incapacitation. That’s almost 7 percent above the national average. The University is now considering revisions to the 2013 policy, with a draft of a new sexual misconduct policy open to student input — an opportunity See SAPAC, Page 3A
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INTERNATIONAL AT MICHIGAN From 1A In Fall 2014, there were 1,308 international employees at the University and 5,990 international students, including 4,052 graduate students, many who are employed as graduate student instructors. There were also 512 visiting scholars who come to the University for various reasons -- to teach, conduct research and more. This map shows a regional breakdown of international employees, students and visiting scholars.
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See the video package at magnify.michigandaily. us/video/teaching-intranslation/ Designed by Carolyn Gearig Source: The International Center
Claudio Vilas Boas Favero Engineering GSI Country of Origin: Brazil Language: Portuguese
“In my experience especially, the problems in communication of professors and GSIs who are not native speakers of English begins with the expressions. A student, or even people in general, expect certain things to be expressed in a certain way. So when we, non-native speakers, say something that a student understands, but we don’t express it in the way that they want to hear - or in the way that they want to hear even if they just subconsciously don’t want to hear it that way - the student wants it to be said a different way.”
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Luis Felipe Sfeir-Younis
Professor of Sociology Country of Origin: Chile Language: Spanish “I feel like when they see me and when I speak that they think, in some form, that I am a second-class professor. At least at first. That they did not get the right professor, the one that is blonde with blue eyes who pronounces words correctly. It could be that in the next half hour that changes because I have good reviews. But it’s that initial reaction. It is always a reaction that they wish I was a different professor, one that speaks in English and that is really an American, despite the fact that I really am a citizen.”
Özge Savas
Psychology and Women’s Studies GSI Country of Origin: Turkey Language: Turkish “When I observe an American GSI interacting with their student I envy their relationship knowing full well that I will never achieve a connection so natural with my own students. Even though I am aware that everyone here is coming from such different backgrounds, they are sharing a common language and culture. Since the students share a common culture with the American GSI’s, they may move on to a completely different conversation and become much more like friends. I always end up feeling like there is an invisible wall between me and my students.”
Jin Ge
Mechanical Engineering GSI Country of Origin: China Language: Chinese “My feeling is if there’s an Asian GSI or professor, in the first five minutes when they stand in front of the class, If they are able to express their way of thinking from their heart and express their logic in a way that people understand, then the atmosphere will be very good and there’s not much of a difference. But if in those five minutes at the start, their accent is really strong and no one can understand, their logic is bad and people don’t understand, ... then the atmosphere in the class is – you can see all kinds of reactions.”
3D-printed models help doctors determine appropriate surgical procedures for patients ‘U’ doctors model head of 30-weekold fetus BY TOM MCBRIEN Daily Staff Reporter
A team of University doctors held Conan Thompson’s head, trying to decide whether or not he would need drastic surgery to allow him to breathe. This was no normal consultation, however, because Conan was no normal patient: He was a 30-week-old fetus still inside his mother’s womb. In the doctors’ hands were 3D-printed models of Conan’s head, the first 3D-printed models of a fetal head used to inform a surgical decision. With the accurate physical model, the doctors were able to see that their patient could be born through a Caesarian section instead of a riskier surgical procedure. Conan’s mother, Megan Thompson, had been referred to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital after an ultrasound showed a potentially dangerous lump on Conan’s face. “What we worried was that when he was born, the lump would cover his nose and mouth and prevent him from being able
to breathe,” said Kyle VanKoevering, a resident in the University Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology. When they first saw Conan’s case, doctors worried they might have to perform an ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure, or EXIT, a complicated procedure that involves operating on the baby after it has been delivered but before the umbilical cord is cut. This process is more dangerous and more expensive than traditional births. The doctors were concerned about the lump, but couldn’t tell from the fuzzy ultrasound whether or not it warranted an EXIT procedure. The team decided to try an MRI scan, since it would give them a clearer picture than the ultrasound. MRI machines take many images of a subject in “slices” about two millimeters apart. However, VanKoevering said, even an MRI wasn’t enough in this case. “When you look at an MRI, you look at a stack of two-dimensional pictures,” VanKoevering said. “And your brain basically compiles that stack into a three-dimensional profile where each picture is separated by a millimeter or three millimeters. But it’s hard to envision the detailed anatomy of a tiny infant when the MRI isn’t too clear.”
Normally, doctors would prepare what was necessary for an EXIT procedure at this point. But Glenn Green, associate professor of otolaryngology, had another idea. “And so Dr. Green called me one night and said, ‘Kyle, do you think we could take a special MRI scan and make a 3D model from it?’ ” VanKoevering said. “And I said, ‘Well, I don’t know that it’s ever been done in a fetus before like this…Let’s try it.’ ” VanKoevering, who graduated with a biomedical engineering degree from the University in 2007, used computer programs to construct a 3D digital model of Conan’s head based on MRI images. He explained that, after the modeling, the printing was easy. “We called a 3D printer in Ann Arbor — a local company called Thingsmiths — and we asked if they would be willing to print these models. Of course, we had a very short timeframe because the kid’s delivery was coming up very soon and we were really not clear yet on what we wanted to do. So we called them and they said, ‘Yeah, we can get these on the printers tonight and they’ll be ready tomorrow night.’ It was less than a 24-hour turnaround. These things can literally be printed overnight.”
The doctors soon had multiple models of Conan’s head in their hands. Some were opaque to show details about the lump, while others were clear to show information about the bones and deeper structural aspects of Conan’s face. With this new information, they were able to see that the lump would not pose a grave risk. VanKoevering said this is just one example of 3D printing’s increasing impact on medicine. Similar techniques could be used for other complex surgeries such as removing large tumors and intricate heart procedures. “3D printing is certainly a rapidly evolving field in medicine because it allows such versatility in designing models and potentially implants to reflect the unique anatomy that each patient has,” he said. “So I think this is an area of medicine that will continue to evolve rapidly over the next five years, and I’m excited to see how it goes.” This is not the first time University doctors have used 3D printing as a medical tool. In 2013, two members of the team — Green and Scott Hollister, professor of biochemical and mechanical engineering — were honored by Popular Mechanics for 3D printing a biodegradable splint used to save the life of a two-year-old with breathing problems.
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VIGIL From Page 1A LSA senior Jonathan Friedman, chair of Hillel’s Israel Cohort, wrote in an e-mail interview to The Michigan Daily that he wanted to plan the event as a way to help the Jewish community on campus respond to the violence. “More than just an outlet, (the vigil) is an opportunity to be aware of the tragedies and take a step towards positive change, however small it may be,” he wrote. Seven Israelis have died in the last month in attacks carried out by Palestinians, according to The New York Times. Twentyeight Palestinians have also died during the past two weeks in clashes with Israeli forces, The Washington Post reported. A dozen of the Palestinians killed were identified by Israeli authorities as perpetrators in the acts of terror, the Post reported. As recently as Tuesday, attackers have used firearms, vehicles, stones and knives to carry out the assaults. LSA sophomore Elana Rosenthal, who also helped plan the event, said she wanted to emphasize Jewish solidarity with Israel in light of the attacks.
INVESTMENT From Page 1A term performance continues to rank in the top quartile compared to the performance of other large university endowments,” Kevin Hegarty, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said Thursday. Erik Lundberg, University chief investment officer, said the investment return is down due to lower energy prices — the University allocates a large number of its investments to natural resources — and the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, which resulted in lowered foreign investments. The endowment also suffered losses due to high initial estimated values for equity and fixed income investments that did not end up performing as well as expected. However, in a press release, Lundberg said long-term performance “is more than
SAPAC From Page 1A that students have already taken advantage of more than during past reviews. Rider-Milkovich said while only 70 students responded to an online feedback form during the last update to the policy, this year more than 225 people have already responded in the three weeks it has been online. The form will remain open until Nov. 6. During Thursday’s discussion, attendees raised concerns about several definitions in the policy relating to ability to give consent. The current proposed draft does not set to change the definition of consent, but it does propose changing the definition of coercion, force and incapacitation, the former of which was a main focus of discussion. The proposed definition for incapacitation reads, “A person who is Incapacitated cannot Consent to sexual activity. A person is Incapacitated if they are asleep, unconscious, intermittently conscious, unaware that sexual contact is occurring, or lack the physical and/or mental ability to make informed, rational judgements. Incapacitation may result from the consumption of alcohol or other drugs. Where alcohol or drug use is involved, Incapacitation is a state beyond intoxication, inebriation, impairment in judgement or ‘drunkenness.’ ” Attendees said they believed the current draft definition does not specify clearly enough the amount of drinks it takes to be incapacitated and thus unable to provide consent. Patty Petrowski, associate vice president and deputy general counsel for the
“I felt that it was necessary to create an event like this in order to unite all Jews, and all people, of moral conscience to declare ‘enough,’ ” she said in an e-mail interview. “Our brothers and sisters in Israel are facing incessant terror attacks. We cannot remain silent. We must declare that Israel is not alonewe stand with you!” At the vigil, students sang Israeli songs such as the country’s national anthem “Hatikvah,” which means “the hope” in Hebrew. Engineering sophomore Kevin Wolf also recited a prayer in honor of those who have been affected by the terror in Israel. Wolf said he thought having the vigil was important because many of the Jewish students at the University know someone personally or distantly who has been affected. “As I was taking the bus here, I was just thinking how lucky I am that, in this moment, I don’t have to be worried about being stabbed,” Wolf said. “For my sister who lives there, I just want her to know that I care and that we all care.” The names of the Israeli victims of and those wounded by the terror attacks were also read on the Diag. The list of names, which was updated as of
Wednesday, included 7 people who have died from the attacks and 21 people who have been wounded. LSA junior Inbar Lev read part of the eulogy for Naama Henkin, an Israeli woman who was killed along with her husband Eitam Henkin. Lev also read a statement from Joshua Lankin, whose uncle, Richard Lankin, is currently in critical condition after being wounded in one of the assaults. When asked why she chose to read the eulogy aloud to the group, Lev said the acts of terror have had a big impact on her personally. “I’m Israeli, so it hits very close to home,” she said. “I feel as though we just want to show that we respect the lives that have been lost because of this.” LSA sophomore Josh Blum said the vigil was a way for those affected on campus to pay their respects to the victims of the attacks. “A lot of Israeli lives have unfortunately ended very early and I think we need to pay our respects for those who have died because of terror attacks,” he said. “This is not a way to get peace. You get peace by diplomacy. You do not get peace by killing one another.”
sufficient to sustain and grow the endowment in real terms net of spending.” The University’s endowment received a slightly lower ranking this year compared to other university endowments. National experts ranked the fiscal year 2015 endowment as the ninth largest in the nation, down from the seventh largest in 2014, according to U.S. News and World Report. It also went from being the top endowment of any public institution to being third. When compared per student the University’s endowment rank actually increased this year. The funds per student are ranked at 88th in the nation, compared to 94th in fiscal year 2014. Despite the large pool of money the endowment represents, the University is limited by how how the endowment can be spent. Some endowment funds are only used for specific purposes — such as scholarships, educational
programs or professorships — and thus is not the University’s only source of funding. Twenty-one percent of the total endowment distribution is also restricted for use by the University Health System, while another $2 billion goes toward student scholarships and fellowships. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said Thursday because of those limitations, the University still needs financial support from other areas to fund other operations, citing increases in tuition as one way to make up those costs. The University’s Office of Public Affairs states on its website that funding from external and internal sources is critical for University functions: “The endowment provides a margin of excellence for the University, but it does not replace the unrestricted funds coming from state support and student tuition dollars.”
