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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Ann Arbor, Michigan

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MVP?

Since losing to Illinois in Champaign, Derrick Walton Jr. has increased his production and proved that Michigan may only go as far as he takes them.

» Page 7 GOVERNMENT

Community responds to new federal hiring freeze AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Students, faculty question intentions and consequences of executive order

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Susanne Baer participate in a discussion moderated by Michele Norris at the President’s Bicentennial Colloquium at Hill Auditorium on Monday.

Justices Sotomayor, Baer explore diversity, future of academia at ‘U’

Students, faculty fill Hill Auditorium for first of three bicenntennial colloquium MATT HARMON Daily Staff Writer

At a bicentennial colloquium kicking off a yearlong celebration of the University of Michigan’s history Monday morning, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor called out the

University’s historically low enrollment of African-American and minority students. “We are making large improvements towards a kind of equality but we are still far from it,” she said. “When you look at the number of African Americans at the University of Michigan, there’s a real problem

there.” As of October 2016, just under 5 percent of students are African American, according to the University Registrar. A dialogue between Sotomayor and German Justice Susanne Baer, moderated by journalist Michele Norris, packed Hill Auditorium with

more than 1,000 students, faculty and community members. The event— the first of three Presidential Bicentennial Colloquia sponsored by the University Bicentennial Committee—focused on diversity in the University community and how students See COLLOQUIUM, Page 3

CARLY RYAN

Daily Staff Writer

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last Monday that placed a hiring freeze on the federal government, with the exception of military, national security and public safety personnel. The two-page order, which was promised during his campaign as a part of his “Day One” agenda, is meant to cut government payrolls and ensure a more efficient government. According to Trump’s contract with the American voter, the freeze is among six measures meant to prevent corruption and special interest group

manipulation, a goal with which LSA junior Enrique Zalamea, president of University of Michigan’s chapter of College Republicans, agrees. “I support the federal hiring freeze, as I believe it’s a necessary step towards ‘draining the swamp’ of bureaucracy, special interest group collusion and corruption,” Zalamea said. At a news conference last Monday, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, said the freeze is meant to counter the expansion of the federal workforce. However, in 2016, the increase in federal workers was about one percent, and the number of executive branch employees hasn’t been this low See RESPONSE, Page 3

SACUA statement to support Schlissel’s CSG plans First day of expansion stance against Trump immigration ban City deer

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

CITY

of CAPS at town hall

Committee also hears from new VP for information technology, CSG representative

Second mental health town hall outlines availability of North Campus resources

The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs approved to write a statement on Monday to support University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel’s remarks defending international students in response to President Donald Trump’s executive orderpassed last weekend. The order banned immigration and travel from several Muslim-majority countries such as Syria and Somalia, resulting in multiple protests in Michigan and nationwide. The resolution was drafted by SACUA member Silke-Maria Weineck, professor of comparative literature and German studies. SACUA member Robert Ortega, associate professor of social work, explored the possibility of adding statistics about the number of foreign faculty and students to the statement in order to emphasize the prevalence of the international community, but later decided it was unnecessary, given the evidence of the community’s importance to the academic environment. “It’s incontrovertible that it’s a problem, not just with students, but we have faculty, we have families that are also experiencing some extreme angst,” he said. The resolution was passed unanimously. There was discussion regarding whether or not SACUA should

JORDYN BAKER For The Daily

The Central Student Government’s Mental Health Climate and Resources Task Force hosted its second town hall Monday night as a continuation of the first meeting held last Wednesday, this time discussing with students residing on North Campus. The goal of the meeting was to address the results of three surveys regarding mental health sent to the entire University of Michigan community last semester including students, faculty and staff. The surveys focused on resource innovation and classroom climate and found that 91.3 percent of the 1,000 students who responded to the survey have dealt with mental illness at some point while on campus. The town hall focused on the difficulties students face in finding mental health resources on North Campus. There are currently no branches of Counseling and Psychological Services available on North Campus, though CAPS does have counselors in the College of Engineering. Multiple organizations have stepped See CSG, Page 3

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EMILY MIILLER Daily Staff Writer

bring attention to the existence of a petition that calls for Trump to reconsider his immigration order, but there was no motion to extend that debate. Aside from the petition, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor has also spoken outagainst Trump’s ban on his Facebook page. “Trump and his supporters have polluted something beautiful — the honor of the United States

and its people,” Taylor wrote. “The world looking in, ourselves looking about us, we must now reasonably question the continued truth of that reputation. Are we in fact a decent and just people? Is the United States of America a force for good? Do we as a people have the courage to try to make the world a better place, or are we debilitated by weakness and fear?” In addition to endorsing the statement, SACUA heard

from Kelli Trosvig, University vice president for information technology, about her plans for her new position. Trosvig received a five-year appointment to the position of vice president for information technology on Nov. 14 of last year. Trosvig said moving forward at the University she has her concerns about the availability of anonymous patient data to health See SACUA, Page 3

HALEY MCLAUGHLIN/Daily

SACUA Chair Silke-Maria Weineck discusses the need for a Senate Assembly taht is representative of the entire university in the Fleming Building on March 7, 2016.

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INDEX

cull sparks Arb protest

Ann Arbor animal rights group leads march to Nichols Arboretum ISHI MORI

Daily Staff Reporter

Despite the January cold, about 20 Ann Arbor residents marched to Nichols Arboretum on Monday to protest the University of Michigan’s decision to allow a deer cull on campus. The culling officially started on Monday in various parks around Ann Arbor, including Nichols Arboretum. The march was organized by the Friends of Ann Arbor Wildlife in Nature, an animal rights group formed in opposition to the lethal deer management program the city of Ann Arbor has been pursuing since last year. LSA junior Aaron Brodkey, president of the Michigan Animal Respect Society, said he joined the march to oppose what he saw as wrongful human intervention in nature, and suggested the city explore non-lethal options. “Personally, I just think it’s maybe wrong or rash to make this decision,” Brodkey said. “I feel like we’re taking it into our own hands and playing God in this position and saying, ‘Hey, we need to massacre 100 deer for See CULL, Page 3

NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6

SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 SPORTS....................7

News

2 — Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ON THE DAILY: ART IS FREE AT THE UMMA The University of Michigan Museum of Art is making memberships free, according to an announcement made early Monday. The museum previously required a minimum $50 donation — $15 for UM students — for memberships, but continued to have free admission. Members receive a 20 percent discount at the UMMA store, invitations to upcoming events and exhibitions, a subscription to the UMMA magazine, a calendar and reciprocal admission to over 50 participating museums. Now, UMMA members who contribute $100 or more will receive reciprocal admissions to 853 North American museums and 12 Michigan museums. Instead of the $50 fee, UMMA encourages annual gifts

to the museum to help it extend its philosophy of inclusion and accessibility. A new grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan — a philanthropic organization aimed at making positive change — has made the free membership possible. “UMMA hopes to upend the notion that to be a stakeholder in the Museum’s future, you have to be a major donor,” said Carrie Throm, UMMA deputy director of Development and External Relations in a release. “UMMA belongs to the citizens of Michigan, the University, and — now, truly — everyone.” UMMA’s educational programs serve approximately 35,000 people annually, and the museum broke a record for hosting almost 250,000 visitors last year. Those who want to sign up for the free membership

program can do so online or at UMMA’s store on site. The free memberships do not expire. “UMMA is excited to offer free membership to everyone,” said UMMA Interim Director Kathryn Huss in the release.

Jana Wilbricht @Jana_Wil

“Our goal is to promote the discovery, contemplation and enjoyment of art, and to be accessible to everyone. We welcome more people to join us in that mission.” - CARLY RYAN

U of Michigan’s clocktower is playing John Lennon’s Imagine right now...

LUMINEERS IN DETROIT

Michigan Students @UMichStudents @CoachJim4UM Just informing you that I am *still* available to join you and the team for your trip to Rome. Slide into my DMs with details.

ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily Lumineers guitarist esley Schultz on stage during their Cleopatra World Tour stop at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday.

CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Engaged Scholarship and Academic Values

Lighting, Cameras, Action

“This Changes Everything” film screening and dicussion

WHAT: Hiram Fitzgerald, associate provost at MSU, will discuss the impact community engagment can have on productive citizenship. WHO: UM Center for Educational Outreach WHEN: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Michigan League, Henderson Room

WHAT: Postdoctoral fellow Tarryn Li-Min Chun will discuss the machinery responsible for revolutionary moments in 20thcentury Chinese theater WHO: Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m. WHERE: School of Social Work Building, Room 1636

WHAT: A free screening of the critically acclaimed followed by a panel with University professors WHO: The Institute for the Humanities and PitE WHEN: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Rackham Graduate School Amphitheatre

Give ‘Em What They Want

Drag Queen Bingo

2017 Water @ Michigan Workshop

Moving Image: Landscape

WHAT: Drag queens will play bingo with community members to raise money for the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. One card will cost $15 and playing the whole time will cost $35. WHO: University Charity Events WHEN: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Conor O’Neill’s Irish Restaurant

WHAT: This Water Center event will discuss water-based research on campus and explain future projects. WHO: Graham Sustainability Institute WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Palmer Commons, Forum Hall

WHAT: The landscape art of Jim Campbell, Antti Laitinen, Joanie Lemercier and Rick Silva will be exhibited at UMMA. WHO: University of Michigan Museum of Art WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: UMMA

WHAT: University Union student employees are invited learn about what career competencies employers desire and how to develop them. WHO: University Career Center WHEN: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: Michigan League, Conference Room 4

RACHEL WADDELL For The Daily

Civil rights activist Fred Korematsu was honored at a panelist dinner on Monday evening in South Hall. Since Korematsu’s death in 2005, several states have declared his birthday, Jan. 30, Fred Korematsu Day.

