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UM Regents cover Union renovations in Dearborn At monthly meeting, the University body also discussed Palestinian-Israeli tensions KEVIN ZHENG/Daily
LSA senior Tina al-Khersan and Oman, a former refugee who works with Access in Detroit to assist refugees new to their communities, present at the “What We Carried: A Glimpse into the Refugee Crisis” at the UMMA on Thursday.
Refugees, panelists give insight into Michigan’s role in refugee crisis
Over 100 students and community members gather at UMMA to share experiences KAELA THEUT
Daily Staff Reporter
The words of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “nobody is ever just a refugee, nobody is just ever a single thing,” were referenced more than once during the Michigan Refugee Assistance Program’s capstone event: “What We Carried: A Glimpse Into the Refugee Crisis.” MRAP works alongside a nearby refugee resettlement service, Jewish Family services,
Samaritas and the Detroit Mayor’s Office to connect University of Michigan students with opportunities for working with and on behalf of refugees. Over 100 students and community members gathered inside the University of Michigan Museum of Art on Thursday night to listen as former refugees shared their stories of resettlement, and professionals in the refugee sector provided their own unique insights into the current humanitarian crisis. “What We Carried” was based
on the collaborative storytelling project of photographer Jim Lommasson, who sought to preserve the identities of displaced Syrian and Iraqi refugees through the objects they chose to bring from their destroyed homes. Lommasson said he began his project after an Iraqi woman living in Portland asked him, “I thank America for removing Saddam Hussein, but did you have to destroy my entire country to do that?” From there, the photographer began to capture images of the personal items
refugees took from their homes in order to tell a story. Lommasson noted that, though people often point to photography as an attempt to humanize its subjects, it is not the refugees who need to be humanized. “The things that I photograph were sometimes kind of exotic, as we would expect, but sometimes there were Barbie dolls, things that we wouldn’t expect, but it sends a message that we’re all alive,” he said. “You don’t need to be humanized, you’re already See REFUGEES, Page 3
JEN MEER & MATT HARMON Daily Staff Reporters
The University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus hosted the year’s second Board of Regents Meeting on Thursday afternoon. Central to the meeting were talks of renovations to the Michigan Union and divestment from Israel — a topic that was not on the agenda. All regents were in attendance except Regent Denise Ilitch (D), who phoned in. Union renovations The regents unanimously approved the estimated $85,200,000 budget proposal for the Michigan Union Renovation Project during the financial segment of the agenda. The construction project itself was approved at the July 2016 meeting. Originally constructed in 1919, the Union has been a University landmark for many generations of students and faculty. The building’s infrastructural renovations include the general
improvement of Union facilities, such as electrical and mechanical work, as well as architectural restoration. Larger projects in design schematics involve the enclosure of the courtyard for a student space, improved accessibility for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the construction of gender-neutral bathrooms, new CAPS expansion and new student organization space. Charles Lewis, senior vice president of Integrated Design Solutions, the company being used for the planning of the renovations, presented a slideshow outlining the blueprints and graphics, showcasing what the new Union will look like after the renovations are completed in an estimated three years. One component Lewis presented that received some questions from Regent Katherine White (D) and other regents was the physical renovation to the North Entrance, on the side of the Union. The current schematics See REGENTS, Page 3
Candidates discuss campus climate, Vigil brings First teach attention to divestment, other topics at CSG debate out event
CAMPUS LIFE
ACADEMICS
victims of hate crimes
The debate was the first of the Central Student Government election season
The event was specifically mourning the death of Srinivas Kuchibholta
Thursday evening, the Defend Affirmative Action Party, eMerge and Movement, three of the four parties running for Central Student Government office, gathered in Hutchins Hall for the first presidential and vice presidential debate of the season. Moderator Aaron Kall, the University of Michigan’s director of debate, asked candidates questions chosen from nearly 100 potential questions sent in online by University students. Presidential candidates were the first to take the floor. The debate began with a question regarding the Leadership Engagement Scholarship and its $5 student fee discussed at a recent CSG meeting. While candidates did agree the scholarship itself is beneficial for students, LSA junior Evan Rosen, the Movement presidential candidate, emphasized the presence of bigger issues involving financial strains for students. “The facts are that one in every five students that get accepted here don’t enroll at the University of Michigan because of financial reasons, and we were just ranked the number one least socioeconomic diverse public university in the nation,” he said. “It’s $5 here, but where
CALEB CHADWELL Daily Staff Reporter
About 35 people gathered on the steps of the Rackham Graduate School Thursday evening to hold a vigil for recent hate crimes — in particular, in remembrance of the murder of Indian immigrant Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Olathe, Kan. Kuchibhotla was murdered in Kansas last month when a man named Adam Purinton shot him after supposedly yelling “get out of my country,” as reported in the New York Times. Purinton was apprehended and charged with premeditated murder. Event co-organizer Brendan Wu, a University of Michigan alum, said they wanted to both commemorate Kuchibhotla, but also, more generally, bring attention to other victims of hate crimes in the United States. “We wanted to mourn those deaths and, more broadly, we wanted to hold a vigil just to bring attention to victims of hate crimes, because they’ve been on the rise,” Wu said. “We just wanted to help unite people in their pain and build strength in See HATE CRIMES, Page 3
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JORDYN BAKER Daily Staff Reporter
does that end?” Continuing with the theme of underrepresented students, candidates responded to a question regarding the University’s status as a sanctuary city, and whether or not they believe the University should be declared as such. All presidential candidates gave support for the University becoming a sanctuary city. On the topic of improving
campus climate, candidates each presented different approaches to advocating for underrepresented students and increasing awareness of diversity. LSA junior Anushka Sarkar, eMerge presidential candidate, gave four specific objectives she feels are crucial to improving campus climate. The initiatives she listed included extending the Race and Ethnicity requirement to all
colleges within the University, mandatory Intergroup Relations engagement for every incoming freshman, making the University a sanctuary campus and increasing minority enrollment. “Rhetoric that implies that we have to go to Detroit to get students and to make sure they are qualified to apply to the University is condescending and See DEBATE, Page 3
JEREMY MITNICK/Daily
Candidates representing their parties running for Central Student Government discuss their positions on various campus issues at a debate in Hutchins Hall on Thursday.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVII, No. 47 ©2017 The Michigan Daily
slated for March 31
SNRE prof. Arun Agrawal will discuss authoritarian governments globally EMILY MIILLER Daily Staff Reporter
The first of the University of Michigan’s Teach-Out Series will be released online on March 31 and will focus on how countries transition from democratic to authoritarian rule. University President Mark Schlissel announced this online Teach-Out Series on Monday at the Academic Innovation Forum hosted by the Office of Academic Innovation. The format and name of the Teach-Out series were based on University’s tradition of teachins, which were established in the 1960s and have continued to the present. However, it will be distributed as an edX course. In an email interview, James DeVaney, the associate vice provost for Academic Innovation, wrote the use of edX to promote the series is part of a goal to reach the largest audience possible. “We hope to reach the broadest representation of society with each of our Teach-Outs,” he wrote. “We are reaching out to learners through social media, our partnership with edX, and See TEACH OUT, Page 3
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 SPORTS....................7
News
2 — Friday, March 17, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ON THE DAILY: OBAMA GOES BLUE IN BRACKET SELECTIONS Former President Barack Obama and current Gov. Rick Snyder are favoring the Michigan basketball teams in each of their respective NCAA tournament brackets, as Obama predicts the Wolverines will reach the Elite Eight and Snyder believes Michigan will win the National Championship. The Obama Foundation tweeted out Obama’s picks for the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, in which he predicts North Carolina will win the men’s tournament and the University of Connecticut will win the women’s. Michigan, a No. 7 seed, would upset No. 2 seed Louisville and No 3. seed Oregon in Obama’s
predictions. President Donald Trump chose not to fill out a bracket with ESPN as Obama had done in the past as president, the Washington Post reported. Snyder, a University alum, tweeted he wishes all the best to both Michigan and Michigan State, but is favoring his alma mater. Snyder also predicts Michigan will upset Louisville and Oregon, as well as defeat rival Michigan State to reach the Final Four. Michigan opens the tournament against 10th seeded Oklahoma State Friday. - CALEB CHADWELL
Coach Harbaugh @CoachJim4UM
YO U N G A N D I N G O V.
Attacking this day with an Enthusiasm Unknown To Mankind before my 1:30 PM colonoscopy kickoff.
Michigan Students @UMichStudents PSA: Dining hall workers like to be acknowledged and occasionally smiled at :)
KEVIN ZHENG/Daily
State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D–Dearborn) discusses age differences in politics at the “Young and Elected” panel at the Ford School on Thursday.