University, offered a second potential definition in response to the concerns. “A person who is incapacitated is unable to temporarily or permanently give consent because of mental or physical helplessness, sleep, unconsciousness or lack of awareness that sexual activity is taking place,” she said. “A person may be incapacitated as a result of the consumption of alcohol or other drugs, or due to a temporary or permanent physical or mental health issue.” Several attendees were more responsive to the second definition. LSA senior Anna Forringer-Beal, volunteer at SAPAC and Relationship Remix facilitator, said a question often brought up is how much alcohol is too much alcohol. “We always get people questioning, ‘Well what if one person had, like, a drink and they’re totally fine. Does that mean they can’t give consent?’” Forringer-Beal said. “I think the distinction on that sliding scale is so important, and I think that it’s really great that you’re taking into account what’s going on in terms of how alcohol affects people differently.” Rider-Milkovich said it was a difficult issue to put into words. In particular, she said the hardest cases to handle regarding incapacitation are ones in which the victim appears lucid but is in fact very intoxicated. “That’s one of the most difficult situations,” RiderMilkovich said. “When someone is in total blackout but operating normally, and especially when we’re looking at the test of did the respondent know? Or should the respondent reasonably have known?” When the topic was revisited at the end of the discussion, LSA senior Laura Meyer made
a suggestion to help clarify the definition of drunk. “You know how the Inuit have like 200 words for snow? I feel like college students have 200 words for when they’re drunk,” Meyer said. “Maybe using other words like tipsy or buzzed, and beyond buzzed or beyond tipsy.” Several other draft changes to the policy, including improving interim measures to protect parties in an investigation, increasing academic support for survivors, deciding who should choose the student who would be on the advisory board and whether or not to identify witnesses in cases were also discussed Thursday. LSA senior Fabiana Diaz said she would like to see the creation of a position to deal specifically with student needs while a case is still being processed and sanctions haven’t been decided. For example, Diaz said, under the current situation, students living in the same dorm as an alleged assailant have to inform University Housing if they want to change their living situation, who then contacts someone else and so on, drawing out the process. “It’s not just like you contact somebody and I think that’s frustrating for the survivor — it’s like we’re going in circles to make sure these things are actually enforced,” Diaz said. Rider-Milkovich agreed with Diaz and suggested following a model other campuses use of assigning one person to work with the survivor of a sexual assault throughout the entire process instead of having to go to several different contact offices to address different issues. The suggestion found favor with the room, with several people verbally responding yes and others clapping in result.
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Oscar winner stars in ‘Antigone’ at UMS By COSMO PAPPAS Daily Arts Writer
Few plays in the history of theater have attracted so much attention for their political resonances as much as ancient Greek “Antigone” playwright and by Sophocles statesman Oct. 14-17 Sophocles’s “Antigone.” Power Center From its role $12 (students) -$90 as a parable of anti-fascist resistance in Jean Anoihl and Bertolt Brecht’s 1940s re-stagings to its reception as a feminist call-to-arms against state power, the questions that this 441 BCE work poses will find new life yet again this week at the Power Center for Performing Arts in Ann Arbor with a star-studded cast of collaborators. French Academy Award-winning actress, dancer and artist Juliette Binoche will star in this production directed by Ivo van Hove, former director of Het Zuidelijk Toneel in Eindhoven and Toneelgroep Amsterdam and winner of various international theatrical awards. This performance features a new translation by poet, translator, essayist and former UM professor Anne Carson, who has also previously translated “Antigone,” the second of Sophocles’s Theban trilogy, in an idiosyncratic, thoughtful and poignant rendering entitled “Antigonick.” However, at van
Hove’s request, Carson-the-poet took a backseat to Carson-theclassicist, with the script for this production a more literal, wordfor-word translation. “I think this is an analogy for the difference between them (the two translations),” Carson said at a Penny Stamps Lecture on Oct. 13. “In Antigonick, I tried to take a photograph of an apple tree from an angle that would capture the essence of that apple tree at a certain moment that I thought beautiful. And in the second version, it’s more like I’m taking hold of the tree and trying to shake every apple down, get every apple off it.” These performances, as well as the dialogue between Binoche, Carson and Montreal-based novelist Will Aitken that took place at the Penny Stamps lecture are a high watermark in Ann Arbor arts. This week, local audiences have the opportunity to experience genuinely world-class talent bearing upon questions of translation, performance and interpretation of this centerpiece of ancient Greek theater. Briefly summarized, “Antigone” presents the conflict between Antigone, daughter of the incestuous marriage between Oedipus and Jocasta and thus princess of Thebes, and Creon, king of Thebes. In the course of a civil war, Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other over claims to the throne. However, Creon declares Eteocles a hero and a Polyneices a traitor, forbidding that the lat-
ter be buried. Antigone, whose love for her brother borders on incestuous (“yet how sweet to lie upon my brother’s / body, thigh to thigh,” Carson renders in “Antigonick”), refuses his decree and buries her brother. Eventually, Antigone and Haemon (Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancée) commit suicide before Creon is able to deliver the news that he will bury Polyneices and will spare Antigone because of the gods’ anger over his decree since the burial of the dead is sacred. Van Hove is sensitive to the political implications of burial and to the nuances of this play as a political work overall. He says in the University Musical Society program booklet that “ ‘Antigone’ develops from a play about a brutal war into a play about politics and public policies and ends as a play about the helplessness of humans, lost in the cosmos.” Philosopher and gender theorist Judith Butler’s 2000 book “Antigone’s Claim” is significant for its engagement with the play’s political, potentially feminist, meanings that every performer brings their own perspective to bear on. “There’s something in the play that is very reachable, accessible, you understand immediately in your life and our society, because we need to heal something about our family, about our society, about our world,” Binoche said in an interview with UMS. “Antigone is a healer somehow, even if she chooses to sacrifice herself.”
REGENTS GO TO FLINT
DELANEY RYAN/Daily
University President Mark Schlissel runs the University Regents meeting that is hosted annually by the Flint campus at the Riverside Banquet Center on Thursday.
Opinion
4A — Friday, October 16, 2015
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NOTABLE QUOTABLE
As commander in chief, I will not allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again.”
FROM THE DAILY
Microbeads small part of big problem
— President Barack Obama on Thursday regarding a recent policy reversal, which will postpone troop withdrawal in Afghanistan.
Michigan legislature needs to define “nonbiodegradable”
D
espite poor success within the past year, yet another bill has been proposed in the Michigan House of Representatives to ban the sale of “nonbiodegradable” microbeads in personal care products. As it stands, the legislation is problematic because it does not include a definition of “nonbiodegradable,” leaving room for personal care companies to exploit loopholes. If a definition is included, such as the one the European Union has, this legislation should be passed, but recognized as only a small effort in protecting the Great Lakes from further pollution. Plastic microbeads are found in a variety of personal care products — toothpastes, face washes, body scrubs — as an exfoliant. Companies opt for the use of plastic microbeads in their products instead of organic equivalents because they are cheaper to manufacture and pose less of an allergenic risk to the consumers. However, the effect these microbeads have on the environment — especially on the Great Lakes — overrides their cost efficiency. Due to the tininess of these microplastics (microbeads found in cosmetic products tend to be less than one millimeter in diameter), it’s incredibly difficult to clean up the particles. Plastic microbeads absorb toxins from the environment and fish in the lakes confuse the microbeads for food; if consumed in high enough concentrations, these toxins — some of which are believed to cause cancer and reproductive problems — can make their way up the food chain, adversely affecting the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem as well as our own. It is no wonder, then, why so many states have started to ban products containing microbeads. Since mid-2014 alone, nine states have passed laws outlawing the sale of products with microbeads, including Great Lakes neighbors Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. These laws vary in strictness. For example, Maryland bans only products that contain “synthetic plastic microbeads” that are nonbiodegradable, whereas California law entirely bans companies from selling or offering products with microbeads of any sort, exempting only products that contain “less than 1 part per million (ppm) by weight of plastic microbeads.” The problem with the proposition now
facing Michigan’s legislature is there is no qualification set forth for how long a plastic can exist in a marine environment before being decomposed by microorganisms into carbon dioxide and water to be considered biodegradable. This can be fixed if the term “nonbiodegradable” is based off the European Union’s definition, which says a product is biodegradable if it decomposes within six months. Furthermore, the government should then be able to revise these standards periodically to account for advances in technology and research. These provisions would give companies reasonable flexibility to develop effective products while keeping potential environmental harm in their consciences. Fortunately, personal care product powerhouses such as L’Oreal, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble are currently working on phasing out the use of nonbiodegradable plastics in their products. These companies’ influence combined with government regulation would likely be effective in pressuring the industry as a whole toward a more eco-friendly mindset. It is also important to remember that microbeads contribute to just a small part of the pollution problem. According to Allen Burton, a professor at the University’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, the media and politicians have exaggerated microbeads as the leading problem in polluted marine and lake environments, when this is not the case. In addition to this legislation, Michigan’s legislature should immediately work toward reforms to control invasive species, soil erosion, habitat damage and chemical input that pose an even greater risk to the Great Lakes.