PEACEWEEK, NEW OUT, NEW JANUARY. ME.

puzzle by sudokusyndication.com

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Sotomayor said she continues to be vocal and refuses to allow people’s view of her to get in the way. “For most things I think are important, I say them and I say them because even if they don’t win in a particular case, I said them with a thought process of solution,” Sotomayor said. “I may not win tomorrow but down the line … the voices have been heard. A student in the audience asked Baer how public opinion intersects with her job as a justice. Baer responded with how justices should embrace public opinion in order to have a deeper understanding of the people they are representing. “If you’re acting with these people and start a discussion with what they expect from you, you come into much richer waters,” she said. “You can start a conversation.” LSA junior Stephen Mitchell said in contrast to what the public has been seeing from the Trump administration in terms of dialogue, Sotomayor and Baer showed the crowd how compromise will work in the years to come. “Hearing a different story of what’s going on in the world and the direction we’re headed as a university community too, I think that it’s a really empowering feeling,” Mitchell said. Art & Design freshman Gabriella Pascual said the justices’ ideals aligned with those of the students attending today. “Given that these people were agreeable toward the general outlook of the University, I think it helped incite a lot of inspiration and encouragement to go into this future with an optimistic outlook,” Pascual said. “It reminded me of why I’m here and what I’m looking to pursue in the legal force.” Both guests joined students from the School of Music, Theater and Dance in the evening for a series of performances and conversations on the importance of the arts to social justice.

SACUA From Page 1 care providers and researchers, especially in light of the possible revocation of former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Trosvig said the most important aspect of her position, especially concerning the interaction between IT and research, is constant review of the utility of programs. “You can’t say, ‘this is a great service’ and leave it,” Trosvig said. “You need to do assessments every two or three years, say ‘is this still cost effective? Is this still the same way we do it? Is this still the best way to do it?’ You need to continually assess your services.” Engineering sophomore AJ Ashman, senior policy advisor for Central Student Government, came to the meeting to talk about efforts to reduce textbook prices. Ashman presented information

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 — 3

RESPONSE From Page 1 since 1965. Despite worry from union members and veterans, Spicer said the freeze is ultimately to protect the working class. “Some people are working two, three jobs just to get by,” Spicer said. “And to see money get wasted in Washington on a job that is duplicative is insulting to the hard work that they do to pay their taxes.” LSA junior Taiwo Dosunmu, communications director of the University’s chapter of College Democrats, said in an email interview he agrees with the sentiment that Americans are hardworking, but he questioned whether or not Trump’s motives were really to protect them. “The vast majority of government employees and civil servants are talented and hardworking people who help government agencies run smoothly and effectively,” Dosunmu wrote. “President Trump, in contrast, has clear conflicts of interest and has nominated people to high government office that are beholden to Wall Street, oil companies, and other special interests. Even a week in, his administration is the embodiment of everything he falsely claims this executive order will help correct.” Individuals who have been hired but who have not yet started working could still be affected by the freeze. Although the freeze is scheduled to last 90 days, until Trump’s budget director recommends a long-term plan, LSA senior Dominic Russel now worries for his job at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Russel expected to start his job in July, well after the scheduled 90-day limit, but his employers are still unable guarantee the security of his job. “They sent out an email a day or so after the freeze saying that the legal team is going to look more into it,” Russel said. “I’m definitely hoping for the best, but I would like a more definitive response.” At risk of putting his position further in jeopardy, Russel

about his and the University libraries’ efforts and answered questions concerning library resources that attempt to alleviate a portion of the cost of college textbooks. One such resource that Ashman is working to expand is the University Library course reserves, which keeps course materials on reserves at the library for students to use in four-hour increments. Ashman said, according to research, about 30 percent of students often do not purchase textbooks for financial reasons, despite the impact that may have on their performance in the course. “Textbooks are a hidden cost of college, but they’re crucial to succeeding,” he said. “And if we’re going to be taking kids here who are socioeconomically of lower statuses, we’re not giving them that opportunity without the books to succeed in the class … We’re really pricing kids out of a quality education.”

declined to comment further on the broad effects of the freeze. LSA freshman Helena Harmon has also been feeling the effects of the constraints. Harmon has a family member who works for the federal government, and the Environmental Protection Agency media blackout has forced her family to operate with discretion, especially considering the agency’s attrition program. In addition to the stress felt by Harmon’s family caused by the hiring freeze, Harmon herself has goals that could be hindered by the precedence this legislation sets. “I want to work for nonprofits, so I want to work for an (nongovernmental organization),” Harmon said. “When I graduate in four years, if the administration doesn’t change its tone, I would have to look at the private sector.” Dosunmu also mentioned the private sector is a large part of freezes implemented by past administrations. “First of all, the history of past federal hiring freezes, like the one under President Reagan, shows they don’t actually help to manage the size of the federal workforce,” he wrote. “Additionally, it ends up making the government spend more — not less — money as they hire expensive contractors.” However, the private sector is affected by the hiring freeze as well. Trump wrote in his memorandum that contracting private sources to avoid the intent of the freeze is not permitted, a move Harmon found concerning. “This is just a step further to prevent any work, no matter how important it is, from happening,” she said. Additionally, Dosunmu wrote he believes the freeze will not be effective in shrinking the federal workforce and is hypocritical in light of the large federal projects Trump plans to undertake. “Trump’s hiring freeze is a tired old tactic of anti-government conservatives,” Dosunmu wrote. “Trump has returned to this tactic in an attempt to pander to Tea Party conservatives, while at the same time proposing policies like a wall with Mexico that would represent a massive increase in government spending and a clear waste of taxpayer money.”

Ashman also discussed efforts to incorporate programs similar to those at the University of Indiana, which include increased usage of online textbooks at a lower cost to students. He said these efforts represent the libraries’ efforts to be as relevant to students as possible, given the prevalence of technology. “We have all these books on the shelves, that’s great,” Ashman said. “But are students really using them and are we catering to those needs? They’re as eager as I am to make themselves more relevant to students today.” Ashman appealed to SACUA to help spread information about library resources to other faculty members and students. SACUA Chair William Schultz, professor of mechanical engineering, agreed, requesting specific documents of the resources Ashman had in order to disseminate the information more accurately.

Opinion

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

4 — Tuesday, January 31, 2017

ANU ROY-CHAUDHURY | COLUMN

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com

EMMA KINERY Editor in Chief

ANNA POLUMBO-LEVY and REBECCA TARNOPOL Editorial Page Editors

REBECCA LERNER Managing Editor

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Carolyn Ayaub Megan Burns Samantha Goldstein Caitlin Heenan Jeremy Kaplan

Max Lubell Alexis Megdanoff Madeline Nowicki Anna Polumbo-Levy Jason Rowland

Ali Safawi Kevin Sweitzer Rebecca Tarnopol Ashley Tjhung Stephanie Trierweiler

Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s Editorial Board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.

FROM THE DAILY

Standing with our students

ast Friday, Jan. 27, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring the immigration of people from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days, suspending most refugee resettlement for 120 days and indefinitely barring the resettlement of all eligible Syrian refugees in the United States. The affected countries include Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The controversial order has resulted in much backlash from various groups, including religious organizations, academics and tech companies. It has also stirred fear and uncertainty among Muslim and international communities. In response to this order, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel issued a statement emphasizing the University’s commitment to protecting all its students — both domestic and international — despite pressure from the federal government. The Michigan Daily Editorial Board commends the University’s prompt statement following the executive order and stands in solidarity with our University’s students and staff who are affected by this ban. We applaud Schlissel’s rapid and supportive response to the harm and worry our University community members may have experienced as a result of Trump’s action. The University’s statement reaffirmed its commitment to keeping students’ immigration statuses private and refused to partner campus police with immigration enforcement actions — with the exception of when absolutely required by law to do so. This is an important step in reassuring students that the University will stand with them in these uncertain times. Trump’s executive order indicates a larger problem with the goals of those leading our country. It is fundamentally unacceptable to ban a group of people from entering the United States based on their background. We should immediately be taken aback by Trump’s actions when considering where he stands on basic humanitarian grounds and also when thinking about the goals of our campus community.

