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Weekly Summer Edition Ann Arbor, MI

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Local impeachment march Ann Arbor residents urge legislators to impeach Trump.

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Disagreement over impact of gerrymandering in MI

>> SEE PAGE 2

NEWS

City council

Thursday, July 6, 2017

ANN ARBOR

Prominent radio show personality headlines city festival Ira Glass discusses professional success, effective storytelling

Councilmembers discuss funding for Ann Arbor Police Department review. >> SEE PAGE 8

By DYLAN LACROIX

OPINION

Summer Daily News Editor

Science literacy “how does the scientific community engage with the public?...” >> SEE PAGE 4 DESIGN BY MICHELLE PHILLIPS

ARTS

Album Review: “4:44” New Jay-Z album inovates and reflects on self. >> SEE PAGE 6

Voters see their voice as less effective, since the majority opinion isn’t fulfilled, may breed apathy By CARLY RYAN Daily Staff Reporter

SPORTS

Walton, Irvin adjust to NBA The pair has found success in Summer League play. >> SEE PAGE 12

NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ...............................4 ARTS ......................................6 CLASSIFIEDS.........................8 MiC.........................................9 SPORTS................................ 10

Eastern Michigan University junior Allen Maxson looked at a map of Michigan’s congressional districts and saw something “like a map of Europe in the middle of World War 2.” State Rep. Jeremy Moss (D–Southfield) saw “a squiggly mess.” And Wayne State Prof. Kevin Deegan-Krause saw a “creepy lizard” in what is better known as Michigan’s 14th congressional district, according to the Detroit Free Press. Increasingly, fingers are being pointed at gerrymandering — the practice of manipulating voting districts to favor a certain party — to explain the state of Michigan’s election outcomes, which might seem incongruous with voting

habits. For example, in 2014, Republicans won 9 of the 14 congressional races, increasing their hold of the Michigan House of Representatives by 3 seats. But Republicans received fewer votes than the Democrats, who pulled ahead by 50,000. A similar scenario played out in 2016, contributing to the fact that though Michigan as a state votes “purple,” district by district, it’s really rather red. On the other end of the spectrum, Detroiters were unable to vote out state Sen. Virgil Smith (D–Detroit), despite his felony charges for opening fire at his wife’s car and assaulting her, and state Rep. Gary Glenn (R-Midland) was reelected despite controversy over being a card-carrying member of an alleged hate group, leaving many voters wondering whether they are picking their politicians or if politicians are picking them. Why Michigan? Redistricting in Michigan is no simple process. The U.S. constitution requires that each district, both federal and state, have

about the same size population. This is strictly enforced, as a congressional district map that has a 1 percent range from the smallest to largest population would be deemed unconstitutional. Additionally, districts must be drawn to ensure minorities not only have a vote, but they have an effective vote. Meaning, the amount of representatives who are favored by minority voters should be proportional to the amount of minority voters. The elected officials must reflect the voter base. States often create minoritymajority districts to ensure this — Michigan has two — and to prevent “cracking,” the splitting of a constituency so its majority is never voted into office. With all of these redistricting restrictions, it seems unlikely that further manipulation could occur. Yet Moss said Michigan is in a position that would allow gerrymandering to occur. Rarely is there one party in control of an entire state, but Michigan’s governor, secretary of state, See GERRYMANDERING, Page 3

Headlining the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, hundreds of community members came to watch renowned U.S. storyteller Ira Glass perform at the University of Michigan’s Power Center for the Performing Arts Saturday night. Weekly, Glass’s public radio show This American Life — which shares personal, thoughtprovoking narrative stories of everyday lives — reaches over 2.2 million audience members, with another 2.4 million downloading each episode. His performance that night titled “Seven Things I’ve Learned” — which ironically began to reach a total of 10 throughout the show — shared his path to success as a journalist and the quintessential elements of telling a story he discovered through his experience on radio. Glass began the show by discussing his technique for engaging audiences with stories, explaining how the presence of profound ideas and emotional depth are not what make a story worth telling; its momentum is. “In its simplest form, a story is just like a series of events,” Glass spoke. “Feelings might be in there or might not be in there. Ideas might be in there but might not be in there. There might be something you can relate to, but even that’s kind of optional.” See IRA GLASS, Page 3

2 NEWS

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Ann Arbor residents call for Trump’s impeachment in local demonstration Protesters denounced recent local action by immigration officials By DYLAN LACROIX Summer Daily News Editor

Hundreds of community members organized on the University of Michigan Diag Sunday afternoon to partake in Ann Arbor’s Impeachment March — one of many taking place across the country today — urging legislators to take action to impeach President Donald Trump. The march, which began on the Diag around noon, made its way down East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor and Main Street and halted at South Division Street and Liberty, where local anti-Trump leaders, activists and organizers convened to speak to the crowd. Art & Design senior Keysha Wall, former presidential candidate for Central Student Government and one of many speakers of the event, addressed the activists before beginning the march. She outlined the beliefs and

values for which the march stands, emphasizing Trump’s alleged violations of the U.S. Constitution and his actionsundermining human rights, as the energy for the movement. In reference to a recent deportation raid effort of 114 Iraqi Christians in Detroit — which has been temporarily halted by U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith — Wall outlined how, as a movement, they must stand up for immigrants. “It will never be enough to only be satisfied with the rhetoric in these,” Wall said. “We come today to explicitly denounce Trump’s attack on immigrant communities and undocumented peoples.” Jessica Prozinski, co-founder and leader of Stop Trump Ann Arbor, a group that identifies itself as “a united progressive social movement” in resistance to the Trump Administration, spoke after the march stating if President Trump is not impeached, the existence of our political system is at stake. “Our democracy may not survive four years of a Trump presidency,” Prozinski said. “We can’t rely on free and fair elections in four years to get rid of Trump.”

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BEN HSU/DAILY Protesters hold up signs at the Impeachment March in downtown Ann Arbor on Sunday.

Pointing to recent investigations of foreign governments hacking into the U.S. election system, Prozinski stressed the urgency to take action with government officials. “This is surely a way that a civilization can die,” Prozinski spoke. “It doesn’t start with concentration camps, but without brain and persistence and powerful resistance, make no mistake, that that is where it can end.” Rocio Sias, who organizes for human rights and has helped families in jeopardy of being deported for over five years, shared an emotional narrative of her experiences as an immigrant, fighting back agains derogatory claims President Trump has made in the past. “I’m not a drug dealer, I’m not a rapist, I’m just a regular citizen,” Sias said. “I’m your neighbor, I love this country who’s given me so many opportunities.” She went on to discuss how, throughout her work with families through the Human Rights Campaign and American Civil Liberties Union, she believes Trump’s increased deportation efforts are tearing the country and it’s people apart. “I have witnessed so much destruction from this man,” Sias said. “This is not the country I came to live in. He’s made so much

division, and its so sad and heartbreaking, to see this all, because I know Americans are great people. He does not represent us, he does not represent you.” Local high schooler Amery Chao, an organizer with Stop Trump Ann Arbor, spoke passionately about continuing to resist against the Trump Administration, emphasizing the importance to remain vigilant in fighting against the alleged “systems” Trump manifests. “The danger in hinging a political movement on any single political figure is that it fosters the misconception that, once said political figure is gone, our work is done,” Chao spoke. “We are standing against everything he stands for, perpetuates and represents. We are standing up to racism, nazisim, xenophobia, Islamophobia, misogyny, queerphobia, transphobia, nationalism, capitalism.” LSA freshman Sophia Tzavaras, who attended the Impeachment March, said though many of the concerns of the movement have no direct impact on her own life, she still feels obligated to support the movement.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

University faculty member finds link between access to employer-provided health care and employee race, sex Almost every health condition could be impacted by access to health care, researcher says By KENNEDY WERNER Daily Staff Reporter

New University of Michigan research find that employment leads to a higher life expectancy for white men. The study emphasizes that Black individuals, women and those from a lower educational background do not reap the benefits of employment

to the same extent as their white, male counterparts do. The findings, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, state employment allows the maximum health advantage for white males. Health advantage, measured by incidence of mortality, dropped 39 percent for Black employees (as compared to white employees), 30 percent for women (as compared to men), and 36 percent for those from a less educated background. Shervin Assari, a research investigator for the University’s medical school and School of Public Health, is a lead author of the study. He explained almost every health condition can be affected by an individual’s access to resources. If access to resources

are limited, one’s health can suffer and mortality can rise. Factors such as education level, economic background, race and gender are called social determinants of health. They play a major role in access and, therefore, the well-being of a person. The important effect of group membership and identity on the condition of life inspired Assari to do research in this area. “U.S. society enhances life for whites, highly-educated and men,” Assari said. “For example, for every dollar that men make, the earning of women is just 80 cents. So there’s a 20 percent gender gap. It’s worse for race. The gap is larger for race. Racial gap in income generation is back to what it was 50 years ago.”