The Republican Party’s far-right problem
O
ur GSI gave us two articles to read before a class discussion on the Democratic presidential debate. One, written by the New York Times Editorial Board, titled “The Grown-Ups Take the Stage at the Democratic Debate,” contrasted the debate with the Republican Party’s latest nonsense in Congress and on the campaign trail. During previous election seasons, I might VICTORIA have complained that the NOBLE obviously partisan piece was just an example of liberal bias in the media. But when the Republican Party seems so intent on self-inflicted embarrassment, it’s hard to point fingers at anything but the party itself. Republicans are known for professing their concern that the United States is headed down the wrong path. If the country’s heading down the wrong path, the Republican Party is leading our country down that path. Most of the Republican Party prioritizes the best interests of the United States. Many Republicans formulate and support great solutions to some of the country’s toughest problems. But the John Kasich- and Bob Corker-type candidates are almost always overshadowed by the Donald Trumps and Ted Cruzes; in other words, the far right. Very few Republican leaders are from the farright wing of the party. The far-right leaders aren’t the chairs of powerful Congressional committees or the authors of any serious legislation. But they are the people who’ve learned to dominate the airwaves and use the media industry’s thirst for popping headlines to their advantage. They’re the Kim Kardashians of the policy world. The far-right Republican candidates’ statements and policies are probably less realistic than reality TV; the pictures they
paint of the world more dramatic. Their stories cast medical researchers as baby killers and refugees as potential terrorists. They oppose support for the “lazy” and unemployed, but also for “corrupt” trade agreements that are expected to create jobs. Some days, we’re teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff; on others, the country’s moral depravity will end us all. These far-right leaders are bombastic and inane, but they have an enormous impact on and pose a real threat to the GOP. Just as the commercial success of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” has fueled both the proliferation of reality TV and tabloid coverage of its characters, the far right’s antics have both inspired political converts and earned them the center stage of “Republican” news. They proclaim their extreme views so loudly that many confuse them for the party’s platform. They have adopted grandstanding and filibustering as primary methods of advancing their viewpoints, and Fox News happily broadcasts their usually conspiratorial and increasingly racist, sexist and homophobic views to the party’s base. If this continues, the GOP can kiss goodbye not only the next election, but also any credibility it retains. At the moment, Republican politics are entertaining. The debates are fun to watch, and record numbers are tuning in to watch the circus unfold. But few want clowns running the country. Most Republicans aren’t clowns. But unless they take control of policy debates, the public won’t know that. It’s possible that the GOP is scared of further infighting splitting the far right from the establishment. But retaking control of the party’s platform and policies isn’t about winning elections or pleasing voters in the short term — though those things could conceivably happen as a happy side effect. Rather, it’s about limiting gridlock by electing candidates who know how to
CARLY KEYES | VIEWPOINT
Harmony is better in numbers I just had the craziest weekend, and if I were your typical college student, you’d know exactly what that means. But I’m proudly atypical. What follows is the furthest thing from a weekend “drunkalogue,” i.e. a monologue full of regular shenanigans that occur when one devotes Friday through Sunday to intoxicated activities. I offer you my “soberlogue” from the first weekend of October, and I can promise you this: It’s way cooler than anything I ever did under the influence, and I remember all of it in vivid detail. What a bonus. Friday, Oct. 2 It’s 6 p.m., and I’m leaving the WDIV Local 4 news station in Detroit, where I intern three days a week in their programming department. I’m heading to a conference in Troy, but not for more work in the stereotypical sense — for the daily work I do on myself as a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder. I enter the hotel with my guitar in hand. I’m welcomed by hundreds of others who are, too, in the business of staying sober on top of whatever they do from 9 to 5 to put food on the table. I enter the ballroom. They’re setting up the soundboard, the lights and the microphone for me and several performers who’ll take the stage after the keynote speaker. I’m on. I step up and strum a G-chord, because this night isn’t meant to be played in a minor key. I say my name is Carly and I’m almost five years sober. I’m met with thunderous applause. I don’t need this approval; I just sometimes need reminders that I’m never alone. I play four songs in front of a sober crowd. They will remember this night, and you can bet that I will, too. Saturday, Oct. 3 It’s 11:30 a.m. I return to the conference to speak on a panel titled “The Sky is the Limit,” where I share pieces of my story. I offer my experience, strength and hope as someone who understands that when I’m sober, I’m free to be whomever I choose, accomplish whatever I wish and go wherever I please … like to Washington D.C. for a rally called Unite to Face Addiction two hours later. I leave the hotel and head to Detroit Metro Airport. I can barely contain my emotions because where I’m headed won’t be teeming with hundreds of sober people from the tri-country area: It will be flooded with thousands of recovery advo-
cates from across the country. What do I wear for such an historic day? I pack far more than I need. I stuff a shirt that says, “The Only Coke I Do is Diet” into my suitcase, and I smile. Another G-chord moment for me. It’s 7 p.m. when I land in Baltimore. I take a cab to D.C., dump my belongings at my Airbnb and hail an Uber to Warner Theater where there’s a prerally, all-star comedy benefit called “A Tribute to Lost Laughs” in honor of the brilliant comedic minds who addiction has stolen from us too soon. I’m reunited with sober friends from all over Michigan, Southern California, nationwide. We laugh. We cry. We feel. Together. In a major way. Sunday, Oct. 4 I’m up at 8 a.m. because I couldn’t possibly sleep. Today is Christmas morning magnified by a million. Today is the day I have been waiting for as someone who thought getting sober at age 22 meant a life in the shadows. This is the day for which every recovering individual who’s ever been silenced against his or her will has been praying. On this day, we unite to face addiction. I arrive at the location of the rally, the Washington Monument, with my camera around my neck. I see a giant stage. There are already hundreds of people here. It’s freezing, thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, but I don’t care. A little over five years ago, I’d walk two miles in the pouring rain for a bottle of Jack Daniels on the regular. I can weather a little weather in the name of recovery. I find the booth for Transforming Youth Recovery, a nonprofit organization that grants financial support to academic institutions across the country so they may provide resources to students who need recovery aid on campus. I set up my tripod. I’m here to celebrate my own recovery and to be their videographer — to document proof that collegiate recovery programs, like the one we have at the University, are integral and save lives. I speak to a man from Georgia who lost his 18-year-old daughter to heroin. He wonders if she might still be here if she’d had a recovery program at her high school. Students from Michigan State University, the University of North Texas and the University of Vermont all tell me they would not be able to navigate a college atmosphere — let alone stay in school — if not for oncampus recovery support. I hear them, and I am already overcome
with gratitude by the time the official program kicks off at 4 p.m. Dr. Oz introduces musicians Paul Williams and Kasim Sulton, who sing an anthem they’ve written specifically for this event. Everybody joins in. Joe Walsh leads a non-stop barrage of world-class performers interspersed with notable entertainment personalities, politicians and public figures such as the surgeon general of the United States, who firmly states, “I am on your side” in the fight to eradicate the treatment of addiction as a criminal justice dilemma rather than the public health crisis that it is. I’m beside myself when one of my favorite actresses, Allison Janney, who plays a recovering alcoholic on the CBS comedy series “Mom,” takes the stage. I understand why she won four Emmys for her portrayal as a White House press secretary. She’s only trumped by the man whose lyrics I carry on my arms, John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls. His performance is followed by several others who I adore, including The Fray, Sheryl Crow and, finally, Steven Tyler. At the very end of the night, everyone joins the legendary Aerosmith front man onstage for a rendition of the Beatles’ tune “Come Together,” and I have never been more grateful for my sobriety than in this moment. I photograph blue and yellow cardboard signs that reflect the innermost beliefs of a sea of about 25,000 people. They read, “Addiction is not a crime,” and “I am a person in long-term recovery,” and I wish I could linger in this womb just a little bit longer. Monday, Oct. 5 It’s 10 a.m., and I’m back in Ann Arbor. I step into my apartment, and I break down. I sob hopefully. I can’t believe that I get to be alive and sober during this groundbreaking social and political movement that’s giving a voice to not only people living in long-term recovery from substance use disorder but also anyone and everyone who’s ever been affected by addiction. From rockstar recovery advocates to atypical college students — whether we’re singing songs on stages or speaking out on campus — we’re just warming up our vocal chords and would love to add your voice to our choir. Because harmony is always stronger in numbers. — Carly Keyes is an LSA senior.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Ben Keller, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Adam Morton, Victoria Noble, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Stephanie Trierweiler, Mary Kate Winn, Derek Wolfe negotiate and compromise. It’s about restoring efficacy and integrity to government by filling positions with professionals who understand that they are public servants, paid by taxpayers to run the government. How often do you see a group of employees threaten to shut down their own company in order to get their way — and not get fired? The far right grows increasingly powerful only because their absurdity draws so much attention. To stay credible, the Republican Party needs to prevent future embarrassments like its ongoing inability to select a Speaker of the
House, threatened government shutdowns and 10-plus candidate presidential primaries replete with racial hatred and tax code burning. To do this, the GOP needs to confront its most ridiculous members where they have the greatest advantage — in the media. The GOP needs to garner attention based on the positive actions of its members. The Republicans need to propose meaningful solutions and discredit the more extreme members of their own party, irrespective of the angry responses they’re likely to get in return. The Republican Party has created an environment where its own
name is associated with policies that most of its members don’t support. It’s allowed social issues to dominate at the expense of issues that the party is uniquely equipped to address: advancing U.S. foreign policy interests, restoring balance to the budget, making government operations more efficient and the tax code fairer and easier to understand. The far right has received its fair share of criticism from the left, in pieces like the one in the New York Times featured in my class discussion. But the Republican Party has failed to address the issues within its own ranks.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
STYLE NOTEBOOK
Friday, October 16, 2015 — 5A
EVENT PREVIEW
No end of SMTD brings Green Day to Mendelssohn options for cool sneaks By MICHAEL FLYNN Daily Arts Writer
The world of high fashion adopts the sneaker By MARIAM SHEIKH Daily Style Editor
A few words and images immediately come to mind when I hear the word “sneakers.” Athletes, sports, working out — basically anything that has to do with being physically inclined or fit. What doesn’t come to mind is fashion, runways, models, celebrities. But that’s the surprising thing — recently, the world of high fashion pulled an Angelina Jolie and adopted the sneaker. Gaining traction in 2014 with the emergence of the classic white sneaker on major runways, coupled with everyday not-soactive active-wear, the sneaker trend is still in full force as we near the end of 2015. Some argue that it’s getting out of hand — but is it really?
Some argue that the sneaker trend is getting out of hand. Kickin’ it old school: Fashion always finds ways to recycle itself. What’s trending is directly pulled from different aspects of culture, street style, Kylie Jenner’s Instagram and so on. One year a design is on the runway, the next it’s marked down for the rest of the world to wear the shit out of it. Sneakers are the perfect example of this. Oh, sneakers. As someone who has never been naturally athletic, sneakers have always been the shoes I wear when I’m doing something that is truly physically demanding, like helping my mother bring the groceries in or when I embark on my once-a-year trip to the CCRB. I remember the history of them all. Starting with my very first pair of light-up Skechers from way back in the day, I soon graduated to my mandatory Catholic school gym uniform white sneaks (they were even less cool than it sounds). But don’t worry guys, my parents decided to take me shopping for a weekend pair of slip-on DKNY sneakers (needless to say those were only for those hot summer days). Fast-forward to today, a #blessed world where I no longer have a school uniform, light-up shoes are out of style and my parents have stopped picking out my clothing. Fastforward to today where anyone on the University’s campus can be found in a classic pair of sneakers. Black and gray, roshe flyknit, with that unforgiveable Nike “swoosh,” I’m officially a conformist. But I have no regrets and here’s why:
Fashion always finds ways to recycle itself. The comfort factor: While my history with sneakers is both worrisome and complicated, there’s no denying their practicality. When running around Downtown Ann Arbor doing a variety of random shit, it’s nice to have a shoe that is not only wearable for every season, but one that is also comfortable no matter what. The comfort factor extends beyond physicality. Sneakers have become, for me,
an accessory that makes me comfortable in my own skin. I know that for whatever outfit I have on, a pair of sneakers will go a long way no matter what. From a non-athletic girl, to the rest of the world: This is what I like to call the “I’m down to earth and low-key athletic factor.” A pair of shoes, especially customizable sneakers, is something that reflects you. Some people think the eyes are the windows to the soul. First off, that’s definitely something a hippie just made up. And second, think what you want, but a pair of sneakers can tell you a lot about a person as well. Sneakers will customize any outfit and add your own unique style. They can say a lot about your identity in that moment, for that day. Are you trendy, athletic, strong, a hot-mess, allergic to nature, or do you just radiate an air of hipster-esque vibes? The list goes on. People equate “starting over” to moving away and making new friends. I equate a change in identity with a simple change in your sneakers. In the end there’s nothing like putting an athletic touch on an outfit that has nothing to do with athleticism (guilty). The options are endless (literally): It’s amazing that we live in a society where I can customize my own sneakers right down to the pattern on the sole of the shoe and have them delivered to my doorstep within a few days. From colors, to texture, from design, to type — it’s overwhelming. Brightcolored sneaks are the shoe of the moment for everyday wear. Matching shoes to one’s outfit is out, and making a statement by what you wear on your feet is in. Apart from average humans, like us college students who are almost always dressed casually, there are those with cause to dress fancier. Models, celebrities, influencers of all types, are starting to pair sneakers with formal wear. Gigi Hadid is often photographed wearing the same pair of classic white Adidas sneakers on various occasions, from running errands to going clubbing. Ball gowns, suits, tuxedos — a pair of quality sneakers can go a long way.