It is our job, as students, staff and community members, to recognize our goals of creating a diverse and inclusive campus community and actively combat forces that work against them. Through the language of Schlissel’s statement, we see a clear indication of the University’s desire to maintain the international community that has characterized our campus since the 1800s, both on and beyond the physical boundaries of our campus. Banning any group of people from entering the country, especially refugees, will stunt efforts to diversify our University campus, making it harder to thrive in an international setting and severely marginalizing important voices in our community. We stand with all Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somali, Sudanese, Syrian and Yemeni students, refugees and undocumented students in our University community who are affected by this order. More broadly, we stand with members of the Muslim, Middle Eastern and North

African communities who may be fearful of future ramifications and legislation. Everyone on campus has the right to participate in higher education, free from fear, regardless of their racial, ethnic, national or religious background. Many University organizations have reached out to provide students with resources and support during these trying times. The following is a list of resources available for further information and support: · Support for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals · Student and Exchange Visitors Immigration System and Student Privacy · UM International Center · Counseling and Psychological Services · Pre-Departure Planning Tips from Global Michigan · Student Legal Services · Spectrum Center · Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center

ROLAND DAVIDSON | COLUMN

“T

Freedom from speech

his American Life” activists, like policing reform and recently broadcasted protecting our LGBTQ citizens. a piece on the However, this appropriation DeploraBall, an alt-right party of civil rights rhetoric happens in celebrating President much more nefarious Donald Trump’s ways. Controversial inauguration. At one public figure Milo point, Zoe Chace, Yiannopoulos’ book “This American Life” “Dangerous” is producer, begins advertised in Amazon’s questioning an attendee censorship section, next about why they retweet to activists who have David Duke, former been imprisoned by Imperial Wizard of the oppressive regimes for Ku Klux Klan, despite their anti-totalitarian ROLAND claiming to disagree writings. What has DAVIDSON Yiannopoulos sacrificed with what he says. One answer came up again and again. for his beliefs? Well, he’s been banned To the attendees, Duke is a troll. He from Twitter after helping launch a doesn’t actually believe that Jewish racist harassment campaign against people secretly control the global “Ghostbusters” actor Leslie Jones. government or that all Mexicans Yiannopoulos’ understanding should be deported. He just wants of Twitter bans is best expressed to rile people up. It’s a comment on in this tweet: “Easiest way to freedom of speech. Duke is really get banned on Twitter: criticise fighting against the boogeyman of or ridicule feminism or Black political correctness. Lives Matter. This is political.” I think there are many factors Obviously, people should have the at play here. Our nation’s failure right to critique those movements, to have a continuous conversation and societies have often benefited on civil rights since the 1960s has from gadflies who relentlessly helped create an environment question that which we hold where racism is seen as a relic sacred. But Yiannopoulos has and racist sentiments are only no interest in that. He wants to expressed ironically. Additionally, destroy individuals with whom he communities have become disagrees. Yiannopoulos is a bully increasingly segregated so these and it’s easy to stand up to one people can’t put a face to their bully but not hundreds of faceless rhetoric. But, more importantly, it’s Twitter accounts. emblematic of the way that people This anti-democratic tendency to on the far right have co-opted civil use freedom of speech, and Twitter rights discourse to their own ends. in particular, as a cudgel against At times, this has been explicit. Sen. political opponents is epitomized by Ted Cruz (R–Texas) once claimed Trump. One of the most disturbing that school choice is the “civil rights things on the campaign trail last issue of the 21st century.” It goes year was when Trump was asked without saying that he’s actively a tough question at a town hall opposed issues supported by actual meeting by a private citizen, Lauren

Batchelder, and he chose to retaliate by erroneously claiming she was a plant by the Jeb Bush campaign. Afterward, throngs of Trump supporters dug up Batchelder’s personal contact information, a tactic known as “doxing.” She received death threats daily. To people truly concerned about freedom of speech, this should be extremely worrying. People are going to have second thoughts about publicly disagreeing with our president and members of the alt-right after seeing this terrifying troll fusillade. As the saying goes, your freedoms end where another’s begin. Harassment is not protected by the First Amendment, and it presents a threat to our democracy by making people feel physically unsafe expressing their political opinions. I’m not calling for our entire society to become a safe space or for weaker protections of freedom of speech; I’m calling for the ones that exist to be enforced. More than any other pillar of political rights, freedom of speech has been hijacked by figures such as Yiannopoulos. By framing their actions as an attack on political correctness, they find an audience far beyond their white nationalist clique. All rights have limits and speech is no exception. However, society will only reject odious hate speech once it understands that these “provocateurs” are anything but. Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and revealing the true nature of the alt-right’s hate speech is the best way to undermine its claims as the vanguard of freedom of speech. Roland Davidson can be reached at mhenryda@umich.edu.

Knowledge is power

y dad has a saying denouncing DeVos’s involvement he used to preach to in Detroit’s public school system me and my brothers: and the danger of her policy “Knowledge is power.” tactics on improving Often shortened to public education postthe acronym “KIP,” nomination. I echo every repetition of these sentiments, and the phrase invited as a product of the an annoyed look and public school system, eye roll from me. Yet, I echo them fervently. as I grew older and Betsy DeVos has realized my father long been an ardent wasn’t as clueless supporter of privatizing as my seven-yeareducation in the form ANU ROYold self thought him CHAUDHURY of charter schools to be, I began to and vouchers. Her experience the true importance approach to education is one and relevance of what he meant. that focuses on public school I went to a public school in alternatives, instead of public suburban Cincinnati, and because schools themselves. DeVos of the three lines of my address, it has financially supported and happened to be a highly-funded pioneered numerous school one, dubbed a “good” public choice ventures, including school. Because of property lobbying groups and voucher taxes and a legacy of supporting programs. But her approach teachers, the district I grew up to education reform, like the in was a true testament to the approaches of many others, is power of public education. There ignoring a vital component of was diversity in every shape and education — teachers. form: socioeconomic status, I attended a great public race, background, interests, etc. school, but what made my Passing our city’s levy was never education powerful was the an issue and funding to the quality of teaching I had along arts, though arguably less than the way. Education reform sports, was still significant. Our has been focused on relieving graduation rate never faltered inequality through funding and below 90 percent, and test the wages of teachers, but always scores were always at or above seems to disregard inequality average. My high school, in in teaching quality. DeVos’s short, was the epitome of a support of privatization is taking quality public education. a political and financial stance My school district provided on reform but ignoring other me with experiences that I could vital parts of education policy: talk about on my college essays, the men and women at the front allowing me to directly answer the of the classroom. common and overused question The number of students of how I participated in activities enrolled in public schools is set “both inside and outside the to increase by 3 percent to 51.4 classroom.” I had the opportunity million students in 2025. The to get involved in numerous sports National Center for Education teams and arts programs while at Statistics shows individual the same time taking AP classes state enrollment is projected to and cultivating a passion for increase by even more. Granted, learning. I was subsequently able some states will see a lowering to apply to and attend a prestigious in enrollment, but the general university and continue my trend shows a shift toward an education in the hopes of pursuing increased number of students a career of my choice. in public schools. This growing My education story may be number of students in public similar to your own, but for many education means the vital and others, education is plagued impactful student-teacher with inequality. The disparity in interactions will increase. While the public school system makes DeVos sees school choice in the education no longer a strength form of charter schools and for the future but a liability, vouchers as a way to mitigate and Betsy DeVos’s pending inequality in education, her confirmation as the Secretary of aversion to improving the Education is not a remedy for the fundamental problems of public situation, but an aggravator. schools is detrimental. The Daily published Instead of facing the everyday an editorial last semester issues of public schools,

particularly those in inner-city districts, the nominee has a track record of pouring billions of dollars into alternative educational systems. But now isn’t the time to jump ship, even if the ship is leaky. No, now is the time to patch it up. However, with a captain like DeVos, abandoning ship seems more her style. The broadcasted confirmation hearing proved her lack of experience in the field of education. I, myself, and many of you, have more experience when it comes to public education than the woman who has been nominated to reform the system. Yet, regardless of who is leading reform, the quality of teachers has never been a focused component of policy. Monetary funding is a policy lever that is sure to alleviate those failing public schools, but improving teacher preparation programs could do so as well. What I learned through my education was powerful, yet much of the power came from the interactions I had with my teachers. Each one, regardless of whether I conventionally liked them or not, was qualified and driven in what they did. The downward death spiral of public schools in inner cities begins when the most unqualified teachers are hired at schools because of underemployment. Unlike, say, medical school, teacher preparation programs are not uniform. There is a lack of thorough standardization between programs, resulting in some of the teaching force being underprepared for the classroom. A recent Department of Education initiative stressed the idea of improving teacher preparation as a gateway to improving student achievement. A policy that looks beyond simply increasing funding but also at the teachers we are putting in classrooms is one that could have dramatic effects. While DeVos’s nomination is a fundamental threat to public schools, at a deeper level it is a threat to empowering all American students with knowledge. As my dad would say, “knowledge is power,” and by disregarding the power a good public school can have and further abandoning improvement of the traditional system altogether, DeVos’s policy approach will make education a weakness. Anu Roy-Chaudhury can be reached at anuroy@umich.edu.

CHRIS CROWDER | COLUMN

Research your news feeds

ait, President Donald without digging in a little deeper Trump didn’t just to see if they’re actually facts. In use a quote from some news cycles, there’s more “Bee Movie” in his emphasis on having inauguration speech, the scoop instead of did he? Barry B. getting it completely Benson, one of the bees right. I almost fell for in the Bee Movie, and them myself, but did the president’s images a little more research were side by side because I’ve been with a supposed “Bee bamboozled before. Movie” quote below: The overwhelming “We are one colony — presence of fake and their pain is our news in our society CHRIS pain. Their dreams are is destroying the CROWDER reputability our dreams; and their and success will be our the prestige of the success. We share one heart, one journalism profession. For hive, and one glorious destiny.” It example, Sean Spicer, White looked like Trump just replaced House press secretary, can claim the word “colony” with “nation” that Trump’s inauguration was and “hive” with “home.” No, this the most watched in person and was a complete hoax. on television, when the most Around the same time, there viewed in person title belongs to was an uproar of a dog being put former President Barack Obama in rushing water on the set of and the most television viewers the film, “A Dog’s Purpose.” The belongs again to Obama, shortly dog was seen being put in the followed by former President water by a trainer, and it looked Ronald Reagan. Yes, Reagan like the dog was uncomfortable. didn’t have streaming sites like Later, we see the dog swimming Facebook and YouTube, but the in the water. But it turns out that numbers for Trump’s statistics the clips were cut and from two on those sites haven’t even been totally different time periods. released in full yet. How can you The video was shot over a year make such a claim by ballparking ago and is just now (right before and without concrete data? the movie’s premiere) being Both sides of the political brought into the spotlight. spectrum can take a hit when the Claims of animal cruelty were opposing side takes a claim from deemed false because the trainer someone in power as truth when was just trying to acclimate the it’s really an “alternative fact.” dog to the water, and the trainer It’s disheartening and downright didn’t put him in the water that infuriating because some people day. The clip of the dog in the aren’t willing to do the research, water was from later during and even if they did, might not the filming when the dog was be persuaded to think differently actually comfortable. once they saw the truth. Both Many people shared these two members of the left and right can “stories” before the truth came be guilty of this, and it’s damaging out and believed them as real. to social and political progress. It isn’t their own fault. Many When fake news or false journalists and other people want reports accuse someone like to get their two cents in first, Trump, it just gives him and