Over the course of two to three years, Assari analyzed data from the Americans’ Changing Lives study from the University’s Institute for Social Research. The ACL is the oldest, ongoing, national, longitudinal study to follow adult behavioral, social and psychological health since 1986. Assari also used data from the ACL for previous research findings. For instance, he found education to be a risk factor for depression in Black men. Furthermore, among the older adult population, Black individuals appeared to die earlier from chronic disease than white individuals. Public Health junior Jeff Sondheimer was intrigued by the study’s findings. Sondheimer, who is pursuing a degree in medicine, found

the shortened life expectancy for women and Black individuals to be disheartening. “In public health, we are taught that access to care and quality of care have a major impact on one’s health,” Sondheimer said. “All the more so, social factors such as wealth, status and education strongly influence one’s quality and access to care. I believe this is an interesting study that gets to the core of public health.” Junior Will Schwartz, also a Public Health student pursuing premed, found the study unsurprising. Schwartz is hopeful the future will bring more studies surrounding public policy and its effect on health. “I think a study on possible solutions to these disparities would be more useful than just identifying them,” Schwartz said.

4 OPINION

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

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

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

STEPHANIE MULLINGS| COLUMN

here is a scene in the biopic “Malcolm X” directed by Spike Lee that has always stuck with me in one of the most chilling and devastating ways possible. As Malcolm Little, soon to take the last name X, is beginning to adopt the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam, he is prompted by one of his mentors to define the words “white” and “black” using Webster’s dictionary. He reads aloud that white is defined as, “the color of new snow; the opposite of black; free from spot or blemish such as moral impurity; innocent, without evil intent; and harmless.” Like Malcolm X, portrayed by Denzel Washington, I was shaken and disturbed by this discovery. Does that inadvertently imply that those who are white, technically … by definition, are pure, innocent and honest? While those who are Black are hostile and wicked? The scene I described previously in the “Malcolm X” movie ends with his realization about the dictionary, as he asks his mentor, “this is written by white folks, right?” There is another definition I would like to share, it is for the word “numb.” It is defined as, “unable to think, feel, or react normally because of something that shocks or upsets you.” I am stating this definition because I want there to be absolutely no mistaking the way I felt after learning that the police officer who murdered Philando Castile was found not guilty of manslaughter charges. I am numb to the fact that an innocent man was mercilessly killed in front of his girlfriend and child for reaching into his pocket. Additionally, I am truly disheartened because of the fact that I expected this. I expected

Imagine

his murderer to walk free. I expected the Castile family to unsuccessfully seek justice and find peace. I expected a group of our peers, fellow American citizens, who served as jurors to justify an innocent Black man being slain at the hands of the police — those meant to protect and serve. Can you imagine that? Being so accustomed to disadvantage that you can no longer picture a life without it? Knowing that injustice, discrimination and violence against the community in which you belong is so frequent that you can only be left with the assumption that it should happen? Can you imagine knowing that essentially you can be killed because of a definition? Because let’s face the facts, the police officer who murdered Philando Castile assessed his response to what he considered a dangerous situation based on the realization that Castile was Black. And that must have meant he was foul and hostile, right? Can you imagine knowing deep in your heart that this is bound to happen again? I must confess it has been a struggle to write this piece. At first I was scared that it would be disregarded as yet another reaction. Or that I would present myself as yet another disgruntled Black person. I feared that my words would be drowned out by activists that roar cries of justice and change or maybe by those who view this ruling as the correct decision. I thought, who am I to speak about this? What difference do my words make in the grand scheme of things? I succumbed to the intense pressure of attempting to differentiate myself from the rest. How could I make this honest, raw and genuine?

instill the notion within your children that because of who they are, they must always have an acute awareness of themselves to their surroundings … That they must recognize their difference and the subsequent notions it causes regarding their “place” in society. Can you imagine that? Or knowing that you are Black and can be killed for the mere perceptions that many hold which label you as dangerous? Aggressive? Foul and hostile?

Can you imagine another mother losing her son to bullets from a gun meant to defend us? Can you imagine another daughter witnessing their father die in front of their very eyes? Can you imagine? I can. —Stephanie Mullings can be reached at srmulli@umich.edu.

BRENNAN POPE| COLUMN

What I learned from Philando Castile

How could I make it something that would stick with readers? Intimidated by all of these questions and my own fear, I figured — I’ll just leave it alone, I will think of another topic to write about. But then I thought, was Bill Maher scared when on national television he used the n-word in a tasteless joke? Was the assailant who vandalized LeBron James’s home by spray painting the n-word on his front gate scared? Is our own president scared anytime he tweets something rude, inflammatory or outlandish? The answer is no. Each of these individuals have said what they want and more importantly what they mean. None of them were scared, because they are under the impression that their words matter. That they can, and should, speak openly and freely. An impression which I too should have. So here is what I have to say… Philando Castile was a father, son and friend. He was murdered for being Black. Our justice system has validated that this is not wrong, just as they have before in the past. The worst part about it is, these sorts of tragedies more than likely will continue in the future until systemic oppression is eliminated and lasting change will occur. Until then, can you imagine having to wait for such drastic transformation, including not only redesigning the infrastructure of the branches of our government, but additionally eradicating bias, prejudice, oppressive behavior and racist ideals from generations of people? You are left to live with a target on your back because of the color of your skin. You must

“

You shot four bullets into him, sir,” were the words Lavish Reynolds, uttered over Facebook livestream after Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Philando Castile on July 6, 2016. Both the livestream and the recently uncovered dash cam video are very disturbing, but they are also enlightening and representative of the African-American experience with law enforcement. This is particularly evident when observing (1) the language Castile and Reynolds used when addressing Yanez and (2) the Reynolds’ instinct to livestream the incident. The dash cam video shows us the automatic fear that the police put into Castile. He is so worried about something going wrong that he feels the need to calmly inform Yanez, “Sir, I have to tell you that I do have a firearm on me.” Countless encounters of when police are surprised by someone’s firearm, legal or not, have resulted in the worst. Castile tells Yanez he has a firearm to make sure Yanez knows he isn’t up to anything nefarious. Who would warn an officer about his firearm before using it? Many cite that the victims of police brutality ask for it by being disrespectful to the officer, however this incident goes to show that many times it doesn’t matter how respectful you are — sometimes “sir” doesn’t cut it. Even after watching Yanez kill her boyfriend, Reynolds still has the will to address the officer as “sir,” saying, “You shot four bullets into him, sir.” The fear of also being shot and blamed for being disrespectful continues after an officer has killed an innocent man. The officer deserves no “sir” at this point, but Reynolds finds it imperative to her own safety.

This language helps show the lengths that African-Americans have to go to stay safe in the face of law enforcement. Carefully placed “sirs” and deliberate warnings are representative of the fear that police produce. Not only do encounters with the police spark fear, but they are also a call to action. This is to say that when Yanez shot Castile, Reynolds fought through the grief of the incident and had the instinct to document the injustice. She knew the fight against police brutality would be furthered by showing what had just happened, so she livestreamed almost immediately after shots had been fired. Personally, I would have never had the thought to livestream after my significant other had been shot, but it just goes to show how even through the worst, African-Americans have to fight for improved conditions. The livestream shows how documenting a greater injustice is of a higher priority than personal emotion. This is a priority that many of us will never have to deal with. Despite the unjust treatment uncovered by this case, many people blame Castile for his death by saying he should’ve stopped reaching. We live in a world where we punish people of different skin tone for existing, then blame them for acting innocently. I don’t doubt that Yanez was a good person and not outwardly racist, but it is okay to blame law enforcement. Yanez murdered an innocent man. If we don’t punish cops for acting inappropriately, things will never change. —Brennan Pope can be reached at popeb@umich.edu.