My history with sneakers is both worrisome and complicated. But of course, with so many options, there’s room for chaos to ensue, and this chaos comes in the form of hideous designs and lack of consideration for the masses — the spawn of overzealous designers. The most hideous byproduct that comes to mind is the wedge sneaker. A shoe that is an entity of its own should not be fused with something else, least of all a wedge. Another — while they are sleek and beautiful in design — the $20,000 eBay price tag on a pair of Adidas Yeezys is enough to make Donald Trump cringe. Listen to the kids, Kanye. The world of fashion — and style itself — is cyclical. Just a few years ago I thought I would never be caught dead in anything suede, fringed or entirely made of jean, and yet that is exactly what’s trending. There’s something liberating and almost comical about it, really. In regards to the shoe of the year, there’s a refreshing touch about something as simple as a pair of ripped blue jeans and some fresh-to-death sneakers.
Since the ’60s, rock music has served the dual purposes of both communicating sociopolitical messages, as American Idiot well as Oct. 15-25 providing ener- Lydia Mendelssohn getic, Theater joyous $22 amd $28 entertain$12 students ment. While most modern bands have abandoned that tradition, Bay Area punk rockers Green Day have been a notable exception. Their 2004 album American Idiot captured the paranoia and frustration of young people growing up in post-9/11 America, using a loose narrative and multi-part musical suites to create a 21st century rock opera. After the success of the album, Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and “Spring Awakening” writer Michael Mayer collaborated in adapting American Idiot into a stage play, which premiered in 2009 at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California to rave reviews, before moving on to a Broadway run in 2010. Now, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance is presenting the moving and lively play. “It’s been a great labor of love from the beginning, from the audition process through rehearsals,” director Linda Goodrich said. “It’s a subject that’s relevant for the students, and it’s been a wonderful collaboration between faculty and students.”
COURTESY OF THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE & DANCE
“So then I tells ‘em ‘This isn’t Rent, goddamnit!’”
Goodrich was inspired to direct the play after seeing it on Broadway. “I was really shocked to know how much it did resonate with the students,” Goodrich said. “It’s written in the post9/11 era and was very much about the disillusionment of that time and the saturation of media (with) some people feeling alienated and disempowered. If anything, it’s even more so, as social media (contributes) to the saturation of media.” The use of rock singing makes “American Idiot” unique from the other plays in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance’s schedule, but also presented a great challenge in trying to blend the loud rock music with clear vocals, to keep the music from distracting from the story. “It’s just unusual to have a Green Day rock sound in the theater, for getting the balance of making it feel like a rock concert and also keeping story firs; and we had a limited amount
of time to tech that element,” Goodrich said. “In a professional setting, you would have a month of tech rehearsal, and in a school setting, because theater, dance and opera are working in the same space, we have a very short window to get in the theater to actually get all of the technical elements happening.” Students who grew up with the album American Idiot may wonder how the story has changed in its translation to the stage. They can rest assured that the story remains intact. “They’re all from the concept album,” Goodrich said of the songs featured in the show. “There are these letters that Johnny writes to his mother throughout the show, or to his friend Will, and those letters are the only interstitial dialogue in the show.” While the plot of the story remains unchanged, seeing it onstage will make the plot clearer than it was on the record. “It is in the album, but you’re
kind of like a treasure hunter, finding those moments and what’s really in the poetry and what it’s saying,” Goodrich said. “Essentially it’s all there, but it becomes clearer as you put it on stage and give those character voices to individuals.” Not only will the plot be clearer, but also the emotions conveyed through seeing actors perform the material onstage. “We work for a certain amount of time to put a show up, and when an audience comes, that’s when the real communication happens,” Goodrich said. “We get to learn from the piece; the audience takes it in, and there’s that kind of synergy between actor and audience. It’s really magical, and when the idea’s actually communicated and taken in and responded to by an audience. Hopefully it’s more than entertainment — we really grapple with these issues together and go away from the theater and are changed by it.” The show also boasts a style of dance that is looser and more unrestrained than what one would normally see in a musical. “Visually, there’s almost a modern dance element,” Goodrich said. “The dance is not only telling the information of the story but also uses dance and movement in a way that captures the emotion of the music. Most of the original company weren’t dancers. It’s so interesting to see a raw mover express themselves choreographically. It’s different from seeing a trained dancer.” With this in mind, Goodrich urges students to come see the show, enjoy the visual additions to the album’s story and bask in the community element of watching a live performance. “It makes the storytelling so clear, to actually see the story and all of the richness of the poetry, it really comes to life in the stage play. And just the community of coming out and experiencing it together, and addressing it as a community. It promises great fun and enjoyment and thought and it’s going to hit you on many levels.”
Arts
6A — Friday, October 16, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FILM REVIEW
ALBUM REVIEW
‘Pan’ is beautiful ‘Agent Intellect’ keeps cinema sans soul Protomartyr rising By SELENA AGUILERA
By NOAH COHEN
For The Daily
Daily Arts Writer
“Pan” commits no cardinal sins. It never breaks its contract with the audience. It does something worse than betray us: Dit fails to make us feel stuff. Pan One night during World Warner Bros. War II, inexRave & Quality 16 plicably evil English nuns sell orphans to magic pirates who take said orphans to Neverland where Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman, “X-Men”) forces them to mine pixie dust to help him maintain his eternal life. Hook (Garrett Hedlund, “Friday Night Lights”) is a fellow miner here, and Peter (Levi Miller, in his first feature film), revealing that he can fly and is therefore the “Chosen One,” escapes the mines with Hook’s help. Peter seeks his mother and the lost Fairy City in a bumbling quest to simultaneously protect the fairies, discover who he is, believe in himself and find his long-lost mother. The party soon finds one more member, Princess Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) among the natives of Neverland. She, our ass-kicking beauty, exposits on Peter’s plot armor and tops off the movie’s ambient sense of urgency, but it’s too little too late. We don’t care for this Neverland, we don’t care for Peter and, as Mr. Smee (Adeel Akhtar, “Four Lions”) exclaims in an ironic moment of clarity, “nobody cares about (Peter’s) mother!” The joy of the Peter Pan story hinges on the wonder of a Neverland that floats about with childish naiveté. Director Joe Wright’s (“Atonement”) Neverland is fantastical only as an excuse to cut corners on world-building. The wholesomeness of its stunning visuals is so overtaxed with uninspired dramatic nonsense that the audience yearns for an out, for something mad or ugly to shake us out of our stupor. There’s no out.
WARNER BROS.
Don’t come near him with a lighter.
There’s no plot twist. The plot is marched forward like an invalid in a wheelbarrow by some cosmic wind of inevitability. There’s no emotional initiative and only the barest of sequential logic. A magical universe like that of “Pan” depends on narrative logic to constrain its spontaneity. Without a sense of context and limitation, the existence of magic is boringly storybreaking. Why worry about the vicious crocodiles in the river if your ship can fly through the air? If the fairies are so powerful, why do they need the help of a 12-yearold boy at all? Too many questions in “Pan” can be answered only by “magic.” Magic quickly becomes a narrative beast-of-burden, and for every element of heavy-lifting that magic does for the story, it robs the story’s emotional logic of an opportunity to lure the audience into its groove. Jackman does wonderfully, fulfilling expectation. A Neverland villain must be evil and ridiculous in equal measure, and Jackman wrangles this formula with cartoonish intensity. If the whole movie had committed to Jackman’s silliness, it would have hit a higher mark. In his opening scene, Jackman conducts the orphan slaves of Neverland in a roaring rendi-
tion of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, and the weirdness of this directorial choice is immediately smoothed over by the deliberate oddity of Jackman’s persona. Hedlund uses a more devil-may-care formula for (soonto-be-Captain) Hook’s swagger. Hedlund is less weird and interesting than Jackman, but passably successful. The rest of the formulaic cut-outs are questionable at best. Blackbeard’s meathead minion is a beefy black guy; Smee, the take-what-he-can-get traitor, is strongly coded as Jewish; Neverland’s native Kung-Fu master is a stringy Asian guy, and Mara’s native princess, though shiningly acted, is as pale as the freshlydriven snow. Warner Bros casted this movie to fit a mold, and we would rather have seen that mold broken into a million pieces. For all the molds “Pan” fills, it fails to fill the only hollow that really matters, its raison d’être. We eschew Aesop Fable movies for taking the easy choice, railroading a fantasy’s moral universe, but children’s tales need dense moral substance or they drift apart at the seams. “Pan” floats on from start to finish, unwilling or unable to choose a convincing core value, and there’s no wind in its sails to pull it back to course.
Classifieds RELEASE DATE– Friday, October 16, 2015
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Detroit-based band Protomartyr has become the new name in the post punk scene. Since starting in 2012, they have become wildly appreci- B ated, because The Agent there’s just something Intellect about a sad boy Protomartyr from a shitty neighborhood Hardly Art singing great songs in a shitty bar that’s addicting to the ears. With solid record sales and growing popularity, the band released a third album on Oct. 9, The Agent Intellect. If you could imagine a cross breed between Joy Division and Cloud Nothings, that’s what it sounds like. No Passion All Technique, Protomartyr’s debut record, sounded more rock ‘n’ roll than post punk. Released by Urinal Cake Records, No Passion’s guitar resembled music found in the ’70s rather than modern times. The band switched record labels and has been under Hardly Art ever since releasing their album Under Color of Official Right. Each song under Urinal Cake held a calming-but-positive vibe that differs from the mellowbut-depressing vibe you get from other works under Hardly Art.
DOWN 1 Jams 2 Good remark? 3 Plants with sword-shaped leaves
4 Lombardy’s capital 5 Everyone in Mississippi? 6 Big ring name 7 AT&T, for short 8 Grinder 9 1969 hit with the line “You are my candy girl” 10 Botanist Gray 11 Candy heart words 12 Show one’s face 13 Make amends for 18 Outdo 22 Volume measure 24 Abbr. on some cans 25 Hardly a happy ending 27 Where the Santa Maria sank, nowadays 28 Dined on, biblically 30 Dash warning 33 “I suggest you move on” 35 Pie makeup? 36 Stock 38 Plus
39 Doesn’t exactly help one’s reputation 40 Stunning or cunning 43 One under a tree, maybe 44 Nissan sedan 45 Start of a pitch 46 Fifth-century Roman Empire enemy 48 In a little while
51 1996 A.L. Rookie of the Year 52 Psi follower 53 Needles 57 Org. whose logo features an eagle head 59 6-Across maker 61 Awfully long time 62 Rocks in a bucket 63 “Ideas worth spreading” acronym
Easy-going, quirky premiere for ‘Casual’ By DANIELLE YACOBSON For The Daily
In an easy-going and quirky premiere, Hulu’s new original comedy, “Casual,” strikes a unique balance between unfil-
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the listener, which is what music is supposed to be about. Pure interpretation. Despite the weird lyrics and monotone vocals, guitarist Greg Ahee pulls together each song to create a gorgeous flow in the album. He hits the strings in all of the right places to keep the listener’s interest with each song holding different components. The first single from the album, “Why Does It Shake,” displays the disoriented feeling in their songs. It starts out as a slow head-banger when Casey states “False happiness is on the rise/ See the victims pile high,” building up to a hardcore sounding thrasher when he says “I’m never gonna lose it.” The build up releases and the song ends with this hypnotic sounding chant of “Why does it shake/ The body the body/ Why does it move/ The fear the fear.” The mood of this song and others in The Agent Intellect have that wonderful contrast in sounds making it a perfect album to listen to when you’re laying in your room, staring at the ceiling, thinking about life. Although The Agent Intellect lacks the interesting lyrics present in Protomartyr’s first two albums, it contains dreamy instrumentals that still tug on your heart strings. Let’s hope the band releases more chill jams and doesn’t follow their lyrical chant at the end of “Cowards Starve,” by “going out in style” with this album.