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Digital History Seminar WHAT: Prof. Henry Yu from the University of British Columbia will be hosting a discussion titled “Crossing Oceans: Visualizing Trans-Pacific Chinese Migration,” followed by a workshop on using smartphones for historical research. WHO: Department of History WHEN: Noon p.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Tisch Hall, Room 1014
Out of the Ordinary Exhibit
Student Experience Bicentennial Exhibit WHAT: The Hatcher Graduate Library will be displaying photos of female alumni who sought equal treatment throughout the University’s history. WHO: University Library WHEN: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: Hatcher Graduate Library, Clark Library
Tech Talk Event
WHAT: The Clements Library will be hosting an exhibit of extraordinary objects collected throughout the nearly hundredyear history of the library. WHO: William Clements Library WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: William Clements Library
WHAT: The University Computer Showcase will host a workshop to highlight the functions and features on the newly released MacBook Pro. Prior registration to the event is encouraged. WHO: Information and Technology Services WHEN: 11 a.m. to Noon WHERE: Michigan Union, Room G312
Food Truck Friday WHAT: Food trucks from Bearclaw Coffee Co. and Ray’s Red Hots will be selling food at the North Campus Gerstacker Grove. The Center for Campus Involvement will be giving away spiritwear. WHO: Michigan Dining WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Gerstacker Grove, North Campus Diag
WHAT: The inaugural ForbesTaubman Symposum for Cancer Discovery will feature a panel discussion on cancer metabolism hosted by four leading experts in cancer research. WHO: Taubman Medical Research Institute WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to Noon WHERE: Taubman Biomedical Science Building
Latinx experiences in media symposium
Peace in Islam, Islam in Peace
WHAT: The University Screen Arts and Culture Department will host a two-day symposium to discuss the media depiction of Latinx people and how it is received by Latinx audiences. WHO: Screen Arts & Culture WHEN: 11:30 a.m. WHERE: North Quad, Marsh Screening Room
WHAT: A three-day discussion series will cover topics like Muslim women’s identities, Islamic dogma and the concept of peace in Islamic texts. WHO: Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: School of Social Work Building, Room 1636
For the Daily
Two student groups from the University of Michigan Law School, the Michigan Health Law Organization and the Law School Democrats, hosted a talk Thursday morning concerning the repeal of former President Barack Obama’s health care law, the Affordable Care Act, and its replacement, the American Health Care Act. The panel, which included Public Health Prof. Marianne UdowPhillips, Terry Campbell, regional manager of Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s office, and multiple law students, addressed the impact the ACA has had on them personally and on the United States, as well as what the new American Health Care Act legislated under the President Donald Trump’s administration will mean for people previously covered by the ACA.
POT O’ GOLD.
puzzle by sudokusyndication.com
Clinton’s health care plan was first drafted, Republicans were opposed to having everyone pay into the health insurance system because they might not directly be paying for themselves. This is something Udow-Phillips opposed. “If everybody just paid a little bit into the system, then we could pay for the people who are sick at that moment.” Phillips said. “Then, when those healthy people get sick, those other dollars are there to pay for them. That is the fundamental principle of insurance.” The talk continued with an explanation of what the Affordable Care Act accomplished. According to Phillips, though Democrats were against the idea of the responsibility for insurance being left to the individual, they agreed it might be a start to a comprehensive and bipartisan health care plan in coming years. “Obamacare,” she explained, aimed to expand Medicaid coverage to as many people as possible, as well as lower the cost of individual insurance. Since the implementation of the ACA, Phillips said, Congressional Republicans have stuck with the idea of “repeal and replace.” And until Trump was elected to the presidency, it seemed that this wasn’t a likely possibility. Now, with the creation of the ACHA, many Americans are at risk of losing their health coverage. The ACA offered tax credits based on income to provide those with lower income access to health care. The ACHA shifts credits from being based on income to age, and the elderly, low-income people and people with pre-existing conditions face the possibility of no longer having easily accessible health insurance. During the talk, Campbell expressed concern that those covered under the ACA will become vulnerable to increased costs under the ACHA.
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
Dak and Dunc Show is hype Ladies and Gentlemen...
Aliyhag @staytrillhill I choose Mizzou because I really wanted to to go to @ UMich and they have the same emblem as mizzou. So I’m still at UM/MU.
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Health care policy experts discuss impact of house Republicans ACHA bill The discussion began with Udow-Phillips explaining the groundwork of the Affordable Care Act. She emphasized the centrality of Obama’s push for coverage. “Health care is a social good, and should, in fact, be provided by government in some way, shape or form,” she said. Still, for decades, presidents current and former have struggled with the issue of how health care should be provided. Udow-Phillips stated there are essentially only two ways to accomplish universal coverage: a national service or tax system, such as Medicare or Medicaid, or an employment-based system or mandate. The ACA, she said, is a combination of the two. There is difficulty not only in creating, but also in overcoming the technical issues of implementing it effectively. According to UdowPhillips, when former President Bill
Moe Wagner @moritz_weasley
Cancer Discovery Symposium
Law school students host panel on ACA repeal and replacement ARIELLA MELTZER
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REFUGEES From Page 1 that. It’s probably people like Donald Trump who need to be humanized, it’s not you.” The stories of the refugees, all told through the help of a translator onstage, were all united by common threads of shared humanity, desire to help others and a love for American democracy. Omar, who did not provide his last name as he was an Iraqi refugee, said he came to Michigan in 2014 with his wife and two sons. Once he settled, he began learning English online and applying for jobs. He noted how hard it was to start from a place less than zero, and how easy it is for people to forget they share humanity with people from different cultures. “I am a person just like you and we are all from one humankind, and I want to live somewhere safe
DEBATE From Page 1 it’s racist,” Sarkar said. “Students are already qualified to be here. The problem is that they don’t want to be here.” Later in the debate, candidates were asked about their ideal commencement speaker, a repeat question from one of last year’s debates, allowing them to get a little more creative. Rosen advocated for Donald Glover, commonly known by his stage name Childish Gambino, because of the performer’s determination, drive and ability to entertain a crowd accustomed to the typical seriousness of commencement speeches; Sarkar chose Beyoncé, someone she has been pushing for as a speaker since her freshman year, because of her empowering aspects, specifically when showing it is possible for a woman
and secure,” Omar said. “Arabs and Iraqis also have culture and customs, like Americans … We are human.” Another speaker, Shihab, who also did not provide his last name due to his immigration status, detailed the horrors that refugees encounter in Arab countries such as Egypt, then expressed his deep love and admiration for the United States. He said he hopes his voice will reach people across the world, and that he can start a new life replete with happiness and safety in America. “We as Muslims, and specifically refugees, really love all of you guys,” Shihab said. “Especially as refugees looking for a safe place to live to live in safety and freedom, because we were denied that right in our own home countries. We wanted to come to America to live, to live in happiness and safety and freedom. To live in democracy and justice. To build a future for our kids, and to teach them knowledge and good manners. Oh people, I ask you to
help me. So that my small voice, me and my brother, will reach the rest of the world.” At the end of his talk, Shihab read aloud a small portion of a letter he wrote to President Donald Trump. In the letter, he asked the president to provide refugees with a safe place to live, and said refugees respect his leadership and policies. “For the sake of refugees, please help us, please help us, Mr. Trump,” he said. “Look carefully in your future plans. We deserve and we need to live in a safe place and we respect your policies and your orders, and respect your fear for the American people — because America is more important than anything.” Students in attendance said hearing the refugees’ stories made them consider their privilege, and how immigrants can become part of U.S. society today.
to maintain a successful career, family and social balance, a balance Beyoncé built for herself; Art & Design senior Keysha Wall, the DAAP presidential candidate, said they would like to see Angela Davis, a political activist and someone Wall continues to learn about, address students. In another question regarding the drinking culture on campus, Wall highlighted alcohol’s common association with sexual assault and discussed the importance of disciplining those accused of rape and sexual assault. According to a 2007 National Institute Justice report, 89 percent of incapacitated sexual assault victims reported having consumed alcohol. “I know that one of the problems when our campus gets to drinking, or when alcohol is involved, is the issue of rape and sexual assault,” they said. “I would say that, even bigger than that, we can prevent people from
even being hurt by exposing and expelling rapists from campus.” Candidates followed with closing statements, each expressing their dedication to CSG and what their parties mean to them. Vice presidential candidates then came forward to debate. The status of the University as a sanctuary city was again brought forward in this round of questioning, and candidates were asked whether or not they were concerned the University could lose federal funding if it were to declare this status or if it were to bring in controversial speakers. LSA senior Lauren Kay, vice presidential candidate for DAAP, described issues they see with the discussion of such topics solely in terms of financial standpoints, as well as issues regarding the privatization of higher education.