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

LENA DREVES| COLUMN

The problem of tolerance

olerance has often been thought of as a positive attribute to society and a necessary constituent for the promotion of civil rights. However, if equality and the improvement of civil rights is the end goal, the function of tolerance in society does not achieve such results. Though tolerance is indeed a preferred end to intolerance, it does not bring about equality or justice to a society; in fact, it highlights the vulnerabilities of a a group of people to another and perpetuates societal oppression. For policies to solve the full spectrum of modern social injustice, a firm initiative must be taken in place of tolerance, against injustice and inequality. Perhaps one of the reasons society is inclined to look at tolerance as a solution to hatred and bigotry is because we often have seen harsh examples of intolerance, usually through infamous events or political regimes. Nazi Germany in World War II, the present day totalitarian Republic of North Korea and the recent surge of racist, homophobic and religious hate crimes in the United States are all examples. These are indeed heinous examples, but it does not imply that tolerance promotes a more equal and harmonious society. Tolerance, in fact, allows for society to be more divided and implies that minority groups who are oppressed should simply be left alone and “tolerated.” Social problems today demand a firm course of action confronting the root issues of injustice. For many years in the United States a variety of religions have coexisted. Religious freedom has been a powerful force since the founding of the country. Though a majority consists of a variety of Christian groups, Judaism and Islam are a close second. Has the reason for the coexistence of religions been the result of tolerance? Have the Christians merely tolerated the Muslims, and vice versa? Today in this country, witnessed to multiple and rising existing tensions between the two religions. Usually, these tensions originated through radical extremists on both sides and politicians stirring up fear and bigotry. To practice the exercise of tolerance now would imply a silent hatred that has not yet been acted on. For religious groups to coexist yet not acknowledge the building tensions between the

groups exasperates the animosity. In place of a silent tolerance, each group should propose to support each other in light of a common goal of a free and accepting society. By no means does this hint that the different beliefs should merge, but instead, that they should recognize one another with respect for those beliefs and not be silent in their support. Racism has exhibited an even greater display of how tolerance alone has created divisions and mistrust. Perhaps this a more obvious example. To say that people of other ethnic groups and races are only tolerated would have a serious negative connotation. Again, practicing community with one another is a part of the resistance. However, community and acceptance also means that unless there is a decided action to involve ourselves in the fight against the marginalization of racial minority groups, there is a complicit obstruction of justice. Tolerance, in this case, is complacency and refusing to engage for a just and unified society. The LGBTQ community can relate to what tolerance means for them in a very personal way. The stares of bystanders when a same-sex couple hold hands or the distancing of friends in silent disagreement display ways that tolerance is used. The mistrust that is created by this silent disapproval divides society as well as creating distance between sexual orientations. Whether it is racism or religious discrimination or homophobia, intolerance is how we often have labeled the obstacle of equality and justice for all in society. The question is not whether tolerance is better in comparison to intolerance, but rather, does tolerance promote justice? Clearly, tolerance without action is just as guilty in its part of creating a divided society. Each community needs to know that they are not simply tolerated by the majority, but rather that their uniqueness adds an irreplaceable quality to society. It is essential that their marginalization leads to protest and resistance from the society they are a part of, and the justice due to them is sought by those in power.

DAVID KAMPER| COLUMN

lmost every day, we wake up, roll over in our beds and turn off our alarm*. Sometimes that is in a digital clock*, but knowing our generation, it is most likely a cellphone*. After tapping the screen*, we hop out of bed and turn on the light*. We may run to the restroom, and turn on the faucet* for a glass of water. After that, we might brush our teeth with a toothbrush* and wash our face with a bar of soap*. We enter the kitchen and take the cup of coffee from the coffeemaker*. After tossing some oatmeal in the microwave*, we hop onto the internet* to read or catch up on work. After running out the door, we hop on the bus* or in our car* to start the day. Simply in this morning routine, science research consumed our schedule. Every asterisk next to an object or concept included copious amounts of scientific understanding and countless hours of development to create the technology. Our generation has been consumed by the use of cellphones, almost as permanent attachments of our psyche. The Starbucks machines making that latte you’re drinking? Science and mathematics went into developing it. That fancy watch you’re wearing? Science and mathematics developed it. Even while we are constantly surrounded by scientific innovation, I notice that we overlook the importance of science research and development in our everyday lives. And I am not simply writing because I am in a university setting, but as an individual who observes many Americans who don’t even recognize the scientific research that they benefit from every second of their lifetimes. The lack of awareness from many Americans on how rooted scientific research is to the American psyche demonstrates the growing issue of our scientific literacy. Science education is not only faltering in schools but also in the general public. This is creating a large part of the consumer industry that lacks regard for the hard work and complex science that went behind developing the iPhone or the car he or she drives. There are two issues to look at with regards to science literacy: science in secondary education and science in the general public. High school science education is — Lena Dreves can be reached heavily criticized in many states. A at ldreves@umich.edu. staggering 2016 assessment found that 64 percent of high school

OPINION 5

ABCs of science graduates failed to meet collegereadiness benchmarks in science, in a country where the benchmarks are even lower than many other countries. With poor support to science education, it should be no surprise that of the 17,000 postsecondary U.S. and Puerto Rican students, about 40 percent of those who began studying in science disciplines at the beginning of college eventually achieved a degree in that field. Even worse, among women and minorities, that number is 20 percent. Science education clearly has a perseverance problem. People are leaving science, perhaps because it is difficult, but mostly, I believe, because it has public relations issues. Large swaths of scientific community don’t know how to communicate their research to the average American citizen. As an article published in the Washington Post states, “when Americans gets surveyed about science, we learn that they don’t know a lot about it — and then we proceed to lament how dumb they are.” Though this might be typical, the scientific perseverance and public relations problems might be due to two reasons. Firstly, secondary school science is often taught in a lecture-styled, memorize-based classroom, where trial-and-error, research-designed curricula is not emphasized. Secondly, the scientific literature and academic community is removed from the vast majority of the general public, creating a massive difference in the opinions of scientists and the public — adding only the growing distrust of the science community in the general public. In our nation’s high school classrooms, there has been a greater shift to develop curriculum that doesn’t simply require students to memorize the emergent truths that we have come to agree upon as a scientific community. Often, it involves allowing students to build their own models and design their experiments, developing their own understanding and coming to the same conclusions as the scientists. Scientists don’t simply sit and simply memorize; therefore students shouldn’t either. This style of active learning, however, is not being implemented in many schools across the nation . Too often, you hear students saying, “I am not a science/math person,” yet these techniques can encourage

creativity and produce a more engaging subject. In addition, working with students in this manner makes them more active citizens, appreciating how the scientific community and research is integral to the American identity. A 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science study confirmed many of the issues of the public’s science literacy. According to the survey, which looked at the opinions of both scientists and the general public, the percent difference of opinion on major scientific issues is practically night and day. While 37 percent of U.S citizens surveyed said it was safe to eat GMOs, 88 percent of the scientific community says GMOs are harmless. Similarly, 89 percent of scientists believe it is morally OK to use animals in research, while only 47 percent of public agree. Even scarier is that 98 percent of scientists regard human evolution to exist, while only 65 percent of the public agrees. These are just a few of the significant differences between the science community and the non-science community. This divide, in my view, has created the massive lack of scientific appreciation in our country, furthering the issues in education. So how does the scientific community engage with the public? An answer may lie in politics and social outreach. Though many have come to criticize Malcolm Gladwell for broad claims and conclusions, I do believe he is doing a great service by bringing science awareness to the public. The same can be said for Bill Nye, Oliver Sacks, Stephen Hawking, Brian Greene, Neil deGrasse Tyson and a few more. Organizations such as 314 Action, which looks to support scientists in public office and spread scientific literacy, are crucial to changing the dialogue on science education and appreciation. These individuals and organizations are entirely necessary to address the PR problem science has and humanize the area. Science is a part of American identity, and individuals and organizations are doing the necessary actions so that the next time you look at your cellphone, you appreciate the countless hours developing the technology and science behind its various components. —David Kamper can be reached at dgkamper@umich.edu.