everyone on his side more fuel power. Seriously, what were people going to think when Buzzfeed released an exposé about Trump’s alleged long-time ties to Russia when the intel isn’t even confirmed? Trump and Tomi Lahren, a conservative political commentator, will rightfully exclaim that the news is fake (even though they have said this about accurate stories as well). Those claims are true because it just isn’t right to make a false claim. Doing that lessens the power of the actual truth. Whomever is accused can deem it to be fake, and most who have their back will blindly follow their lead. The integrity of news is at stake. There are so many sites at our disposal that sometimes it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction. I believe publications such as Vox and The New York Times do an excellent job of thoughtful and in-depth reporting, but it takes one site and one wrong story going big to lower the trustworthiness of a legitimate story in someone’s eyes. As citizens of the United States, with freedom of the press as an amendment in our Constitution, we deserve nothing but honest news. And we have a responsibility to do extra research on whatever stories we read, especially when they involve an arena as important as politics. It’s tougher now to determine when stories are true from looking at just one source (especially if it doesn’t have a history for being reputable). Do your research thoroughly and inform others if they don’t have their facts straight. Read more than the headline. Everything is not what it seems. Chris Crowder can be reached at ccrowd@umich.edu.

Arts

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

GENDER & MEDIA COLUMN

ALBUM REVIEW

Questions raised by signs

Sal DiGioia/MICHIGAN DAILY

It’s for Detroit: Big Sean’s intimate listening party At Detroit’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Writer Sal DiGioa witnessed the sonic surrealness of Big Sean’s latest SALVATORE DIGIOIA Daily Arts Writer

“I hope you take some inspiration from it and I hope you like it. We about to get this shit poppin’.” Those were some of the last words before Big Sean premiered his fourth studio album, I Decided., on Sunday night among friends, family and some limited press at the Museum of Contemporary Art in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Despite having been born in California, the twenty-eight year-old emcee went on to explain that, in reality, he “spent [his] entire life in Detroit,” reminding the small crowd of the names of his old streets and schools. He affirmed: “Anytime you see me on Jimmy Fallon, or Saturday Night Live, or anywhere,” it’s for the city. “This is my fourth studio album: I Decided.,” he concluded. Then it began. *** Apparently, Big Sean has never before been allowed to premiere one of his albums in Detroit, as record labels favor bigger marketplaces (think New

As far as the whole Detroit thing goes, Sean has already done almost everything but run for mayor. York and Los Angeles), a fact that added extra weight to the live debut of his newest lyrical nods at the city, the first of which appear no longer than thirty seconds into his first verse. After a tense intro featuring a seasoned male voice boasting about having worked the same job for 45 years, Sean raps over rich, moody keys, with his voice as the only percussion on the beggining of “Light (Ft. Jeremih).” He eventually arrives at a heartfelt hook (“Even if you take away my life / They can’t take away my light”) and, finally, an iconic grin at his family members (“Got the whole city on fire / This the flow that finna have my whole family retire”), many of whom happened to be present in the room. The third track on the album is “Bounce Back,” and Sean added a more localized flair to the song by cooly announcing, “Detroit’s gonna bounce back!” The salute was warmly received, and it acted as a seamless transition into the fourth song, which is guaranteed to become a staple Detroit anthem. “No Favors,” which features Detroit-native and rap legend Eminem, turned the room up to another level and even inspired someone in the crowd to yell out, twice: “The

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 — 5

whole city been waiting on that!” Me,” during which Sean walked The fifth song, “Jump Out The across the room to seek out his Window,” is bouncy, so Big Sean mother, then proceeded to rap started walking around the room the lyrics to her. — shifting the crowd’s attention The thirteenth song, away from the carefully- “Sacrifices (ft. Migos)” is illuminated area where he had positively guaranteed to be rapped the first a monster hit. few tracks aside an I wrote that artificial tree — and assumption down greeted attendees, immediately, as most of whom he soon as I heard seemed genuinely its explosive Big Sean personally excited drums and the Release Date: to see. He wore all intensity in Big February 3rd black, including a Sean’s voice. But blacked out Detroit once Offset came Def Jam Tigers cap and a in, first teasing discretely branded fans with his I Decided. hoodie. But three famous ad-lib, then delivering diamond Michigan mittens, a quintessentially charismatic dangling from his neck and verse before, inevitably, passing decorated in different shades of the microphone to his bandmate gold, brightened up his entire Quavo, the radio potential for this ensemble. deep cut multiplied immensely. Next up was “Moves,” and And finally, the closer, once again the room became “Bigger Than Me.” It features a full-fledged party. People a meditative, reflective, were crowding around Sean, monologue-like verse in which obviously, but the energy was still Sean reminisces about growing more intimate and recreational up in Detroit, going out to see the than business-fueled. When the world and, eventually, returning album’s singles — which were home as an older, wiser man. released beforehand and have “That’s when I realized, shit’s already turned into monstrous bigger than me,” he admits, hits — came on, the room became expressing his spirituality particularly excited as attendees through the chillingly real rapped every single word, myself confession: “God talking to me included. telepathically, like it only happen “This is my favorite song on if you let it.” Maybe that’s what the album,” Big Sean whispered Big Sean Decided. to me and a few other fortunate Eventually, the collective journalists standing beside him voices of the Chozen Choir from as the seventh song, “Same Time Flint, Michigan arrived, adding Pt. 1 (Ft. TWENTY88),” which purely childish ambition to the includes lines about someone track. But even this inspiring acting “out of line,” queued up. feature doesn’t distract from Trapped in complete awe as he the album’s emotional grand spat, it looked as if he was still, finale: a voice recording I expect even at the debut of his fourth belongs to Sean’s mother. In album, nervous everything could the final moments of I Decided., all go wrong on any note. It never Myra Anderson tells her son she did, but Sean writes, performs loves him, and expressing her and lives like it might. It’s what pride before concluding with a keeps him grounded, humble humanizing anecdote. All of the and, above all else, driven. That above things are still true, she attitude is stamped all over I says, “even when you do stupid Decided. things that I warned you about…” “Halfway Off the Balcony,” *** the heartfelt third single off In his short speech following the album, came next. When it the premiere, Sean called it, ended, a slow, eerie, bass-heavy “By far my best album,” and beat came on, and Sean began then again emphasized his rapping along, building around unswerving loyalty to Detroit, the motivated, conscious hook: noting: “There’s not a lot of “Voices in my head saying I can people in my position, so I’ll keep do it better / Voices in my head kicking down doors.” saying better do it better.” On He is dead serious. On first first listen, the track, “Voices In listen, I Decided. comes across My Head,” somewhat parallels as his most finely-tuned, “Deep (feat. Lil Wayne)” from thematically cohesive project Sean’s third album, Dark Sky yet. Its tracks bear the wisdom Paradise. and maturity of an aging, well“Stick to the player hatin’!” experienced man, but still prove warns Sean later on the song. On unwilling to sacrifice energy and the tracklist, there appear to be hunger. two parts — “Voices In My Head As far as the whole Detroit / Stick To The Plan” — and the thing goes — Sean has already latter half has a turnt-up, trap- done almost everything but run like beat led by long, thick bass for mayor. He has been vocally kicks. Though it acts as the most representing it for years with telling predictor of the rowdy localized slang, and even named surprise to come moments later, his critically-acclaimed mixtape its debut was particularly unique, from 2012, Detroit, after the city. as it is placed right before “Sunday Now, Big Sean finally premiers Morning Jetpack,” a thankful, a studio album in his hometown. even spiritual, reflection that Michiganders can return the Big Sean premiered on “Saturday favor by listening to I Decided., Night Live,” and the hyper- out this Friday. personal twelfth track, “Inspire

I Decided.

