Issuu

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Ann Arbor, Michigan

michigandaily.com

CAMPUS LIFE

Students and faculty voice responses to racist emails Following messages sent to school list servs, concerns raised over campus climate MATT HARMON Daily Staff Reporter

ARNOLD ZHOU/Daily

Stamps School of Art and Design Assistant Professor Sophia Brueckner discusses the ethical design of new technologies at TEDxUofM at the Power Center on Wednesday.

TEDx event talks optimism, health and policy change to over 1,300

Notable speakers included Scott Matzka, Sophia Kruz and Dr. Abdulel Sayed TIM COHN & KAELA THEUT Daily News Editor & Daily Staff Reporter

Wednesday night at the Power Center, eight diverse speakers — including University of Michigan professors and international artists — discussed their unique visions for societal change and growth as a part of the annual student-run TEDxUofM event. More than 1,000 students and residents filled the auditorium to

hear the speakers’ ideas regarding the conference theme: dreamers and disruptors. The speakers covered a wide array of topics including cancer research, multiculturalism in a globalized world and educational reform. One event organizer, LSA sophomore Hannah French, noted the theme’s aim is to cause introspection among the audience. “So basically what we were thinking is when you’re setting out with an idea and you’re trying to make this positive change in the world, people are doing this usually

in one of two ways — they’re either dreaming big or they’re trying to disrupt the status quo,” French said. “The theme encourages the audience to question whether they are a dreamer or a disruptor and how they can use that in their everyday lives.” Among event attendees, it was this exposure to new ideas and the opportunity to engage in selfreflection on their applicability in daily life that attracted many to go to TEDxUofM. One such event-goer, Engineering senior Rachel Wallace, said events

like TEDx bring people together and promote the sharing of different ideas, experiences and cultures. She further explained that the conference prompts people to break out of their social groups, and spend time face-to-face with new people. “I think events like this are great because it gives you an opportunity to hear about a lot of different ideas, often different from your own,” Wallace said. “… Also the interaction around you and collaborating, you know people tend to stay within their own groups, and it’s a way See TEDX, Page 3

When news of the three racist emails from Tuesday night reached most of campus Wednesday morning, students, faculty and organizations immediately denounced the messages. Many, however, also criticized the University of Michigan’s response, which was similar to its responses to past racially charged acts on campus. The emails, which were sent from three separate administrator uniqnames, claimed to address African-American and Jewish diversity in the subject lines. Engineering Prof. Alex Halderman and Ph.D. student Matt Bernhard were named by the culprit as the senders of the emails, however, it was later confirmed by Halderman he was not the sender. Two of the emails read: “Hi n*****s, I just wanted to say that I plan to kill all of you. White power! The KKK has returned!!! Heil Trump!!!!”

The other one reads: “Hi you fucking filthy jews, I just wanted to say the SS will rise again and kill all of your filthy souls. Die in a pit of eternal fire! Sincerely, Dr. Alex Halderman.” The University’s Office of Public Affairs released a statement early this morning announcing the FBI will be working with the Division of Public Safety and Security in a joint criminal investigation. “The university’s Information Assurance group also is involved in the investigation,” the statement reads. “The U-M Division of Public Safety and Security has increased patrols in the North Campus area where the College of Engineering is located. The content of the emails has been condemned by the university in general and by President Mark Schlissel specifically.” In a written statement, Halderman denied being associated with the emails and said the act itself is not difficult to do. “These messages were spoofed,” Halderman wrote. See EMAILS, Page 3

International faculty respond to Trump Removal of Students to tax on pads, immigration ban by sharing experiences prototype

GOVERNMENT

CAMPUS LIFE

tampons considered

New legislation raises questions about legality status of campus affiliates

Availability, price of items no longer viewed as luxury purchases in state

Faculty and graduate students have recently responded with personal and professional concerns to President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. The order, met with much opposition at the University of Michigan and nationallyupon its signing on Jan. 27, sparks questions as to who will and will not be able to travel in and out of the United States. It also prevents refugees from entering the country for at least 120 days. Amal Fadlalla, a women’s studies associate professor, is originally from Sudan — one of the banned countries — but is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She is currently on sabbatical. In an email to the Daily, Fadlalla noted that restrictions like this order “are not new.” “After 9/11, most of these countries, mentioned in the new ban, were under heavy restrictions,” she wrote. “This ban made these restrictions harsher and more visible. For instance, whereas citizens from these specified countries entering the U.S. were subject to thorough questioning and investigation, now they may be denied visas or entry all together.” Fadlalla said she used to experience questioning at the border because of her Sudanese citizenship. Once she received

MAYA GOLDMAN Daily Staff Reporter

New legislation was introduced last week in the Michigan state Senate to remove the sales tax on feminine hygiene products. Feminine hygiene products — which include tampons, pads and reusable menstrual cups — are classified under the tax code as luxury items. This means they are subjected to the state’s 6-percent sales tax. However, Michigan’s code does exempt medically necessary goods, such as medications and catheters, from the sales tax. Legislators who proposed the bill argue that feminine hygiene products fall under this category. An attempt was made to introduce similar legislation during last year’s session, but it did not get a hearing in the Senate. Sen. Rebekah Warren (D–Mich.), who was one of the four legislators to propose the bill, told the Daily she thinks this time will be different. “This year, we’re excited because we had the bill (submitted) in the beginning of the session really quickly, just a few weeks after it started,” Warren said. “We were See HYGIENE, Page 3

GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know.

JENNIFER MEER Daily Staff Reporter

a green card and, later, U.S. citizenship, the questions became more mild. Agents would merely ask her where she was going, and what she was doing there. She said it helps to be affiliated with the University of Michigan. Fadlalla referenced a New York Times article from Friday, citing that up to 60,000 people from the seven banned countries have had their visas revoked since the order’s implementation. She also added that green-card holders and citizens from the

banned countries may now be subject to more questioning than in the past. On the national level, several lawsuits have been filed against the order. In Seattle, U.S. District Judge James Robart temporarily blocked the ban on Friday, deciding the ban would do more harm than good until a full case could be heard, according to NPR. Ann Donnelly, a federal judge from Brooklyn who is a University of Michigan alum, is among the judges who issued a stay on the

ban. With these measures in place, there is still uncertainty as to what happens next. Fadlallah wrote that the order should be made clearer so professionals from the banned areas who may be interested in coming to the United States, as well as those who are employed in the United States but are working in the banned areas, will know whether they will be admitted. “Well, this (executive order) See FACULTY, Page 3

DESIGN BY JACOB BERGEN

Sources: NY Times, Migration Policy Center, UMDEI

For more stories and coverage, visit

michigandaily.com

INDEX

designs in Cuba visit

Engineering team, faculty to represent University in first-ever trip to island KAELA THEUT

Daily Staff Reporter

A group of University of Michigan Engineering students will travel to Cuba over Spring Break in order to put their prototypes and designs to work in Cuban industry. The 22 students, led by Prof. Brian Love, are going as a part of the University’s innovative “Design in a Resource-Constrained Environment” course. In a short newsletter describing the objectives of the course, students wrote that the unique program will allow them to work with Cuban resources in the context of an import-export economy. “This first-of-its-kind engineering program is exposing students to the natural and financial resources in Cuba as they are linked to its import/export economy, as well as the current state of opportunities in Cuban industrial development,” the letter read. Love wrote in an email interview he chose Cuba as a destination site for the program because of his experience teaching seminars at the University of Havana, as well See CUBA, Page 3

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

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

News

2 — Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Tweets

ON THE DAILY: FAB FIVE GOES LIVE Jalen Rose, one of the members of the Fab Five who brought the University of Michigan men’s basketball team to the 1992 and 1993 NCA A championship games, is heading to prime time. Written and produced by Nahnatchka Khan of “Fresh Off the Boat,” ABC’s newest show, “Jalen vs. Everybody,” will star Rose in a semiautobiographical comedy. The show centers around Rose after his career in the NBA, as well as his current life as a sports broadcaster and a single dad. Since ABC already owns the rights to the NBA Finals, “Jalen vs. Everybody” will be a natural fit in the network’s

lineup. After bringing the University’s basketball team into the national spotlight along with Jimmy King, Chris Webber, Ray Jackson and Juwan Howard, Rose played for multiple teams in the NBA. In 2007, he started working as an analyst for ESPN, and in 2012 he took a job as one of the hosts for NBA Countdown. The roles of Rose’s mother and grandmother have also been cast in the show. ABC did not yet release information on when the show will premiere, but it will definitely be included in ABC’s new cycle, along with 10 other slated pilots. - MATT HARMON

FIRE IN THE LAB

#BBUM @THEBSU

Situations like these remind us what we must fight for. The Black Student Union will not stand for racism, antiSemitism, and violence.

Larn @lauren_pryszcz Wow why couldnt the chem building be on fire at a more convenient time (1-2:30) MAX KUANG/Daily Ann Arbor Fire Department firetrucks park outside the Chemistry building on Wednesday morning in response to a lab fire.

CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES

Shaina Jansen

Mental Health Career Options

BLI Habit Workshop: Build a Team

Slavic Studies Graduate Colloquium: Ukraine

WHAT: Dr. Ashley Gearhardt will field questions on pursuing a career in the mental health field, specifically discussing the benefits of graduates degrees. WHO: Department of Psychology WHEN: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: East Hall, Room 4448

WHAT: David Korus, founder of Owenoke Capital Management, will lead a workshop on effective team building. WHO: Barger Leadership Institute WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: Ruthven Museums Building, Room 2009

WHAT: Slavic Studies graduate student Grace Mahoney will present her research on modern Ukrainian poet Iryna Starovoit WHO: Slavic Languages and Literature WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Modern Languages Building, Room 3308

“What You Want Is Not What You Need”

Prison Creative Arts Project Art Auction

The Black Male Athlete

WHAT: Jonathan Barnbrook will give a talk as part of the Penny Stamps Speaker series. Barnbook is known for his collaberations with David Bowie WHO: School of Arts & Design WHEN: 5:10 p.m. WHERE: The Michigan Theater

WHAT: This auction is open to the community, all proceeds will go to support PCAP’s 22nd Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners. WHO: The Prison Creative Arts Project WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Michigan League, Hussey Room

WHAT: The 3rd Annual W.M. Trotter Lecture will focus on the narratives of Black Male Athletes. The keynote speaker will be Ray Jackson, a member of the Fab Five. WHO: Trotter Multicultural Center WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. WHERE: Ross School of Business

Law & Economics: The Effect of Police Slowdowns WHAT: UC Davis Prof. Andrea Chandrasekher will present her article on the 1997 New York City Police Department work slowdown. WHO: Law & Economics WHEN: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. WHERE: South Hall, Room 1020