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Read more at MichiganDaily.com
REGENTS From Page 1 plan replaces the brick awning over the entrance with a glass canopy, allowing more light to reach the entrance. White was concerned about specifics of this renovation. Lewis said this modification would give a better aesthetic impression. “The North entry is the most heavily used entrance of the Union, in some ways, it’s a front
TEACH OUT From Page 1 with the help of our colleagues at the U-M Alumni Association, along with other channels. Our (massive online open courses) have reached over 5.6M enrollments over the last 5 years so we also hope to encourage many of these learners to explore these topics with us.” Natural Resources Prof. Arun Agrawal, an expert in political science, will be hosting the first teach-out event. Agrawal said the transition to authoritarian rule is a prevalent topic in the media and he believes many
HATE CRIMES From Page 1 unity.” State Rep. Stephanie Chang (D–Detroit) could not be at the event, but sent a statement to event organizers that was read at the event, saying she stands in solidarity with all immigrants and minorities facing harassment or attack. “While I cannot be here tonight, my thoughts are with you, as well as with the families who have been affected by hate crimes,” Chang said in the
Friday, March 17, 2017 — 3 door to the University for visitors, students, staff, faculty, alumni and currently is very dark, hard to find and not very welcoming,” White said. “This canopy will create a more appropriate and inviting entry for everyone to come and enjoy the renewed place we call the Michigan Union.” Prior to the presentation, University alum Alan Knaus, a member of Friends of the Michigan Union, expressed his dissatisfaction with the renovation of certain spaces in the Union for student activities. He said the
renovation catered to students over alumni, and eliminated elements of the Union he loves, such as the Billiards Room. “I was not happy with (the elimination of the Billiards Room) and the alumni that were there were also not very happy about that,” he said. “From my perspective, the Office of Student Life does not belong in the Michigan Union. Essentially it’s supporting 1,400 special interest groups.”
can benefit from having a better understanding of how this transition functions. “I think what is really important for us to understand better at this point is how democratic countries can become more authoritarian or countries that are more democratic can become more authoritarian,” Agrawal said. “This is important both because of the way many issues are being portrayed in the news media and because of the concern that many people have about the extent to which that an erosion in both democratic values and democratic decision making, and I’m not talking just about the United States — I think it is going on lots of countries.”
According to Agrawal, since the 1980s, there has been a general trend toward democracy in political systems in areas such as Africa and Latin America. However, he said in recent years there has been a growing concern about a global shift away from democracy in many countries, so he and other faculty members participating in the teach-outs will draw on historical examples of countries that moved from democracy to authoritarianism and relate them to current political climates around the globe.
statement. “Immigrants and others, today more than ever, are harassed attacked and murdered with horrifying frequency.” During the vigil, attendees — particularly those of South Asian descent — were also invited to share personal experiences or general thoughts on their own communities. Business junior Chelsea Racelis, a co-organizer of the event, said she hoped people would leave and not only reflect on what people in their own communities may be facing, but also strive to understand others and get further involved. “I hope people reflect on
what this means for their own communities,” Racelis said. “There is a reason why everyone came here today.” Racelis also said she hopes people continue to go out and engage with different people and events around campus to learn more and stand in solidarity with others. “I hope people leave with not a filled cup, but the desire to fill their cup,” Racelis said. “To not just come here and say ‘oh look this is so great, I went to this vigil and learned so much.’ I want people to take people and say ‘these are the experiences I heard and I want to hear more experiences.’ ”
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Opinion
4 — Friday, March 17, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
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ASHLEY ZHANG | COLUMN
A
Using privilege for good
s we drove down Carpenter to healthy food, either because they Street in the Binghampton cannot afford it or because grocery neighborhood of Memphis, stores are too far away and there are Tenn., schoolchildren no transit options, such in royal purple polos as bus lines or access and khakis flooded the to cars. For example, sidewalk as school let the historic Orange out for the day. Their Mound neighborhood backpacks bounced of Memphis is a USDAon their backs as they classified urban food crossed the street to the desert, because most of Carpenter Art Garden, its residents do not own a lively purple house cars and often have to with a yard full of large, choose between paying ASHLEY painted, wooden hearts. rent and buying food. ZHANG Our tour guide, Noah Recognizing this Gray, the executive director serious problem in his of the Binghampton Development community, resident Mike Minnis, Corporation, explained they were whose wife was born and raised in part of a Valentine’s Day craft. The Orange Mound, started Landmark same hearts were speckled around Farmers Market, an urban farming the neighborhood, the children’s operation and food kitchen in the colorful masterpieces proudly on middle of the neighborhood. Now, display in nearly every yard down residents of Orange Mound can the street. It was the picture of access affordable, healthy, fresha loving, vibrant community. grown fruits and vegetables only a Though poverty levels and crime short walk away. Minnis’s efforts rates in Binghampton remain have even inspired others in the high, it was hard to believe people neighborhood to start their own avoided even driving through it gardens and take control of their about a decade ago. own health. Over Spring Break, six students And it doesn’t stop there. With and I visited Memphis with a intimate knowledge about the global health and design student exchange of information within organization called Michigan the families of the community, Health Engineered for All Lives to Minnis plans to educate his serve the city — a destination that my neighborhood on nutrition and mother constantly worried about. health education by way of All she knew was that Memphis children’s comic books. Through ranks as one of the most dangerous these simple yet genuine actions, cities in the United States, and he is stirring tangible change in that statistic was enough for her to the roots of his community. imagine a blighted, desolate ghetto. The Binghampton Development She’s not alone in this thinking. Corporation is another organization Media and statistics have framed that aims to combat food scarcity in Memphis — and similar cities of the Binghampton neighborhood. highly concentrated poverty and Although Gray did not grow up racial minorities, such as Detroit in Binghampton and thus hasn’t — as dangerous, drug-ridden and experienced its problems firsthand, to be avoided. It was a perception he makes it a priority to engage that I, admittedly, shared before members of the community in a week in the city showed me just the BDC’s efforts by hiring them how inaccurate and unfair the or listening to their personal stigmas attached to Memphis are. testimonials. For example, after In seven short days, my impressions consulting with residents of of Memphis were completely Binghampton and discovering they transformed. have to take multiple buses to get One of the goals of Serve901, an to the nearest Kroger for groceries organization we worked with in — a trip that can take several hours Memphis, is to educate outsiders on — the BDC began development the history of Memphis and to erase of a new plaza in the heart of the the negative stigmas attached to the neighborhood. When it is complete, city, and they surely did just that. no resident will live more than a mile We learned from many residents away from a grocery store. that Memphis was once primed The BDC has also reshaped the to be the “New York City of the community in other substantial South” until yellow fever struck and ways, such as building parks in wealthy, white residents fled to the abandoned lots, converting a suburbs, leaving behind a population rundown apartment complex into that was predominantly poor and a senior living center and opening Black. Institutionalized segregation, the Carpenter Art Garden. The Art perpetuated by years of systemic Garden houses a number of afterracism, further concentrated school activities and clubs, allowing African Americans in certain the children of Binghampton to impoverished neighborhoods, discover artistic, engineering, such as Binghampton and Orange carpentry, sewing, writing and Mound. Needless to say, Memphis entrepreneurial skills that might’ve did not become the Big Apple of otherwise gone untapped. By the South and instead garnered listening to and engaging with a reputation as a city falling apart the community — rather than at the seams. coming in and assuming they However, what the statistics know best, as many “saviors” and media fail to show is all the of blighted neighborhoods do — wonderful change that is happening the BDC is proof that positive in Memphis. change can happen quickly One of the largest problems when people are passionate in Memphis is food scarcity, a about their communities. phenomenon in which people living BDC Boardmember Robert in an area do not have regular access Montague is another figure who
has used his privilege for the betterment of those not as fortunate. Once a successful businessman and computing analyst, Montague used his money and expertise to found the BDC. His latest endeavor, Tech901, aims to confront the shortage of IT talent in Memphis, as well as the lack of diversity in the field. By teaching young Memphians how to code and equipping them with professional development skills, Tech901 is making the future of Memphis marketable. It would be easy to make lots of money by teaching programming classes in the richer suburbs of Memphis, but by investing in people in the inner city, Tech901 is investing in its future. Landmark Farmers Market, the BDC and Tech901 are only a handful of all the wonderful organizations that are dedicated to improving different aspects of Memphis, and the more I saw, the more I realized how mistaken my initial impressions of the city were. With the work of these community organizers, Memphis is proving its negative reputation wrong — proving me wrong. Many University of Michigan students come from a place of privilege and may feel far removed from the problems in Memphis — or even in Detroit, a mere 40 minutes away — but as the people at the BDC and Tech901 have demonstrated, that is no excuse to ignore and avoid the very real problems that are happening. These organizations recognized the problems within these communities and made real improvements by working with the people living there. As University students, we, too, can use our privilege for good. Our education has afforded us knowledge, skills and resources that would be wellspent helping a population that doesn’t have the same privileges. And we don’t have to wait until graduation to start making a positive impact; even as undergraduates, there are a number of resources at our fingertips. M-HEAL is just one fine example. Devoted to global health, M-HEAL project teams reach out to contacts in developing countries to identify health needs in those regions and design solutions to the problem using all the resources this University has to offer. Through this design process, we gain valuable experience in engineering and global health, but the focus of these projects is always on the people we are hoping to help. Through constant contact, research and needs assessment trips, we make sure we are always catering to their needs, requests and wishes, because when you’re helping a city or country in need, it’s really about helping the people there. As we finished our tour of Binghampton, Gray said of Memphians: “We do not love Memphis because it’s great; Memphis is great because we love it.” That love is so evident in all the wonderful work they do, and it is truly something to learn from and aspire toward. Ashely Zhang can be reached at ashleyzh@umich.edu.