On January 21st, millions marched. They marched specifically against Donald Trump’s behavior, rhetoric and inauguration, and marched in solidarity around the globe against the treatment of women worldwide. The march aimed to be as intersectional as possible, marching not just to bring light to the struggles of “women” as a single category but to acknowledge that different women face different struggles. Some think this was more successful than others; I’ve been trying to listen to what others have to say about it. I’ve seen a lot of people struggling with what they saw as a focus on the celebration of “womanhood.” Many felt that some of the popular signs featuring images, cartoons or language around female reproductive organs or primary sex characteristics — not to mention the pink hats — were alienating to the trans women who showed up to march. Much of the coverage of the marches addressed how centering this kind of imagery and rhetoric catered exclusively to cis women. For anyone who doesn’t know, the definition of cisgender (according to Merriam-Webster) is: “relating to, or being a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth.” Transgender people face issues that cisgender people do not. Cisgender people don’t have to worry they won’t be allowed to use the bathroom they feel most comfortable using, or have people argue with them about what their “real” name is or face insistent questioning of what’s under their clothes or worry about being misgendered or scroll through a category on Netflix and not see any movies that represent them and their experiences. These are just a few I know, but the list goes on and on — and there are plenty of lists and personal narratives out there written by transgender people who have faced discrimination based on their gender identity firsthand. From what I could see, there were two conflations in both the rhetoric around the march and the criticism of it afterwards that were getting in the way of productive conversations. The first is a distinction which has only recently trickled into common knowledge, and that many people haven’t come across in an academic setting because we don’t teach anything about it until college (at least in my experience): the conflation of sex and gender. A quick, simplistic crash course for those who haven’t

encountered this idea: Sex is what one is assigned at birth based on genitalia and reproductive organs, either male and female. Gender is the social construct built around sex: boy and girl, man and woman. The concept that gender is a social construct — that there is nothing inherent to “womanhood” or “manhood” can be flooring the first time one learns about it, and still hasn’t quite reached public acceptance. The second conflation I saw was of the privilege of cisgender women and having a female body. I think that cisgender privilege is often just named in a list with other privileges, and not actually examined enough on its own. I think that’s led to some not understanding that the privilege ciswomen have is not actually related to inhabiting a female body; in this case, having female genitalia

SOPHIA KAUFMAN and female primary and secondary sex characteristics has never been a privileged identity. They have always been abused and harshly regulated, from the history of sterilization of indigenous women and “corrective” rape of queer women, to the disbelief of the female orgasm and the marketing of douching for “freshness” or “cleanliness,” to the inaccessibility and harsh restriction of birth control, to the ancient societal importance placed on virginity tied to hymens and the perpetuation of rape culture. The list goes on and on. In a lot of spaces, talking about the pain and struggle that comes along with owning a uterus or vagina is still taboo — for example, former Rep. Lisa Brown (D – West Bloomfield) was barred from speaking after she used the word “vagina” in a discussion about abortion. That was in 2012. A few days ago, Trump reinstated the “global gag rule,” making accurate and informed family planning aid (specifically abortion) to other countries incredibly difficult. There were examples of internalized misogyny even at the women’s march; I saw one sign at the Ann Arbor march that read: “I

may have one, but I’m no pussy.” I don’t even know where to begin with it. A lot of these issues don’t occur to those who don’t struggle with them on a daily basis. When I was in high school, I was involved in my school’s “midnight runs,” Friday nights spent driving all over New York City to give food, clothes and toiletries to homeless people on the streets. We collected donations from students beforehand — toothpaste, deodorant, soap and shampoo. The one thing that most of the homeless women asked for first was tampons and pads, which we never had. It just wasn’t something people thought to donate — which was especially interesting considering it was an all-girls school. New York only stopped taxing menstrual products last year. Signs at the women’s marches that had pictures of uteruses or vaginas weren’t inherently trans exclusive. They were in direct response to not only several of youknow-who’s comments about and lack of respect towards women, most infamously, his “grab them by the p——y” comment. There were signs at the march that were trans exclusionary — “the future is female,” sign, or “no uterus, no opinion,” — but they were more than that, for anything that reifies the conflation between sex and gender is dangerous and counterproductive. These signs should not be seen as celebrating these symbols as inherent to womanhood, but rather a way to reclaim the space and time needed to fix the issues faced by those who have them. I don’t think the solution would’ve been to not have those signs; these things can’t be taken out of the national conversation. Rather, there should have been more signs about the issues that transgender people, both transgender men and women, face. The conversation needs to be broadened and amplified, and the conversation around cisgender privilege more focused so as to eliminate the confusion. There is nothing inherent to “womanhood.” The term itself is dubious. Sometimes it seems like the only thing that all women have in common is some level of oppression, no matter how complicated or tiered. I guess that’s part of the reason, beyond its inherent conflation, that I cringe a little inside whenever I see signs saying “the future is female.” I can’t help but think to myself, based on how “female” is treated still — God, I hope not.

STYLE REVIEW

VALENTINO

Valentino’s Piccioli returns to roots for first solo couture collection Drawing from Greco-Roman stlyes, recent collections proves radiant TESS TOBIN

Daily Arts Writer

Valentino’s Spring 2017 Couture show marked the first collection for Pierpaolo Piccioli post-departure from his 25-year-long co-designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri. He turned to mythology for inspiration. The result? A collection shaped around Greek goddesses. Using Greek goddesses as a source of inspiration is far from novel. Countless collections have called upon the Greek muses as a basis for their aesthetic. However, for a defining collection from a very Italian designer of a very Italian brand, this was not only a strategic choice but an effortless fit. Recently, the landscape of haute couture has been marked by great volatility — the head designers play a complex game of musical chairs,

hopping from fashion house to fashion house. As the designers fluctuate, so too do the core complexions of the brands. By basing his collection on goddesses, Piccioli was making a declaration that he does not intend to digress from the ethereal femininity that Valentino has championed for the past several decades. Ultimately, it is not the inspiration that delineates a collection but rather the designer’s execution. Piccioli pledged himself to his celestial inspiration, naming every look after legitimate Greek mythological figures and incorporating details from their narratives into the individual pieces. The result — a collection that was radiant and surprisingly intellectual. Look 45: Titled Pasithea, one of the Graces. Daughter of Zeus and wife of Hypnos, Pasithea

was the goddess of relaxation and meditation. This manifests in the dress’ elegant simplicity, a comparatively relaxed dress in conjunction with the more ornate looks. Look 47: Named Pandora, after the famous first human. Infamous for her accidental introduction of evil into the world, Piccioli opted for a literal interpretation of his inspiration, Pandora herself is hand-embroidered on the left side of the garment in a golden orange thread. Look 50: Christened Arethusa. Arethusa was a nymph who was transfigured into a flowing spring, surrounded by flowers. The piece has an elongated stripe which originates below the neckline and extends to the floor. Surrounding the stripe are macramé flowers, much like flowers surrounding a stream.

Arts

6 — Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

FILM REVIEW

TV REVIEW

‘Slenderman’ chills bones JEREMIAH VANDERHELM Daily Arts Writer

PBS

‘Six Wives’ premiere misses mark Period piece fails to cohesively blend the factual with the progressive SOPHIA KAUFMAN

Daily Book Review Editor

“Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.” “Secrets of the Six Wives,” a new HBO historical documentary series, begins with this schoolyard rhyme that helps remember the fates of the six wives of Henry VIII. The premiere episode, “Divorced,” gives an account of the first action Henry VIII takes once crowned: marrying his late brother’s Spanish widow, Catherine of Aragon, born to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. The show alternates between documentary narration by historian Dr. Lucy Worsley and dramatic reenactments of scenes from the Tudor Court, often based on eyewitness accounts. While Worsley herself is a captivating storyteller, the style and format of the show often pull focus from the actual content. “This is the ultimate true story of love, loss and betrayal,” Worsley begins, her tale chronicling the anything but meetcute of Catherine and Henry VIII. She details their relationship’s arc from start to finish, talking about the seven years it took to nail down a marriage contract and incorporating

the successive relationships interpretations of interactions between the king, the “viva- and events, especially surcious” Mary Boleyn and then, rounding Catherine of Aragon’s more famously, her sister Anne. false, or phantom, pregnancy, She frames Catherine’s appeal the truth of which is still up for to the Pope during Henry’s bat- debate. She also offers insight tle for the annulment as an act into aspects of 16th century of brave defiance. England that tie into the curThe historical reenactment is rent day, talking in front of slowly paced, with lots of smol- palaces and often using paintdering glances from the king ings of the six wives as props and concerned facial expres- in her storytelling. However, sions from all the the switching ladies-in-waiting between dramatsurrounding the “Secrets of the ic reenactments various queens. — which are Six Wives” Worsley herself is mostly uncomdressed as a maid fortable anyway Season Premiere — and documenor lady-in-waiting, in the background tary narration January 22nd of several of the is jarring and dramatic reenactannoying. I’d PBS ments before turnrather watch an ing to address the actual documenaudience directly tary or a fictionafter a scene. alized T.V. show Much of the dialogue is cringe- based on historical events. worthy, especially the parts While the subject matter is surrounding pregnancy. interesting — and the title of the “Secrets of the Six Wives” series is perfect — the format breaks the norm of how this reminds me of the documenstory is usually told: Instead of tary clips that history teachers focusing on the whims and tan- used in middle school. The six trums of Henry VIII, the show wives deserve to have their stoattempts to tell the story from ries told with a fresh voice and a the perspectives of the women sharp eye, to escape the largely unlucky enough to be pulled skewed perceptions of them into his orbit. Worsley’s nar- that have been handed down ration is succinct and insight- and embellished through the ful; she offers well-thought-out centuries. But this isn’t it.

Classifieds

Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com

RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

FOR RENT

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Greek sandwich 5 Happy gatherings 10 Baby cow 14 Control for an equestrian 15 In full view 16 Buckeye State 17 Horse feed 18 TV’s “The Practice,” e.g. 20 “Bummer!” 22 Ford fiasco 23 Provides staff for 24 “That makes sense” 26 Champagne stopper or popper 27 Genius Bar pro 29 JFK’s successor 32 High-card-wins game 33 Enjoy 35 Submitted tax returns with a click 38 Door holder’s witticism 41 Part of Congress 42 Somali-born supermodel 43 Wide shoe size 44 Frat. counterpart 45 Aid in a felony 47 Traps in an attic? 49 Deborah of “The King and I” 51 Fictional Hawaiian police nickname 52 Rage 55 Procter & Gamble laundry detergent 60 Australia’s “Sunshine State” ... or where you might find the ends of 18-, 20-, 38- and 55-Across? 62 “Go back” computer command 63 Sch. near the U.S.-Mexico border 64 Tweak, say 65 Raise a big stink? 66 Pops a question 67 Outlaw chasers 68 Hours next to flight nos.