TV REVIEW
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Type of hippo 6 59-Down product 9 Color guard accessory 14 Child on TV for decades 15 Virgo preceder 16 “I’m here” 17 Hummingbird feature? 19 Enjoyed Vegas 20 Valley 21 Place to live in Spain 23 Sore feeling 24 Purported ancestor of Ragnar Lothbrok on TV’s “Vikings” 26 Foothills? 29 Crazy scene 30 Call-day link 31 Value 32 Did a cobbler’s job 34 Stain 37 Hot Wheels Volkswagen? 41 Hoedown move 42 Taking place 44 Is in store for 47 Pine product 49 Maker of the GreenSaver Produce Keeper 50 Potty-training tool? 53 Absolut rival 54 Explosive letters 55 Collector’s __ 56 Reveals in an unwelcome way 58 Naming 60 Mouthpiece for a Lilliputian horse? 64 Nursery supply 65 Psyche component 66 Hiding __ 67 No longer an item 68 Oversaw 69 Teamed (with)
In The Agent Intellect, singer Joe Casey has a voice that resembles moaning dialogues instead of actual singing, haunting the listener with each syllable. Casey holds a monotone voice throughout the album that reflects the feeling of giving up. In “Pontiac 87,” Casey states, “There’s no use in being sad about it/ What’s the point of crying about it?” to emphasize his passive tone in the songs and his most likely passive attitude towards life. Similarly to Protomartyr’s previous albums, religious and philosophical undertones are present in The Agent Intellect. The song “Feast of Stephen,” was inspired by the celebration of St. Stephen who was the first christian martyr (or “Protomartyr”). Coincidence? I think not. They also have a song named “Boyce or Boice,” which is the name of a demon that disrupts any electronic technology. But what is odd about Protomartyr is that the references aren’t metaphors to anything emotional or spiritual; they are quite literal. In “Boyce and Boice” there are lyrics that simply state, “Electronic malfunction/ The strange opinions from foreign lands,” and then it continues with words that I can’t make out and that don’t make any sense. Maybe I just don’t get the deep meaning to this song because I have never had an encounter with demons that mess up my computer, or maybe that deep meaning simply doesn’t exist. I guess it’s up to
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tered social commentary and a mellow, indie mood. As divorcee Valerie (Michaela Watkins “New Girl”) and her daughter B+ Lauren (Tara Lynne Barr, Casual “God Bless Series Premiere America”) move in with New episodes Valerie’s released directionless Wednesdays brother Alex Hulu (Tommy Dewey “The Mindy Project”), the trio half-heartedly takes on dating with warm humor and genuine acting. The pilot successfully sets up a premise with the potential to lead the characters in a multitude of directions as they tackle their personal lives in an unconventional setting. During a nasty divorce, Valeria and her daughter move in with Alex, who takes it upon himself to push Valerie back into the dating scene. The two singles tackle casual dating while Lauren, a rambunctious teen, explores her own romantic life under the same roof. Particularly refreshing is the pilot’s ability to bring comedy into serious and often taboo issues. The episode opens with a funeral scene, with the three leads passing unfiltered judgment on mourning family members. Commenting that the body in the casket looks low on embalming fluid, the characters reveal that the ceremony is held for none other than Valerie and Alex’s father. Turns out, the funeral was all a dream, but even in reality, this family has serious problems. The witty and mildly inappropriate remarks continue as themes of divorce and depression take form in the first episode, setting up darker tones to echo throughout the season. While the pilot wasn’t driven by plot or storylines, the characters’ candid honesty on life and love will be the reason “Casual” is worth sticking around for. In particular, the comedy’s no-filter approach to sex offers a fresh perspective on today’s increasingly popular online dating scene. Alex creates a Tinderesque platform called Snooger, even though he openly despises the superficiality of online dating. Unmerciful judgment ensues, making it easy to identify
with the characters and their alltoo-common dating mishaps. While the pilot didn’t have a clear direction in narrative, the story hinged upon the genuine relationships of the three leads. Undeniably close, brother-sister duo Alex and Valerie are what every sibling pair secretly wishes they could be. Blind dates at the same restaurant might be crossing the line for some, but these two need their best friend hiding out in the bathroom to gossip about the dates from hell. Alex’s unapologetically cynical view on love complements Valerie’s delicate confidence after her divorce, setting up a relatable and comedic outlet for the two to take on their single lives one casual hookup at a time. Now, add a sexually active teenager to the mix. Sporting a Polaroid logo T-shirt and lounging in a bedroom strung with Christmas lights and clothes-pinned pictures, Lauren’s version of casual is somewhat unexpected. On the pill since age 12, she clearly doesn’t shy away from public displays of affection and, without any parental backlash, the teen does whatever she pleases. The mother-daughter relationship is somewhat à la “Freaky Friday,” as therapist mother struggles to reign in her free-spirited daughter. Lauren adds an exciting energy to the otherwise subdued humor of the pilot, propelling the storyline to move forward with a connection to older and younger audiences alike. All living under the same roof, Valerie, Alex and Lauren have a natural chemistry that is beautifully captured by the cinematography. The muted tones and tilted angles give the episode an indie vibe, scored with mellow string music in the background. Closeup shots that highlight the subtle nuances in facial expressions and body language add an intimate feel to the comedy and make it easy to connect to the characters from the opening scene. While it won’t keep you on the edge of your seat, “Casual” has an easiness to it that is often undervalued in TV. It’s witty, with darker underlying themes that make it more personal than a raunchy sitcom. In a modern and offbeat family setting, this light comedy will remind the audience to not take themselves or life too seriously.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Beilein gives injury updates By JACOB GASE Daily Sports Editor
ROSEMONT, Ill. — When Michigan coach John Beilein arrived at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare for Big Ten Basketball Media Day, he picked up right on the same grim note he left off on last season: Answering questions about his players’ freak injuries. Senior guard Caris LeVert and junior guard Derrick Walton Jr. are finally back to full strength, Beilein said two weeks ago, but the same still can’t be said for junior forward Zak Irvin (back) and senior guard Spike Albrecht (hips), both of whom are recovering from offseason surgeries. Irvin had been suffering from “a few aches and pains” late in the summer before his back suddenly flared up in an open gym session, forcing him to undergo an MRI and ultimately go under the knife to correct the problem. Beilein declined to provide a medical term for Irvin’s injury, but he believes his starting forward will be ready to go soon. “We’re still on schedule for the beginning of the season,” Beilein said. “Hopefully in November, he will be back playing — that’s our hope. He’s going to begin (conditioning) this week. We have all the underwater treadmills and the different things, that (he is still) conditioning. Basketballwise, he’s shooting foul shots now.” Albrecht is much farther along on the road to recovery, but he still has been frequently spelled by junior Andrew Dakich to get extra rest during practice. “He’s progressing,” Beilein said. “I feel somewhere near the start of the season, he’ll be at 100 percent, but he’s not as limited as Zak is right now. He was absolutely shut down from April (to) August. He’s shooting the ball really well, and he’s seeing the floor really well, but right now, defense, ball-handling, all those things — (he’s) still trying
Friday, October 16, 2015 — 7A
WOMEN’S SOCCER
‘M’ squanders late lead at Wisconsin Wolverines give up three late goals in Big Ten road game By THERESA ROSS For the Daily
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Senior guard Spike Albrecht is progressing after offseason hip surgery and should be ready for the start of the season.
to catch up.” NEW RULES: One of the major challenges facing every college basketball coach this season is the NCAA’s recent rule changes, which include a 30-second shot clock and a rule that players, not coaches, must call live-ball timeouts. The Big Ten coaches expressed varying opinions on the NCAA’s decision. “I’m not sure I love the no-timeout deal,” said Nebraska coach Tim Miles. “There’s some of the timeout stuff I like, but at the same time, the no live-ball thing — it’s kind of our livelihood, so I think I’d prefer to have that control.” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo disagreed. “If it were up to me, if I was the Czar for the day, I’d try to get every rule like the NBA, personally,” he said. “I just think that we’d have a better working relationship. It would make sense to me.” Beilein, citing the fact that the live-ball timeout rules have changed on other occasions over the course of his career, seemed indifferent to the new rule.
“It’s not a big adjustment,” Beilein said. “The players are going to look at (me), I’m gonna say, ‘Call timeout,’ and they’re gonna call timeout.” RYAN’S FINAL SEASON: Apart from the rule changes, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan’s impending retirement was another hot topic among the coaches gathered in Rosemont. Some, like Maryland’s Mark Turgeon, were skeptical that the legendary coach would actually hang it up following the season. Others sounded practically excited to see him go. “I was very hopeful that he’d make that announcement,” Beilein joked. “If you look at our record against him, I was very hopeful.” He may be glad to be rid of Ryan, but Beilein had no shortage of praise for the Badgers’ coach. “He’s just a tremendous coach,” Beilein said, “But what I love is that he’s done it at the other levels that a lot of coaches don’t know about, and I know about. Those championships in Division III are so hard to do, and he wins those.
And then Wisconsin doesn’t know what it’s like not to go to the NCAA Tournament.” RIVALRY WEEK: The Big Ten coaches may have come to Chicago to talk basketball, but the events surrounding the Michigan-Michigan State football matchup this weekend had Tom Izzo’s mind wandering elsewhere. A year after the Diag’s block ‘M’ was painted green, the statue of Magic Johnson on Michigan State’s campus was discovered Thursday morning bearing a block ‘M’ and ‘BEAT STATE’ in maize spraypaint. “First, I’ve gotta say that this is rivalry week, and you’re not supposed to like your opponent,” Izzo said. “There’s a lot of great Michigan kids, but there’s some idiots. There’s some idiots on our side, too, that do crazy things. Messing with Sparty is a bad thing, like messing with their ‘M’ is a bad thing. But messing with Magic, that’s the worst thing. I’ll make sure that, from now on, maybe the basketball team will sleep (out there).”