RHEA CHEETI

Tuesday night, Todd Sevig, director of University of Michigan Counseling and Psychological Services, gave Central Student Government an oversight of the organization’s current plans to expand mental health services unique to the differing majors on campus. “It’s crucial that I … as director of CAPS — we, as CAPS — are here, engaging, listening, answering questions,” he said. “In the last approximately 15 years, we’ve almost doubled in size. We are starting a national search for new positions. We have been newly funded, if you will, for six new positions in CAPS.” Sevig emphasized the importance of faculty and students working together, and how

FOLLOWING UR <3.

puzzle by sudokusyndication.com

or major. “Northwestern and the University of Iowa were experimenting, piloting having one of their staff members devoting part of their time to one school or college,” Sevig said. “The staff member was physically in that college, and would provide services to only those students and would be able to consult with faculty and staff. I took that idea, transferred it to us, and people liked it.” Sevig said CAPS started with this process on North Campus with full-time counselors in the College of Engineering, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the School of Art & Design. It also implemented a step that involved four more specialized counselors in the School of Dentistry, the Ross School of Business, the Law School and Rackham Graduate School. Sevig and his team met with the deans of every school and highlighted the differences in experiences and sources of anxiety for students in different schools, such as the College of Engineering and Music, Theatre & Dance School. There are currently plans in progress to expand the embedded model and add more counselors to the program, as well as increase the number of positions in Central Campus CAPS. School of Art and Design Representative Abigail Zrike said that though she liked the embedded model and that she’s definitely seen it’s effect on campus, she thinks that additional funding could also go towards other measures, such as making it more convenient to schedule an appointment at CAPS.

Read more online at

michigandaily.com

Berg sent a Canvas message to students notifying them she was available to talk for anyone who feels targeted on campus. In an interview, she said she sent the message to her students to make sure her classroom is a safe environment for students of color. “I wanted to make sure if students … wanted to talk to someone, that I would be there and that they could come and talk to me so that they don’t feel left alone thinking this campus is going insane or something like that,” she said. “This is not who we are. We won’t let that happen. We are here to protect you.” Postdoctoral fellow Austin McCoy studies racial justice in the United States, and focused his entire class today on unpacking the emails. He said the University has been the location of these past racist attacks because of the University’s public efforts to diversify its student population through its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan, a 49-part plan spearheaded by Schlissel and released last October. He also cited the large amount of student activism on campus in the past couple of years as a reason why trolls continue to target the University. Addressing the University’s earlier statement, McCoy said the University often goes through a predictable pattern of digital response and condemnation when racism emerges on campus. “From the administration, I anticipate them sending out

probably an email and saying that they condemn the acts and then that they’re investigating, but other than that, I don’t know what else the administration plans to do,” he said. Engineering senior Greg McMurtry, president of the campus chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, echoed McCoy’s statements and referenced the posters from last semester as another instance of the University’s stunted response to acts of racism. “(The administration is) not really using more than their statements in emails, which is disheartening because we had something similar happen in the fall semester so it’s upsetting and a little disheartening but at the same time, it’s expected,” he said. In a Storify page, McCoy tweeted Schlissel ideas from his class discussion about the situation. He said there is a difference between formulating plans to combat racism and taking measurable action. “(Students) see the DEI plan, ur emails, @umich diversity statements, but they only see that y’all can’t prevent hateful acts,” he wrote on Twitter. “Multiple students of color said that it’s going to take someone getting hurt before you took action.” Elizabeth James, Afroamerican and African studies program associate, said she expects students to rise up and combat the hateful rhetoric displayed Tuesday night. “Racism is based on fear of the

CUBA From Page 1 as the growing potential of STEM education in the country. “After President Obama eased travel restrictions in December 2014, I sought to find faculty in Cuba with similar backgrounds and experiences to me,” Love wrote. “My casual email/phone exchanges led to my being invited to give seminars last summer at the University of Havana. That was what led to the ‘on the ground’ logistics to resolve whether a classroom experience on site could be proposed and pulled off … Moreover, STEM education in Cuba is alive and growing.” Love noted that his students are looking to gain insight into how the Cuban economy functions, while noting new technologies and industry gaps. He added that many

FACULTY From Page 1 is creating so much panic and uncertainty for scholars, students, and professionals because things are so vague and unclear at the moment,” Fadlalla wrote. “Maybe further explanation and clarification will make it helpful for those of us who study or work in these regions.” To address related concerns, the Middle East Studies Association, a national organization, issued a statement for faculty and students at higher-education institutions across the country. “We condemn this Executive Order, which is discriminatory and does damage to academic institutions in the United States,” it reads. The statement claims there have been conflicting guidelines as to the order’s impact on green-card holders. It also calls for continued support from colleges and universities. “Academic institutions should prepare to make accommodations for students, staff and faculty affected by this suspension of entry and closely follow changes in the interpretation of the Order as legal challenges and agency reinterpretations continue to unfold,” it reads. University President Mark Schlissel’s statement — signed immediately after the release of the executive order — affirms the University’s refusal to disclose the immigration statuses of students, in addition to its support of the international community. In an interview with the Daily at the end of January, Schlissel said the University has been keeping up with related developments. “Like the whole nation, we’re following very carefully — things that are changing quite quickly, they change by the hour sometimes,” he said. “We have staff keeping very close watch so we know what the situation is and we can best advise

Thursday, February 9, 2017 — 3 other and hiding behind flyers and computers makes it easier in many ways for the perpetrators to behave in this heinous manner without being revealed for their shameless and reprehensible actions,” James wrote in an email interview. “Over the coming days, I believe we will see a rise in students mobilizing and speaking up about their concerns that this be a safe and secure environment.” LSA junior Joshua Blum, chair of the Hillel governing board, said Hillel encourages the entire University population to speak out against racism toward all religions and races. “We strongly condemn these emails and we hope that the University and people and all the students can come together and stand united against bigotry and hatred,” he said. Hillel Executive Director Tilly Shames referenced an email statement she sent from Hillel earlier today saying actions speak louder than words. “While it’s important for us to make this statement that we did, condemning this language, I think it’s even more important that we are all working to bring our campus community together,” Shames said. “In our statement, we said that there’s no room for this kind of hate on our campus. I believe as we fill our campus with support and solidarity and a strong sense of Michigan community, then there will be no space for this kind of

hate.” Engineering freshman Gabriel Shlain, Jewish Engineering Association president, is in his first semester as president of the association. He said that as of today, he has been in contact with other engineering associations across campus and University administrators to form a bridge between students and administration. “I kind of feel a little bit responsible to make sure everyone who is Jewish — not only Jewish, but Black — that they’re represented and that they know that something is being done and we’re talking to other organizations and that we’re talking to higher up people who are representatives of the University to hopefully prevent these things,” he said. “Right now, our main focus is to have a dialogue so that we can then plan our actions accordingly.” McMurtry said administrators should start listening to its students when situations like these occur. “One thing the University really needs to start doing is when students come with their concerns, (is) follow up with those students and say, ‘Hey. You brought these concerns. We did X, Y and Z. Is this good? Is this what you had in mind or is this not what you had in mind?’ ” he said. “Because currently, it’s just ‘Here’s what we’re doing. Do you think it’s good? Yes or no? Thank you for your feedback and we’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing.’ ”

of his students attending speak fluent Spanish. “A large fraction of engineering students in the program are bilingual in Spanish already and I think our Cuban counterparts are likely to impressed that a large fraction of the UM student ambassadors can communicate to them in their language,” Love said. “Our students are looking to observe the state of the art with regard to technology, industrial capacity and gaps. We also hope to gain insights on how the Cuban economy flourishes.” Engineering junior Archit Gupta said the class has been preparing for the differences in the availability of resources between Cuba and the United States, as well as studying the different factors associated with solving engineering problems there. He further explained that the University offers numerous opportunities to make prototypes

of designs, using technology not available in Cuba. “We are focusing on prototyping and design challenges presented in a resource-constrained environment,” Gupta said. “We have been doing research on the social, economic and geographical factors associated with solving an engineering problem, and how these problems are solved differently in Cuba versus here in the states.” Gupta described the differences in education styles between American and Cuban education systems, stating Cubans emphasize working on projects rather than focusing on creating models and pouring over planning. Because of the excess of resources, the group will visit science labs and medical centers, as well as other cultural centers. “Some things we have learned are that there is more emphasis

placed in learning theory compared to school here, whereas there is some emphasis placed in just doing it and getting your hands dirty, due to the excess in resources available,” Gupta said. “In Cuba, we are going to visit a solar farm, medical laboratory where there is some of the world’s most advanced lung cancer treatment, and explore cultural aspects of the country among other activities.” Love explained that he hopes the trip is the first of many and that he can establish a collaborative link between research venues in Cuba and the University. “Personally, I hope to establish UM as a viable collaborative venue for research, teaching and larger engagement with public and private enterprises in Cuba,” Love said. “Maybe there are opportunities to run other programs, and I hope to help faculty at UM and in Cuba build collaborative links.”