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.
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Phone call fanaticism
y friends know me to be that “human beings are social an inconsistent texter animals” for whom interpersonal at best, and I readily communication is as necessary as admit that it’s not my food and water. forte. The optimal way “Even with to reach me is as simple emoticons, texting as it is surprisingly is limited in terms intimate: call. of conveying deeper I’ve always loved and intimate feelings phone calls. When I was and subtle nuanced younger, I memorized messages,” she wrote in my home number — an email. “We can pick along with those of my up a lot more subtle but grandparents and my MICHAEL significant messages great-grandmother the other person SUGERMAN about (Gammy). Every night, through different tone I’d sit in our small breakfast nook, of voices and facial expressions. pick up the landline and chat with Through body languages, we can Gammy. It was meaningful time. communicate … (a) variety of subtle I can’t recall what we talked messages that is not always easy to about, but I remember viscerally convey in written words.” that it brought me a great deal of joy. The more extensive sensory I liked hearing her voice and having experience of voice-to-voice and a real conversation. My Gammy has face-to-face communication, Park long since passed, but my impulse noted, “can make people feel closer to engage with others not directly to one another.” Sounds right to me. in my presence via phone has You can’t “ghost” someone when persisted throughout my life. they’re listening live on the other When I was allowed to get an end of the line. A phone call is an AOL Instant Messager account, for investment: of time, of substance example, I always insisted on video and perhaps of emotion, to some chatting with friends. It made the extent. Answering a phone call is interaction even more personal to as active as making one; it means see whom I was talking with and that both parties actually want to feel like their whole presence (as be part of it (for the most part). It’s opposed to just their voice) was not a coincidence that I associate there in the room. phone calls with the strongest It’s why I love FaceTime so relationships in my life. much now. For those of you who Phone calls are how I check watch “Broad City,” FaceTime is in with my parents throughout an integral part of the show. Its the week, and how I catch up main characters, Abbi and Ilana, with my grandparents (albeit a FaceTime each other no matter little less frequently). My sister the context. FaceTime feeds their and I sometimes FaceTime in impulse to speak to one another silence while we do homework, whenever they’re not together (and intermittently exchanging sometimes, even when they are), BuzzFeed quizzes and comparing whether it’s from the street or a cab our results when we need a break. or the bathroom. It’s about the company, you know? I asked Nansook Park, a When I FaceTime non-college University of Michigan psychology buddies, it’s as much about talking professor who specializes in as it is about seeing what the other personality and social contexts, person’s environment is and how whether or not my tendency toward they occupy that space. What is phone calls and FaceTiming is their normal? Their routine? What rooted deeper than individual does it look like? Sound like? How preference, and she explained is it different from (or the same as)
the space in which we interacted in the past? Video chatting is so special because physical separation is bridged by literally bringing another human being into my lived experience (and vice versa). And when folks aren’t around to pick up the phone (or when I’m not, for that matter), I’m thankful for the documentary nature of voicemail. Some people don’t listen to voicemail, but I treasure it. My mailbox is frequently full — in part out of laziness, sure, but also because I save certain messages and re-listen to them. Some are for laughs, like this favorite from my sister: “Hello. It’s me. Mom and Dad are being weird again. Okay. Bye.” Others have a deeper meaning. Last January, while I was on the East Coast as part of the Michigan in Washington program, a monumental blizzard hit D.C. one weekend. I still have the voicemail saved from my dad’s father, who called to ask me about it. He died over the summer, and every once in a while, it’s nice to pull up that message and hear his voice. To be certain, text conversations serve a purpose, and they’re not to be avoided. Some of my funniest and most memorable exchanges have been via text, particularly in places where speaking aloud would be rude, frowned upon or altogether unacceptable. But voice is powerful, and even more so when it’s accompanied by visage. It’s not a coincidence that I ran this column by both my mother and a high school friend via FaceTime before I finished writing it. Now that I’m graduating, I’m cognizant of the fact that my college friends will be added to the list of people who are spread across parts of the country where I am not. So a heads-up: expect frequent FaceTime calls from this guy. Michael Sugerman can be reached at mrsugs@umich.edu.
ANNA SMITH | OP-ED
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My child can be transgender
ecently, a student-written article titled “My Child Will Not Be Allowed to Be Transgender” has been popping up on my social media. From one student to another, here’s my response: Moriah, This is about to be a critical response, but I want to level with you first. I admire your desire to do the best for your future children. I do. As someone who works in a family psychological clinic, I love seeing people who want to do the right thing for their children — who want to sing to them, care for them and make them happy. I have no doubt that you will love your children. But here’s the thing that most people don’t want to acknowledge: From those who do all the “right” things to those who commit abuse or neglect, a vast majority of parents love their children. Loving your children does not mean that you cannot, or will not, hurt them. So, I ask you to be vigilant in evaluating your behavior; do not fall into the trap of believing that doing something out of love means that it is the best thing to do for your child. With that said, let’s get into it. I want to believe you truly love and respect transgender and other LGBTQ people as you say you do, but after reading your article, I find it hard to do so. This is the message that your article gives off: I love you and respect you, but your existence is invalid. I love you and respect you, but you are a flawed human being. I love you and respect you, but you are sick. I love you and respect you, but you cannot be who you are unless it is in a way that I deem acceptable. That’s not how love and respect work. You cannot say you respect someone and then invalidate their existence and trivialize their identity to a simple “decision.” And what message does it send to say I love you, but I would not let someone who is “closest to my heart” be like you? After reading your article, I gather that you have two main concerns: that being transgender is against how God intended us to be, and that being transgender is a mental illness. So, let’s talk about that. “My children will always be the ones closest to my heart, but this does not mean that I will accept
their desire to be anything other than who God made them as.” Let me ask you a question: How does one know what God intended for them? Growing up Catholic, I was taught that the Bible offers insight into God’s will. In the absence of an actual scriptural reference, many religious people, yourself included, argue that God created man and woman and that being transgender is wrong because transgender people go against God’s will by straying from that design. I don’t buy that argument — mostly because it reveals a misconception of what it means to be transgender in that it conflates identifying as transgender with receiving gender reassignment surgery. Being transgender does not mean that you will change your biological sex; it just means that you don’t identify with it. While many people choose to have gender reassignment surgery in order to make their physical state match their mental state, not all transgender people do. Whether they choose not to have surgery because of financial reasons, age, lack of resources or simply because they don’t feel a need to, they are still transgender as long as they experience a disconnect between their biological sex and their identified gender. It is problematic, then, to argue that being transgender is against God’s will using a biologically based argument, because it doesn’t reflect the reality of what it means to be transgender. It’s also important to note that if we are basing gender on genitalia, then it isn’t true that God only created man and woman because God also created intersex people, who were born with ambiguous genitalia. Many people who are born intersex have a surgery performed upon them, in which a doctor changes their genitalia to look more like a penis or a vagina. If you are strongly opposed to surgery that changes one’s genitals (like gender reassignment surgery), then you should probably be open to a third gender — or else you would have to allow intersex people to choose whether to be a man or woman regardless of the genitals they were born with. So perhaps God’s design isn’t all that clear cut, Moriah. But even if it isn’t ungodly to be transgender, could you still be right that being
transgender means that you are inherently sick or mentally ill? Not quite. “In my opinion, transgender humans are suffering from a mental illness, in a similar fashion to those fighting sicknesses such as anorexia and depression.” Disorders like anorexia nervosa and depression are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the manual clinicians use to diagnose and treat their patients. Transgenderism is not described here. To equate being transgender to having a mental illness is a dangerous comparison to make. We used to make this comparison in regards to homosexuality until the American Psychological Association — with the help of some tenacious activists — realized how detrimental it is to pathologize homosexuality. To be fair, I could see how you might be confused. A concept that is related to being transgender is in the DSM-5 under “gender dysphoria,” which is described as distress resulting from “a conflict between a person’s physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify.” But gender dysphoria is not an identity, and it is not an inevitability. Praying that your child will suddenly feel like their penis or vagina fits with their body isn’t going to make gender dysphoria go away. Taking your child to conversion therapy that will try to make them “accept” their biological sex isn’t going to work either — in fact, it can make it worse. There are reasons why some states have made conversion therapy illegal and why the American Psychological Association does not support it: It can lead to higher rates of depression, anxiety, drug use and homelessness. Scariest of all? Conversion therapy is correlated with a higher number of suicide attempts and completions. So perhaps we should be focused on making conversion therapy illegal if we want what’s best for LGBTQ youth. By the way, do you know what is recommended for people with gender dysphoria?