The Wisconsin women’s soccer team came back from a twogoal deficit against Michigan on Thursday 2 MICHIGAN night in WISCONSIN 3 Madison, scoring three goals in the last 30 minutes for a 3-2 win. The Wolverines (5-2 Big Ten, 10-5 overall) and Badgers went into the game tied for second in the Big Ten. After a last-second Michigan win in the match a year ago, Wisconsin was eager for revenge. With the majority of the posession split between the two teams, Michigan put its focus toward offense, outshooting Wisconsin, 15-9. “The few chances they got, they put in the back of the net, and I think that was really the difference of the game,” said Michigan coach Greg Ryan. The Wolverines lost momentum in the second half after the Badgers scored their first goal in the 66th minute, when midfielder McKenna Meuer scored on a corner kick by midfielder Micaela Powers. In the last 10 minutes of the game, Wisconsin (6-1, 9-4) both equalized the score and took the lead. With 10:54 to go in the match, midfielder Kinley McNicoll answered a cross from forward Sydney McGinnis, which was followed by a goal just two minutes later from forward Nikki
Greenhalgh straight into the back corner past Michigan sophomore goalie Megan Hinz. The Wolverines allowed the Badgers a comeback after failing to capitalize on on opportunities in the second half. With six more shots than the Badgers, the Wolverines were left with many near-goal opportunities. “I honestly thought we dominated the second half and had multiple chances for goals number three, four and five,” Ryan said. Following a hat trick in Michigan’s 3-1 win over Illinois on Oct. 11, redshirt sophomore forward Ani Sarkisian scored the first goal of the game at the 25-minute mark. Sarkisian dribbled past five defenders and finished a shot just inside the 18-yard box, sliding the ball past Wisconsin goalie Caitlyn Clem. The Wolverines ended the first half with a 1-0 lead, outshooting the Badgers, 3-1. The Badgers’ first shot on goal was a header from midfielder Victoria Pickett that was called off based on a foul. Michigan junior midfielder Jessica Heifetz took advantage of a loose ball in the box after a corner kick, giving the Wolverines a 2-0 lead. With an assist from senior midfielder Christina Murillo, Heifetz was in the right place at the right time. The Wolverines face Minnesota on Sunday, followed by Purdue and Penn State. With the Big Ten Tournament starting Nov. 1, the Wolverines are looking forward to games against competitive conference foes. “I told the team tonight if we play as well as we did today, we’re gonna win the most of the rest of the games,” Ryan said. “I think the key is getting ready for Sunday.”
8A — Friday, October 16, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ce g a s of n
October 17, 2015: Michigan State
i o v e i Th h c Mi
2015 Schedule
Rivalry week is back, and at this point of the season, it couldn’t be bigger. College GameDay comes to town for Saturday’s matchup between No. 12 Michigan and No. 7 Michigan State. The Spartans have dominated the past two matchups, but the Wolverines are rolling into this year’s battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Winner gets the inside track to the Big Ten East title.
Max Cohen, Jake Lourim, Max Bultman and Zach Shaw
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 4 6
A breakdown of this year’s showdown between in-state rivals. Inside the hallowed radio booth where Jim Brandstatter and Dan Dierdorf carry on a tradition calling Michigan football games. Michigan can take another big step by winning back the rivalry series.
Utah (Sept. 3): Well, at least the mountains were cool?
Michigan State (Oct. 17): These teams play a week earlier than last year, which Mark Dantonio will take as a sign of blatant disrespect.
Oregon State (Sept. 12): Imagine how Jim Harbaugh would have freaked out if Michigan lost.
Minnesota (Oct. 31): Plot twist: Michigan plays Minnesota for the Little Orange Pumpkin.
UNLV (Sept. 19): More like Loss Vegas.
Rutgers (Nov. 7): Will Michigan fans storm the field if the Wolverines avenge last year’s loss in Piscataway? We hope not.
BYU (Sept. 26): The Mormons left Ann Arbor with more wives than points.
Indiana (Nov. 14): Boring state. Hopefully not a boring game.
Maryland (Oct. 3): The Terrapins turtled at Michigan’s stingy defense.
Penn State (Nov. 21): Christian Hackenberg could be a first-round pi — aaand, he just got sacked again.
Northwestern (Oct. 10): M380N.
Ohio State (Nov. 28): We wanted to make a joke, but the only one we could think of was, “Haha, your backup QB might win the Heisman.”
Cover illustration by Levi Kipke
STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers pick against the spread to predict scores for the top 25 and Big Ten in the 2015 football season. Penn State (+19) at No. 1 Ohio State
2
Jake Lourim
Max Cohen
Max Bultman
Coin Flip
Zach Shaw
Penn State
Ohio State
Penn State
Penn State
Penn State
West Virginia (+21.5) at No. 2 Baylor
Baylor
Baylor
No. 3 TCU (-20.5) at Iowa State
Iowa State
TCU
Baylor
Baylor
Baylor
TCU
Iowa State
TCU
Arizona State (+6.5) at No. 4 Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
Arizona State
Boston College (+15.5) at No. 5 Clemson No. 8 Florida (+7.5) at No. 6 LSU
Clemson
Clemson
Clemson
Clemson
Boston College
LSU
LSU
LSU
LSU
LSU
No. 7 Michigan St. (+7.5) at No. 12 Michigan
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan
Michigan State
No. 10 Alabama (-4) at No. 9 Texas A&M
Alabama
Alabama
Texas A&M
Alabama
Texas A&M
Louisville (+7.5) at No. 11 Florida State
Florida State
Florida State
Florida State
Florida State
Florida State
No. 13 Ole Miss (-10.5) at Memphis
Ole Miss
Ole Miss
Ole Miss
Memphis
Ole Miss
USC (+7) at No. 14 Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
USC
No. 18 UCLA (+6.5) at No. 15 Stanford
Stanford
UCLA
UCLA
UCLA
Stanford
No. 17 Iowa (-2) at No. 20 Northwestern
Northwestern
Northwestern
Northwestern
Iowa
Iowa
No. 19 Oklahoma (-4) at Kansas State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Kansas State
No. 21 Boise State (-9.5) at Utah State
Boise State
Boise State
Boise State
Boise State
Boise State
Eastern Michigan (+28.5) at No. 22 Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan
No. 24 Houston (-19.5) at Tulane
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Tulane
Purdue (+23.5) at Wisconsin
Purdue
Purdue
Purdue
Purdue
Purdue
Rutgers (+6.5) at Indiana
Indiana
Indiana
Indiana
Indiana
Rutgers
Nebraska (+2) at Minnesota
Nebraska
Nebraska
Minnesota
Nebraska
Nebraska
Oregon (+3) at Washington
Washington
Oregon
Oregon
Washington
Oregon
Pittsburgh (+3.5) at Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh
Virginia Tech (+4) at Miami
Miami
Miami
Miami
Miami
Virginia Tech
State News at The Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily
State News
Last week
14-12
16-10
15-11
14-12
N/A
Overall
66-63-3
66-63-3
70-59-3
63-66-3
N/A
FootballSaturday, October 17, 2015
Breakdown: ‘M’ vs. Michigan State By JAKE LOURIM
when the secondary does its best work and the blitz schemes create pressure. Much of the battle in the trenches depends on the health of Michigan State’s offensive line. The Wolverines, too, are shorthanded: They will play the first half without senior linebacker James Ross, who was ejected for targeting in the third quarter last week. Senior linebacker Allen Gant is listed behind Ross on the depth chart, so he could play until halftime, with fellow senior linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone already filling in for Ojemudia on the other side of the field.
Managing Sports Editor
The Michigan football team’s first rivalry week is here, and the Wolverines are in a position few thought they would be in before the season. No. 7 Michigan State (2-0 Big Ten, 6-0 overall) comes to town Saturday in a four-way tie for the Big Ten East and contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. But the real surprise has been Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 5-1 overall), which is also tied for first in the division and enters this weekend’s game as a 7.5-point favorite. Yes, much has changed since the Spartans rolled the Wolverines, 35-11, last season. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has turned his team around, and in many fans’ minds, last season’s game is a distant memory. The Wolverines can put it even further in the rearview mirror with a win Saturday. Here’s how the teams stack up:
Edge: Michigan Special teams
LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily
Junior running back De’Veon Smith could make an impact against Michigan State, which has stifled Michigan in recent years.
nature of the game Saturday. Michigan pass offense vs. Michigan State pass defense Michigan hasn’t needed to worry about its pass offense much lately, leading comfortably in each of its past five games. Perhaps that’s part of the reason that the Wolverines rank 97th nationally in passing offense with 189.2 yards per game — they have spent most of their fourth quarters milking the clock. This Saturday could be different (though the same appeared to be true when Brigham Young and Northwestern visited the Big House). The Spartans are Michigan’s third ranked opponent in four weeks, and they are also ranked the highest of the three. But their secondary also isn’t what it has been in the past. The Spartans, who lost safety Kurtis Drummond and cornerback Trae Waynes from last year’s unit, are allowing 242 passing yards per game (88th in the country) and struggle to get off the field on third downs. Last week, they allowed Rutgers’ Leonte Carroo to catch seven passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns. In recent years, Michigan State’s pass defense has locked down Michigan’s wide receivers, and the Wolverines have lacked a home-run component in their passing game so far. But even a big play or two could change the
Michigan State pass offense vs. Michigan pass defense
Edge: Michigan State Michigan rush offense vs. Michigan State rush defense The Spartans’ front seven has stifled Michigan’s running game the past two years, but this season, the Wolverines might have a remedy: junior running back De’Veon Smith. Smith has 390 yards in just five games — he missed the Maryland contest with an ankle injury — and has shown the power ability Michigan has sought in the past. Redshirt junior running back Drake Johnson has played a supporting role, as have the Wolverines’ blocking fullbacks and tight ends. The question Saturday will be whether that ability holds up against a Michigan State front led by fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun. Behind Calhoun, middle linebacker Riley Bullough leads the team with 55 tackles to go with three sacks. Former defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is gone, and the Spartans’ defense doesn’t quite have the same teeth this year, ranking 34th against the run. But with four seniors in the front seven, they have plenty of firepower to give Michigan problems. Edge: Michigan State
Michigan State’s key to the Paul Bunyan Trophy doesn’t usually include an aerial attack, but the Spartans don’t usually have a quarterback like Connor Cook. Their fifth-year senior quarterback is completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,344 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. And he’s 2-0 as a starter against Michigan, too. Cook throws to an experienced receiving corps, including senior Aaron Burbridge (570 yards, four touchdowns). The bigger issue might be protecting Cook, though. Two of Michigan State’s starting offensive linemen — left tackle Jack Conklin and center Jack Allen — are questionable for Saturday’s game, though the Wolverines are preparing as if they will play. If one or both of them can’t go, stopping Michigan’s fierce defensive line becomes that much tougher. Across the line of scrimmage, the Wolverines’ pass rush is rolling. Michigan sacked Northwestern four times last week and has made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks in five straight games. Despite losing sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Mone to injury before the season and senior defensive end Mario Ojemudia to injury against Maryland, the Wolverines haven’t
missed a beat. Their secondary doesn’t make life easy on opponents, either, ranking second in the nation in pass defense. Junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis stripped the ball away from a receiver last week en route to a 37-yard pick-six, and junior cornerback Channing Stribling should return from an injury opposite Lewis this week.
Michigan special teams coordinator John Baxter’s methods are beginning to pay off. The most explosive result came on last week’s opening kickoff, when redshirt junior wide receiver Jehu Chesson returned the kick 96 yards for a touchdown. But the dividends have come in other areas, too. Senior kicker Kenny Allen is now 7-for-9 on field goals and has also been good on kickoffs. Meanwhile, Michigan State’s Michael Geiger is just 5-for-9 on field goals. Edge: Michigan
Edge: Michigan Intangibles Michigan State rush offense vs. Michigan rush defense The Spartans haven’t yet established a feature back in their offense, instead splitting carries between running backs LJ Scott and Madre London. London injured his foot in the third quarter against Rutgers, and his status is also unknown. Between Scott, London and Gerald Holmes, Michigan State’s rushing attack ranks 67th in the country. Michigan, meanwhile, is just as stingy against the run as the pass. The Wolverines are allowing just 65.8 yards per game on the ground (third nationally), stopping even talented running backs such as Northwestern’s Justin Jackson. Their front is also a big reason for the defense’s No. 1 third-down defense. If Michigan can limit the opposition on first and second down, it creates difficult 3rd-and-long situations,
Both teams have avoided giving the other any bulletinboard material all week, knowing the energy it could incite on the other side of the rivalry. The vandalism of the Magic Johnson statue in East Lansing will rile up the Spartans a bit, and Michigan heads into the game as the favorite despite being far outmatched in the last two meetings. The Wolverines could find a reason for a chip on their shoulder, too: They have been outclassed for two straight years and have the pieces to do something about it this season. And the game is back in Ann Arbor after two years in East Lansing, so Michigan Stadium should provide a noticeable homefield advantage. Edge: Michigan Pick: Michigan 21, Michigan State 19
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
3
Jim Brandstatter, Dan Dierdorf carry on Michigan radio tradition By ZACH SHAW Daily Sports Editor
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Bob Ufer popularized Michigan radio broadcasts with his memorable calls for 37 years.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Dan Dierdorf was an All-American at Michigan before returning to work in the radio booth.