members of our community.” In the same interview, Schlissel emphasized the importance of the contributions of immigrants at the University. “The reason I really wanted to speak up with clarity is I don’t necessarily think many people appreciate how international — not just our university — but all the great universities are,” he said. “We have students from over 100 countries around the globe. The idea of excluding a significant fraction of the world as being potential members of our community, I think would hurt us.” In response, Fadlallah wrote that she felt the University has responded to the executive order appropriately. “Yes protecting our students and scholars who work in these areas is necessary,” she wrote. “I am very proud that the president and the institution stand behind its inclusive values of making connections and strengthening its global reach.” Khaled Mattawa, an associate English professor at the University, is originally from Libya — another banned country. He immigrated to the United States in 1979 at the age of 14 and became a citizen in 1996. He wrote in an email interview that he travels to the Middle East often. He is currently on leave in Egypt. In his email, Mattawa wrote, as citizens, he and his family are not affected by the executive order. However, he expects to be interrogated upon returning to the United States. He said the new regulations seem to point to the beginning of a “war against immigrants” — those who are naturalized and those who are not. “As to my concerns, they run deep. I feel that these new regulations — I’m sure these are not the last word(s) on this matter — are part of an attempt to fundamentally change the United States, not only in its racial make-up but in its structure as a democracy,” he wrote. “Taken

under guidance from Alt-Right White supremacists, this policy aims to bring an end to all immigration from Non-White countries.” He noted that since 1965, the country has had a nondiscriminatory policy regarding immigration, making it the most diverse nation in the world — something that has benefited both the country and him personally. However, he wrote that he believes the White House now supports a racist vision, particularly against Muslims, and he foresees a divide in citizenship. “I foresee the creation (of) two kinds of citizenship whereby citizens from Muslim countries and other brown folks become second-class citizens,” he wrote. “The second step is perhaps to deny entry visas, and certainly citizenship, to all non-Whites ... You begin with Muslims because they’re the easiest target and you move down the list of undesirables. Yes, it’s a war against Muslims, but it’s racism pure and simple.” Mattawa wrote that Egyptian scholars, even those whose nations are not affected by the executive order, are concerned. He said they, and those whose nations are on the list, will not come to the United States. “Scholars from the current banned nations will seek to do research elsewhere,” he said. “And those who are already here will seek to leave to places that offer them hospitality and security.” Mattawa feels there is no reason to limit immigration and the executive order is addressing a problem that is nonexistent. “There’s no economic reason to limit immigration to the extent that the Trump administration is calling for,” he wrote. “And there’s no security reason whatsoever behind Trump’s executive order. Hardly any immigrant from the countries mentioned in this list has committed terrorism; their involvement in crime is almost nonexistent.” Mattawa wrote that the

immigrants who come to the United States “tend to be the best, most equipped and most ambitious individuals in the world” — echoing Schlissel’s claim. He said they are people who enter the United States economic system and receive no financial support from citizens. Sheira Cohen is a Rackham student and graduate student instructor from New Zealand. She is helping the Graduate Employees’ Organization negotiate a new contract with the University. Cohen specifically helped construct a proposal to protect graduate student working hours. Under student visas — licenses which most international GSIs have — people cannot work more than 20 hours each week. However, by the University’s current contract, supervisors can require more than 20 hours of work from graduate student instructors. The proposal asks to change this regulation to protect students from violating their visas. “One of the things I think that makes it imperative in the current climate is that there are increasing amounts of attention being paid to students on visas — trying to find ways to take those away and especially scrutiny at the border by border officials,” she said. “If the University says that they want us and that they protect us, in response (to) the executive orders, this is a concrete way that they can do that.” Cohen said she thinks the executive order will heighten the proposal’s urgency and the importance during its negotiations. She said she was asked how many hours she worked at the Canadian border, and so she can’t imagine how much more difficult it would be for international students who are not white, or from Western countries. She said the gap in the contract makes international students vulnerable at borders, and adjusting it would be a way for the University to support international students given the current immigration climate.

Opinion

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

4 — Thursday, February 9, 2017

AUSTIN MCCOY | OP-ED

An open letter to President Schlissel Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.

AUSTIN MCCOY

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.

MARY KATE WINN | COLUMN

The importance of art

ast Monday, United Regardless of where funding States Supreme Court for the arts comes from, the Justice Sonia Sotomayor justices agreed that art holds and Justice Susanne a unique and Baer of the Federal special power to Constitution Court communicate the of Germany hosted incommunicable. a talk sponsored by Sotomayor said art the School of Music, can touch the soul. Theatre & Dance Baer said art is not about the role of just a product, but it the performing arts can “reach out beyond in advancing social what we usually reach justice. The event MARY KATE out to.” They spoke aimed to discuss powerfully about WINN the pivotal role of their experiences the arts in defining with art, and how those the human condition and experiences shaped them. bringing about justice, and Baer said she was “in awe featured student performances seeing the multiplicity of that aspired to demonstrate human expression through the powerful ability of art to music.” Further, music speaks foster understanding and make to her “on another dimension the world a better place. The that (she) couldn’t understand justices’ discussions further otherwise.” Sotomayor said her served to emphasize the most deeply felt views on the importance and necessity of the criminal justice system came arts in our world. The evening from a spoken word project by felt like an impassioned and the Innocence Project. She said convincing plea for society performance moved her “to to remember the value of think more broadly about how the arts. It was particularly our criminal justice system timely, considering recent affects our society than any of rumors that President Trump (her) readings at night.” will eliminate the National Sotomayor’s perspective on Endowment for the Arts, the our criminal justice system National Endowment for the was profoundly shaped by Humanities and privatize one performance, and her the Corporation for Public position on the issue in turn Broadcasting. has been, and will continue During the discussion, the to be, reflected in Supreme speakers raised the subject Court decisions that shape the of the relationship between criminal justice system. This government and the arts. Baer, alone should be proof enough speaking about Germany’s of the value of the arts. But art attitude toward public doesn’t haven’t to affect the funding for the arts, said she opinions of one of the world’s thought government support most important legal minds for the arts demonstrated to have a significant, positive that the arts are “part of our impact. civic society.” She said that in Take, for example, Carla Germany, arts are something Dirlikov Canales, an Ypsilanti that cities are proud to fund, native and world renowned because they provide a source opera singer. Canales spoke of “who we are.” at the event about how artists In contrast, Sotomayor said can be teachers, educators and that the United States has less healers, not just entertainers. of a tradition of public support She would know, having for the arts, and that most U.S. founded the Canales Project cities fund their arts through to “give voice to issues of the generosity of the public. She identity and culture through emphasized that it is part of our the arts and conversation.” civic responsibility to support She has been named to Foreign art. Still, Baer raised the idea Policy’s 100 Leading Global that a compromise between Thinkers of 2015 and has public and private funding might served as a cultural envoy for be preferable, since many artists the U.S. Department of State. need a steady source of income. Before she began her beautiful

EMILY WOLFE | CONTACT EMLY AT ELWOLFE@UMICH.EDU

performance of “Habanera” from “Carmen,” Canales implored the audience to remember that the arts allow us to explore the common human condition, and that this is especially vital in currently divided times. Overall, the event was compelling in its advocacy for the indispensable role that art plays in our lives and in society. Of course, it was a prime example of “preaching to the choir.” I would be shocked if anybody in the small crowd who bought tickets to see an event called “Social Justice and the Performing Arts” doubted the importance of the arts. The self-selection of this event, and many similar ones that take place on college campuses all the time, is a shame, because I think some skeptics might have been converted. I, for one, can easily call to mind the powerful ways that art has shaped my view of the world. Whether it be rap music, foreign films or musicals, art has taught me a lot about the world and made me a more compassionate person. I urge everyone to think about how art has shaped their lives and consider what role we as a country should play in promoting the arts. Do we think that we should leave the arts entirely to will of the public’s generosity, even if this means that art might increasingly become the product of elite preferences? Do we think that cutting funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and privatizing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is necessary, even if they only compose less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the federal budget? As the Trump administration’s radical changes to our country keep coming at lightning speed, don’t let these potential cuts go unnoticed. The arts might not be as critical of an issue as immigration or health care, but the role they play in our society is large and irreplaceable. Mary Kate Winn can be reached at winnm@umich.edu.

ear President Schlissel, This semester I am teaching a course titled “Resisting State Violence: Race, Policing and Social Justice in Twentieth Century America,” offered in the departments of History and Afroamerican and African Studies. As an instructor on race and racism, I try to offer all of my students space to talk frankly and historically about current events, whether the conversation is about the relationship between past immigration policies and President Trump’s executive order banning refugees, or the recent racist and anti-Semitic emails sent to engineering and computer science students. We talked about those emails, as well as the incident concerning the defiled prayer rug in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library Reflection Room in class. Many students of color were upset. Many of them, along with their white peers, expressed the same concern and anger as those who gathered in front of your house shortly after the emails were received. Multiple students expressed a lack of confidence in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan and the University of Michigan’s ability to identify perpetrators of violent speech. Some even went as far to say that it may take someone getting hurt before the University would take recognizable action. Those

comments troubled me and I am sure they would trouble you. I understand that such comments could sting, but they illustrate a persistent gap in trust between some students of color and the administration, despite the University’s DEI efforts. Many will not deny the University’s long-term DEI plans or your willingness to offer assurance via email and in person. I even recognize your efforts to support undocumented students in anticipation of changes in federal immigration policy. But several of my students also see that the University does not appear to be able to prevent the hateful acts targeted at marginalized communities on campus. Another sentiment that some students of color expressed is one that civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer famously uttered in a 1964 speech, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Some spoke of being tired with hearing the response, “We are investigating,” with little update or ability to locate racist, Islamophobic, misogynistic and anti-Semitic trolls. Some of the students in class expressed how they were growing tired with appealing to administration to little effect on their lives. Some even expressed how they were tired of you asking them what you could do. They are obviously seeking inspired leadership, at least. They also desire tangible changes and results, sooner rather than later.

So, what can you do? Unfortunately, I do not have any answers. I wish I did because we all want everyone here at the University to work and live in an environment free of racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, misogyny and other forms of oppression. What I heard in class is a desire for clearer and more constant communication. The students I listened to effectively said that responses that point to the broader context of bigotry in the country are insufficient. They are looking for you to talk directly about these incidents in a manner that illustrates a constant engagement with their daily experiences. They understand campus and outside authorities may be investigating. But, maybe some students of color would appreciate more continual updates about investigations and the University’s efforts to prevent hateful incidents. And I understand there may be legal and institutional limits to such a request, but the more communicative and transparent you can be, the more you can close the gap in trust. As you know, closing this gap in trust between students of color and the administration should garner more buy-in and goodwill for DEI efforts, but it will also be the key toward building a more inclusive and equitable campus climate for years to come. Austin McCoy is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and op-eds. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while op-eds should be 550 to 850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University affiliation to tothedaily@michigandaily.com. MICHAEL SUGERMAN | COLUMN