DOWN 1 Branch out 2 “Okey-dokey” 3 Second actress to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony 4 GM system with an AtYourService app 5 Helps with the laundry 6 Happily __ after 7 Maker of the Genesis game system 8 Like many Shakespeare plays 9 MLB Cardinal’s cap letters 10 Lear’s youngest daughter 11 “I get it” cries 12 Green citrus fruit 13 Baby horse 19 Lousy grade 21 Sock that covers the joint it’s named for 25 Biblical queendom 26 Pet store enclosures 27 Ref’s ring decision 28 Spine-tingling

30 Margarine that shares its name with Texas’ state flower 31 Ballet leaps 32 “Now, where __ I?” 34 “Sadly ... ” 36 Red Sox ballpark 37 Hair coloring 39 Cocktail makers 40 Ambulance fig. 46 S.O.S shelfmate 48 Make certain of 50 Fish-eating eagle

51 Rapper with a title 52 Poolside shade 53 Pecans and cashews 54 Nerdy type 56 37-Down containers 57 Singles 58 Binged (on), as snacks 59 Pans for potstickers 61 Maple extract

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01/31/17

TUESDAY!

In the summer of 2014, sixthgraders Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their friend, Payton Leutner, into the woods and stabbed her 19 times. When they were arrested, they claimed they committed the act in an attempt to become proxies, or servants, of the Slenderman, a fictional demonic entity with its roots in Internet forums and fan fiction. The story dominated the news for weeks, and for many the incident raised questions of the impact that the Internet can have on children. It is from this story that the new documentary from Irene Taylor Brodsky (“The Final Inch”), “Beware the Slenderman,” emerges, using its terrifying base story to explore both the events of the “Slender Man Stabbing” and the effect of loneliness on young people. From its opening scenes, the strengths of “Beware the Slenderman” become apparent. Its story is as consistently engrossing as any true-crime tale, and in many ways, it recalls “Making a Murderer” and fellow HBO documentary “The Jinx.” Its story is inherently interesting and horrifying, and Brodsky does well in threading the initial police interviews with the girls through

the film to produce a constantly states that the Internet “can serve eerie atmosphere. The girls’ as a peer or peer group” to those description of the events leading with few friends of their own, up to the stabbing, as well as the and that the Slenderman itself stabbing itself, provide some of gains his followers through their the most chilling material of the own loneliness. It is the picture feature. of this isolation that “Beware the It also becomes immediately Slenderman” paints that begins clear what the pitfalls of the to tie the thing together, as it project are. draws parallels Both of the from the allure of “Slenderman” aforementioned the Internet, and documentaries Slender Man in True-Crime were series. They particular, to the Documentary had an episodic solitude of Weier format that assisted and Geyser’s HBO in expositing every personal lives. aspect of their It never seeks to stories. “Beware the Slenderman” make excuses for their actions, has to get the same amount of but it does seek to explain them, information across, but it only and in this, it succeeds. has a two-hour runtime to do so. In the same way, Brodsky seeks It is trying to tell so many stories the origins of the Slenderman and at once that something always explores the role of the Internet inevitably gets lost, causing a in creating web-based horror disjoint, especially in the first stories, or “creepypasta,” like act. Here, much of the crime is the story of the creature. She explained, but the lack of info on draws a line from “Slender” to the the titular monster which would Internet culture of memes to the take the brunt of the blame in the classic folk lore of the Pied Piper, media, leaves this part feeling and makes it clear that while the unfinished. Without motivation, it Internet provided a breeding is hard to completely understand ground for these ideas to multiply the story Brodsky is trying to tell. at a faster rate, the concept has After the loads of exposition been around for centuries. In the that bog down the first act, the end, in the film’s most chilling second portion dives into both the segment, it is revealed that Weier lore of the Slenderman and the and Geyser have themselves themes of the documentary. One of become a part of the Slenderman the variety of experts interviewed legend.

MUSIC NOTEBOOK

The voices of a generation: ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone’ SHIMA SADAGHIYANI Daily Arts Writer

Iranian-American director Ana’ Lily Amirpour once said she conceived the idea for her debut film, the vampire thriller “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night,” while skateboarding down West Coast streets one night. As her black chador whipped behind her like the wings of a bat, Amirpour had a vision of heroine: A young Iranian girl who skateboarded around the streets of the fictional Bad Town, her chador rippling behind her like a cape. Through combining traditional and modern elements of Iranian culture, as well as including both Western and Eastern influences, Amirpour creates a masterpiece that transcends all previously drawn boundaries. “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night” is a melting pot of influences, seen in the pairing of chador and fangs, seen in the Iranian tattoos on a crass pimp and, most importantly, seen in the soundtrack itself. Contrasting the stark, noir aspect of the entirely black and white movie, the soundtrack of “A Girl” is an eclectic mash-up of Iranian songs, both old and new. Novel Iranian bands like Radio Tehran and Kiosk stand next to classic singers like Dariush; it’s a playlist that not only beautifully melds past and present, but also shapes the fictional world of “Bad Town.” Much like its lack of color, “A Girl” lacks excessive dialogue, choosing instead to let its characters speak through the music that fills the negative space. The main character, The Girl (played by Sheila Vand), is a pointed collection of contradictions: She is mostly silent, entrapped in shadows, yet the music that accompanies her pays homage to vibrant ‘80s synthpop. At the beginning of the film, The Girl dances alone in her room while Farah’s “Dancing Girls” plays; the song contains both Farsi and English lyrics, yet the techno wave of its background melody, along with the lone disco ball The Girl sways back and forth under, is reminiscent of American bands like a-ha and Blondie. Farah’s lyrics — “she’s just a normal girl / dancing to her favorite song” — create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability at odds with the fan-

tastical vampire nightmare. Even though the scene contains no dialogue, it speaks volumes about The Girl. Its contrasting components divulge a multidimensional character who moves past the flat trope of the stereotypical horror movie monster. Instead, we get a vampire who puts on makeup surrounded by muted fairy lights and saves abused prostitutes, then brutally murders an insolent pimp. The soundtrack is not just a voice for the characters, but a shape for the movie as a whole. The largely instrumental band Ferderale makes several appearances throughout the film. The American-based ensemble is heavily influenced by soundtracks from the ’60s & ’70s era of Italian “Spaghetti Western” genres and, through this, allows “A Girl” to transcend cultural boundaries. Songs like “Sarcophagus” and “Black Sunday” feature dramatic orchestral declarations, bringing to mind the theatrical standoffs of iconic Old Westerns, while the underpinnings of folk melodies speak to conventional Iranian films. A spectral woman’s voice is often intermittently added as a glossy layer over the entire compilation; its echoing European opera sound traces the barren desert setting in fine lines of elegance. Ferderale’s “Sisyphus” narrates a relatively simple, but quintessential, scene within the film: An unnamed character in drag dances with a balloon to music in a courtyard. The fringe on her buttondown shirt and ostentatious silver buckle of her belt is at odds with the hijab on her head. It’s a strange juxtaposition replicated in the song as it weaves together musical elements from a variety of different eras. The band allows the fictional Bad Town to exist within multiple spheres, blurring the lines between distinct movie genres and distinct cultures. It’s a quiet gesture, this remix of convention to include input from other cultures, but a powerful one. With “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night,” Amirpour constructs a story without limitations; instead, it masterfully traverses the rift between Eastern and Western ideals and finds a way to mend the disconnect. What it means to me as an Iranian woman, more than just as a good horror movie, more than even a movie empowering Iranian

women, is that it celebrates the power of opportunity. It’s doubtful Amirpour would have been able to create a movie of this magnitude if her family had remained in Iran, instead of taking the chance to immigrate to Europe and, later, to California. Even though Iran’s culture is based predominantly around the arts — seen in the timeless impact of poets like Hafiz and Saadi — its current political climate has an iron grip around the advancement of artistic expression; it places tight restrictions over any creative production, not allowing for deviation from the established norm. Many of the artists featured on this soundtrack, though Iranianbased, produce and perform their music outside of Iran; the radical socio-political commentary found in the lyrics of songs from bands like Kiosk or Radio Tehran is explicitly forbidden in Iran. Instead of remaining silent, they chose to immigrate to Europe, Canada and (mainly) the U.S, becoming the voice of a majority of Iran’s younger generation and permitting Iranian culture to continue to progress. In light of President Donald Trump’s recent ban on travel on seven Muslim-majority countries (Iran being one of them), pieces of art like “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night” and its soundtrack need attention: The future of Iran lies within the ideas of its youth. When young Iranian citizens emigrate to search for new prospects, they are not fleeing from the historic culture of their homeland. Rather, their innovative ideas push the culture to evolve in order to accommodate new perspectives, redefining what it means to be Iranian. With its multifaceted soundtrack, “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night” represents the endlessly creative potential of the Iranian youth. It’s an ingenuity that I saw whenever I strolled the streets in Iran: Young artists with revolutionary ideas on the brink of looking to make a life for themselves, many of them exploring the option of moving to America. And even though the ethnocentrism in the continuing view of America as “the land of opportunity” is a problem in itself, it does not draw away from the fact that, for many bright students, closed borders means closed opportunities as well.

Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 — 7

Walton emerging as MVP for ‘M’ Gondrezick garners B1G honors After earning a technical foul against the Fighting Illini, Walton has averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 rebounds BRANDON CARNEY Daily Sports Writer

In Michigan’s loss at Illinois a few weeks ago, Derrick Walton Jr. had a moment atypical of someone with his level of experience and composure. After picking up an offensive foul, Walton spiked the basketball, picked up a technical foul and was forced to sit the rest of the first half on the bench with two fouls. What transpired afterward made the senior guard’s actions even more regrettable. The Fighting Illini closed the half on a 15-2 run, as the Wolverines all but collapsed with one of their captains sidelined. The debacle in Champaign may come to be the defining moment for Walton this season, but in a more positive way than the initial reaction showed. Since that Illinois run, Walton has come to realize his multifaceted value for Michigan. “I’m just an example guy,” Walton said on Thursday. “I go out there and show how much it means to me. I’m pretty sure the guys will huddle around me and make sure they help me take care of business.” In the five games that have followed the loss to the Fighting Illini, Walton has averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. It’s been one of the strongest stretches of games he’s played in his Michigan career. And the Wolverines have needed every point, every board and every assist the senior earned. Walton made several adjustments in his game recently that benefit Michigan, as the Wolverines have been looking for consistency and creativity on both ends of the court.