4
FootballSaturday — October 17, 2015
Dan Dierdorf, a man who had been paid to talk about football for three decades and had trekked hundreds of miles for Michigan’s 2014 opening bout with Appalachian State, was speechless — frozen in the moment. Below him, the band took the field, formed into its usual ‘M’ shape and rang in the 2014 season. The latesummer sun glistened off the musicians’ instruments during the welcoming fanfare of the Michigan Marching Band. With a slate as clean as the cloudless sky above and a new Michigan football season kicking off in mere minutes, it wasn’t long before the entire stadium burst with joy. It was a typical ritual, but Dierdorf was locked in — and silent. Behind him, Jim Brandstatter was taken aback. Brandstatter was doing last-minute preparations for his debut as the play-by-play voice of Michigan football. The new era of Michigan football broadcasting was beginning, and his partner, Dierdorf, was fixated on the festivities below. Surprising? Yes. Worrisome? Not to Brandstatter. “He didn’t say a word, just took it all in — he was enraptured,” Brandstatter said. “To watch him really swallow and take in that entire moment and that event, to me, was great fun, and I was so happy for him that he had that moment. And I got to watch him fall in love with Michigan.” To Brandstatter, that moment was, in a way, Dierdorf’s initiation. The newcomer had all the qualifications to be a color commentator: former Michigan player, former NFL player, Hall of Famer at both levels. Not to mention being a commentator on NFL’s Monday Night Football for 29 years. He had been to the mountaintop, but had only been to a half-dozen Michigan games since graduating in 1970. “I hadn’t been in a college environment in 43 years,” Dierdorf said. “When I saw the band come out, I just got lost in the moment. I knew what it was about, but I had forgotten what it felt like to be a part of it.” For 68 years, the voice of Michigan football belonged to just two people. Bob Ufer held the title from 194581 before passing the torch to Frank Beckmann until he retired in 2013. So when Brandstatter switched to play-by-play and Dierdorf came out of retirement to join him in the booth in 2014, both admitted they had a tough act to follow. But with nothing to lose and their careers almost over, the former teammates on Bo Schembechler’s first team are turning what could be seen as a victory lap into the third installment of one of the most important positions for the Michigan football team — its voice. ***
When Bob Ufer first began broadcasting Michigan football games for WPAG in 1945, it was in many ways a hobby. After playing for Michigan’s freshman football team, Ufer found his niche in track, even setting the world record in the 440-yard dash. To stay healthy, he had to leave football. But in broadcasting, he had a chance to return, and he made sure to make his comeback a memorable one. “Clearly, Ufer was the man — there wasn’t anybody in the same zip code as Bob Ufer,” Brandstatter said. “There’s no comparison to the unparalleled enthusiasm he had for Michigan football. Here was a guy out making a living at business and succeeding at it too, advocating himself for broadcasting, and he really made it his own, and when somebody does that, that’s a special thing.” Whether it was catchphrases, long-winded soliloquies of the sheer joy of Michigan football, or an exuberance that made General Patton’s Jeep horn — used after Michigan scores — seem tame on air, Ufer turned a tiring job into a performance. But it wasn’t just on game day. Ufer prepared for 363 consecutive Michigan games with a preparation that would rival what the teams playing on the field below put forth. Some days that meant using former assistant coach Jack Harbaugh’s film room to re-broadcast past games, others it meant scribbling notes about every player on 3-by-5 index cards — only 25 percent of which he would ever use. But every day, the passion for Michigan football was there. “There was universal respect for Bob Ufer,” said his son, Tom Ufer, who spotted for his father in the mid-70’s. “We’d go to away games and see other broadcasters preparing things he had memorized three days ago. I remember (famed sports writer) Joe Falls would joke that you could paint a block of wood black, and Dad would still be able to describe what was happening to it for four hours.” It helped, of course, that Michigan became the nation’s winningest program during Ufer’s 37-year run. Riding the highs of Crisler, Oosterbaan and Schembechler, Ufer was delectably biased, elevating Michigan fans with every big play and win. “Broadcasting to some degree was changing, and Bob never changed. It was all Michigan all the time,” Brandstatter said. “When he got up in front of a microphone, it was like someone turned on a switch and he became this conduit of history. It was as if the Bentley Library opened and came out from Bob Ufer’s mouth. From Fielding Yost to Bennie Oosterbaan, the entire history of Michigan football would bubble up within him, and he would put it together with such prose — it was a special talent. “You can’t emulate what he did.” Ufer’s unwavering energy carried from his college days until his dying days. After a battle with prostate cancer that lasted years, Ufer finally called it quits
following the Wolverines’ loss to Iowa on Oct. 17, 1981. He died nine days later. “I won’t say he became more than the game, but he was a part of the game,” Dierdorf said. “When you mention Michigan legends like Schembechler, Canham, Crisler, he has to be on the list. Michigan wasn’t the only school with a play-by-play guy that could do that, but you won’t find many that had the impact that he did.
I clapped, because that was such a beautifully done, big-play moment. “He had that spur-of-the-moment, special way of saying something that creates a splash that gave the play a little extra color.” So when Beckmann resigned after the 2013 season, Michigan was once again missing a member of its team and had to hold tryouts to replace a legend. ***
*** If Ufer made the broadcaster a part of the team, Frank Beckmann made the position one of a franchise player. A Hall of Fame broadcaster in his own right, Beckmann brought Michigan football games to the age of objectivity and information. But having to succeed both Ufer and famed Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, he knew better than to leave the legends behind. “Frank had his own way of creating a special moment,” said Brandstatter, who did color commentary next to Beckmann from 1984 to 2013. “Things that came out of his mouth, and they were all ad-lib type stuff, always gave the listener a memory.” It could be Denard Robinson’s shoelaces flapping in the wind, Rueben Riley laying the blade down or polishing off the Heisman and clearing space on the mantle for Charles Woodson after a late interception against Ohio State in 1997. Beckmann knew his listeners were the unfortunate ones who couldn’t be in the Big House, and he made sure to deliver the memories from inside it to the airwaves. “It was just beautiful the way he did it,” Brandstatter said of the Woodson call. “I was the color guy next to him just listening to it, and I didn’t even respond. I just stood back and
When Brandstatter speaks, shades of Ufer and Beckmann come out. At his weekly Inside Michigan Football show at Pizza House, he grips the table and bubbles with eagerness while players and coaches talk. During commercials, he’ll get the whole restaurant to wish patrons a happy birthday, and chat with anyone who will listen. Playing for former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler from 1969 to 1971 and broadcasting in the area practically ever since, Brandstatter has long felt like a member of the team, but never thought he would be the next voice of Michigan football. It wasn’t until the search for Beckmann’s replacement carried into January, 2014 that Brandstatter put his name in the hat. Like past coaching searches, the committee wanted a Michigan man, but there weren’t very many. Unsure when his future broadcast partner would be decided and remembering the playby-play bug he caught in the 1970s and 1980s, Brandstatter pulled up his only recent play-byplay tape — a 2003 Northwestern game when Beckmann was recovering from back surgery — and sent it in. With his longstanding ties to the program, it was all the committee needed. With Brandstatter making the switch, the
hole in the lineup shifted to the analyst, but this time, then-Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon had a target in mind. “I was done,” Dierdorf said. “I was retired and happy to be so. But (Brandon) called me up and congratulated me, then told me I was going to be broadcasting Michigan games. I said ‘No, I’m not. I’m retired.’ ” But Brandon, a former teammate and longtime friend of Dierdorf’s known for strong negotiation tactics, was persistent. After a slew of calls, the argument tipped in favor of Dierdorf making a weekly pilgrimage to Ann Arbor to join Brandstatter in the booth. Like Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh coming back from the peaks of the NFL, the connections at Michigan were too strong to pass up. “It’s a unique opportunity,” Dierdorf said. “I had no intention of working again, but I had known (Brandstatter) over 40 years and had nothing but fond memories of Michigan, so I said ‘Why not?’ ” Added Tom Ufer: “He’s the best color guy out there, especially for Michigan games. He’s been through it all, he knows it all and he loves Michigan. What more could you possibly ask for?” *** Coming from the Bo Schembechler school of humility, Brandstatter has trouble thinking of what his style of broadcasting is. But if one listens to the pair, it’s clear that the third set of voices of Michigan football is working. Eighteen games in, the two still have giddy conversations about football, successful Michigan teams and each other. Not every moment has been as cheeky as Michigan’s current three-game shutout streak, but with nothing to prove, any frustration goes out the
window as soon as they step into the booth. “Both of us are kind of where we want to be,” Brandstatter said. “We’re not interested in any jobs after this. A few decades ago, we might’ve been, but right now, we just want to deliver the memories of Michigan football to our listeners — whether they’re in the car, working in their backyard or whatever — and have fun doing it. It’s not rocket science.” Added Dierdorf: “When I was in the NFL, broadcasting was so much of a business. … I used to have to wear a suit and tie to every game. Now I wear a Michigan pullover and a Michigan baseball cap and talk football with my buddy. I don’t have an agenda, I’m just hanging with my buddy.” It doesn’t take long to feel the friendship. Whether it’s marveling over the Wolverines’ defensive line or bantering about missed assignments four decades ago, a broadcast can feel like you’re eavesdropping on a living-room tailgate. But while the two go back 45 years, they also have 60 years of broadcasting experience, and have been in the shoes of the players below. “They’ve worn the jocks,” Tom Ufer said. “And people notice that and respect that. When they say a play was good or an injury hurts, you really feel it.” With nothing left to prove or push for, it would be easy for the passion to fade. But this season, with plenty of parallels to the Schembechler era, there’s a special connection, as that year was the year both fell in love with Michigan, and both want to make that feeling possible for everyone. “It’s in my DNA. I can feel the big games and the big moments, and you don’t want to miss those,” Dierdorf said. “It doesn’t take much to get Jim up either. “It’s just who we are.” LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily
TheMichiganDaily — www.michigandaily.com
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‘M’ keeps even keel in rivalry Wolverines trying to treat Saturday like any other game By MAX COHEN Managing Sports Editor
As the No. 12 Michigan football team enters Saturday’s game against No. 7 Michigan State, it appears to be on the precipice of something Michigan St. special, a level of at Michigan success that has Matchup: not been seen in Michigan recent program State 6-0; history. Michigan 5-1 The When: Wolverines have Saturday rattled off five 3:30 P.M. straight wins, Where: the last three of Michigan which have been Stadium shutouts. The TV/Radio: national hype ESPN train has begun, and the praise for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has been effusive. Pundits are suddenly picking the Wolverines
to make some noise, and the fans are starting to believe. But one obstacle stands in the way of full-blown mania. The Spartans (2-0 Big Ten, 6-0 overall) haven’t won as convincingly as Michigan, but are a threatening opponent nonetheless. Michigan State has dominated the Wolverines (2-0, 5-1) by a combined score of 64-17 the last two years, but Michigan does not seem to care. Harbaugh dismissed all questions about the past at his weekly press conference Monday, and Michigan’s players largely did the same. Harbaugh and his assistant coaches have been staunch in their belief that if their team plays 100 percent every week, then it’s impossible to put extra emphasis on a rivalry game. “We’ve just been going about our business down there at Schembechler Hall, and I’m sure that there will be a lot of attempts made to make it … it’s already big,” Harbaugh said. “The game is big enough. Fair, healthy, honest competition with a heck of a good opponent. That’s enough.” The refrain about fair, healthy,
honest competition is one Harbaugh has often repeated this season. In his mind, the fact that a rival happens to be the opponent does not increase the competition. Before his first game for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch didn’t notice anything different about the atmosphere at Schembechler Hall. “There’s always an intensity in this building,” Fisch said Wednesday. “There’s a determination to win every game and play as hard as we possibly can. I haven’t seen much of a difference because of the fact that that would kind of go against our whole philosophy.” Defensive line coach Greg Mattison experienced the program’s former philosophy about rivalry weeks under Brady Hoke. Countdown clocks to rivalry games adorned the walls of Schembechler Hall, and there was
little question as to which games (Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State) were more important than the others. But with the arrival of the new staff, Mattison has changed, too. He believes the importance of rivalry games is inherent in their nature. “I think when you’re at Michigan you understand exactly … we’ve always talked about this, and they understand it already, that when you’re at Michigan, the expectations are very, very high,” Mattison said Wednesday. “Whoever you’re playing, that’s a big game because you have to play up to what’s expected as a Michigan football player, so I think they look at each game that way.” Mattison’s unit will be charged with rattling Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook, who has defeated the Wolverines in each of the past two seasons. Harbaugh
“The game is big enough. Fair, honest, healthy competition.”