6 ARTS

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

FILM REVIEW

MUSIC REVIEW

‘Despicable Me’ proves chaotic Fun for the kids, not for the discerning to be a moderately entertaining villain, with a unique backstory Daily Arts Writer as an 80s child star who became a villain after his show was I went into “Despicable Me cancelled when he hit puberty. 3” with the hope that in the Yet his character becomes too best case it would surpass my much to handle because he expectations for a third movie demands so much attention, in a series. In the worst case, it much like the rest of the subplots. would ruin the “Despicable Me” “Despicable Me 3” still has franchise for me. Predictably, some funny moments. It relies the movie lingered in between, on slapstick humor for the neither pleasantly stunning me children and 80s references for nor falling completely flat. the parents. There is no lack of One of the centralized themes comedy in every action scene, that made the “Despicable Me” ranging from Dru’s failings franchise so charming was its as a villain to the dance fights focus on love and parenting. between Balthazar Bratt and The first movie was charismatic, Gru. Margot, Edith and Agnes are captivating audiences as they cute and funny as they each deal watched Gru’s with growing up, life change with but even Agnes’s “Despicable Me cuteness is subdued the love of his adoptive girls. by too many of 3” “Despicable Me 3” her high pitched attempts to mimic screams. Rave Cinemas, this by focusing on One of the only Quality 16 Gru’s relationship redeeming qualities Universal Pictures with his long lost of the movie is brother, Dru, and the antics of the Lucy’s struggles minions. Their as a new mother to the girls. dance routines choreographed Not only does the movie use to Pharell Williams songs are the same tired “plot twist” entertaining and refreshing of a secret twin sibling, but it against the chaotic plot of the doesn’t give either relationship movie. Likewise, the animation of the attention they need to these scenes is visually stunning. fully evolve. We see very small However, switching back and amounts of tension between Gru forth between the minions and and Dru or Lucy and the girls, the rest of the characters adds and then the relationships are further confusion to the plot, perfect in the end with little highlighting the lack of focus on time reserved for the characters any one centralized theme. to face the consequences of “Despicable Me 3” has a their actions. The most touching lot to live up to, coming from moment we see relationship-wise such a successful franchise. is when the minion Mel pines for It is difficult for the third Gru in prison, remembering how — or fourth if you include affectionate and selfless Gru was. “Minions” — movie to surpass “Despicable Me 3” tries its predecessors. The movie to pack too much in at once, still entertains, but not with the introducing Gru’s long lost charm or f luidity of “Despicable brother while Agnes searches for Me.” Instead, it struggles to a unicorn and villain Balthazar find its way and overstimulates Bratt uncomfortably shimmies at times. It may disappoint around everywhere. The movie adult fans of the franchise is distracted by the action and who yearn for the delightful these side plots, hoping to find characterization and love in the something that will appeal to first movie, but it will still be an everyone. Balthazar Bratt proves amusing watch for children. NITYA GUPTA

New album ‘4:44’ brings us back to ‘Lemonade’

TIDAL

JAY-Z composes an open gripping letter on ‘4:44’ Politically charged and soulful new album is JAY-Z at his best of brass. JAY-Z is innovating in the club. He opens up on his own AARURAN CHANDRASEKHAR his own creative vacuum rather personal experience, recounting Daily Arts Writer than looking to compete with how he should’ve bought property newcomers. He’s sold more records in gentrifying Brooklyn. Brilliant Four-bar looped soul samples, oh than all of them combined, at points piano arpeggios are tucked behind how we’ve missed you. mocking their contrived artistry, some of the best flows we’ve seen 4:44 opens with the dense, making flat-footed “skrrt” noises on from him in a while: “I turn a two to layered “Kill Jay-Z.” While a siren “Moonlight,” for one. a four, four to an eight / I turn my life reminiscent of “Workinonit” In the era when artists trade into a nice first week release date.” recursively spaces in and out, Hov and rip beats on the internet With the dampened hi-hats sitting recounts shooting his brother, without ever meeting in person, in the distance, the beat’s breadstabbing someone over album the one-rapperand-butter (Read: bootlegs and his intoxication with one-producer kicks & snares) 4:44 fame, among other things. Faint method of this LP is doesn’t beg for JAY-Z strings gently weep between his particularly curious. attention — instead lines, swiveling around gentle There is a chemistry the real brilliance Streaming on Tidal piano and alternating, distorted here that some of the track shines vocals. “We know the pain is real / proclaimed duos through in its tiny But you can’t heal what you never never attain. The beats don’t just details: the meaty, trashcan-bashing reveal.” The track is cleansing, back Hov’s bars: they mesh and couple-second drum break that and the admission of weakness intermingle with them. JAY-Z’s pops up only a couple times between and wrongdoing sets the album’s verses don’t just fill out the track: low, indistinct revving noises. apologetic, confessional tone. they extend the possibilities of No Even though the album’s This is the leanest project of JAY- I.D.’s canvases. cohesive sound revolves around Z’s career. Nearly half the length of “The Story of O.J.” is the most soul, the aesthetic stretches into all his other records, at 36 minutes, politically charged track of the reggae/dancehall on two cuts: every cut on 4:44 feels essential. Yet, project; it’s no wonder that it’s one “Caught Their Eyes” and “Bam.” the record’s length is misleading of the album’s two tracks to tout As Frank Ocean continues to make because the real richness and a Nina Simone sample. He chants his case as an extremely versatile complexity only unpacks itself almost meditatively: “Light ni**a, vocalist on the former, the latter after many listens. The album dark ni**a, faux ni**a, real ni**a / sees Hov reprising his traditional pioneers a cohesive, distinct sound Rich ni**a, poor ni**a, house ni**a, braggadocious rap between Damian that is largely a callback to the field ni**a / Still n**a / Still ni**a.” Marley choruses: “I was moving sample-heavy hip hop of the early Pitch-shifted vocals are thinly them kilos, help you move your 2000s. Where looped vocals lay sliced, rounding out the percussive peoples / Sometimes you need your foundational points of contact, the melody. Hov discusses black values ego, gotta remind these fools.” drum arrangements are subtle, in modern America and proposes often sitting distant in the back investing in their own communities Read more at MichiganDaily.com behind piano segments or sections rather than blowing money at

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ARTS 7

BOOK REVIEW

‘Lake’ is a vivid story collection Roorbach’s recent collection weaves stories of intense emotion and simplicity SOPHIA KAUFMAN

Daily Book Review Editor

With the opening sentence in the first of his new collection of short stories “The Girl of the Lake,” Bill Roorbach catapults us back into the world of middle school adventures: “Bobby Mullendore was sick of sixth grade, especially without his best friend Jack B., plus it was spring.” In a move as old as time, Bobby forges a note and skips school for several days in a row. He spies on a neighboring estate in his spy gear and gets caught. Terrified at first by the commanding personages around Harbinger Hall (also the title of the story), Bobby meets the old man who owns it; he begins giving Bobby lessons on his days off from school, starting with Russian history but quickly moving on to other subjects. In a few pages that function as a montage, we see Bobby grow up and follow in the footsteps, in a way, of that old man, but the story ends with a simple, elegant twist that leaves you questioning what you think you know. The rest of Roorbach’s stories

Reading the stories feels like a heady case of déjà vu; it’s bittersweet operate the same way, sketching simple vignettes with refreshing clarity. In “Kiva,” a self-admitted “omega” boy tries with all his might to win the heart of the alpha girl; his father tries to help him, and explains that he must not try to imitate the behavior of the alpha males, but rather learn how to win her over in other ways (so naturally, he tries to learn how to do a french braid). His father takes

the two of them and the girl’s two sisters out on a picnic, where more than a few people decide to take a chance on a sexual encounter, in a bizarrely rapid succession. “Fall” peels back the layers of sentiment you can find yourself wrapped up in when someone dies, and you feel emotions more complicated than just grief; “Some Should” details the utterly unpredictable direction a blind

