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Tuesday, November 14, 2017
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University students protest during CSG on the Diag in favor of divestment November 8.
The question of divestment: recounting a tense history at U-M
CSG votes today on resolution concerning alleged rights violations against Palestinians JORDYN BAKER & DYLAN LACROIX Daily Staff Reporters
On Tuesday, University of Michigan Central Student Government will vote on its divestment resolution. Tensions have been ramping up, as it has in mid-Novembers over the past decade. The resolution aims to gain support from CSG on divestment from companies operating in Israel due to
possible human rights violations undisclosed member of CSG’s of Palestinians. executive committee sent an email to a recipient outlining This year’s iteration of CSG’s supposed opposal to the resolution has not been the movement. According to without conflict. Last week, allegations, the member then an investigative committee had a conversation with another within CSG was convened to student stating CSG’s opposition review “improper use of CSG to divestment. A Facebook post materials” by a member of the also discussed anti-divestment executive team stating CSG did sentiment in the body, this time not support the #UMDivest in relation to the assembly’s movement. diversity. The post claimed According to the ethics the individual stated there committee’s reports, the are “not enough white men”
and “Jewish people” on the assembly; however, a self-survey distributed within CSG last year found a member of the body was most likely to be a wealthy, white heterosexual male. History of the resolution Students Allied for Freedom and Equality — a group of “student activists organized to promote social justice, human rights, liberation, equality, and self-determination for the Palestinian people” — brought the resolution in its current form
in 2014, in what remains the high-water mark for the campus movement. After first reads in mid-March, the assembly voted to indefinitely postpone a decision on the resolution. AFE members and allies held a weeklong sit-in in CSG’s Union chambers to force a vote — but the resolution ended up failing in a secret ballot vote 25-9. SAFE’s arguments center around alleged human rights violations by companies supporting Israeli military activities and operations. This year’s resolution names Boeing, Hewlett Packard and United Technologies as “companies that supply weapons and equipment to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories in violation of international human rights law” through actions such as checkpoints and civilian casualties. Divestment is rare. Since 1817, the University has divested just twice — first in 1978 from apartheid in South Africa and later in 2000 from the tobacco industry. Yet before any resolution even reached the floor of any student government on any of the University’s campuses, former University president Mary Sue Coleman expressed in 2002 the University would not be divesting from Israel. In a 2005 statement describing the University’s investment portfolio, thenChief Financial Officer Timothy Slottow remarked the University’s endowment is profit-driven, veering away from political persuasions. SAFE draws upon the precedent of South Africa, tobacco in its resolutions, arguing human rights violations are antithetical to the University’s commitment to “invest in socially responsible companies.” Institutions like Columbia and Harvard had already established endowment ethical advisory review committees. In the last decade, Northwestern
SACUA talks changes to Statement of Professor discusses Student Rights and Responsibilities
University, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the University of Minnesota and the University of CaliforniaBerkeley have passed resolutions calling for divestment. Student governing bodies at the Ohio State University, meanwhile, spoke out against divestment where the resolutions failed to pass. On this campus, the resolution’s proponents and critics seem to reach an annual impasse on core issues such as identity, inclusion and the role of dialogue. Students on both sides wonder if this year will be any different. The divide between sides Historically, the divestment movement has been characterized as divisive; critics argue SAFE seeks to break apart the student body rather than bring it together. In an interview with The Daily, two SAFE members — who wish to remain anonymous due to targeting of pro-Palestinian activists online — decried the “divisive” argument as one used to quell Palestinians’ concerns. “This argument has historically been used silence marginalized voices, historically in the country and not just on campuses,” one of the students said. “Voicing someone’s concerns about literal human rights violations should not be a divisive point.” During last year’s resolution, one SAFE member asked, “How is helping Palestinians on your campus hurting Jewish students?” Earlier this month, SAFE released a “Statement of Solidarity to Support Divestment” in 2017. More than 30 student organizations — many of which are social justice-oriented — signed the statement, including the Black Student Union, Jewish Voice for Peace, the executive board of United Asian American See DIVEST, Page 3
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being trans in college
Faculty members discuss graduate student tuition, DEI bias reporting
CSG body, SAPAC to incentivize trainings
Transgender Awareness Week to explore identity, gender norms, narratives
The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs convened Monday afternoon to discuss amending the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities — a University of Michigan document written by and for students that outlines University standards and norms of behavior — making tuition more affordable for students and increasing the faculty’s role in diversity, equity and inclusion. LSA senior Anushka Sarkar, Central Student Government president, served as a guest speaker and discussed amending the statement to include biased motivated misconduct as a violation of University behavior. The section regarding bullying and harassment violations does not explicitly state that biased and prejudice motivation against another student results in heightened sanctions, according to Sarkar. “Under the statement, there’s no codification that says that if a student stalks another person or hazes another person and it’s bias-motivated — you hazed a person because they were Black, you hazed a person because they were gay — that you would receive heightened sanctions for that,” Sarkar said. “Myself and a lot of students find that to be wrong and that is something that should be codified in documents.” Sarkar proposed amending the