Single on Valentine’s Day

uggestion: listen to Gilbert a new city instead of returning O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again home. Is this really the time to (Naturally)” as you read pursue a new relationship? for full effect. Valentine’s Day A “secret quickly approaches, admirer” recently and though I know left me a red teddy it’s a fabricated bear holding Hallmark holiday, a plush heart it encapsulates the inscribed with the mounting pressure word “kiss,” along I feel. How many of with a note that your parents have says they can’t stop asked you if you’re thinking about me. dating anyone? MICHAEL Have any of your True story. I still have no clue who it SUGERMAN grandparents tried to is. I’m touched (and set you up? a bit scared). I hope one of my My grandfather called me friends isn’t just screwing with last week and told me the me. I think one of my friends is granddaughter of a friend just screwing with me. in his Torah study group is Secret admirer aside — if a University of Michigan you’re reading this, reveal student. He was trying to be yourself! — my college love helpful, which I appreciate, prospects have been pretty but imagine that introduction: dim. To be quite honest, I don’t “Hi there, we’ve never met, but think college is a very romantic our Jewish grandparents hang place. I often find that there out weekly and want us to wed. are two extremes: the people Are you ready to start the rest who date for four years and of our lives together?” I can are destined for marriage and hear “Tradition” from “Fiddler the sloppy drunken hookups on the Roof” playing in the we see at parties and on the background. dance floors of bars. They’re All of life, I think, is a search so common, there is an for intimacy, and from talking Instagram account dedicated with friends, it seems clear that to documenting them. I’m not the only one struggling Let’s not forget Tinder. Who to find it. The pressure isn’t knew that romance could be just a matter of age or wellas industrial as a rightward intentioned family members. swipe and a “match?” With a I think we’re so used to being handful of carefully curated plugged in, surrounded by pictures and a brief bio, we others and even hyper-aware transcend the mystery of of their relationships, that we fleeting imagination and make forget the importance of being contact, often with complete comfortable with ourselves. strangers. Some have told me A couple of weekends ago, I they legitimately use Tinder stayed in New York City. I have for dating; others say they use some high-school friends there it to feed hookup culture. whom I visited, but a great deal Here’s something I think of my time was spent alone about often: My dad’s parents in the city. The pure thought started dating each other in of that was a bit terrifying to 10th grade. They were 15. me. How could I enjoy myself That’s nuts! My mom’s parents without someone to enjoy married right before my myself with? grandmother graduated from When I was a little kid, I college. She was the same age I loved being on my own. I’d am now! Look — I’m 21 and I’m come home and spend hours in not dating at the moment. I’m my room, playing with Thomas about to graduate from college the Tank Engine figures when and I’m likely going to move to I was really young, and later

moved on to Legos. I loved that time the most; personto-person interactions could be exhausting, and sometimes all I needed to decompress were my favorite toys and my imagination. I tried to channel that dormant part of myself while I was in the city, and to my surprise, it was a success. I stuck in my headphones, jammed to one of my favorite playlists, and walked. I bought a $2 hot dog with ketchup and mustard, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. I went to an art museum and worked through each of its exhibits over the course of three hours. I think I’d forgotten that I can be fun to hang out with. All things considered, this column is both personal catharsis and reassurance for those of you who are in the same boat right now. This Valentine’s Day, don’t be ashamed if you’re not taking a significant other out to dinner somewhere in downtown Ann Arbor to show that you care. Don’t worry that your grandparents were already on the verge of having children when they were in this stage of life. I conducted some minor research on this, and according to one psychologist, “The more obsessed and ruminative a person may be about obtaining a partner or finding new romantic attention, the more depleted and inadequate they may feel about themself.” Sometimes, the person you should get to know better is … you. So, put in the time. Grab a cup of coffee. Get a box of chocolates. Go to an art museum. Listen to some new tunes. Some will call it denial (and it may be, at least a little bit), but I’ll call it self-care. Relationships with others can be fulfilling, frustrating, fleeting and so much more — but you are your own inevitable constant. Embrace it. Michael Sugerman can be reached at mrsuggs@umich.edu.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Style

Thursday, February 9, 2017 — 5

STYLE REVIEW

DAILY FOOD COLUMN

There are no quick & easy shortcuts in the kitchen Don’t be mislead by those Tasty videos — fast and good are mutually exclusive according to the Daily’s food columnist

JOHN VARVATOS

New York Fashion Week 2017: Men’s in review NYFW designers consider political implications of fashion NARESH IYENGAR Daily Arts Writer

Men’s Fashion Week in New York was an eventful time — with shows representing every designer from Fear of God to Vetements (seriously, check this one out). While there are many shows worth discussing, I want to focus on NYFW:M on a broader scale: Raf Simons Raf unveiled his Fall 2017 Men’s Collection in New York this past week. Having recently moved to New York for his new position at Calvin Klein, he seemed to draw from the feel of New York City, combining boxy and checkered topcoats with “I heart NY” sweaters. “I wanted to go back to how I experienced New York in the beginning and combine it with how I experience it now. So this fresh young direction to the city and everything it stands for—and what is happening now,” Simons said when asked about his inspiration for the show in Vogue. In reference to the current political climate, Vogue asked Simons if President Donald Trump’s election has influenced his work, and while he says it has not, his desire to represent the rich history of the city and all of its people is an inherent celebration of the immigrant narrative in this country. “Ask me do I think that you should stand up against what is happening in this country, then I say yes,” he also added. While Simons gave credit to

the beauty of the city and its rich history, it wasn’t the NYC sweaters that stood out to me. The detail that made many of the looks was the cinching on the outerwear. It’s something that has become a staple of many Dries van Noten shirts, and it really allows some outerwear, that could otherwise be viewed as somewhat plain, to shine. Simons’ coverage in the news has not been exclusive to his eponymous line, though. Calvin Klein has also been making waves these past few weeks, giving the Belgian designer a jam-packed schedule. Coming off of showing his first designs since taking over as Calvin Klein’s Chief Creative Officer, where they announced that customers could schedule appointments for made to measure clothing, the fashion house recently took to Instagram to let the world know that they have changed their logo. This is all in anticipation for the Fall/Winter 2017 ready-towear collection which is set to show on February 10th in New York. The Runway Gets Political There has never been a more fitting time for fashion shows to be in New York than this past week. While President Donald Trump’s proposed immigration ban was sending shockwaves through the country, there were dozens of fashion houses with foreign designers, foreign employees and foreign models showing their collections for, among other people, Americans. To me, it perfectly encapsulates the point that many

people have tried to drive home over the last week: Our country is strengthened by all of the people from all over the world who come here to have an impact. While most of these designers will soon return to their respective countries, they did not waste any time to voice their opinions (both on the runway and off). Detroit-raised designer John Varvatos told the New York Times, “Half the people in my company are from someplace else” in response to Trump’s executive order, echoing the fears of many people in this country, especially as we await the court decision on the ban. Of the most on-the-nose demonstrations on the runway, Nick Graham welcomed Buzz Aldrin and Bill Nye to his Mars-themed show, where Nye addressed those who deny climate change. Meanwhile, Robert Jamesmade statements on the immigration ban, with models sporting signs with messages like “Made in a Sanctuary City” or “Bridges not Walls.” Both can be seen here. Fashion, like other forms of art, can be a powerful way to send a message. There are thousands of people who go to the shows, write about them online and end up purchasing the items when they hit stockists. For many people in the United States and around the world, this is a tumultuous time, and it’s reassuring to see designers using their platforms to express their discontent, even at the potential cost of customers.

An outsider on menswear Style writer Sarah Agnone explores Men’s Fashion Week piece by piece taking a look at designers, costs and clothes Daily Arts Writer

As far as style goes, January 2017 is the month of the man. The fashion industry raked in millions after shows in Paris, Milan, New York, Florence — you name it. The farthest reaching fashion media feeds gave menswear its due, Vogue publishing its usual glorious photo slides of each collection and hundreds of articles were published raving over or criticizing this season’s batch. Yet as relevant as it may be, I simply haven’t kept up with men’s fashion, really at all in comparison to the way I keep up with women’s fashion. The most I’d seen or paid attention to it was in unisex collections or styles because simply put, androgyny is in. But before scrolling through the slides of the most popular, recent runway collections whose designers I’d at least heard of, I made a number of assumptions about my expectations for modern menswear, namely in comparison to womenswear. It would be more practical, less flashy and, above all, boring (sexist, I know). But upon finally thinking about it and

hacks, shaping their culinary experience with two-bit tricks designed to garner views rather than inform readers. Growing up, I frequently visited my grandmother for the sole purpose of learning how to make her signature rugelach. They were f luffy, oozing with a rich chocolate filling and sprinkled with a sugar, butter and f lour mixture that turned golden brown in the oven. They bore little resemblance to the dense, dry cookies of the same name sold in many grocery stores and even traditional bakeries. They were an

SHIR AVINADAV entity of their own, stealthily categorized in the same group of recipes defining the traditional Ashkenzi pastry. The process of making these rugelach-sweet bun hybrid was nothing short of involved (mostly on my grandma’s part as I was only seven or eight at the time of my interest in making these treats). To save me the anticipation of waiting for the dough to rise — I was, predictably, quite impatient during the whole ordeal — my grandma would make the dough the night before. To this day, I still don’t know how she made it. It was just this magical, massive ball of risen yeast and f lour that was revealed in its enormous bowl under a checkered towel every time I arrived for our day of baking.

I was in awe of the bowl’s contents. Somehow, by some process of adding ingredients and shaping them, my grandma created the foundation for what we would spend hours assembling and baking. It was hard for my young mind to grasp the actual work that went into making something like that, and looking back now, I regret taking it for granted. To assemble the rugelach, we’d carefully roll out the dough and cut it into triangles, slather each piece generously with chocolate spread (something mysterious that came out of a plastic tub with Hebrew lettering) and roll them up before dabbing them with melted butter and sprinkling the crumb topping over them. Waiting for the rugelach to rise again then bake was agonizing. I would watch the oven and try to will it to turn the dough golden brown faster. It was a trying several minutes even waiting for them to cool out on the counter once the fragrant, steaming pastries were removed from the oven. This process took countless hours of preparation, but it was worth it. Not just for the final result, but for the time spent making them (however impatiently passed). The memory of making rugelach is one that I hold on to dearly. No shortcut could replace or even resemble that. In an era of increasing instant gratification and dissociation from reality, it’s easy to forget that cooking, however time-straining, is a grounding and nourishing process. Using shortcuts only detracts from its benefits. Rather than following those “lazy cooks” guides for “quick and easy meals,” try making your meal with a different adjective. And please, please stop using the microwave to cook raw food.