Read more at MichiganDaily.com Anna Smith is an LSA senior.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
CLASSICAL MUSIC COLUMN
On Max Richter’s ‘Sleep’ It’s quiet here. Outside, in the frigid darkness, nothing moves. No birds sing, no deer wander, no headlights cut through the clear air. Even the wind seems to be hushed. Somewhere over the trees the moon silently hangs suspended above the wisps of cloud. In the apartment around me, each of its inhabitants respire in steady, relaxed tempos. The world is sleeping. It’s 5:19 a.m. and everything is still. For the past several hours, essentially all night, I have been immersed in Max Richter’s composition “Sleep.” Listening to this piece is like a sort of trance — once you enter into it, you stop noticing it’s there. The music gradually melds into the scenery, fades into the background of whatever you are doing and enters into you. It isn’t so much doing anything as it is simply being: being present, being absent, being everywhere and nowhere at once. Its principal characteristic is its inexplicable, elusive feeling of grounded placelessness. It invites you into its care and envelops your tired mind in a soft embrace. It hovers at the periphery of your senses. “Sleep” doesn’t ask for anything from you. It doesn’t demand your attention or your love or your hate, or even your recognition. It goes on whether you’re listening or not. To try to analyze it would be beside the point. “Sleep” is a few years old now, but to me it still feels relevant. I won’t say that it’s fresh — applying such an adjective to music which is so simple, constructed with such an economy of means, would be unjust — but it isn’t dated, and the ideas that Richter put into the piece might even be more important today than they were when it was first composed. The entirety of “Sleep” is slow, unelaborate music scored for piano, strings, voice and electronics. There are no words. There is no drama. The piece lasts for eight hours, moving along at
a gradual, unhurried pace. It is composed to last the average amount of time that it takes the human brain to complete a healthy night of sleep. In Richter’s words, it is a “personal lullaby for a frenetic world. A manifesto for a slower pace of existence.” But as far as manifestos go, it’s rather innocuous. It’s difficult to say what it feels like to listen to “Sleep.” It has a certain quality of timelessness (in the sense of time being stopped) and displacement, but there’s more to it than that. Lost in its soundworld, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I’m walking on some distant lunar surface, wandering in an alien landscape. There is at once an otherness and an intimacy with
DAYTON HARE the self. In the wide sonorities of the piano and the strings, Richter leaves space for the listener’s thoughts to roam freely. Suggestive of nothing, it opens up distances to fill with your own expression. Creation and form at your fingertips, godlike, you can mentally wander through the music in search of whatever it is you need to find. But more than anything, when you listen to “Sleep,” you feel somehow totally alone. In this respect, the piece is like the act of sleeping itself. Slumber is by its nature a solitary act, and even those of us who share a bed with someone else must eventually cross the threshold into the dreamworld alone. As with sleep’s inevitable and permanent cousin, each of us must sail into the undiscovered country on a solitary voyage, with neither maps nor guidance. Heavily inf luenced by minimalism, the textures and ideas of “Sleep” are very simple. For minutes on end the
cello may play a single pitch while the piano slowly cycles through chords in an even rhythm. The violin may play all of two pitches for an entire movement. An elegiac voice melody may played on loop until it ceases to be noticed. Richter, a German-born British composer, is no neophyte to these minimalist techniques. For over a decade he has been making an impression as a composer who isn’t afraid to apply the tenets of the minimalist movement to genres outside of classical. He is known for his work in collaborative projects, as well as for performing and for his film scores. His minimal aesthetic makes him accessible to both regular classical listeners and to many who might not otherwise listen to classical music. For this reason his work can be found in wide-ranging places, from the Netf lix documentary series “Chef’s Table” to the Royal Opera House in London. My reintroduction to “Sleep” was instigated a few weeks ago in New York, when I encountered it as part of a video involved with the Mysterious Landscapes of Hercules Segers exhibit at the Met (also featuring the voice of John Malkovich). I recognized it then, but the feeling is even stronger now, that something about “Sleep” is incomprehensibly, inexplicably sad. Throughout the composition, there is an unplaceable feeling of loss, some sort of absence of something I hadn’t known was missing. I just can’t quite place where this feeling comes from, but it permeates the entirety of the work. But even in sadness, “Sleep” reflects a world that is calm, peaceful and entirely our own. Everywhere in “Sleep,” the music pulls you towards the realm of dreams. It beckons you into a world where you are unable to be touched by the troubles of reality. It creates a space in which you are free from care and obligation, where you may go to rest your weary head. It’s calling me now. I think I’ll answer.
MUSIC VIDEO REVIEW Nowadays, it’s tough to get excited about another sighting of The Weeknd. Some time between the 2016 release of his moody, sporadic pop spectacle, “Starboy;” the February launch of the album’s touring counterpart, which is set to hit sixteen countries in its first three months; his alleged swap from “dating” model Bella Hadid to strutting around the world with actress/singer Selena Gomez; and the recent revealing of his joint clothing venture with international fast-fashion house H&M; I began to feel exhausted of rooting for Abel Tesfaye to succeed. After all, his superstardom is no longer a coincidence: The Weeknd is a now strategic pop machine, clearly evolved from the blacklight-illuminated-bedroom crooner who we first met on “House Of Balloon.” He seems to put out content according to a carefully plotted schedule rather than based on his own artistic patience, a fact that haunts my fandom and consistently tests it. From this perspective, it’s easy to dismiss The Weeknd’s music video for “I Feel It Coming” — the Daft-Punk-assisted finale to “Starboy,” and his most recent radio hit — as the uninspired, natural conclusion to a series of (mostly) disconnected short films that were clearly churned out only to promote the album (and now tour). The video’s vintage space theme, initiated right in its opening credits, is such an obvious choice for a Daft Punk feature, as is the revival of a Michael Jackson
Friday, March 17, 2017 — 5
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
COURTESY OF WENDY D PHOTOGRAPHY
Betroffenheit: Harrowing performance of theatre Kidd Pivot’s dance/theatre hybrid a sobering, layered experience FALLON GATES For the Daily
This Friday and Saturday, UMS will present Betroffenheit, a performance that combines theatre and dance to tell a grippingly honest story of trauma, loss and addiction. With five contemporary dancers and a single protagonist, Kidd Pivot and Electric Company Theatre come together to create a
Betroffenheit is a German word that does not have an exact English translation, but it describes a state of extreme shock after an event
project that mixes spoken word, recorded text and movement. Betroffenheit is a German word that does not have an exact English translation, but it describes a state of extreme shock after an event. Due to the subject of this piece, it is not recommended for children. Jonathan Young, cofounder and artistic director of Electric Company Theatre, has a large background in acting and is best known for his role of Nikola Tesla in Sanctuary. He started writing Betroffenheit in 2014 in collaboration with choreographer Crystal Pite, artistic director of the dance company Kidd Pivot. “[Betroffenheit sits] somewhere between a piece of live theatre and a piece of contemporary dance,” Young said in an interview. Betroffenheit takes place
in the wake of a trauma, relate well to the piece. an accident that occurred “(Most people) are grateful sometime in the past of the for having seen it because it male protagonist played by reminds them that they are not Jonathan Young. The narrative alone,” Young said. is about the recovery process, But, surprisingly enough, as he struggles to deal with humor plays an active role in what he has gone through. Betroffenheit. “Voices seem to be attached “Humor has a life force that to the fixtures, and the lights, is irrepressible. No matter how and the walls and the doors,” difficult things get in life, humor Young said. “Audiences get the has a way of surviving and sense that the whole stage in a surprising, and mischief is a real way has been affected by this driving force in creativity” Young accident and (the protagonist said. Combining that which is) also, as it turns is traumatic out, addicted and that which to some kind of amusing Betroffenheit is substance that is something by Kidd Pivot unique to the he’s been using for relief from this capabilities of & Electric trauma.” human nature. Company The inspiration With so many behind the layers, this is Theatre project stems the type of show from Young’s own should Power Center that personal traumatic be seen more experiences with March 17 & 18 than once, in the death of his which audience @ 8 P.M. daughter and two members are cousins in a fire. sure to witness $26 - $46 “You don’t things that they really have much missed the first choice but to put time. (that trauma) into words, in an “I hope people will want to see attempt to express that because it again ... I’m just going to leave it’s on your mind all the time,” it at that,” Young concluded. said Young about his project. Currently, Young and Pite are Instead of processing his working on another dance and own traumatic events privately, Young chose to share this experience with others through Betroffenheit. “We kind of have a responsibility as artists I think to turn stuff that feels like it can’t be expressed into expression,” he said. Though inspired by real events, Betroffenheit aims for balance between personal and universal experiences. The goal is for people to see themselves in the performance and for the piece to invoke compassion, empathy, fear and sadness. Young also recognizes that there is a considerable taboo surrounding this subject, and he wishes to erase the sensitivity theatre hybrid with Nederlands that surrounds events such as Dans Theater that takes the death. People who have gone ideas of Betroffenheit a little through a similar traumatic further and is projected to be event will likely be able to ready by 2019.