JENNIFER MEER Daily Staff Writer
Z Nicolazzo addressed a crowd of approximately 100 Monday night at the School of Social Work as part of Transgender Awareness Week. Nicolazzo, who uses the gender-neutral pronouns ze and hir, is an assistant professor in the Adult and Higher Education program, and a faculty associate in the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality at Northern Illinois University. Nicolazzo’s dissertation consisted of an ethnographic study in which ze worked with transgender students to understand their college experience; hir work was published as a book — “Trans* in College: Transgender Students’ Strategies for Navigating Campus Life and the Institutional Politics of Inclusion” — which served as the primary focus of the talk. Speaking of hir own experience, Nicolazzo explained hir coming out narrative is different from what is often considered as the normative narrative for transpeople. “Oftentimes, we think See AWARENESS, Page 3
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document to add “Violation V,” which clarifies bias-motivated misconduct language. “Bias-motivated misconduct is a violation of community behaviors, including but not limited to characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression,” Sarkar said. Sarkar also announced a second amendment that will outline the measures that will be taken if a student is in violation of
bias-motivated misconduct. “Should a student be found of having committed an act against another person with bias or prejudice motivation that their sanctions be heightened automatically,” she said. The purpose of these amendments is to deter students from committing bias-motivated acts, as they will know there will be heightened sanctions as a consequence. The level to which
sanctions will be heightened will be treated on a case-by-case basis up to the discretion of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, and each of these cases will result in two separate charges, according to Sarkar. “The goal here is to set the precedence in our governing documents that action that is taken against another person in a malevolent way with biased or See STATEMENT, Page 3
Efforts encourage student participation in Bystander Intervention initiative MAYA GOLDMAN Daily Staff Writer
In an email sent to all students Monday afternoon, Central Student Government announced it will continue a program from the previous administration to encourage students to participate in Bystander Intervention training. This initiative, a program CSG piloted under past-President David Schafer last year, will require any student organization wishing to claim more than $1,000 a semester in funding from the CSG Student Organization Funding Commission to have at least two of their authorized signers complete a Bystander Intervention course. The trainings, facilitated by Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center’s Bystander Intervention and Community Engagement program and Wolverine Wellness, aim to bring issues of sexual abuse, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, into the open. They are focused on empowering people who might witness incidences of misconduct to intervene and change campus culture surrounding these issues. ALICE LIU/Daily
The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs discusses campus issues in the Fleming Administration Building Monday afternoon.
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ON THE DAILY: NO MORE CHICKENS CROSSING THE ROAD Tragedy struck this weekend school Saturday night to offer and the parents and everybody,” clearly upset.” at A2 STEAM, a K-8 Ann Arbor help and assess the damage. Wiseley said. “There were some public magnet school program “It’s a big deal for these kids parents on the scene that were - MAYA GOLDMAN housed in Northside Elementary School, when a fire Saturday night killed several chickens being raised by A2 STEAM students. The fire department was called about 9:20 p.m. with a report of flames on the side of the school. According to Derek Wiseley, Ann Arbor Fire Battalion chief, when firefighters arrived on the scene, they found the adjacent chicken coop to be on fire. The fire was put out within 20 minutes of the call, but the firefighters were unable to save four of the coop’s five chickens. The surviving chicken is being cared for at a local animal hospital and is expected to survive. The incident has taken a ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily toll on A2 STEAM students and The Michigan Youth Symphonic Band and Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra perform at Hill Auditorium families, Wiseley told MLive. Monday. Parents and teachers came to the
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University Museums and the Production of Knowledge WHAT: 2013-14 Helmut F. Stern fellow Kerstin Barndt will talk about the role of particular museum collections in shaping understanding of the University. WHO: Institute for the Humanities WHEN: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Institute for the Humanities Common Room
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WHAT: Thomas Buoye, associate history professor at the University of Tulsa, will discuss the crackdown on crime during the Qing dynasty and the subsequent effects on the judicial bureaucracy. WHO: Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Weiser Hall, Room 110
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Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., attended a roundtable discussion with University of Michigan students in the School of Public Policy Monday, discussing the issues of “big-money” politics, gerrymandering and the hyperpolarized partisanship that he says has developed in Congress. Sarbanes started by explaining a unique solution to eliminate big donors from controlling a politician’s campaign funding. He proposed small-donor matching for campaign Sudoku Syndication funding, with an accompanied federal tax credit.