STYLE NOTEBOOK

Bad Jeans, Good Genes

STYLE REVIEW

SARAH AGNONE

When it comes to cooking, fast and good are generally mutually exclusive. By fast, I’m not talking about the impossible rate at which Iron Chef contestants chop carrots (At the speed of light. Don’t fact check that). I’m talking about clickbait articles like “10 Cooking Shortcuts Everyone Needs to Know” or “30 Dinners in Under 30 minutes.” Fast and easy are often used interchangeably, but lists of tips and tricks that boast speed are the ones to look out for. Yes, maybe some recipes are more easily and quickly prepared than others, but by nature, not by method. If you’re taking more than several minutes to fry an egg, you’re probably doing something wrong. As food and cooking have becoming increasingly present online and on social media, the discussion surrounding them has changed. We’re a technologically driven society obsessed with what’s fast and easy. We don’t have time to dedicate to cooking — we’d rather have our Apple Watch make our dinner for us or watch someone make dinner in a Tasty video instead. “Drunk Uncle” digression aside, I’m here to tell you (in my very professional opinion) that in cooking, as with life, there are no shortcuts. That’s right, call your mom to tell her she was right. Alert the press. Or just tweet about it. There are no shortcuts. Stop microwaving your eggs and putting frozen chicken straight into the pan (it has to thaw first, c’mon). While some shortcuts are kitchen experiments executed at the hands of desperate, timecrunched cooks, others are much more nefarious. Into the latter category fall clickbait disguised as time-saving hacks. Less experienced cooks fall victim to these

scrolling through the collections, I wondered why I hadn’t at least viewed men’s fashion week. From a personal standpoint, I buy plenty of men’s clothing at a thrift store and would agree the men’s section has infinitely better sweaters. Entertainment-wise, the spectacle of menswear runway shows rival the finesse, detail and extravagance exhibited in any women’s runway collection. The men’s fashion industry currently stands valued at $440 billion and incredibly famous and acclaimed designers like Raf Simmons and Marcus Wainwright made their debut in menswear. So here are a few thoughts of my favorite menswear collections of the season, interpreted by an almost completely blank slate. Nick Graham, apparently the maker of some of the greatest suits to walk the earth, debuted a Mars-themed collection for New York Fashion Week, hosted by, you guessed it, actually probably not: Bill Nye. The patterns and colors were bold and inventive but just understated enough to maintain the integrity of a dressy, professional suit. I completely agree with the hype. Raf Simmons: because of his work with Dior and Calvin

Klein, this is biased in his favor. His recent immigration and succession of Calvin Klein has garnered plenty of attention. Regardless of whether or not his menswear collection expressed any of the recent uproar in regards to American immigration policy or sentiment about his new status as a U.S. citizen, the collection was unmistakably themed with pieces like an unforgettable “I heart New York” sweater and working class overcoats donned by especially thin models. His work was oversized, occasionally cinched with caution tape and plastic belts emboldened with trademark New York sayings. Much of it included exciting graphics and a remarkably unisex appeal. Hugo Boss, unfortunately, was what I expected to dislike about menswear. Everything was cleancut but nothing remotely exciting. Maybe I’m simple-minded or misinformed for wanting some color, any color. My brief encounter with menswear forces me to conclude that I’ve been missing out. As womenswear and menswear continue to collide and mix, menswear just might reign supreme one of these days.

Put away those mom jeans and defy the ugly fashion trend TESS TOBIN

Daily Arts Writer

Can we dig a six-foot-deep ditch for ill-fitting, lightwash, high-wasted jeans? Specifically, those that resemble something your grandpa would wear to senior breakfast with a matching pair of white orthopedic New Balances. While mindlessly perusing the internet, I came across an image of Malia Obama on her first day of her new internship with the Weinstein Company in New York City. The image was upsetting. First, because it served as an unwanted reminder that I still do not have an internship for this summer (yes, mom, I am working on it). But primarily because she was wearing a pair of jeans so heinous your mother wouldn’t even touch them. I’ve seen these jeans walking around every day, but this particular pair heartily shoved me over the edge. Their unabashed ugliness served as a gammaray machine, transforming me from a mild-mannered style writer into a green monster seething with distaste for the style. If you have a pair of mom jeans, I implore you to burn them. The appeal of mom jeans lies in their rebellion. To my

knowledge, no one has ever purchased mom jeans under the impression that they are good looking. What makes them cool is their ugliness, and the undaunted attitude that accompanies wearing them. I think this notion of “cool” is a fallacy. You have to have a semblance

When I see a girl wearing them, I view it as an appropriation of a trend in an obvious attempt to look alternative

of originality to be a nonconformist. Mom jeans, once bold and unique, have firmly dug their gnarly toes into the mainstream mud. Their moment has passed. No one is applauding your sartorial bravery and distinction; unfortunately, because the trend has become so widely adopted, you’re left looking unoriginal.

I should clarify, my main issue is not that they are fundamentally unf lattering. I subscribe wholeheartedly to man-repelling, wearing aggressive and eccentric styles even if — especially if — they are deemed ugly by the opposite sexW. At the core of man-repelling (a term coined by Leandra Medine) is the notion of dressing exclusively for yourself based singularly on your personal style. My dispute with the pants is that I perceive them as a superficial imitation of this stance. When I see a girl wearing baggy trousers, I do not view it as an empowered statement, a declaration of independence from a beautyoriented style of dressing. When I see a girl wearing them, I view it as an appropriation of a trend in an obvious attempt to look alternative. There’s nothing less cool than trying desperately hard to look cool. However, I may be in the minority on this. The article in which I initially saw the image lauded Malia. Comparing her outfit to something that Rihanna would wear (primarily for her choice of coat and shoes, but still). And this was Vogue, no less. All fashion is subjective if you wear mom jeans and love ‘em, you’re in your rights to tell me to ‘eff off.

Arts

6 — Thursday, February 9, 2017

TV REVIEW

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

MUSIC REVIEW

YOUNG TURKS THE CW

‘Crazy Ex’ teases change A session of therapy: Season finale bodes of darker things to come for the show Sampha’s own ‘Process’ ALEX INTNER Daily Arts Writer

There’s a moment in the “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” finale where Rebecca (Rachel Bloom, “Fuck Me Ray Bradbury”) looks like she’s on the verge of a breakthrough. She’s sitting with her therapist and talking about how her father’s absence affected her relationships with the men in her life. It seems like she’s about to have a realization, but then she gets distracted and leaves in a rush. It’s one of a few false starts to her dealing with her mental issues. Now, whether Rebecca is ready to sort out her issues or not, the show looks like it’s ready to deal with them head-on. The brilliant season two finale of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” gave us insight into Rebecca’s past, while the story had enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat, setting up a darker but fascinating third season. The finale focuses on what happens around Rebecca and Josh Chan’s (Vincent Rodriguez III, “Hostages”) wedding. After a haphazard proposal and a rushed engagement period, Rebecca’s life is thrown further into chaos when her father, who left her when she was a teenager, returns. She spends most of the episode trying to restart the relationship while preparing for her wedding, which brings to light how her current issues connect with her father first leaving.

More than anything else, the looks like the show will bring more show sets up a massive change in of that to light last year. tone and theme for its third season. One of the key strengths of The main story arc for the first two “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” remains seasons has been that of Rebecca its music, as the second season and Josh. She moves across the featured some of the show’s best country for him, she tries to win musical moments. In the finale his love and she gets it. But now, itself, “Rebecca’s Reprise” is a he left her, and she’s pissed. This medley of four songs that perfectly sets up a third season where the captures her journey up to that focus will be about point. It’s the her anger and her emotional climax “Crazy Exseeking revenge for the season, as Girlfriend” against Josh. The she seems to have show hasn’t been everything she’d Season 2 Finale afraid of hinting at ever wanted. And, The CW the darker aspects the music helps of mental illness to emphasize the (see the first season song “You emotional moments. Right before Stupid Bitch”). However, it hasn’t everything starts to unravel for fully embraced it up to this point. her, the song is a moment of bliss. And, I hope with the embrace of The season was filled with many a darker tone, the show will delve great musical moments. From further into Rebecca’s mental Greg (Santino Fontana, “Shades of illness. There were moments Blue”) leaving the show with one and hints throughout the season, last reminder of how “It Was a Shit but there was always something Show” to the hilarious numbers that prevented her from making like “We Tapped that Ass” or a realization (in those moments, “The Math of Love Triangles,” the the show used the exacerbation of series knows how to make fun and her therapist to comic effect). Still, engaging musical moments. the finale flashes back to moments The second season of “Crazy from Rebecca’s past involving Ex-Girlfriend” wasn’t perfect, as her relationship with a married the show seemed to struggle in the professor at Harvard Law named immediate aftermath of Fontana Robert (Adam Kaufman, “State of leaving. But the finale was about as Affairs”). As a result of her burning good an ending as it could’ve had. his clothes after he breaks up with It attacked its material with depth her, she is forced by the court to and intelligence, while setting up spend time in a mental institution. a third season that, while being There’s clearly more story to mine remarkably different than prior in both her background and her years, will take the show in a efforts to get treatment, and it fascinating direction.

Classifieds

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

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, February 9, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

HELP WANTED

DOWN 1 Twisty-horned antelope 2 Photo app effect 3 Founder of Taoism 4 Sport for Ronda Rousey, for short 5 Aromatherapy array 6 Outmoded public convenience

7 Center of moral corruption 8 TV show with mashups 9 Down with something 10 Wanted one 11 Bothered a lot 12 Fronded plants 18 Mediocre marks 19 Sonnet, e.g. 20 Do maintained with a pick 25 Kids’ summer activity 27 “Another word for nothin’ left to lose,” in a Joplin hit 29 __ Aviv 30 Genetic messenger molecule 33 The Scooby gang’s Mystery Machine, e.g. 34 Ode preposition 35 Spell 36 QB’s mishap 38 Dream state letters 39 Technical foul signal, in basketball 40 West ender?

41 Place 45 Centipede home? 46 Stimulated 47 “Oh, now __ it!” 48 All-in-one vacation 49 Eliot’s weaver 51 Canned meat used in Hawaiian cuisine 52 “The Good Dinosaur” dinosaur

53 Reddish horse 54 Source of cartoon explosives 56 Other, south of the border 57 Castle defense 58 Basic class with easels 59 Tiny time pd. 61 Siegfried collaborator 62 PDX info: Abbr.