“The Girl of the Lake” Bill Roorbach Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill June 27th, 2017 date with a priest — a sinner just the same — can go in (and this one has a shout-out to the Residential College at the University). “Princesa” shows the ridiculousness of older men fawning over younger famous ingenues, a story that borders on absurdism. The narrators of these stories feel like stenographers. The dialogue is pulled straight from real life, revealing feelings so recognizable that reading the stories feels like a heady case of déjà vu; it’s bittersweet. They cover how quickly things can change in the life of the schoolyard, the cooling of passion between two people who always swore they would stay in touch, the kinds of inconceivable back stabbings that romantic unravelings can lead to, the intricate forms that betrayal can take in the worlds of art curatorship and community theater, and what it looks like when two people fall in love, if not at first sight, then at first rashly constructed plan for a future together. Roorbach has pushed the short story form to its limits, somehow molding worlds with depth in only a few pages each time, making them breathtaking in their simplicity.

TV REVIEW HBO ‘Silicon Valley’ ended its fourth season this past Sunday

‘Silicon’ Season Four finale bids goodbye to Bachman Finale pleases with comedy, disappoints in goodbye to Miller CONNOR GRADY Daily Arts Writer

The success of any “Silicon Valley” episode has always started and ended with its characters. When the characters are connecting, the show’s jokes seem to build off of each other and produce a constant stream of laughs, à la the earlier Season Four episode “Intellectual Property.” Conversely, when the characters are out of sync, the show’s gags struggle to land, as shown in another Season Four episode, “The Patent Troll.” Fortunately for “Silicon Valley,” it has an outstanding cast that almost always appears to be in concert with one another to create on-screen hilarity, and the show’s Season Four finale “Server Error” is no exception. The episode fittingly concludes the series’s exceptional fourth season that featured an effective balance between low-brow humor and critical character and plot progressions. One of “Silicon Valley”’s more shocking developments this season has been the extent of Richard Hendricks’s (Thomas Middleditch, “The Final Girls”) transition to a shrewd entrepreneur at the expense of his moral code. Over the course of the season, Hendricks has turned from a somewhat naïve executive of a fledgling video chat company to the visionary CEO of a bold start-up seeking to revolutionize the internet. Hendricks’s turn has been characterized by deceitful and cutthroat business maneuvers, which are highlighted in “Server

Error” when Hendricks coldly rejects Gavin Belsam’s (Matt Ross, “American Psycho”) partnership proposal by telling Belsam, “I think basically you’re just a server company now, and we intend to make servers obsolete, so… in the end, I’ll be the one devouring you.” “Silicon Valley”’s stunning finale also sees Hendricks’s affair with Dan Melcher’s (Jake Broder, “In a Day”) wife come to light. The series has teased a revelation of Hendricks’s short-lived sex romp with Liz (Leisha Haley, “The L Word”) in previous episodes, so its emergence

“Silicon Valley” HBO Season Four Finale in the finale isn’t unexpected. Rather, what was unexpected was the affair itself, which always seemed to be too outrageous for Hendricks, to the point it infringed on believability of the affair. Instead, the real function of Hendricks’s cuckoldry was to serve as a barometer of his personal transformation to an unscrupulous entrepreneur. Hendricks’s newfound persona takes center stage in “Server Error” and figures to be a significant piece of the show’s storyline next season, too. However, “Silicon Valley”’s fifth season will test the series, as it tries to recover from the exit of Erlich Bachman (T.J. Miller, “Office Christmas Party”), which was bungled in “Server Error.” As the crass, pot-smoking

landlord of Pied Piper, Bachman has become the source of much of the series’s ridiculous style of humor. His constant schemes against Jian Yang (Jimmy O. Yang, “Patriot’s Day”) throughout Season Four provided “Silicon Valley” with utterly hilarious scenes, including Yang’s hilarious impression of Bachman in “Intellectual Property.” Despite being such a crucial character, Bachman’s exit was rushed and poorly executed even in the little amount of time it was given. While it was funny to watch Belsam negotiate for Bachman to smoke opium in Tibet for five years, it was an underwhelming finish for such an integral character on the show. While Bachman’s exit will profoundly disrupt “Silicon Valley,” the series has such a stellar cast of veteran comedians that it should be able to sustain its overwhelming success. The show’s main stars — Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani (“The Big Sick”), Martin Starr (“Freaks and Geeks”), Josh Brener (“In the Loop”) and Zach Woods (“The Internship”) — continue to shine due to their superb chemistry. “Silicon Valley” is also boosted by the expanding roles occupied by Hoover (Chris Williams, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Ed Chen (Tim Chiou, “Love Is All You Need?”). Williams especially emerged in this fourth season because of his eccentric blend of naïve obedience to Hooli. With more scenes of Williams and Chiou on the series, “Silicon Valley” will make viewers accept, albeit not forget, Bachman’s departure.

8 NEWS

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

City Council debates efficacy of AAPD review By ANDREW HIYAMA Summer Daily News Editor

Though Ann Arbor City Council unanimously approved a resolution to fund a second phase

of the third-party review of the Ann Arbor Police Department at the council meeting Monday night, several councilmembers expressed their concerns with the efficacy of the process so far. They raised questions of whether the

Classifieds

additional appropriations were necessary and whether Hillard Heintze LLC — the Chicago-based security firm in charge of the review — had been implementing the best methods available. The resolution added an

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

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, July 6, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

FOR RENT

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Many opera villains 6 Georgia __ 10 ’70s Israeli prime minister 14 Ration out 15 Antioxidant-rich fruit in smoothies 17 Some earrings 18 Celestial explosion 19 Midwestern pair 21 Japanese prime minister since 2012 22 Cold War weapons 26 Northeastern pair 33 Ready followers? 34 Jumper cable connection 35 Did lunch, say 36 Morse clicks 37 Fly catchers 38 Corp. money execs 39 Puerto Rican pronoun 40 Bandleader’s cry 41 Ring figure? 42 Southwestern pair 45 Queen __ lace 46 Lode load 47 What the answers to three “pair” clues share, both in this grid and in reality 55 Soldier of Fortune subject 58 D-sharp equivalent 59 Grifter 60 __ del Sol 61 Prepare for mailing 62 On the less windy side 63 Woods components DOWN 1 Automobil route 2 Healing salve 3 Frustrating roommate for a neatnik 4 Many opera heroines 5 “I’ll take that action”

6 Checklist item 7 Galápagos locale: Abbr. 8 Bos’n’s boss 9 Hustles 10 Stand-up sort 11 Mancinelli opera “__ e Leandro” 12 Robbins of Baskin-Robbins 13 Shaggy Scandinavian rug 16 Slow-cook, in a way 20 Give a darn? 23 Former African secessionist territory 24 “The Wind in the Willows” character 25 Handles 26 Italian headquarters of Maserati 27 Out of the sack 28 Around, so to speak 29 French-speaking republic 30 Escapade 31 “Crossroads of America” in Indiana, e.g.