Betroffenheit takes place in the wake of a trauma, an accident that occurred sometime in the past
XO
jacket for a pop music video. Plus, its “plot” is seemingly nonexistent until almost halfway through — the first two minutes
“I Feel It Coming” The Weeknd XO meagerly show Abel dancing solo against an exceptionally moody, intergalactic sunset. Still, “I Feel It Coming,” much like The Weeknd himself, has a way of wooing you when you most wish it wouldn’t. Sure, some of the music video’s props are played out, but Abel looks damn good in that jacket, and his dance moves aren’t bad either. Who cares if the gorgeous backdrop is computer-generated, or if we never find out how The Weeknd landed upon it in the first place? I’ve watched this music video dozens of times now, and though I’m still not sure exactly what happens between Abel and his Medusa-inspired space prin-
cess, that’s fine: I keep watching anyway. “I Feel It Coming” is one of the strongest bubblegum pop tunes in recent memory, somehow managing to effortlessly mesh old-school coolness with space-bot futurism all while maintaining a facade of minimalism. And as for its visual accompaniment, the nonchalance with which this music video animates The Weeknd’s signature shtick; its smirking presentation of him, carefully-shaded, overly-selfindulgent, glitter-coated and all, for five straight minutes, his mere presence and slight smile acting as the only hook; the way that this video is hollow, yet pretends to be bigger than itself, acting artsy without adding much substance, bringing in arm candy without giving her a name or even a character; these traits make Warren Fu’s short film feel perfectly fit to help fans visualize “I Feel It Coming.” Perhaps we should be calling it a masterpiece. - SALVATORE DIGIOIA
HOW CULTURED ARE YOU? VERY? WOW, US TOO. JOIN US, MAYBE? Interested in writing for Daily Arts? Email arts@michigandaily.com for an application. Questions/concerns? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Arts
6 — Friday, March 17, 2017
FILM REVIEW
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MUSIC NOTEBOOK
PALACE FILMS
PHILLIP NELSON
‘Things to Come’ shines Will the winner matter? Nathalie, an aging philosophy instructor whose life begins Daily Film Editor to unravel. Her elderly mother is losing her marbles (and There are so many films Nathalie temporarily adopts that really try to be about her allergy-inducing cat), she’s something. “My movie’s about separating from her husband, technology” or “My movie’s also a philosophy teacher, about parenting,” a writer after he meets someone else or director or meanwhile, producer might protesters, “Things to Come” say (or not-socalling for subtly display better pensions, Les Films du on the screen), interrupt her Losange hoping to grab teaching. onto the coattails Nathalie, Michigan Theater of ephemeral brief ly a former salience. This isn’t Communist, is to say that these movies are resilient. Her tragedies are met bad; on the contrary, they’re with grace; she defends herself often critical in shaping our against a publishing company cultural, political and societal turning their back on her, and conversations. But these films she advocates for a former often become polemic, spoiling student turned intellectual their would-be fascinating life and writer, Fabien (Roman tales in favor of a “message.” Kolinka, “Eden”). As the Rarer are the movies that travails of her daily life become aren’t really about anything, more and more unbearable, she and in the process become decides to visit Fabien to the about everything — about sounds of Woody Guthrie in life, love, loss, longing, his new home outside of Paris, leaving. Films that illuminate a rustic commune among the the stories being lived by mountains. those around us: the lawyer Hansen-Løve and Huppert handling your tort claim (see make a brilliant pair. The Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain camera is always in motion, Women”), your bus driver (see placing the audience within Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson”) or conversations. Hansen-Løve your high school philosophy often opts to film a character’s teacher. reaction to a line; the effect That last one is the subject is a deep understanding of “Things to Come,” the latest of the film’s relationships. from up-and-coming French When Heinz (André Marcon, writer-director Mia Hansen- “Marguerite”) tells Nathalie of Løve (“Eden”). The film stars his affair, we hear his guilt, but Isabelle Huppert (“Elle”) as we see her anguish. DANIEL HENSEL
Classifieds
It helps that Huppert, undeniably one of the greatest living actors, is on screen for much of the film. She can easily slip into a role, fully living the part on film with ease. Nathalie is no exception. She can be feeble or forceful, intellectual or still learning. She’s a complex individual whose thoughts, actions and words are intricately brought to life. Hansen-Løve’s screenplay, further, is quick, yet unburdened by clunky exposition in dialogue. Characters reveal facts through their language, but it feels perfectly natural, like a French Kenneth Lonergan. At the risk of ascribing an “about” to a movie already deemed here to be “about” nothing in particular, “Things to Come” vividly portrays one woman’s navigation through compromises. Her philosophical treatises often intertwine with the dueling notions of thought and action — a debate rendered in real time among the protesting students, as well as within Fabien’s internal struggle over how to create a better world. But Hansen-Løve did not have to compromise: this movie sings, from the stunning shots of the French countryside to the kitchen sink drama set against bookshelves, once overloaded but now with some of their contents ripped out — casualties from separation.
Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
RELEASE DATE– Friday, March 17, 2017
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
FOR RENT
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 “Oopsy” 6 Grand Prix component 9 In things 13 Adult insect 14 Prefix with data 15 Subject preceder 16 Laboratory scam? 18 Saves, say 19 Challenge 20 Like some flushes 22 Missed the mark 24 Spike TV, once 25 Nile threats 28 Snubbing a testimonial? 33 Take for a while 35 B to C, e.g. 36 Call off 37 Something shared on a plane 40 Pres. when Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was decided 41 “The Social Contract” author 43 Hindu ascetics 45 John Deere rep? 48 Old Nair rival 49 “You betcha!” 50 Mozart opera ending 52 Spendthrift 56 Hospital test 60 Large deep-water fish 61 Ordinary law office employee? 63 Actor Auberjonois 64 Relaxed 65 Refresh, as a cup of coffee 66 Participants in some awkward meetings 67 Case breaker, perhaps 68 Flower holders
2 1979 disco classic 3 Payment that’s posted 4 Eternal 5 Philanthropist, e.g. 6 Common Market letters 7 Ancient colonnade 8 Sacred sites 9 Stocking stuff 10 Not backing 11 Party pooper 12 First family member 14 Poet’s concern 17 Short 21 Being 23 Throw into turmoil 25 On the ball 26 Monterrey title 27 “The Taming of the Shrew” setting 29 Obsessive idea metaphor 30 Caravan assembler 31 Common Sundance entry
32 Notice from Shakespeare? 34 Time for eggs 38 Worked on, as a cold case 39 Fold, spindle or mutilate 42 Crop cutters 44 Buck 46 Gin __ 47 Other, in Oaxaca
51 Slopes 52 Had on 53 Top 54 Fit to be tried 55 Student’s request 57 Vacation spot 58 Jack-in-the-pulpit family 59 Gets caught off guard 62 The ANC’s country
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
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JESSICA ZEISLOFT Daily Arts Writer
Nicki Minaj vs. Remy Ma. If you haven’t heard about it yet, you should probably start following at least one trashy media service on Twitter. Long story short, Nicki contributed a couple feature verses earlier this year that may or may not have been about Remy, and so a couple weeks ago Remy released “ShETHER,” a vicious sevenminute diss track, and followed it up a few days later with “Another One.” The songs harken back to Nas’ 2001 Jay-Z diss track “Ether” and Drake’s 2015 Meek Mill diss track “Back to Back,” respectively. Nicki responded last week with three new tracks, two of which — “No Frauds” and “Changed It” — take aim at Remy. This is usually the point where we look at the material and everyone takes sides on who “won.” So, who won? Frankly, no one. There can’t be a winner when the opponents aren’t even playing the same game. In an era when good quality doesn’t necessarily translate to high sales figures, these two artists have very different
criteria for what constitutes the title “Queen of Rap.” Who fought harder? Definitely Remy. “ShETHER” took shots from all angles, not to mention the dismembered Nicki Minaj Barbie that appears on the cover art. Who sold more? Nicki, for sure. “No Frauds” topped the iTunes charts in multiple countries and its streaming traffic was over 100 times that of “ShETHER.” Remy Ma is honoring the same set of rules that the Nas / Jay-Z fued operated under: long-winded rap verses that solely function to harshly insult opponents, firing rumors, facts and alternative facts alike. She drags Minaj with a number of scathing accusations like having a ghostwriter, sleeping her way to the top and funding her convicted-felon brother’s wedding. Nicki’s game is very different. I think she outlines her rules best in her nowdeleted Instagram post announcing the new tracks. In a screenshot she writes, “Here @ Young Money, we don’t do diss records, we drop HIT RECORDS & diss u ON them,” a line with a f low so good that she makes a strong case against the ghostwriter accusations. Minaj is obviously more
concerned with topping the charts than hitting back. Both “No Frauds” and “Changed It” take swings at Remy, but do so in a abbreviated fashion, only lending a verse each to feudrelated insults. She doesn’t take on Remy with a solo track, but with songs featuring rap heavyweights Drake and Lil Wayne, ensuring that her sales and popularity skyrocket. Given this, we now consider a new question: Whose rules are we playing by? That’s an issue that emcompasses far more that the Nicki / Remy dispute. In a world dominated by social media and the mass collection of data, it seems that popularity and charts take precedent. I imagine most people who generate an opinion on this feud take Nicki’s side, simply because they know who she is. But we can not write off Remy merely because she’s less popular. When she ignited this feud, she thought she was starting another Nas / Jay-Z debacle. If she had, she would take the crown. But this is 2017, not 2001. The content matters and the numbers matter. So until these women enter the same arena, there can be no winner.