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

02/09/17

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT WORK ON MACKINAC Island This Summer – Make lifelong friends. The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are seeking help in all areas: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas. Dorm Housing, bonus, and discounted meals. (906) 847-7196. www.theislandhouse.com

1 BEDROOM APTS Near N. Campus Fall 2017-18 - $900/m + $25/m Utilities Each unit has one parking space. 909 & 915 Wall St. Deinco Properties 734-996-1991 935 S. DIVISION 2 Bedroom + Study Fall 2017? Max Occupancy is 4 ? 2 Parking Spaces Washer/Dryer $2250 + Utilities Cappo Mgmt 734-996-1991 ARBOR PROPERTIES Award-Winning Rentals in Kerrytown, Central Campus, Old West Side, Burns Park. Now Renting for 2017. 734-649-8637. www.arborprops.com EFF, 1 & 2 Bdrm Apts Fall 2017-18 Many locations near campus Rents from $850 (eff) - $1415 (2 bdrm) Most include Heat and Water www.cappomanagement.com 734-996-1991

02/09/17

Daily Arts Writer

It’s easy to forget that music can be as therapeutic for the artist to make as it is for the listener to experience. Sampha Sisay proves this true on his debut LP, Process. It’s a testament to his gorgeous, versatile vocals; an impressive display of the beauty that can rise from pain. Sisay’s mother passed away from cancer in 2015, and that tragedy, in a way, makes this album. Themes of grief and heavy emotions run everywhere. But Process is only heartwrenchingly powerful, never overdramatic. The album opens with “Plastic 100°C,” a passionate introduction to a similarly raw album. Like “Demons” from Dual, Sampha’s second EP, “Plastic 100°C” starts with a clip of a voice recording before cycling into the actual song. Plucking, harp-like notes lend the piece a hypnotic, ethereal feeling that sparks the detailed lyrical imagery, while escalating instrumentals intensify and advance the song. “It’s so hot I’ve been melting out here / I’m made out of plastic out here / You touched down in the base of my fears,” he sings, with feverish anxiety in his voice. Even more striking is the unhurried, vulnerable bridge of the piece, which contrasts sharply with the organized chaos of the

FALL 2017‑18 Apts @ 1015 Packard 2 Bedroom ‑ $1370 ‑ 2nd floor 3 Bedroom - $1380 - basement 1 parking space avail for $50/m per unit Deinco 734-996-1991

first few minutes. of the song sounds as if Sampha “Blood On Me,” the second were accompanied by a chorus track and first single on Process, of starlit angels. The beauty of came about because of a terrifying the song never detracts from its dream, and it’s audible in Sampha’s weight though: “And I seek / I’m voice. The song begins breathlessly, seeking something I can’t see / I then grows in both intensity and may be reading in too deep / And feeling. The faster pace of the piece, maybe this is all a dream,” Sampha quick, drumming instrumentals croons, leaving the listener with and hypnotizing, almost cinematic an immersive, echoing melancholy descriptions of the beings chasing that sticks. him combine in trepidation, yet Sampha’s range is almost create a mesmerizing dream that limitless. “Under” is an gradually swallows the listener. intentionally tumultuous track, Process shares some of the with an echoing beginning same stylistic qualities prevalent reminiscent of Dual’s “Beneath in 2013’s Dual, like The Tree,” while a heavy reliance “(No One Knows on electronic Me) Like The instrumentals and Piano” strips Sampha a prancing piano, away most of but the difference the electronic Young Turks between the two instrumentals is in their tone. that are present in Dual is unfailingly practically every melodious and bright, even at its other track, leaving Sampha’s moodiest, possessing barely any of voice to amble along at it’s own the dark, somber earnestness that heartfelt pace accompanied by a dominates Process. single piano. “Take Me Inside” may be the With a steady hand, Sampha shortest track in the album, but takes listeners through a it’s one of the most beautiful. mesmerizing journey that gets It’s slower paced than most of down to the grit of what makes Process, a quality that emphasizes us human. Instead of shying the light, delicate dance of away from pain that’s often Sampha’s higher octaves. His hard to discuss, much less sing voice’s smooth transitions bring to about, he embraces it. Process is a mind the composed strength of a magnetizing reminder that music ballerina, filled with a calm grace is inseparable from emotion and that belies the effort required to an affirmation that grief, at its perfect such skill. The latter half rawest, is universally understood.

Process

BOOK REVIEW

All hail the YA ‘Caraval’ Daily Arts Writer

DOMINICK’S NOWHIRING all positions FT/PT. Call 734-834-5021.

FOR RENT

xwordeditor@aol.com

SAMANTHA LU

ASIF BECHER

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Subj. for a nonnative speaker 4 __-top: Beatles’ style 7 Much of “Star Wars” FX 10 Clumsy type 13 __ Michele, 8-Down co-star 14 “The Princess Diaries” princess 15 Tetris shape 16 Sporty truck, briefly 17 War film with a cast of 60-Across? 21 “Rock and Roll All __”: Kiss hit 22 Reckon 23 Custardy dessert 24 Thrown for a loop 26 Cool, once 27 Campus groups 28 Newspaper with a staff of 60-Across? 31 Dough for ramen? 32 Square __ 33 Traveler’s aid 37 “Hamlet, thou art slain” speaker 42 Political __ 43 Big name in big tractors 44 1969 hit song by a group of 60-Across? 50 Write in code? 51 Actress Ramirez of “Grey’s Anatomy” 55 __ d’Alene 56 Mideast sultanate 60 Off-putting sorts? 63 Pie choice 64 Like bread knives 65 Well-to-do 66 Unpredictable

Mesmerizing new album proves cathartic and transcendent

Much of the stigma that surrounds young adult novels is undeserved. People point to the tired tropes of the most laughable YA novels as being representative of the whole genre—love triangles, mean boys in leather jackets who secretly love you, bland female protagonists named Elektra or Aurora or whatever, nouns being unnecessarily capitalized in the place of actual worldbuilding, etc. And yes, these tropes are pervasive and annoying, but they’re window dressing. They’re never at the heart of what makes teenagers love young adult books. Cliche is not the same thing as bad. If this were true, then I guess we all would really hate “Star Wars.” After all, it’s home to all those dumb tropes like love triangles, mean boys in leather jackets, and the egregiously capitalized Empire and Republic. Many of the surface-level YA criticisms have much more to do with derision of teenage girls and the things made for/written by women than they do concerns over actual literary quality. But I digress. What I’m trying to get at here is that a book that features corsets and enchantments and not one but two mean boys in leather jackets with hidden hearts of gold is not inherently dumb or bad. Silly? Yes. Ridiculous wish-fulfillment fantasy? Absolutely. Fun as hell? But of course. Stephanie Garber’s “Caraval” is 400 pages of pure pulpy joy. The protagonist, Scarlett (spoiler: she wears many red dresses, because

of course she does) is the daughter have to stand really really close of a powerful, ruthless, and violent together and make breathtaking man who terrorizes her and her eye contact. At one point, Scarlett sister Tella (short for Donatella, says the word “scoundrel” with because of course it is). Scarlett is complete sincerity, and LJB#1 is engaged to be married to a man honestly offended. she has never met, but she secretly And yet, Stephanie Garber is no dreams of seeing Caraval, an dummy. She knows exactly what annual performance where the kind of book she’s writing and never audience participates in a Hunger shies away from the ridiculousness. Games minus the murder (well, Garber works entirely within kind of) style of competition. familiar YA story structures, but Caraval is a weeklong experience she clearly understands exactly in which participants stay on a how to maximize traditional magical island where they solve narratives to be their very best. a series of riddles, Every character competing to see is well-developed, who can get to the interesting, and end of the puzzle complicated (except first. With the help for Dante, but I Stephanie Garber mean, the dude’s of the mysterious sexpot sailor name is Dante. It Flatiron Books Julian (Leather would be a little Jacket Boy #1), redundant if he Scarlett and Tella had a personality). are whisked away The relationships, to the show, where Tella is though predictable, develop immediately kidnapped by the organically and believably. And the magical mastermind/organizer of plot twists may be numerous, but the event, Legend. In this year’s they make sense and work within competition, whoever finds Tella the larger story. Structurally, first is the winner of the Caraval. this book is precisely written It’s up to Scarlett, with the help and airtight in its construction, of Julian, to find Tella and return building in momentum by the page. home in time for her wedding. “Caraval” has its flaws, and it may “Caraval” is so easy to poke fun be silly, but it works. A functional, of. In this novel, there is no such entertaining and effective story is thing as too many adjectives or too no easy thing to write, especially many synonyms for the color red (I within traditional YA frameworks mean, “cerise?” Really?). There is— from which people often expect no joke—a character named Dante the worst. It’s melodramatic and (Leather Jacket Boy #2, duh) who deeply entertaining. Ridiculous has completely unironic tattoos of and glorious. All hail “Caraval.” black roses and falcons on the backs Here to remind us just how weird of his hands and neck. There are and wonderful YA can be. many, many extended sequences This article has been reprinted as of Scarlett and Leather Jacket a correction from Monday’s issue. Boys being forced into increasingly It was incorrectly attributed to hilarious situations where they another writer.

“Caraval”

Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Thursday, February 9, 2017 — 7A

As recruiting accelerates, Michigan’s tactics shift ORION SANG

Daily Sports Editor

The conversation may have taken place nearly three years ago, but Jack LaFontaine still remembers it vividly. During his sophomore year of high school, the now-freshman goaltender for the Michigan hockey team was in Ann Arbor to watch the Wolverines take on Penn State. LaFontaine, still a relatively unheralded prospect in search of an offer, met with the coaching staff for the first time after the game. LaFontaine smiled while recalling that talk with Michigan coach Red Berenson. Clearly, it still holds weight with him — a marker of his past and the path he took. “I finally introduced myself to coach (Berenson),” LaFontaine said. “I remember him saying, ‘Go develop, do your thing and come talk to me in a couple years.’ ” Sure enough, two years later, LaFontaine found himself back in Ann Arbor, albeit under different circumstances. This time, he was a highly-coveted prospect in the midst of a stint with the United States Hockey League’s Janesville Jets, projected to be taken in the NHL Draft later that spring. And this time, when he met with Berenson, the coach offered him a scholarship. After the visit, LaFontaine went home to Canada, discussed it with his family and then called both Berenson and assistant coach Brian Wiseman to let them know he was committing to Michigan. He didn’t officially commit until nearly a week after his visit, but LaFontaine had laid in bed the previous Friday — the night he arrived in Ann Arbor — with an inkling that he wanted to be a Wolverine. While the natural progression from unofficial visit to official visit to commitment may have once been common practice, the pace of recruiting in college hockey has quickened so much that stories like LaFontaine’s are now unique.