Offensively, Michigan struggled to attack the basket off the dribble. The Wolverines had been sinking into a poor habit of settling for low-percentage shots on the perimeter, leading to wasted offensive possessions. Walton fell victim to that trend — two-thirds of all the shots he had taken through the contest at Illinois were from behind the arc.

“They give me courage and I try to exude it by playing hard to start”

In Michigan’s last five games, though, Walton attacked the basket more than he has all season. His field-goal percentage rose three points to 41.6 percent, while the proportion of three-pointers he took per game decreased. Most importantly to the Wolverines’ offense, Walton has been willing to absorb contact going to the hoop. He set a season high with nine freethrow attempts in Michigan’s win over Nebraska, and topped that over the weekend with 15 attempts, as he tried to carry the offense against Michigan State. Walton made a visible effort to look tougher and more confident with his inside game on offense. While the Wolverines needed the change to boost their scoring efficiency, Walton may have needed it more to prove a point. Since Illinois center Maverick Morgan made his “white collar” remarks toward

Michigan following the Champaign blowout, Walton has been on a mission to prove how wrong Morgan was. “As a point guard, I think that’s a reflection on me,” Walton said on Thursday. “If you call a team white collar, I think the point guard heads the identity of that team. As a person who’s never ever been questioned for toughness, it made me do a little selfevaluation.” That mentality, paired with his style of leading by example, has changed the way Walton and the Wolverines have attacked opponents for the better. But defensively, Walton has still shown that there’s room for improvement over the fivegame stretch. The senior struggled to contain his defensive assignment in Spartan freshman Cassius Winston, and didn’t seem to have the mental or physical edge that he showed in prior wins. Walton did have to spend extra energy on the offensive end with senior wing Zak Irvin battling the flu. Still, it seemed the rest of the team was affected when he wasn’t at his best. “I know this team looks at me as a leader,” Walton said on Sunday. “When I play and I show the face that it’s time to win, I think they follow suit. It’s a two-way street. They give me courage and I try to exude it by playing hard to start.” If anything’s been proven for Michigan over the past five games, it’s that this team will only perform up to the level of its senior point guard. Walton has carried the Wolverines in their biggest wins of the season, and made costly mistakes at their lowest moments.

MAGGIE KOLCON Daily Sports Writer

This season, freshman guard Kysre Gondrezick became a prominent player for the Michigan women’s basketball team. But it wasn’t until this week that she officially cemented herself as an elite player in the Big Ten. After the Wolverines’ 80-54 victory over Northwestern last Wednesday, Gondrezick was named not only the Big Ten Freshman of the Week — an honor she had received three times previously — but also the Big Ten Player of the Week. She is the only freshman in the Big Ten to earn the Player of the Week award this season, let alone sweep the contest. The last player to sweep the conference’s weekly awards was Nebraska’s sophomore forward Jessica Shepard on Jan. 25, 2016. Shepard ended last season as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year — an award that Gondrezick is putting herself in position for. Currently,

she is the only freshman to win multiple Big Ten weekly awards, as she has garnered five such nods. Against the Wildcats, Gondrezick tied her career-high in points and rebounds, with 22 and seven, respectively. She also went 6-for-10 from behind the 3-point line — another career-best — and tallied 6 assists, which marks the fifth time this season that she has finished with at least five assists. “I think the ball just went in the basket more often than usual,” Gondrezick said. “To be able to shoot the ball that well gives me a lot more confidence moving forward. Being able to impact the game, whether that was through my scoring or rebounding or passing, was definitely a humbling experience.” But before she could reel in the accolades, it was a long path to the starting five. Gondrezick came off the bench in 14 games before earning a starting position. Despite needing to prove herself during the first half of the season,

JEREMY MITNICK/Daily

Freshman guard Kysre Gondrezick earned a Big Ten Player of the Week award.

the rookie has solidified her starting role since the start of Big Ten play, scoring in double-digits in seven of the last eight games. But breaking into the starting rotation wasn’t as smooth as Gondrezick made it seem. “When I first got here I struggled tremendously,” Gondrezick said. “In the summer I cried (on a phone call) home and said ‘I don’t think I’m going to be nearly half the player I was in high school,’ because it truly is a different level. … Ultimately, I had to make the decision that I was either going to do it, or I was going to go home. And I did it.” With 302 points this season, Gondrezick has positioned herself as one of the top three Wolverine scorers, just 28 points behind sophomore forward Hallie Thome. Junior guard Katelynn Flaherty still leads the pack with 440 points — a difficult statistic to top — but Gondrezick continues to thrive alongside her. Flaherty and Thome are the only other Michigan players to be awarded by the Big Ten this season — Flaherty made the Honor Roll twice and Thome won the Player of the Week after her 37-point performance against Wisconsin. Gondrezick’s breakout performance has given the Wolverines more recognition, despite still being unranked. If she can stay consistent, Gondrezick will be essential to helping Michigan achieve some of its postseason goals — namely making the NCAA Tournament. Even if the Wolverines falter this season, Gondrezick will keep gaining experience, and will only become more fun to watch. But for now, Gondrezick is not focused on gathering more personal awards, even though she is well-situated to do so. “I go out there just to have fun,” Gondrezick said. “I go out there to win. Whether that is scoring 22 points or scoring two, as long as I made my impact and we get the best end result possible, then I’m a happy camper.”

Michigan cruises Wolverines thrive on Senior Night against Buckeyes WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

ZACH GAN For the Daily

TIEN LE

For the Daily

The No. 7 Michigan women’s swimming and diving team battled No. 21 Ohio State, as the Wolverines honored seven of their seniors in Canham Natatorium on Senior Night for their last meet at home. Michigan, which has won its last 16 dual meets against Big Ten teams, won 14 of 16 events for a 212-88 victory against the Buckeyes, improving its Big Ten record to 3-0. Many individuals earned multiple individual victories, helping Michigan go 1-2-3 in four events. Freshman Kristen Hayden, having taken second in the one-meter and three-meter springboards in the last meet against Indiana, showed improvement in both events. She scored 300.9 on the one-meter and 323.30 on the three-meter springboard, taking first in both events. “I came back and my coach and I worked on a lot of basics and just getting my entries right, just getting my hurdles and my take offs and doing more reps,” Hayden said. “At Indiana, I didn’t do them the way I could, so here, I was relaxed and ready to go.” While a number of Wolverines improved their performance from Indiana, many others continued their dominant showing from the previous meet. Sophomores Siobhán Haughey, Yirong Bi and juniors Emily Kopas and Clara Smiddy swept their individual events. Haughey — who won three individual events in the previous dual meet to earn her second Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honor — repeating her impressive feat, placing first in the 10-yard freestyle (48.39), 200-yard freestyle (1:46:76) and 200-yard IM (1:59:32). Clara Smiddy won her two

events — 100-yard (54.47) and 200-yard backstroke (1:56:08) — in a similar fashion to her performance at Indiana. Smiddy and Hayden weren’t the only ones who improved, as Bi broke a pool record in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:35:49, shattering an eight year record held by Minnesota’s Ashley Steenvoorden. In addition, she secured a victory in the 500-yard freestyle (4:44:92) and contributed in the final event, helping her team win the 400-yard freestyle relay. Michigan not only overwhelmed Ohio State in terms of performances but also with its atmosphere for Senior Night. Kopas believes Senior Night against a rival team helped keep the spirits high, as each individual strived to send the seniors off on a high note. “I think we all went out there and did that for the seniors and we always strive to beat (Ohio State),” Kopas said, “I definitely think we have an advantage just because we’ve practiced (in Canham Natatorium) every day and it’s kind of just the atmosphere that gets us going.” Kopas also had an outstanding night, winning the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02:43) and later the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12:36), where Bi finished just behind her. Senior Maddy Frost, a Saline, Mich. native, had been coming to the Canham Natatorium since 2005 and swam in it for 12 years, spanning her time in club and college. For her, not being able to swim in Canham again seemed strange, but she’s excited to see where the team is headed in the future. “I swam a season best tonight, which was awesome and I think that was definitely because of the energy of the team and the coaches,” Frost said. “Just having it be the last time I can compete in this pool, so it was just awesome to do that and kick their butts.”