32 Law-and-order gps. 37 Pancake-making aid 38 Nurtured 40 Mother of Pearl, in an 1850 novel 41 PC part? 43 Cantina quaff 44 Head of England? 48 Masonry support 49 Word with coat or shirt

50 Gaelic tongue 51 Bunch of bits 52 “What __ could I say?” 53 Evaluate 54 D.C. Metro stops 55 Escher and Hammer 56 Fair-hiring letters 57 Protein-building molecule

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

xwordeditor@aol.com

07/06/17

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additional $30,000 in funds to the seriously. The HRC has been giving original $200,000 approved in really constructive help in terms of February. According to a memo to which groups they should be going council from Debra Kirby, Senior to, where they should be going to Vice President at Hillard Heintze, and reaching out.” the $30,000 will fund “interviews Councilmember Kirk Westphal with command staff regarding (D–Ward 2) was surprised the firm community engagement, off-site was asking for more money. He training and brainstorming session cautioned that the request should on community engagement and be considered carefully, especially development given errors of a strategy the firm had and plan for made during enhanced the first community phase of the engagement.” review. While the “I have first phase of trouble the review when a large was intended contract like to involve this comes community back with an outreach and additional listening to ask that perspectives seems to on the have been AAPD from MAX KUANG/DAILY part of the Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor speaks community original members, the at the Ann Arbor City Council at Larcom City request,” second phase Hall on Monday. he said. “I’ll was intended note now in to implement some form of civilian something that one constituent has review board for the AAPD. highlighted to me is that the survey Members of the community contained an error in it, and it gives have expressed their disapproval me pause about the process and of the process so far, saying some feedback we’ve received from Hillard Heintze’s outreach efforts members of the community. So my to minority communities have inclination would be to think more been insufficient. Councilmember about what we are getting here and Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4), among see if this money can be sourced other councilmembers, said he from the existing contract.” heard residents’ concerns. Asking City Administrator “At times I’ve been rather Howard Lazarus if the communitydisappointed in their ability wide survey on attitudes regarding to reach members of minority the AAPD was still available to the communities who could really get public, Lazarus replied that it was, good information about people but they would not be considering who may in fact have a legitimate new responses. complaint about our police,” he “There comes a point in time said. where we have to own the results Councilmember Sumi and then implement it,” he said. “I Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1) shared think that’s where we are.” Eaton’s concerns and said Hillard There was also debate over Heintze had also failed to properly the terminology Hillard Heintze communicate with the city’s used in its memo to the council Human Rights Commission, regarding the second phase of the despite their active involvement review. Though much of the talk in the review. around the audit prior to approval “Hillard Heintze has appeared of the city’s contract with Hillard before the HRC, but this extension Heintze revolved around the of work was never discussed creation of a “civilian oversight or brought before the HRC,” board,” which the chief of the she said. “The HRC has been a AAPD has publicly opposed, the watchdog on this whole issue, and memo from Hillard Heintze used they have raised several serious the term “citizen advisory board.” concerns with the consultants regarding especially reaching out Read more at MichiganDaily.com to minorities. I hope they take this

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

MICHIGAN IN COLOR 9

I-want-to-be-a-Unipro: small town Filipino American goes to the Big Apple By CHRISTIAN PANEDA Michgian In Color Summer Managing Editor

Founded in 2009, Pilipino American Unity for Progress is a national nonprofit organizations that invests itself in engaging and empowering the Filipinx and FIlipinx American community at large in the United States. UniPro was founded on the mission to provide opportunities for Filipinx students in the United States to explore professional development, history and policy rooted in the Filipinx experience. I had the honor to travel to New York City to attend one such opportunity — UniPro Summit 2017: Persist. There is something interesting about growing up in the Midwest. From where I’m from, the Midwest is cornfields, driving past those same cornfields endlessly for one form of fun, and going to the same Applebee’s every weekend for the other form of fun. The Midwest is small towns like the ones I grew up in. I even had more of an interesting time as a Filipino American. The only opportunities to learn about Filipino culture were the very limited interactions with my parents, and a display of minority culture is unfavorable outside my home. Speaking out is even more difficult. I lived in smallness. The more I grew up, the more I questioned my Filipino-ness. Now after a couple of years into my undergraduate career, where I hit the ground running in terms of exploring my culture and civic involvement, comes the UniPro Summit 2017: Persist. I came to the UniPro Summit on a mission: to better myself as a leader in Filipinx American spaces by listening to other perspectives outside the Midwest. From the keynote speakers, I was absolutely inspired by their stories of persistence. In trying times, it is imperative to keep pushing. To be unapologetically yourself is subversive enough, and the

narratives of Geena Rocero and Christina Halpern serve as encouragement to remain strong. Workshops focused on the fundamentals of public speaking, adapting quickly to adverse situations within our collegiate organizations and addressing issues that exist within our communities such as anti-Blackness. And even though my experience as a Filipino American was very different from many others at the conference, I still felt such a genuine sense of community. It was refreshing to be in a space where everyone is so motivated to create a better Filipino America. I want to take the energ y from UniPro and bring it back the Midwest, which I think is the point of the summit. I must … Persist. It seems overly redundant, but the central theme of the summit is even truer now than ever. Coming together as we are, mobilizing Filipinx Americans on a national scale, is an act of persistence, but it’s important for me to use my voice to uplift the rest of the Midwest community by providing resources of education and engagement. While we in the Midwest pay homage to our cultural roots, we must also address the issues that pervade a problematic US society — no matter how uncomfortable it is. Growing up in a small town had me dreaming about traveling to big cities to discover something bigger than me. UniPro gave me an opportunity to fulfill that wish, and now my dream is to use the skills I’ve acquired along the adventure to impact Filipinx Americans and shatter a stagnant idea of smallness. Thank you to UniPro for having me. Thank you to the people I met who understood me as I am. Thank you to the people I met who taught me how to persist from their acts of persistence.

COLLAGE BY CHRISTIAN PANEDA | PHOTO BY JBRIAN GUERRERO

10 OPINION

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

CHRISTINA BERCHINI| OP-ED

Op-ed: A professor responds to Tucker Carlson

ear Mr. Carlson, I had not heard of you prior to the “Tucker Carlson Interview Request” I received to my work account last weekend (forgive me, Fox News wasn’t ever really my thing). And then I looked you up a bit. And read about you. And watched some of your videos. I reread the email: We’re looking to discuss the free speech bill that was proposed in Wisconsin, which aims to protect the first amendment on college campuses in the state. I read that you find the law ironic, and it would be great to hear more of your perspective about why you’re opposed to this bill. It was obvious to me that your producer read my contribution to Inside Higher Education where — I thought — I had made my stance clear. I am happy, however, to unpack more of my thinking, here, in a space where I control the narrative, uninterrupted and unedited, as I do not have an interest in theatrics. I will first focus my perspective on your team’s use of the word “protect.” It is clear that you agree with what lawmakers in Wisconsin and elsewhere are attempting to achieve: politically neutral college campuses in the name of “protecting” free speech. Campuses where all speech is considered equally valuable, no matter how morally repugnant (see “The Bell Curve”), no matter how intellectually empty (see also “The Bell Curve”), no matter how culturally toxic (see, again, “The Bell Curve”) and no matter how psychologically dangerous (see, absolutely, “The Bell Curve”). I highlight “The Bell Curve,” here, as it is one of the more recent examples out of Wisconsin — and is a form of speech that gloms onto the belief that white men are morally, intellectually, and psychologically superior to anyone not white and male. This is just one example of the kind of speech that our white, maledominated Wisconsin legislature wishes to see protected by way of illegalizing even the mildest of opposition (and as though there are not already mechanisms in place to deal with that which is actually illegal activity — such as violent protest). That being said, what if “The Bell Curve” argued the exact opposite — that white men are scientifically proven to be morally, intellectually and psychologically inferior to nonwhite, non-male counterparts? Moreover, would you stand quite as stoically — as silently — behind

campus speech that wishes to highlight the radicalization of young white men? What about speech equating whites and white supremacy with terrorism? To what extent would you stand by idly, as your identity is marginalized, minoritized, threatened and called into question by people who claim to know better, as has historically been the case for people of color and marginalized populations? If you wish to see this bill in Wisconsin come to fruition as written, then I invite you — in the name of consistency — to quietly abandon the very forum upon which you rail against social change and progress on a nightly basis. Because my background and expertise is in literacy education, Mr. Carlson, I am going to draw from this field to argue the following: There is no such thing as a politically neutral campus. No speech is neutral, no message free of ideology and power-relations. To speak at a college campus or educational institution is to encourage thought in one direction or another. To illegalize protest and campus activism in the name of neutrality is also a political stance — a politics of silencing. Moreover, it is to delude the public into believing that a depoliticized campus is possible when “forced” to become one by law: an exercise deeply dependent upon civic illiteracy. In sum, when you have values — whether you are a talk show host, lawmaker, campus visitor, student or college administrator — you have politics. To conclude, I wish to address the irony embedded in your stance: You support Wisconsin’s attempts to “protect” free speech at the same time lawmakers have eliminated tenure protections for educators and researchers across the state, thereby threatening intellectual and academic freedoms — again, the sorts of freedoms I presume you wish to see “protected” (despite, I should point out, your stated stance against tenure and intellectual protections). If you want so badly to see speech “protected,” can I count on you, Mr. Carlson, to stand beside me when my academic and public articles about white privilege and white supremacy fall into the wrong hands, thereby resulting in threats to my livelihood and well-being? Will you stand with me, Mr. Carlson, should Wisconsin’s Board of Regents make decisions about my future — decisions not in