*** That phenomenon has taken place in most collegiate sports. It was once standard for athletes to commit to a school during their senior year, but now top recruits are committing to schools earlier and earlier. Freshman forward Will Lockwood committed in the spring of 2014 as a sophomore in high school. Jacob Truscott, a 14-year-old defenseman in the 2020-21 class, committed this past Saturday. As Berenson says, it’s an “everchanging process,” and it has caused a shift to the types of visits that players take. LaFontaine’s interest in Michigan was initially piqued by his first trip to Ann Arbor — dubbed an “unofficial visit” by the NCAA. Recruits can take unofficial visits to schools whenever they want. The only caveat is that the athlete and his family must pay their own way. The school, as bound by NCAA rules, cannot pay for their travel or lodging, among other expenses. Most of the work Michigan has to do involves contacting the ticket office to let them know which games the recruit will be visiting for, or the coaches setting aside time to meet with the player and his family. Schools, however, can pay for a recruit’s official visit, but recruits must wait until at least their senior year to take one. This is where the acceleration of the recruiting process comes into play: with players choosing to commit earlier in the process, schools can no longer afford to bring them in only on official visits. In Michigan’s case, the assistant coaches — and Berenson, to a lesser extent — are constantly involved with setting up unofficial visits, either during the season or the offseason. “The official visit is important,” Berenson said. “But the unofficial visit might be the most important, where they come early and realize, ‘Oh, this is where I want to go.’ They might get blown away the

first time they come here.” Luckily for the Wolverines, they already have a built-in advantage compared to teams like Arizona State or Penn State: their geography. Michigan is typically a hotbed for hockey, and the United States National Team Development Program practices just 30 minutes away from Ann Arbor. The city is also within driving distance of much of Canada. The more manageable the distance, the easier it is for recruits to take unofficial visits to Michigan early in the process, before they leave their hometowns to finish their prep careers in junior leagues like the USHL. While the Wolverines have extended their reach nationally as the sport has grown in the past few decades, the team is still mostly comprised of players from the surrounding region. Of the 28 players on the roster, 13 are from Michigan and six are from the Midwest or Canada. Despite the growing importance of unofficial visits, official visits still serve a valuable purpose. They can solidify the status of a recruit wavering on his verbal commitment, grow the relationship between a player and his future coaches and teammates, or allow players to compare different schools. And perhaps most importantly for Michigan, a school that deals with early or unexpected departures nearly every offseason, official visits allow the coaching staff to showcase the school late in the recruiting process to recruits who haven’t committed yet at all, like LaFontaine, or who are reconsidering their initial decision. The script for an official visit to Ann Arbor is usually the same for most recruits, according to Berenson. The recruits will arrive in the evening, eat dinner with a current team member assigned as their host and spend time with the host and the rest of the team. The recruit will also tour the campus

and meet with academic officials before visiting the hockey facilities and spending time with the coaches. In most cases, the recruit will also attend practice and a game, before the trip concludes with a meeting in Berenson’s office. Yet, while most official visit itineraries are similar, what resonates the most with each individual recruit is often different. For Slaker, it was how the coaching staff watched film with him. “They videotape every practice and they’ll break it down and look at what guys need to work on,” Slaker said. “There’s always extra ice in the morning for guys to work on depending on classes. They were showing me videos of guys working on stuff in the mornings and incorporating it into games. After talking to the coaching staff and seeing everything that they do and how professional it is, I thought it was the best opportunity to give me a shot to play pro hockey.” His visit to Michigan only confirmed what he had already been feeling, and he didn’t take much time in making his second commitment — telling Berenson he wanted to be a Wolverine. While Slaker enjoyed the technical breakdown of his future at Michigan, LaFontaine was most enamored with the family feel he got from Michigan. *** By now, Berenson has delegated most of the recruiting responsibilities to other staff members like associate head coach Billy Powers and Wiseman. It was Wiseman who served as the primary contact for both Slaker and LaFontaine before each took their official visit to Michigan. Perhaps that is by design. Berenson has a legendary reputation within the sport, and at this point, he has been a coach for long before any recruit was born. So when a recruit steps into Berenson’s office, having had little prior contact and not knowing what to expect, something as simple as a short face-to-face conversation

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

Michigan coach Red Berenson has adjusted his recruiting methods over time.

can still have the most meaningful impact. “It was surreal,” Slaker said. “His history speaks for itself. It was kinda shocking just to get to shake his hand. I felt really honored to have an opportunity to play here. It was really cool meeting him and getting to talk to him a bit and see where he saw me in the lineup and where he thought I could be as a player. It got me really excited about coming here.” Added LaFontaine: “... I remember sitting down at practice, and coach (Berenson) just telling me all these great stories. Not even Michigan-related, just about his time as a professional hockey player and his time as a coach. It was by far the most unique visit I’ve had.” It’s in those final meetings where Berenson gets to state his final case on unofficial or official visits, and he has secured many a commitment doing so. “We had one kid — his name was Luke Moffatt,” Berenson said. “I told him, ‘We’re not going to rush

you. You take your time and decide and let us know what you want to do.’ And right away, he ripped off his overshirt and he had a Michigan hockey shirt underneath, and he said, ‘That’s my answer.’ That was one of the more memorable ones.” At this point, there isn’t much complexity to Berenson’s pitch. As a visit comes to an end, the recruit and school have become familiar with each other. By the time they met with Berenson, Slaker and LaFontaine knew what type of opportunities a Michigan offer presented, and so he didn’t have to sell the program very hard. “We’re very transparent,” Berenson said. “They can ask any questions. We lay it all out, and this is Michigan. It’s pretty hard not to like it. If you’re looking for a good school and a good program, that’s what we offer. I would say that goes for all our sports here. You get the best of both worlds.” Read the full story at michigandaily.com

Newcomers look to fit into veteran squad Michigan edges Purdue WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

JACOB SHAMES Daily Sports Writer

Leading up to the 2017 season, the Michigan baseball team has been stressing two recurring themes — culture and experience. The program has now won 30 or more games in each of the last three seasons under coach Erik Bakich, improving its winning percentage each year. With a veteran core of 12 juniors and seven seniors returning, that mark appears attainable again. Now in his fifth season at the helm, Bakich has overseen the development of an entire recruiting class. He has watched his players progress through the program, receive interest from MLB teams, and seen some eventually be drafted. To Bakich, the five players chosen in the MLB Draft last year — the most the Wolverines have had since 2010 — is emblematic of the culture his teams create. “That’s the nature of the beast in quality programs, (you) try to build the best program you can,”

Bakich said. “One of the impacts of that is that the players are going to develop and get drafted to professional baseball.” Three of Michigan’s 2016 draftees — pitchers Brett Adcock and Evan Hill and utility player Carmen Benedetti — signed pro contracts last summer, leaving glaring holes to fill. While the Wolverines already have an abundance of upperclassmen ready to fill these roles, Bakich believes the 12 newcomers to the team have an equal chance to duplicate the success and year-by-year progression that Adcock, Hill and Benedetti made in their careers. Of the Wolverines’ incoming class, the biggest immediate impact will likely be made by those who have already played baseball at the collegiate level – the five junior college and Division I transfers. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Miles Lewis is perhaps the most high-profile among them. He was the 2016 Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American

at North Dakota, batting .360 and stealing 20 bases. When the Fighting Hawks dropped their baseball program after the season, Lewis had the opportunity to transfer anywhere and be immediately eligible to play. With only two returning outfielders on the roster, the Wolverines will likely rely heavily on Lewis’s speed and switch-hitting ability right out of the gate. “He brings that impact ability to come in and solidify an outfield role and hit close to the top of the order,” Bakich said. Another player that Bakich named as having an opportunity to contribute immediately is sophomore Nick Poirier, who hit .372 with four home runs and 31 runs batted in last season at San Joaquin Delta Community College. Poirier brings a lefthanded presence with a chance to add much-needed outfield depth, and may also see time at designated hitter. On the mound, Bakich said that junior Alec Rennard, a transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College,

FILE PHOTO/Daily

Michigan coach Erik Bakich sees plenty of opportunities for his new players to take on key roles this season.

is one of the Wolverines’ four best pitchers. At Santa Rosa, Rennard was the Big 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year and a first-team Junior College All-American, going 14-1 with a 1.40 ERA, while walking just 10 batters in 115.2 innings. “He’s got a winner’s mentality,” Bakich said. “He’ll be in our rotation somewhere.” Michigan’s recruiting class also includes seven freshmen, three of whom were highlighted by Bakich as players to watch. Outfielder Christian Bullock brings athleticism and solid hitting potential, while pitchers Tommy Henry and Karl Kauffman have the talent to eventually comprise the backbone of the pitching staff. “This is obviously a very skilled freshman class, and we have some talented (junior college transfers) that have proven themselves,” said junior infielder Jake Bivens. “They’ve been great additions to this team and have fit right in with this culture, so we’re excited to see them actually get on the field and play against other guys.” Even though the potential is clearly there for the freshmen, the excitement may have to wait a little bit. With the veteran makeup of the lineup, it may be difficult for any of them to earn consistent playing time immediately. However, Bakich stresses that they will still have opportunities to play key roles. “They’re trying to get a feel for the academics and the speed of the game while still having a social life and making friends,” Bakich said. “It’s going to be very challenging for them to get on the field and have an impact-type role, but I think you’ll see them contribute in ways where they can help the team in certain spots.” The junior college transfers have the experience and ability to step in right away and fill key holes vacated from last season, supplementing an already veteran team. In the meantime, a promising group of freshmen lies waiting for their opportunity. After years of consistent improvement, the Wolverines appear to have a solid foundation in place, both now and in the future.

MAGGIE KOLCON Daily Sports Writer

The No. 21 Michigan women’s basketball team traveled to Purdue on Wednesday night, looking to reach their 20th win in the shortest amount of time in program MICHIGAN 72 history. 62 PURDUE Despite a slow start to the contest, Michigan eked out a 72-62 win over the Boilermakers. The Wolverines missed their first three shots in the first minute alone, and their struggles continued throughout the frame. Even though it led at 22-18 at the end of the first quarter, Michigan’s scoring difficulty was still apparent. The Wolverines missed more than half of their shots from the floor, and their leading scorer, junior guard Katelynn Flaherty, was 0-7 from the field. Freshman guard Kysre Gondrezick though, was unfazed by the inaccuracy of her teammates. She put Michigan on the board with a 3-pointer and continued to carry the team offensively, ending the first quarter with seven points. Sophomore center Hallie Thome was right behind her with six points. The second quarter went slightly smoother for the Wolverines. Flaherty tallied seven points while sophomore guard Nicole Munger — who scored the game-winning layup against Iowa — earned her first points of the game with a big 3-pointer, coming off the bench to rouse her sluggish teammates. By halftime, the game was anything but decided. Michigan led by eight points, but had committed 10 costly turnovers that Purdue had capitalized on. “I thought we got better with (turnovers) as the game went on,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico. “At halftime, we were really concerned. We had 10 of them and a lot of them were touchdowns, they were layups. And that was really scary.” Despite their mistakes, the Wolverines found a way to stay ahead, never relinquishing their

lead. Yet, Purdue was constantly at Michigan’s heels, narrowing the Wolverines’ lead to only one point late in the third quarter. Even though the Wolverines were not comfortably ahead, Flaherty — who ended the game with 13 points on 5-for-19 shooting — took just four shots in the second half. Instead, she increased her passing, ending the matchup with five assists — surpassing even senior guard Siera Thompson, who is ranked third in the conference in assists. “(Flaherty) led our team in assists tonight, which was was great to see,” Barnes Arico said. “Sometimes you’re going to have an off night. … If you’re not making shots, somebody on our team probably is.” Gondrezick was that player. The rookie – who earned her fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award Monday — scored 14 points in the fourth quarter for a total of 25, setting her career-high. “She took over the game,” Barnes Arico said. “We got stagnant a little bit. We couldn’t figure out a way to score. And Kysre figured that out for us. “She’s been the player that continues to improve in each and every contest.” While Gondrezick led the team in scoring, Thome did her part as well, tallying 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Junior forward Jillian Dunston held steady on defense, tying her career high for rebounds with 15. The Boilermakers had almost the exact same field-goal percentage as Michigan — 42.2 and 42.3, respectively. Without her crucial defense, the Wolverines’ lead could have easily been surpassed. Thompson also played a large role on defense, never stepping off the court in 40 minutes of play. “What she does for our team doesn’t always show up in the box score,” Barnes Arico said. “The goal that she had for today was to hold (senior guard Ashley Morissette) under 10 (points). She’s an awesome defender.” Against Purdue on Wednesday, Michigan — ranked for the first time since 2013 — proved that it wants to stay.