Before the meet even started, Michigan senior Chris Klein could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, as he prepared to race in Canham Natatorium for the last time in his collegiate career. An Ann Arbor native, Klein looked to cap off his days at the natatorium in the same dominant fashion that he had begun them nearly 10 years ago. After touching first in both the 200-yard breaststroke and 200yard IM on Friday, he had done just that. “I’ve been coming to swim here and race here for over a decade, so it just kind of means an era coming to an end for me,” Klein said. “In the last time I’m ever going to race at Canham, to come out on top of a couple of races was really special.” On Friday night, Michigan hosted Ohio State in a contest that was filled with a doublewhammy of emotions, as it was both Senior Night and a rivalry matchup. In the end, the ninthranked Wolverines put forth a commanding effort to win the dual meet over the 17th-ranked Buckeyes, 186-114. “Any time a team at Michigan faces Ohio State, the emotions rise up,” said Michigan coach Mike Bottom. Added Klein: “It was probably the most emotional meet I’ve been to in a long time.” Coming off its first dual meet loss since 2010 against No. 4 Indiana, Michigan was itching to get back on track in the pool. “We were really excited to get back to work,” said senior Vinny Tafuto. In the third event of the meet, freshman Felix Auböck battled Ohio State’s Josh Fleagle in the 200-yard freestyle. Going into the final turn of the race, Auböck and Fleagle were neck and neck. But with a set of powerful dolphin kicks underwater, the freshman exploded off the wall, fending off Fleagle to win the event by just 0.01 seconds—the

narrowest margin possible. “I knew at 150 yards it was going to be super close. He’s a strong finisher,” Auböck said. “It was super painful … I just put my head down and gave everything the last five to ten yards to make that touch.” The Wolverines (2-1 Big Ten, 4-1 overall) won 11 of 16 events, and finished with the top three spots in the 100-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke and 500-yard freestyle. Michigan has now won 20 dual meets in a row against the Buckeyes (2-1, 9-1). In the 100-yard butterfly, Tafuto snuck away with the victory, defeating Ohio State’s Michael Salazar—the defending Big Ten champion—with a time

of 47.45. “I had no idea where I was in that field,” Tafuto said. “I was very fortunate and happy to get my hand on the wall.” For the senior, it was a night of nostalgia in his last home meet for the Wolverines. “I was just talking with my mom about my recruiting trip,” Tafuto said. “It’s gone by really fast.” In the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Michigan went back and forth with Ohio State. When freshman James Jones dove into the pool in the second leg of the relay, he was behind by nearly a body-length. En route to posting an incredible 43.41 split— the fastest out of anyone in the pool—Jones passed Ohio State’s Andrew Appleby,

“We’re going to battle at the Big Ten Championships”

engulfing the natatorium in a deafening cheer. But the cheers were premature, as the Wolverines ended up getting disqualified due to an early take off in the final exchange. “That was a little disappointing to us,” said Bottom. “In a way it was good for us, because it shows that we can be better and we need to be better.” Just three weeks away from the Big Ten Championships, Michigan will look to defend its title against the Hoosiers, the presumed favorite. “We’re going to battle in the Big Ten Championships,” Bottom said. “We’re gonna have to pull something out.” With a victory against Ohio State, Auböck believes the team sent off its eight seniors in the most meaningful way it could. “It was the best thing we could give them,” Auböck said. “They did so much for us this year and we had to give them something back.”

HALEY MCLAUGHLIN/Daily

Senior Chris Klein won the 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM in his last meet at Canham Natatorium on Friday.

Sports

8 — Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Slaker carving out role with Wolverines ‘M’ splits weekend tilt at ITA Kick-Off

MEN’S TENNIS

AVI SHOLKOFF

Daily Sports Writer

Wolverines falter against No. 16 Oklahoma, recover to defeat 25th-ranked Razorbacks EFE EDEVBIE For the Daily

Traveling to Norman, Okla. for the ITA Kick-Off, the No. 19 Michigan men’s tennis team split its weekend series, losing 4-1 to No. 16 Oklahoma on Saturday, but defeating No. 25 Arkansas on Sunday, 4-0. Saturday’s match was marked with a flurry of Oklahoma victories, as the Sooners opened up a decisive 3-0 lead, with wins in No. 1 singles, No. 3 singles, No. 1 doubles and No. 3 doubles. Sophomore Myles Schalet closed the gap to 3-1 after a win in the No. 5 singles match, before the Wolverines began to mount a comeback behind senior Jathan Malik and juniors Runhao Hua and Davis Crocker. Each forced a third set with second-set tiebreakers in the No. 2, 4 and 6 singles matches. Malik forced a tiebreaker once again in the third set, but lost 7-6, giving Oklahoma the game-clinching fourth tally. “We just need to play as a team from the beginning all the way through the match. We didn’t do that,” said Michigan coach Adam Steinberg. “We really came together a little bit too late. We needed to establish that energy and enthusiasm and our fight as a team way earlier, and it caught up to us.” Sunday proved to be a much different story. The Wolverines got off to quick start and rode their momentum to a decisive 4-0 shutout victory over the

Razorbacks. Leading the way was freshman Connor Johnston, who was inserted in the No. 1 doubles lineup along with Malik in his very first collegiate match. The duo won their match to the tune of a 6-1 score, and Johnston gave Michigan its fourth and final point with a win in the No. 6 singles match. “He was a spark plug for us,” Steinberg said. “He came in and he was a big lift in doubles. To throw him in at No. 1 doubles, where he hasn’t ever played college tennis before and to win 6-1 — him and Jathan — was incredible. I can’t say enough about his performance (Sunday) and what he brought to our team and we need that.” Adding to the Wolverines’ score were Crocker and junior Alex Knight, who won the No. 5 and No. 4 singles matches, respectively. Knight and Hua were also able to come away with a victory in the No. 2 doubles matchup. With a match against Princeton on Thursday, the team will look to carry on the same energy and enthusiasm that they captured against Arkansas on Sunday, but had lacked the day before. “We did a great job fighting back against Oklahoma. I thought the guys really competed hard, but they need to compete for each other for longer stretches of time,” Steinberg said. “If we do that like we did today (against Arkansas), we’re pretty tough to beat.”

In his second and final season with the Bloomington Thunder of the United States Hockey League, Jake Slaker served as the team captain. While some team leaders choose to assert their authority vocally, Slaker instead led by example. Now, with the Michigan hockey team, the freshman forward is far from the team’s most prominent leader in the locker room. Still, his position on the team calls for responsibility. “When you’re a top-six forward, you’re a leader on this team no matter what class you’re in,” said senior forward Alex Kile. “(Slaker) kills penalties, plays on the power play and he’s important for us in all aspects of the game. Whenever you have a player who can contribute in all three areas of the rink, you’re gonna be a leader no matter what.” It’s high praise coming from Kile, one of the two Wolverine captains. Through the first 22 games of the season, Slaker’s play has justified Kile’s comments — he ranks first in points and assists for Michigan with 14 and 10, respectively. But it didn’t always appear that easy for Slaker. In his first few games, he acknowledged the difficulty that comes with the transition from the slowerpaced USHL to the quicker gameplay at the NCAA level.

While at times — much like Michigan’s entire lineup — Slaker appears to lose concentration or struggle on special teams, Kile recognizes the strides his teammate has made since the first game. “He’s not a player who really talks about offense or talks about scoring goals,” Kile said. “He wants to get better defensively, and I think he’s struggled a little bit if you’re looking at plus-minus, but he’s a player that wants to get better. He wants to be that shutdown centerman that (former Michigan forward) JT Compher was and (former Michigan forward) Andrew Copp was. He aspires to be them and he has told me that he wants to be like that.” Because of the Wolverines’ inconsistent play this season, Slaker has seen different linemates every few games. In the early part of the season, he played in the first grouping with Kile and fellow-freshman forward Will Lockwood, but has also played on the second and third lines. Slaker’s flexibility earned a commendation from Michigan coach Red Berenson. Berenson explained that injuries and suspensions to Slaker’s linemates causes him to reshuffle the lines every so often. “Jake is a competitor,” Berenson said. “He comes to play, most every game you’re going to get everything he’s got. Now there’s been the odd game

“... Most every game you’re going to get everything he’s got”

when he wasn’t as invested in the game, or lost his focus or we needed a centerman on another line. … But it didn’t change his ice time. “The thing I like about him is that he brings a line together. Whoever he plays with, he’ll try to get that line organized and play the right way and play together. He’s an organizer even though he’s a freshman.” According to Kile, Slaker’s best assets include his energy, his confidence and his constant desire to learn from veteran players. Slaker, for one, believes he has improved his decision making. As the season continues, Slaker is still working with the Wolverines’ coaching staff to improve some of the intangible aspects of his game that are not easily recognized. “I want to improve my physicality with the puck,” Slaker said. “To try not to get knocked off with the puck as much, win my one-on-one battles. I don’t think people notice that all the time, it’s sometimes just a stick play or me getting better positioning with the puck. My goal is to get a little stronger with and without the puck.” Perhaps the most important facet of Slaker’s game — especially as a center — is his success on faceoffs. Currently, Slaker leads Michigan in faceoff victories with 201 and ranks third in winning percentage — boasting a .510 mark. Berenson constantly discusses the

importance of winning faceoffs and maintaining possession of the puck afterward with his team. It’s an area the Wolverines have struggled with, posting just a .483 winning percentage. As one of the few Michigan players that has found success in that aspect of the game, Slaker has a unique approach to faceoffs. “My main job is not to lose (the puck),” Slaker said. “To get a 50-50 battle between myself and the wingers where we can battle out and try to get the win. Overall my mindset going into faceoffs is try not to lose it clean.” Currently, Slaker practices on a line with Lockwood and sophomore forward Brendan Warren, and whether that holds for the rest of the season is up to Berenson. What can be said for sure, though, is that Slaker will show a positive attitude and desire to adapt with his teammates. And while he clearly no longer commandeers the locker room as he once did for the Thunder, it’s obvious Slaker still plays a vital role in the Wolverines’ success. “He communicates well with his teammates and linemates,” Berenson said. “He knows how to play with a sense of responsibility for our team in key situations, whether it’s a big faceoff, or a second effort play. He wants to be that guy that will do that because he’s done that before.”

“He knows how to play with a sense of responsibility...”

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

Freshman forward Jake Slaker has found his place at Michigan, as he headlines the Wolverines’ faceoff unit and leads the team with 201 faceoff victories.