TV REVIEW
Famed feud brought to TV powerful roles. The supporting cast, full of recognizable Daily Book Review Editor faces like Stanley Tucci (“The Devil Wears Prada”), The opening credits of Alfred Molina (“Spider Man “FEUD: Bette and Joan” are 2”), Kathy Bates (“American gorgeous, taking aesthetic Horror Story”), Judy Davis inspiration from the cinema (“The Dressmaker”), and of the 1960s. The technicolor up-and-comer Kiernan Shipka silhouette (“Mad Men”) animation is phenomenal, “FEUD: Bette and is visually but Sarandon Joan” reminiscent of and Lange are “Mad Men,” formidable. Series Premiere though the theme Both command is less nostalgic every room FX and more urgent; fully; each Sundays at 10:00 instead of a man scene they’re p.m. falling through a in together history of trends is thick with and fads painted tension. They onto skyscrapers, move through this sequence involves two magnificent, lonely halls women circling each other in and delicately constructed ever-shrinking circlets. The film sets with alternating most chilling shots are those of carelessness and overt selfa man who has the marionette awareness, warily eyeing not strings connected to these only each other but everyone women wrapped carefully else in the room. around his fingers, making If you’re attuned to the them dance and another man eccentricities that Ryan ashing his cigar, causing little Murphy can’t help but bring to Oscars statues to fall from the his work, you can catch some end of it. The pilot episode of of them in the pilot — perhaps the show is just as enthralling most tellingly, a scene in which as the credits; it’s the kind Joan, playing a character who of show that has you inching is confined to a wheelchair, forward on your seat and sees Bette talking quietly holding your breath without with one of the directors realizing until the screen cuts and, instead of getting up to black. and striding confidently The episode sets up the over to them, wheels herself legendary feud between Bette angrily towards them. There Davis and Joan Crawford, two is a perfectly crafted scene power icons of Hollywood, involving the two women through the story of their angling for a specific chair that only film together: “Whatever will give them top billing in the Happened to Baby Jane,” a next morning’s paper, and it movie about a similar rivalry could not be more meticulously between two women in 1962. choreographed. The two Fittingly, Bette and Joan are women never take their eyes played by Susan Sarandon off each other, metaphorically (“Thelma and Louise”) and — they are straining, always on Jessica Lange (“American the edge of propriety, on the Horror Story”) respectively, edge of their seats, on the edge two women whose careers of snapping at each other’s have been full of rich and throats. SOPHIA KAUFMAN
The show’s weakest point is trying too hard to make a feminist point through bits of dialogue between the women, when the plotlines and even the score do it more effectively. There are several one-liners that are thinly veiled criticisms of how we treat older women in the media and Hollywood, but it is often unclear what brand of feminism they are truly seeking to represent. At times, these lines slip into the narrative that women are more cruel to each other than they are to men, or than men are to them, and it feels incongruous and wrongfully placed, even in a show about a feud between two famous women. The pilot captures what happens when beloved ingenues grow into powerful, sometimes unlikeable women, and what those women must do to keep their power at the expense of — well, it’s still unclear. It captures what it feels like to watch your own work, an intensely private yet also public experience in the film industry. The punch that this show packs comes not from the unfolding of any feud yet (incidentally, I have a suspicion that once the feud builds, it’ll lessen the intensity). Rather, the bite of the show comes from the remorselessness of Hollywood and the media in creating a culture in which, as multiple people point out, there can only be one “It girl.” If the rest of the season is this clever and well-paced, slinking towards a kinetic explosion of raw energy, then it has the potential to be a phenomenal bit of storytelling and one of Ryan Murphy’s better pieces.
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Sports LET THE MADNESS BEGIN The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Friday, March 17, 2017 — 7
Michigan to open NCAA Tournament against hot-shooting Oklahoma State BETELHEM ASHAME Managing Sports Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Fresh off a Big Ten Tournament championship, the Michigan men’s basketball team has experienced a rapid turnaround. After four games in as many days, the Wolverines will take the court once again Friday — albeit on a much bigger stage. While the magic of March Madness has already struck Michigan once, the Wolverines will officially open play in the NCAA Tournament in what Michigan coach John Beilein called “the heart of the Big Ten”. Bankers Life Fieldhouse — the site of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament — should bring back positive memories for the Wolverines. Last year, the arena played host to No. 8 seed Michigan’s miracle win over No. 1 seed Indiana on a buzzerbeating corner three from former wing Kam Chatman. This season, the Wolverines (24-11) are far from underdogs. As the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region, Michigan will take on No. 10 seed Oklahoma State (20-12) in the first round of the Big Dance. And while the Wolverines won their conference tournament in impressive fashion — defeating ranked opponents such as thenNo. 13 Purdue and then-No. 24 Wisconsin — the Cowboys fell in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament to No. 23 Iowa State. “The whole goal at Michigan is to win championships. And if you compete for a Big Ten championship, you’re going to compete for national championships,” Beilein said. “… Our league, year in and year out, can play with anybody in the
SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Moritz Wagner (left) will be key in Michigan’s game vs. Oklahoma State.
country.” Despite the disparities between the two sides, both teams have similarities leading up to Friday’s matchup. Michigan and Oklahoma State are both characterized by their shooting ability from anywhere on the court, and by their transition offense predicated on forcing and capitalizing on turnovers. While the Cowboys score an average of 85.5 points per game compared to 74.8 for the Wolverines, Michigan boasts a higher scoring margin due to the strength of its defense. The Wolverines give up just 65.5 points
per game, whereas Oklahoma State allows its opponents to score an average of 78. The Cowboys carry the edge from beyond the arc, though, shooting 40.1 percent compared to 38.1 for Michigan. Its perimeter defense is better as well, as Oklahoma State allows its opponents to shoot 35.8 percent while the Wolverines give up a 37.8 shooting percentage. All five Cowboy starters will prove to be a challenge for Michigan to contain, particularly guard Jawun Evans, wing Jeffrey Carroll and guard Phil Forte III — all of whom boast double-digit
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
scoring averages at 19, 17.4 and 13.3, respectively. While the Wolverines are more used to that level of scoring from dominant big men in the Big Ten, they will have to adapt to the Big 12’s plethora of skilled guard play. “It’s a balance,” Beilein said. “… You have to be prepared for a team that is going to be unique to you. At the same time, you can’t make yourself unique to yourself by trying to out-trick them.” While Michigan must stand up to that test, Oklahoma State will have its own test to take. All five Wolverine starters also have the potential to pile it on in a hurry due to the success of their pick-andpop game. Four of them average doubledigit point totals — senior guard Derrick Walton Jr., senior wing Zak Irvin, sophomore forward Moritz Wagner and redshirt sophomore forward DJ Wilson with 15.2, 12.8, 12 and 10.6, respectively — and the lone starter shy of the mark is just 0.9 points away. “You pick your poison with whichever you choose (to guard),” said Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood. “You’ve got to make it difficult and not allow them to be as comfortable as they want to be, and then you’ve got to contest shots.” Michigan gained national attention after the near-tragic plane incident last Wednesday, but the Wolverines gained national acclaim for turning that experience into a title run. According to Irvin, their mindset throughout the tournament centered on one key question: “Why can’t this be one of the greatest stories ever told?” While Michigan closed the first chapter Sunday, its postseason story continues Friday.
Wolverines rely on ‘pick-and-pop’ to utilize mixture of size and shooting KEVIN SANTO
Managing Sports Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been going on all season. Derrick Walton Jr. brings the ball up the court. Moritz Wagner saunters from the top of the key and sets a high-ball screen. The sophomore forward plants his 6-foot-11 frame on his senior point guard’s defender. Walton drives by Wagner’s left shoulder with a decision to make — take it to the hole or feed it to his big man, unattended behind the arc with his hands prepared for a pass that may never come and a shot he wants to take. More often than not, it goes something like this: Wagner gets the ball, knocks it down and heads down the court with some variation of the emotional celebration he has become known for. It’s all too easy. Tomorrow afternoon, Oklahoma State has the unpleasant task of making that a lot harder. As Big Ten play ran its course, eventually, the Michigan men’s basketball team’s conference foes caught on. Any time the Wolverines faced a conference team for the second time, Wagner noticed the adjustments. Some teams would have their ‘4’ guard Wagner from the get-go, hoping to switch screens more effectively. Others would simply try to run Wagner off the line, often to no avail. “If somebody runs you off the line, you just gotta shot fake and dribble,” Wagner said. “I think that’s something I do pretty well.” Added Michigan assistant coach Saddi Washington: “I think
it actually helped us, from being able to compare the moments like that so that this isn’t the first time we’re seeing a five-man switching rotation from a defense.” The bottom line is that the majority of the Wolverines’ competition has had multiple cracks at bringing Michigan’s pick-and-pop system crumbling down. Most of the time, those teams have failed. On Friday afternoon, though, Oklahoma State needs to buck that trend. If the Cowboys don’t, then their tournament is likely to end early. The Cowboys have seen plenty of talented guards in the Big 12, Frank Mason III and Monte Morris being just two of them. How they fare against Walton may not be the problem, but how they fare against Wagner could be a big one. Oklahoma State hasn’t seen a big man like Wagner or redshirt sophomore DJ Wilson all season. Cowboy forward Mitchell Solomon said Wagner reminds him of Baylor’s Johnathan Motley and Texas Christian’s Vladimir Brodziansky, but even they don’t “play outside as much as Wagner”. And that’s an understatement. Wagner has attempted 108 3-pointers and converted at a 40.7 percent clip. Motley and Brodziansky, however, have attempted just 31 and 29, respectively. “It’s completely different,” Solomon said. “Almost all the guys in the Big 12 are big bruisers that we’ve done a lot of battle in the paint. It’s going to be different playing out on the perimeter a little more, but I think we’ll be ready for it.”