my favor — if and when they disagree with my research and teaching about whiteness and white supremacy — an objectively large and growing field of study dating as far back as the beginning of the 20th century? Will you pull for me, Mr. Carlson, when groups like Professor Watchlist and The College Fix publish something about me and my work, in an unveiled attempt to harm my career? Am I being cynical as I presume to know the answers to these questions? Make absolutely no mistake: to claim neutrality is a political act; to force neutrality is a political act; to illegalize protest is a political act. To silence opposition is a political act. To support campus speech while railing against tenure protections is an exercise in hypocrisy, at best. I am not sure that it’s “free speech” you purport to want to protect as much as you wish to protect perspectives that have only ever advantaged you and many of your followers at the expense of social progress. Rather than hide behind a thinly veiled commitment to free speech, you might ask yourself: Which speech do I want protected on college campuses and at whose expense? Whose speech do I want protected and at what social cost? Finally, it is out of reverence and love for social progress, education and my institution that I respectfully declined submitting myself as your punching bag. But perhaps I’ll be up for it next time, if and when tenure and intellectual freedom are reinstated in the state of Wisconsin, and if and when you come to terms with the reality that you cannot support one without supporting the other. Christina Berchini is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. A native New Yorker from Brooklyn, she received her Ph.D. in curriculum, instruction and teacher education from Michigan State University. Her research on race won the 2016 Distinguished Dissertation in Teacher Education Award from the Association of Teacher Educators. Her writing on race has been published extensively in both academic journals and mainstream outlets. Her scholarship centers on Critical Whiteness Studies and has appeared in the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, English Education, The International Journal of Critical Pedagogy and other scholarly venues.

SARANG MODI| OP-ED

Op-ed: The inevitable rise of technology

n just under a century, humanity has gone on to create revolutionary medical devices that have saved millions of lives. Within the next century, doctors will be replaced by artificial intelligence, surgeries done by world-renowned surgeons will be conducted by near-perfect robots and citizens of developing countries will be receiving proper healthcare. These aren’t optimistic statements, but in fact, they are very realistic, and we should accept this change. But to what extent do we sacrifice what it means to be human to the hands of artificiality? By placing a dependency on tests such as CAT scans and MRIs, “we not only overlook simple diagnoses that can be diagnosed at a treatable, early stage, but we’re losing so much more than that,” Dr. Abraham Verghese, a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, stated during his TED talk “A doctor’s touch.” “We’re losing a ritual.” He goes on to describe this ritual as “the power of the human hand — to touch, to comfort, to diagnose and to bring about treatment.” This is not to say the medical scans have been faulty, but rather, it is our growing dependence on them that raises this concern. I mention thisbecause during my sophomore year of high school, I had injured my wrist after falling in basketball practice. The pain was gradually increasing, as was the swelling. Nonetheless, I went home with some ice assuming it would heal overnight. The next day, my wrist was more swollen and the intensity of pain was greater, which resulted a trip to the hospital to get X-rays. Not one thought had occurred to go to my pediatrician to get an expert opinion before having to get X-rays. This conscious yet quick decision showcases a prime example of how quick we are to turn to technology rather than seek a health professional’s opinion. For some reason, we need proof of the disease or injury before we fully trust the expertise of a doctor. But when it comes down to the matter, it is the doctor’s words that are most comforting while we strive to distance ourselves from the very proof that shows that we are hurt or ill. Will a greater dependence on technology leave patients with little to no emotion? Imagine a conversation with a Siri-like artificial intelligence software instead of a nurse or doctor. It will ask about your background, your symptoms, your medical history, just like your doctor; however, with a monotone voice showcasing zero compassion and empathy to how you are feeling. There is also an off-chance of the following conversation to take place:

Artificial Intelligence: Hello. Please state your name, age and reason for the visit. Me: My name is Sarang, I’m 19 and I’m feeling a bit under the weather today. Artificial Intelligence: Ok Sirong, the weather is 75 degrees with sunshine all day. Me: I want a real doctor. These conversations may in fact be a privilege to many individuals, as another argument arises regarding the incorporation of technology, specifically for ordinary sick visits, which would certainly be very cost effective and efficient in developing countries. To those who lack access to proper healthcare, a quick, cheap machine could do wonders. Take for example the country of India. Home to over a billion people, it has about 0.725 physicians per 1000 people according to the World Health Organization as of 2014. By calculating proportions, that gives the country around 725,000 physicians in the country. Now comparethistotheUnitedStates,which has 2.554 physicians per 1000 people. With a little over 320 million people, that would give the country approximately 817,000 physicians, almost 11 percent more than India. That’s about 80,000 morephysiciansinacountrythatisathird inpopulationsizethanIndia.It’ssafetosay that technology would positively disrupt the healthcare system by improving the lives of millions in not only India, but also similarlydevelopingcountries. While it makes complete sense to use technologytobettermankind,acomputer will never replace the art of building a doctor-patient relationship. Vinod Khosla stated in his article, “Technology will replace 80 percent of what doctors do.” Physicians will actually get more time to spend with their patients due to a detailed understanding of the medical results with the help of technology. By replacing the timeadoctorspendscollectingdatawitha smarter, efficient machine, the doctor can talk to the patient. The best of both worlds, right? It’s a bit scary to think about the rise of technology. With its help, revolutionary breakthroughs occur, yet there is always a sacrifice, whether it be money spent or human touch. There is no stopping this advancement, but it is vital to preserve what makes us humane. Maybe there is a synergistic relation between the machine and the doctor waiting to blossom, but for now, let’s appreciate the human touch for as long as we can.

Sarang Modi is a junior in the College of Literature, Science, and Arts.

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

SPORTS 11

Michigan women’s track and field introduces recruiting class By JACOB SHAMES Summer Managing Sports Editor

Wednesday, the Michigan women’s track and field program announced its recruiting class for the 2018 season. The 20-member class includes 11 athletes from Michigan, and eight states in total are represented in the class. The group is heaviest on mid-distance athletes with 10, while also containing seven sprinters/ hurdlers. “It’s exciting to see such a large class, such a balanced class and such a highquality class in terms of both academics and athletics,” said coach James Henry. “I believe many of these student-athletes should help us immediately heading into the next season.” While the vast majority of the class is made up of high-schoolers, the Wolverines will add two

transfers with Division I experience in sophomore Margaret Sliney and junior Audrey Belf. Belf originally committed to Georgetown in 2015 after an illustrious high school career at Birmingham Seaholm. As a senior, she won the 3,200 meter state championship, and won state cross country championships in 2013 and 2014. She currently ranks second all-time in Michigan high school history in both the 3,200 and 5,000 meters, as well as fifth in the 1,600. With the Hoyas, Belf finished third at the Big East Indoor Championships her freshman year. Sliney, a transfer from Bucknell, was a state champion in the 400 meters as a senior at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day High School in Missouri. She finished fifth at the Patriot League Championships her freshman year in

“Many of these student-athletes should help us immediately”

the indoor 500 meters, and will compete in sprints and mid-distance events with the Wolverines. Including Belf and Sliney, Michigan’s recruiting class includes eight athletes who have won individual state championships in high school: mid-distance runners Mallory Barrett (Highland), Camille Davre (Milwaukee, Wisc.), Alice Hill (Ann Arbor) and Emma Lane (Mentor, Ohio). and sprinter Michaiah Thomas (Beverly Hills). The Wolverines will also bring in nine athletes who have competed at the prestigious New Balance Nationals in track and field: Barrett, Davre, Hill, Lane, sprinters Chloe Foster (Ann Arbor), Lauren Morgan (Washington, D.C.) and Jenna Reid (Middletown, N.J.), and mid-distance runners Alexis Munley (Clarkston) and Jacalyn Overdier (Ann Arbor). Davre’s accomplishments headline Michigan’s incoming class of high schoolers. At Whitefish Bay High School, she won a whopping 10 state championships in track, and never finished below fourth place in cross country. As

a senior, Davre swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter races, and she is also a two-time New Balance National Champion in the 800 meters with a personal best of 2:09.22. Barrett, whose sister Rachel is a junior distance runner for the Wolverines, won the 2017 state championship in the 800 with a time of 2:11.06, and placed sixteenth at the New Balance Nationals shortly after. She also finished in the top-20 at the state cross country championships each of the last three seasons. Hill came in two places behind Barrett in the 800 at the state championships this year, after she won the indoor state championship and earned a runner-up outdoor finish as a junior. Her personal best of 2:09.09 is 11thbest in Michigan high school history.