Sports

8A — Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Embracing “junkyard dog” mentality, Simpson emerges for Michigan The freshman guard has been waiting under the wings of senior guard Derrick Walton Jr. this season BRANDON CARNEY Daily Sports Writer

In the locker room before Tuesday’s contest against Michigan State, John Beilein posted a picture of a dog on the board where he does his pregame talks. He wanted his team to look into the eyes of the image of the “junkyard dog” to understand the anger and the desperation the canine had. It wasn’t meant to be a cute pregame talk. The Michigan coach had been trying to get his team to play with that sort of attitude for weeks. Perhaps all it took was a visual aid. Beilein’s team finally responded, bullying the Spartans all night and making plays that revolved around the toughness idealized by the dog. “Today was perfect,” Beilein said. “They were there. They were angry. They were like junkyard dogs. That was the whole idea. We had to go out there angry and play with that edge we so desperately need.” One of the more surprising players who took the night’s motto to heart was Xavier Simpson. The freshman guard was averaging just eight minutes per game and had scored just nine total points in conference play entering Tuesday. With senior guard Derrick Walton Jr. carrying Michigan through the most recent stretch of games, Beilein knew he had to find a more effective way for Simpson to get involved and make an impact to take the load off of Walton. Simpson’s struggles in Big Ten play have revolved heavily around not being comfortable with the increased pace. Though the freshman once scored 65 points in a high school game, he hasn’t yet seemed comfortable putting it all together at the collegiate level. Beilein has primarily used Simpson in tight defensive situations in recent games, subbing him in for Walton or junior guard

EVAN AARON/Daily

Freshman guard Xavier Simpson responded to coach John Beilein’s pregame talk with an aggressive attitude on both ends of the court against the Spartans.

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman when the Wolverines need stops on defense. But assistant coach Saddi Washington, who has worked closely with Simpson, approached Beilein this week and proposed tweaking the freshman’s gameplan. “Saddi Washington’s been doing a great job and he really suggested that he played more today,” Beilein said. “He also simplified (Simpson’s) package. He understands everything we do, but the timing of it is still just a little bit off.” Washington’s adjustment, paired with Beilein’s pregame message, created the perfect storm for Simpson to have the breakout game he had been seeking all season.

In his 12 minutes of play, Simpson was a menace to Michigan State guards on both ends of the court. Defensively, he built upon his recent solid performances by being more aggressive and taking advantage of the Spartans’ inability to protect the ball. Simpson didn’t record any steals, but much of the night, he was either putting his teammates in positions to make them or forcing Michigan State players to turn the ball over. It was on the offensive end where Simpson really showed

signs of growth. The freshman, who was shooting just 24 percent from the field before Tuesday’s contest, went 3-for-4 from the field while also dishing out two assists. The sixfoot guard showed a new willingness to drive to the hoop and absorb whatever contact met him near the basket. “I’m a (more) complete player than I was a month ago and a week ago,” Simpson said. “So the coaches are teaching me and I’m embracing the challenge. Obviously, it was hard at first, but I just have to stick with it and trust the process.”

“He’s a really tough kid and he always sticks to it”

After Simpson drained his lone 3-point attempt, Michigan State called a timeout and Michigan’s bench exploded, mobbing him when he reached the Wolverine sideline. But no other Michigan player will welcome Simpson’s emergence as much as Walton. Despite playing the best stretch of basketball of his career, Walton still needs help from his fellow guards to help him lead the offense or fill in when he needs a rest. “I knew for a fact, down the road (Simpson would break out),” Walton said. “He’s a really tough kid and he always sticks to it. Nights like this don’t surprise me. I’m really excited for him and I’m hoping he can build on it.” Walton himself has been part of the problem as to why

Simpson hasn’t had this type of performance, simply because it has been impossible for Beilein to sub out the senior during his recent run. But Simpson is in no way deterred by staying on the bench and watching his mentor perform like he has. “Derrick (has been) playing tremendous the last few games,” Simpson said. “I can’t be on the bench and wish he got more fouls or wish a negative impact on him. He’s been playing great. “When a guy like that is doing his job and getting us wins, you have to do what you have to do.” Walton and Simpson did spend some time on the court together Tuesday, with the freshman playing the point and the senior at the ‘2.’ Beilein was able to use that combination, and one in which Walton, Simpson and Abdur-Rahkman were all on the court together. Beilein will hope Simpson’s form carries over into the future so he can use these lineups again in order to give the Wolverines a different look. “He actually surprised me with the three-guard lineup,” Simpson said. “I knew we could do it. We’re all pretty aggressive and at the time that’s what (Beilein) wanted, so that’s what we did. I felt like it was great for the team.” Simpson’s emergence has been a long time coming, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Michigan. His “junkyard dog” mentality and the simplified game can give the Wolverines the boost off the bench they’ve been looking for to power them through the upcoming stretch of the Big Ten schedule. “It feels great,” Simpson said. “Not just for me, it takes pressure off Derrick. It takes pressure off other players also. For me to come in and give that extra boost I felt like I not only helped myself, but also, most importantly, helped the team.”

Betsa chases perfection in circle MARK CALCAGNO Daily Sports Writer

FILE PHOTO/Daily

Senior right-handed pitcher Megan Betsa took the fall off to heal nagging injuries in preparation for her final season.

For a steadfast endurer like Megan Betsa, stopping is the most difficult aspect of striving for perfection. But that’s what the senior pitcher — who was described as the epitome of a perfectionist by Michigan coach Carol Hutchins — was forced to do this fall while healing nagging injuries. Following a dominant season en route to a College World Series Championship appearance in 2015, the twotime Big Ten Pitcher of the Year felt the lingering effects of repeated use in high-pressure situations the next spring, sitting out during parts of the preseason. So instead of throwing in the bullpen, playing catch and running out to the rubber during fall exhibitions, she was forced to watch from the dugout and attempt to achieve perfection on the trainer’s table and in the weight room. “… She was convinced she was behind (last spring),” Hutchins said. “And if you think you’re behind, you’re behind. If you think you’re tired, you’re tired. We needed her to be ready for this part of the year — that’s the only way we could almost guarantee it.” During her recovery period, Betsa changed her approach to challenging hitters and focused on throwing strikes — something she struggled with in 2016, when she walked 113 batters. While Betsa’s pure ability has allowed her to escape numerous jams caused by control issues, the senior has concluded that allowing contact will allow for more efficient pitching. “I definitely want to modify the amount of pitches that I throw,” Betsa said. “My goal is always to get ahead of the hitter, and I’m learning now that it’s okay to let my defense work for me. I have to attack every hitter from the very first pitch. I know that my defense has my back and that’s what I have to trust. I trust myself and I trust them.”

Still, control continues to be a rare weakness for the right-hander in the eyes of Hutchins, who credits offseason conditioning to Betsa’s pitches breaking sharper than before — even to the point that her command has become inconsistent. “I think she’s pitching better than ever,” Hutchins said. “Her spin’s tighter, her fitness is very good, she’s strong because she had to work her back and core muscles. Her command of the zone is still not as good as it would normally be at this point, and partly because her ball is breaking more.” Betsa’s presence will be stressed in 2017. She’s the only established pitcher returning to the rotation following the graduation of Sara Driesenga, who went 22-1 with a 2.13 earned-run average for the Wolverines last season. Replacing the 131-plus innings of work Driesenga brought to the rotation has been a puzzle that Hutchins has attempted to solve all offseason by giving junior Tera Blanco and sophomore Leah Crockett opportunities in bullpen sessions and fall scrimmages. Blanco has started just five games in her career despite being recruited to Michigan as a highly-touted pitcher. Instead, she’s been most valuable inside the batter’s box, hitting .404 with 13 home runs and 66 runs batted in as the starting first baseman in 2016. As Blanco proves to be one of the most offensively potent Wolverines returning to the lineup — Hutchins mentioned she’d most likely hit in the four or five spot this season — conventional knowledge points to the possible production dropoff that could come with an added pitching responsibility. But Hutchins doesn’t believe Blanco is a conventional softball player. “I don’t think (pitching and the loss of offensive production) has to go hand-in-hand,” Hutchins said. “She spent most of the preseason pitching, but she was first-team All-American

because of her bat. She actually makes the case for ‘Why do we hit so much?’ because she didn’t hit as much as the rest of these guys. Tera’s definitely a gamer.” Crockett, meanwhile, pitched to just four batters in only one game last season — the final inning of a 9-1 February blowout against Virginia Tech. As expected with an untested player, Crockett will have to show that she’s deserving of pitching meaningful innings. “… Leah Crockett has to earn a spot,” Hutchins said. “She has to show us when she gets her opportunity, that she can be the one. She’s going to get an opportunity and she’s got to command the zone and be able mix up speeds. That’s all she has to do.” While Betsa is the seasoned ace that can carry the Wolverines through a pivotal game or postseason series, her time away from pitching actually gave the rest of the Michigan pitching staff the repetition it needed. “I really think Megan Betsa sitting out in the fall really put the weight of the world on Tera and Leah,” Hutchins said. “It gave them really meaningful experience. Both of them grew a lot because you grow a lot by getting thrown into the fire. So, the fall was critical.” And Betsa didn’t forget about Blanco and Crockett while working on her own health and strength, either. “During the fall, I was watching them pitch,” Betsa said. “I think one of my strengths is being able to control my thoughts and the mental side of my game. So, if there’s anything that I’ve been able to help the other pitchers with, I think it’s that. Everything that I do, I’m doing for the girls around me. I’m doing it for the person to my left and the person to my right. I try to be as selfless as I can when it comes to that stuff.” Perfection isn’t necessarily what Michigan seeks. But with Betsa’s perfectionist spirit affecting both her own and others’ pitching, the Wolverines can move closer to it this season.