ICE HOCKEY
NCAA-tourney snub Wolverines ‘M’ falls to Penn State, season open WNIT by beating Kent State ends at Big Ten Tournament SYLVANNA GROSS Daily Sports Editor
A basketball left the fingertips of a Kent State guard, soaring in an arc over mid-court trying to get to a teammate. The ball would never reach its destination. Six-foot-five Hallie Thome reached up and plucked the ball out of its course, with the sophomore center’s toes barely lifting off the ground. The play demonstrated the blistering defense that the Michigan women’s basketball team boasted all night en route to a 67-60 victory over the Golden Flashes (13-5 MidAmerican, 19-12) at Crisler Center on Thursday. Though still reeling from being left out of the NCAA Tournament, Michigan (11-5 Big Ten, 22-9 overall) proved its dominance on the court once again in the first game of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, despite a string of four losses in its previous five games. “Coming into this, we knew we had to prove a point to the NCAA and make them realize they made a mistake with leaving us out,” Thome said. “Then again, we still have to realize we’re still in a tournament and we’re lucky to be in a tournament and still playing right now. So we got to push through it, and if we’re in it, we might as well try to go all the way.” A clear mantra for the team was playing for their seniors, guards Danielle Williams and Siera Thompson, who both will have been shut out of the NCAA Tournament when they graduate in April. The Wolverines are hungry for the WNIT title, too, with hopes to unfurl their first banner in program history at Crisler Center. “Even though it’s not the banner
we want to hang, it’s a start in the right direction,” Thome said. “Although we want to prove a point, we have to make sure we take care of business at the end of the day.” The game started unsurprisingly, with three 3-point shots from junior guard Katelynn Flaherty within the first three minutes of play. The Golden Flashes tried to respond and managed only one trey and one free throw in the same time frame. By the end of the game, Flaherty had amassed 22 points, with Thome trailing behind with 13 and Thompson with 10. Thome needs just 11 more points to surpass 1,000 career points. Notably, Thompson, after this game, became the school record holder — in both men’s and women’s basketball — for minutes played (4,571). Following an aggressive first period performance by Flaherty, the Wolverines pulled away further with a dominant second quarter, bringing with them a 43-22 lead into halftime. Both Flaherty and freshman guard Kysre Gondrezick hit back-to-back threes, though the most noteworthy basket came with a period-ending buzzerbeater — a mid-range jump shot off the fingertips of sophomore guard Nicole Munger. Flaherty’s scoring was the difference-maker in the first half, but also apparent was Flaherty’s extra emphasis on rebounds, a relatively uncharted territory for her. She tallied five total. “It was different,” Flaherty said. “I’m really trying to expand my game and that’s one of the things my coaches wanted me to work on. So (the basketball) kind of fell to me today, and I was more ball-
“If we’re in it, we might as well try to go all the way.”
conscious than I usually am.” Added Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico: “I was really happy about the way she went in and she mixed it up. I thought we did a great job, too, of finding her. She’s really been shooting the basketball exceptionally well in practice. … She’s really worked hard on becoming a better rebounder, and that showed tonight.” Though the Golden Flashes tried to overcome the deficit in the third – even almost coming within 10 points – Michigan quickly dismissed any hopes for redemption, finishing the period up 55-43. With six minutes to go in the final period of the game, Kent State began to upend the Wolverines’ confidence when a layup put them within eight points of Michigan’s total. At the 3:50 mark, a jump ball call left the Golden Flashes with possession. But Kent State couldn’t capitalize, and the Wolverines extended their point total to 61. The Golden Flashes rebounded quickly and recaptured momentum to bring their deficit to just five points — the closest the game had been since the first minute. With 1:40 remaining, a pair of free throws by senior guard Siera Thompson and a basket the following possession by Gondrezick gave the Wolverines a nine-point advantage in the final minute of play — a far cry from the 21-point lead it held following the half, but comfortable enough to secure the victory. “It was an ugly win tonight,” Flaherty said. “But, you know, it’s just good to come out with the win.” Regardless, Michigan pulled through in the end to notch its 23rd win of the season, breaking the program record for most wins in a season. “I want this group to be able to look back and say (this is something special),” Barnes Arico said. “They did a lot of great things for that to happen this year.”
LANEY BYLER
Daily Sports Editor
Six days ago, the Michigan hockey team secured its first sweep of the season over thenNo.11 Penn State. The sweep was important — not only did it close out a season at Yost Ice Arena and honor the roster’s seniors, but it also secured wins for the Wolverines in the last games the two teams would play before facing off in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. But the 15th-ranked Nittany Lions (11-9-1 Big Ten, 22-11-2 overall) wouldn’t accept a thirdstraight loss to the Wolverines, capitalizing on early scoring to beat Michigan, 4-1. For Penn State, the win meant an advancement to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to face Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena on Friday. For the Wolverines (6-13-2, 13-19-3), though, it meant their season would come to an end. “You knew it would be a hardfought game,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “We just played Penn State two games at Yost last weekend, and I thought the team that got the best start tonight was going to have the advantage, and obviously they took advantage. They scored I think with six seconds left in that penalty and then scored a late goal, last-minute goal in the first period, and we just couldn’t answer the bell. “It was a tough night to get things started offensively. Their goalie was good when he had to be. And give Penn State credit, they played hard the whole game and they played the right way. We just weren’t good enough.” The first period started with
both teams on even footing. But the Nittany Lions soon began to dominate, and, by the end of the first period, they had three goals on the scoreboard to show for it. After freshman forward Jake Slaker was called for charging, Penn State found itself with a range of powerplay opportunities. Forward Brandon Biro managed to control the puck behind senior goaltender Zach Nagelvoort’s net, and after initially looking to circle back to the other end, he passed it to forward Liam Folkes. The ensuing shot put Penn State ahead with 9:50 left in the first period. Just over two minutes later, though, the Nittany Lions recorded another goal when Ricky DeRosa broke up a Michigan pass, and the puck eventually landed in the hands of Nate Sucese, who finished it off for the second goal at the 13:24 mark. With 29 seconds remaining in the period, forward David Goodwin scored again to put the Nittany Lions up 3-0 at the end of the first period. The offensive initiative from Penn State didn’t end there, though. Defenseman Vince Pedrie jumpstarted the second period with a goal just over a minute in, and the Nittany Lions were playing with a fourgoal lead. “The message (going into the second period) was (to) try to keep doing what we were doing and stay the same,” said Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky. “Unfortunately for us, I think Michigan came out a lot stronger, they took a few chances that paid off and were able to generate a lot more shots.”
“We just couldn’t answer the bell.”
The Wolverines almost wound up on the board when freshman forward Adam Winborg forced a shot on Penn State goaltender Peyton Jones that senior forward Alex Kile cleaned up, but Michigan was offsides and the goal was waived. It wasn’t until the 10:19 point in the second period that the Wolverines finally managed to land on the scoreboard. Junior forward Tony Calderone’s shot sent the puck into the air, and freshman forward James Sanchez deflected it into the net, making the score 4-1 headed into the third period. Michigan began to lay on shots, but its late start to the game proved to be destructive. Sophomore forward Cooper Marody tried to capitalize on an open net when Jones found himself trying to cover the puck, but the shot hit the post instead. A late power play occurred when forward Chase Berger landed in the penalty box for hooking, but the opportunity didn’t result in a goal. By the time Berger stepped back on the ice, 1:30 remained in the third period. And despite an additional power play, no goals would be scored, and the hopeful weekend wouldn’t be big for the Wolverines like the sweep had been last weekend. There was no win, no celebration for the seniors, no momentum heading into the next weekend. Just a 4-1 loss that knocked the Wolverines out of the tournament. “I think it’s extremely emotional,” Calderone said. “I mean, obviously for the seniors, but even for us. I think as juniors we’ve only got one more year left, and it’s always easy to say, ‘We’ve got next year, we’ve got next year.’ But it’s going to be us next year if we don’t pull it together this summer and come back with a better season next year.”
8 — Friday, March 17, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com