“We have a good balance of people motivated to succeed here”

Malone-Hatcher retires By BETELHEM ASHAME Managing Sports Editor

Less than nine weeks before the start of the 2017-18 season, the Michigan football team has lost one of its top incoming freshmen. Corey Malone-Hatcher, a former four-star defensive end from Saint Joseph’s High School (Mich.), announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he is retiring from football. Malone-Hatcher, who enrolled early at the University in January, cited lingering issues from an Achilles injury he suffered in 2015 as the reason for the premature end to his playing career. “After a surgical repair and thousands of hours of rehab, my Achilles has not been recovering how it should be and is many months behind where it should be at this point in time,” Malone-Hatcher said via Twitter. “After discussions with the training staff and team doctor, it was collectively decided that I will take a medical disqualification.” Malone-Hatcher said that he will remain on scholarship as a student at the University, in accordance

with NCAA guidelines for medical exemptions, though he will not have the opportunity to suit up for the Wolverines. Malone-Hatcher was one of 19 of Michigan’s incoming freshmen ranked in the ESPN 300, with a ranking of 270. He was the top defensive end in the state of Michigan this year, as well as the No. 19 overall player at his position, also based off of the ESPN 300. “I apologize to (Michigan coach Jim) Harbaugh and (defensive line coach Greg Mattison) as I know the expectation was for me to be able to come in and have an immediate impact. Nobody is more disappointed than myself,” Malone-Hatcher said. “I came to the University of Michigan to be turned into an excellent football player, excellent student, and most importantly, a Michigan Man. “Sadly, my football career is over. I will continue in my pursuit the other two key points and let God take the wheel. Thank you to the Michigan fans who have supported me throughout my high school career.”

Lane finished second and third at the Ohio outdoor state champions, and first and second in indoor competition her junior and senior seasons. She finished third or higher in every race as a senior. Thomas, who won the Michigan Division 2 championship in the 100meter hurdles as a sophomore, was also the USATF Michigan Junior Olympics champion in the 400-meter hurdles. “They’re all outstanding students who fit our academic profile, and I felt we did a good job of balancing the class, addressing some event-area needs and solidifying some areas that are already strong,” said associate head coach Mike McGuire. “We have a good balance of people who we think are motivated to succeed here over the next few years both in the classroom and in competition.”

MELANIE MAXWELL/MLive

Corey Malone-Hatcher announced his retirement from football Tuesday.

12 SPORTS

Thursday, July 6, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Walton, Irvin adjust to summer league competition By JACOB SHAMES Summer Managing Sports Editor

Unlike D.J. Wilson, his former teammate on the Michigan men’s basketball team, Derrick Walton Jr. wasn’t projected to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft — or even in the second round, for that matter. Despite a collegiate career steeped in accomplishments — Walton left Ann Arbor third in program history in games started, fourth all-time in assists, tied for fourth in three-pointers made and is the only Wolverine to score 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds and dish out 400 assists for his career — NBA teams shied away from him, due to his perceived lack of explosiveness and short stature, at only six feet tall. But this by no means signaled the end of Walton’s NBA hopes. In recent years, similarly accomplished but undersized college

point guards such as Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell and Penn State’s Tim Frazier have played their way onto NBA rosters and become key rotation pieces despite going undrafted. Shortly after the draft, Walton accepted an invitation from the Orlando Magic to join their team at the Orlando Summer League. And If Walton’s performance in the summer league play has been any indication, he appears to have a legitimate chance to follow in the footsteps of Ferrell and Frazier. Over the course of the Orlando Summer League, which began July 1 and ends July 6, Walton has averaged 10 points and 3.5 assists in 20.8 minutes per game, while shooting 50 percent from behind the arc and 46.8 percent overall. With a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, he has led the Magic to a plus-21 rating when he’s on the court, showing the same effi-

ciency he displayed at Michigan. “We don’t get across the finish line without him,” said Orlando summer league coach Chad Forcier in reference to Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat, in which Walton hit five of seven shots, including two 3-pointers, to help the Magic to an 81-68 win. “We had a stretch there in the second half where they cut into our lead and it was starting to get a little bit tight. He came up with a couple baskets and ended up controlling the tempo and giving our team a sense of calm and hit a couple timely shots. He’s been tremendous and he has a fan in me.” Much of Forcier’s statement will likely sound familiar to Wolverines fans. Michigan’s offense ranked fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency last season at 122.3 points per 100 possessions, and it was Walton’s steady hand that was responsible for much of this success. He was a true floor general — a collected, intelligent presence with the ball in his hands who had a knack for big shots in key moments. “I have a lot of confidence in my abilities and every time I get a chance to go and play, I just go and showcase it,” Walton told Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press Sunday. “Shooting has always been one of the things I’ve stood on and running a team and finding guys. I’m just going out here and trying to do it at the highest level.” The skills that Walton has shown so far in Summer League action — basketball IQ and shooting ability — are the skills most likely to translate to that highest level. Dynamic athletes and high scorers such as Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have increasingly taken control of the NBA in recent years. And with this, finding players able to operate an offense at a high level when the starters rest is crucial. And even though he may be

CLAIRE MEINGAST/Daily

Zak Irvin has averaged 4.8 points per game in Summer League play with Miami.

lacking a few inches compared to most of his competition, Walton appears to fit that job description quite nicely. “A guy of my size and stature is kind of a risk for most teams,” Walton said. “I’m firm in my abilities and being able to show it is a relief. It’s easy for me because I go out and do what I do and the doubters I don’t pay any mind.” Sunday’s game might have had some extra significance for Walton, as Zak Irvin suited up on the other sideline for the Heat, scoring five points on two-of-four shooting. But despite having played alongside Irvin for four years, there was nothing unusual to Walton about playing against his former teammate for a change — to Walton, it felt “like practice.” “We compete all the time in our spare time, one-on-ones and things like that, but that’s my brother,” Walton said. “It was fun to see him out there.” Added Irvin: “It was good to

“I’m just going out here and trying to do it at the highest level”

MARINA ROSS/Daily

Derrick Walton Jr. has made a positive impression with the Orlando Magic.

see him. It was definitely weird going up against him, us playing four years. He did give it to me a little bit. They did beat us. Hopefully, I get a chance to see him down the road to get the chance to even things up.” Like Walton, Irvin was not among the 60 players selected in the NBA Draft, and accepted a Summer League invitation shortly after. Irvin, however, hasn’t had the same level of success in Orlando as Walton. The Heat are 0-4 in Summer League action, and Irvin has struggled to find his shot — he’s made just one of his 13 three-point attempts so far and is averaging just 4.8 points per game. But Irvin, who is tied for first all-time in games played for Michigan and third in threepointers made, will have more chances, as the Heat will begin play at the Las Vegas Summer League July 8. For now, Irvin just hopes to gain experience as he adjusts to professional basketball. “I’m enjoying the experience,” Irvin told the Free Press. “I’m trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can out there and just getting better each game.”