said on multiple occasions this week that Cook’s record as a starter (29-3) stands out to him. The fifth-year senior has thrown 12 touchdowns and two interceptions so far this season. Michigan’s own fifth-year senior quarterback will also face an increased challenge this week. Jake Rudock has steadied after his three-interception showing at Utah, but defeating Michigan State could require a performance of another level. The Wolverines’ recent dominance has left the pressure off Michigan’s passing offense late in games. Rudock, his coaches say, is hard to faze. The Spartans will do their best to change that, but their success is no guarantee. Harbaugh has remained steadfast in his belief that Saturday’s game is just another one, a statement that could help his players after years of getting hyped up for the game before falling. But if the Wolverines win, the hype will continue to grow. And when Michigan plays Minnesota in two weeks, that, too, will be just another game. At least in Harbaugh’s eyes.
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will coach in the Michigan-Michigan State game for the first time on Saturday.
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FootballSaturday, October 17, 2015
Meet the men who guard the ‘M’ Theta Xi fraternity guards Diag block ‘M’ during MSU rivalry week By MAX BULTMAN Daily Sports Editor
The first thing they’ll tell you is that they aren’t technically supposed to talk to reporters. Then they’ll offer you a cookie. They sit on two couches, with three camping chairs adjacent, under a large tent in the center of the Diag. A white-and-sky-blue flag hangs from the north end of the tent with an orange unicorn in its center. There are three students sitting watch, for now, but more will arrive soon. It’s Tuesday night, and it’s cold out. A basketball hoop stands about 15 feet away, the front of its rim dented flat, but still usable to pass the time this week. From Sunday to Saturday, these students will sit, eat and pass time in and around this tent, waiting for a threat that may never come. These are the men who guard the ‘M’ in the center of the Diag from vandalism. Throughout the night, appreciative students passing by will shout their thanks. At 10:08 p.m., a student approaches the tent bearing a gift — more cookies. “That happens every once in a while,” says Brandon Lyons, a junior computer science major. It happens again around 10:35 p.m. Since 1999, Theta Xi fraternity has been in charge of protecting the Diag ‘M’ during Michigan State rivalry week. This year, Delta Phi Epsilon sorority has helped out during the day. Each member is required to spend eight hours throughout the week at the ‘M,’ with new pledges required to spend 18. There are six shifts available, and according to Lyons and Ben Lampert, a sophomore astronomy and astrophysics major, there has been no problem filling the shifts. As of Tuesday, Lyons estimates he has spent six hours on guard each night, and while the primary cause is to protect the ‘M,’ the two Greek houses are also raising money for multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis through a
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
All week, the Theta Xi fraternity brothers have camped out in the middle of the Diag to protect the block ‘M’ from being vandalized during Michigan State rivalry week.
GoFundMe page. Lyons and Lampert are friendly, but they aren’t allowed to talk freely about the weeklong project until the Theta Xi philanthropy chair, sophomore business student Alex Tarowsky, arrives. Lyons is studying for an exam he has to take Wednesday, and he just had one earlier Tuesday, too. But it hasn’t stopped him from spending large lumps of time on the Diag. He likes the bonding, and he is invested in protecting the ‘M.’ When Tarowsky arrives, the group can finally open up about the event. “(It) really just started with a bunch of guys just getting sick of Michigan State, just trashing the ‘M,’ so they decided to do something about it and turn it into a big event and a fundraiser,” Tarowsky said. Acts of vandalism between Michigan and Michigan State during rivalry week have become somewhat common. In recent years, Michigan fans have been suspected of defacing the Spartan statue in East Lansing, and sometime between Wednesday
night and Thursday morning, the Magic Johnson statue outside of Michigan State’s Breslin Center was vandalized. A yellow block ‘M’ was painted on the statue’s chest, and ‘Beat State’ was written on its base. Last year, the Diag ‘M’ was painted green, which Theta Xi says was the result of a “miscommunication” with the University — a “fluke” that won’t happen again. And by spending the week guarding the Diag, Theta Xi can reasonably assure that the ‘M’ will remain intact this year. To pass the time, brothers have done all kinds of things. They host events, including a free-throw shooting contest, cornhole and pie-a-Xi. They do homework — one pledge, Michael Lee, is working on a paper in which he applies Freudian psychology to German fairytales.
And, of course, they socialize. Tuesday night, they had a long dialogue about their favorite bathrooms in the house and planning how to get a TV to the Diag for the next night. And then there’s the free food. Pizza House and the Blue Leprechaun are sponsoring the event, and students bring them food throughout the week. They’ve gotten coffee, pizza and many, many cookies. At lunchtime on Tuesday, they said a walking burrito from Get Some Burritos brought them lunch. But all of this leaves one fairly substantial question. What happens if a would-be-vandal does show up? “We would do whatever we could to make sure this ‘M’ isn’t painted,” Tarowsky said. “We would push these couches over it. I guess we would probably call 911. We’re gonna get water guns. I
“I guess we would probably call 911. We’re gonna get water guns.”
don’t know why we didn’t do it yet, but we want to get water guns.” None of them were on the ‘M’ Sunday, but there is talk amongst them about some questionable activity. “There were some suspicious looking guys we saw camping around,” Tarowsky said. “One of them approached us and started asking questions you would expect, like, ‘How many of you guys are going to be here all the time? What hours? Do you guys ever leave?’ I wasn’t here at the time, but apparently he motioned to his friends to leave once he was done asking the questions.” Tarowsky eventually leaves the tent, and the night continues. Pledges show up for serenade practice and a large group of brothers plays basketball. Word has it that it’s someone’s birthday at midnight, and he’ll be spending it guarding the ‘M.’ It feels like a party already. By 3:31 a.m., four members remain at the tent. Three are awake, all on their laptops, and one is asleep. The fun has gone. They’re simply on duty.
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
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Behind Enemy Lines: Shilique Calhoun By MAX BULTMAN Daily Sports Editor
In his career at Michigan State, fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun has made a habit out of wreaking havoc in backfields and collecting hardware. He is a two-
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
time second-team All-American and the Big Ten’s 2013 Defensive Lineman of the Year. But in his final season in East Lansing, his former defensive coordinator, Pat Narduzzi, is no longer with him. Narduzzi left to become the head coach at Pittsburgh this year, leaving behind a defense that was consistently among the nation’s best. The Daily sat down with Calhoun at Big Ten Media days
in August for a discussion about Narduzzi, Jim Harbaugh and the NCAA. The Michigan Daily: What did you like about playing for Coach (Pat) Narduzzi, and what do you miss about it? Shilique Calhoun: I like the fact that Coach Narduzzi, you know, he never lets down. He’s always high-intensity. He’s going to be that crazy guy. He’s kind of like a fan. He’s a fan in a coach form. He wants to see you do better, he knows you can do better. He’s gonna tell you how much you should be doing better, and I think that’s exactly what I’ll miss about him. How wild he was, how crazy and how much in love with the game he was, and in love with us as players he was. But we have great coaches, Coach Tressel, Coach Burton, Coach Barnett, that are definitely going to step up and do a great job, and they’ve been doing a great job for so long. It wasn’t just Narduzzi, but I will miss him, because that is my guy. TMD: How different will the defense be without Narduzzi? SC: We’ll still be the same Spartan Dawgs. I mean, that’s who we are. Our coaching staff
does a great job of, you know — it was never a point where we felt like Coach Narduzzi was handling everything. Everyone had a hand in everything that we did. So there’s gonna be no need for picking up the slack. He’s irreplaceable because he’s Coach Narduzzi, but at the same time, he would have never left us in a terrible condition. He understands what we have, and he understands the potential that we have, and he understands the potential we have as players and coaches. So I know we’re going to have a great year. We’re still going to have that same swarmingto-the-ball defense, all green helmets on everything. That live sideline, he’s not gonna be coming down it this year in the fourth quarter, but somebody will. TMD: What do you think about all the attention on Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football the last six months? SC: No comment? I’ll leave it at that. No comment. TMD: The NCAA makes a point to say that student-athletes are treated the same as students, but the punishments are a lot harsher. How does that strike you?
“We’ll still be the same Spartan Dawgs. That’s who we are.”
SC: They’re harsher? I hadn’t noticed (laughs). No, I think because we’re in the public eye, and not only that, but (because) we’re stereotyped as role models so early on. Even straight out of high school, little kids look up to us. So I do understand why they do it and why it’s so harsh. But at the same time, I think the university should probably look at it as, we are still kids. 17-, 18-, 19-year old people coming out of high school, who ... we’re still learning. I’m a little older and a little wiser to know you can’t do (certain) things like that. But some guys are really young, and they don’t know any better. And of course they have to be taught a lesson, but I don’t think it should be as harsh sometimes. I don’t think, sometimes, that the hammer should be brought down on us, because we are just regular students. Even though we do play football, we are regular students also. TMD: Is it actually helping anyone to have those harsher punishments? SC: I think it does. I think for people who are moreso hardheaded. I think that it helps them realize that it doesn’t matter who you are — you’re going to be punished for what you’re doing. If you’re not doing the right thing, it’s going to be brought to the light, and you’re gonna, you know, reap what you sow.
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun has given Michigan problems in each of their last two matchups.
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FootballSaturday, October 17, 2015