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he supports the Redistricting Reform Act of 2017, which would authorize nonpartisan groups to redraw the districts’ lines to eliminate politicized districts.
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Rep. Sarbanes, D-Md., criticizes gerrymandering and partisan politics Sarbanes claimed this would enable voters to “reclaim their democracy.” “The average citizen feels like their voice is not being heard,” Sarbanes said, “Young people have an important role to play in figuring out new approaches to our politics that can be more empowering.” Public Policy professor Richard Hall moderated the discussion. He said he appreciated Sarbanes’s position on money and campaigning. “(Sarbanes) is the leader in the house on campaign finance reform … (which) hasn’t gained much traction in a very long time,” he said, explaining the importance of smaller donations. When discussing gerrymandering, Sarbanes said
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REBECCA LERNER This is a significant Managing Editor rebler@michigandaily.com conversation in Maryland, especially in Sarbanes’s ALEXA ST.JOHN LARA MOEHLMAN Managing News Editor alexastj@michigandaily.com district, where large cities Statement Editor statement@michigandaily.com http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ Senior News Editors: Riyah Basha, Tim Cohn, Lydia Murray, and communities are greatly Deputy Statement Editor: Brian Kuang, Yoshiko Iwai Nisa Khan, Sophie Sherry divided among districts, he Assistant News Editors: Jordyn Baker, Colin Beresford, Rhea explained. Cheeti, Maya Goldman, Matt Harmon, Andrew Hiyama, Jen ELIZABETH DOKAS and TAYLOR GRANDINETTI Meer, Ishi Mori, Carly Ryan, Kaela Theut He said computers Managing Copy Editors copydesk@michigandaily.com now dictate district lines, ANNA POLUMBO-LEVY and REBECCA TARNOPOL Senior Copy Editors: Marisa Frey, Ibrahim Rasheed Editorial Page Editors tothedaily@michigandaily.com where they construct districts with “precincts DYLAN LAWTON and BOB LESSER Senior Opinion Editors: Anu Roy-Chaudhury, Ashley Zhang, not communities,” Managing Online Editor lesserrc@michigandaily.com Max Lubell, Madeline Nowicki, Stephanie Trierweiler Senior Web Developers: Erik Forkin, Jordan Wolff as top priority. BETELHEM ASHAME and KEVIN SANTO Gerrymandering in ABE LOFY Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com Michigan is also largely Managing Video Editor video@michigandaily.com Senior Sports Editors: Laney Byler, Mike Persak, Orion Sang, Senior Video Editors: Gilly Yerrington, Matt Nolan, Aarthi debated. Max Marcovich, Ethan Wolfe, Chris Crowder Janakiraman, Emily Wolfe Public Policy junior Assistant Sports Editors: Rob Hefter, Avi Sholkoff, Matthew Kennedy, Paige Voeffray, Mark Calcagno, Jacob Shames Jeryne Fish, whose JASON ROWLAND and ASHLEY TJHUNG Michigan in Color Editors michiganincolor@michigandaily.com home is in Sarbanes’s ANAY KATYAL and NATALIE ZAK Senior Michigan in Color Editors: Christian Paneda, district, said she’s glad Managing Arts Editors arts@michigandaily.com Adam Brodnax, Halimat Olaniyan, Tanya Madhani, Sivanthy Sarbanes addressed Senior Arts Editors: Dayton Hare, Nabeel Chollanpat, Vasanthan topics important to her, Madeline Gaudin, Carly Snider Arts Beat Editors: Danielle Yacobson, Danny Hensel, Erika such as the cynicism ELLIE HOMANT Shevchek, Matt Gallatin, Naresh Iyengar Managing Social Media Editor between politician and Senior Social Media Editors: Kayla Waterman and Anna Haritos constituent. MICHELLE PHILLIPS and AVA WEINER “I think it is rare that Managing Design Editors design@michigandaily.com everyday citizens, let alone one’s our age, can CAYLIN WATERS sit down and talk to him Brand Manager EMILY RICHNER to ask these questions,” CLAIRE BUTZ Sales Manager she said. “(Sarbanes) Business Development Manager JUEUI HONG talking to our generation JULIA SELSKY Special Projects Manager Local Accounts Manager is a step in the right CAROLINE GOLD direction because all too SANJANA PANDIT Media Consulting Manager Production Manager many times politicians say that they don’t have The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the the time.” University OF Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office
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DIVEST From Page 1 Organizations and the School of Social Work Student Union. This year’s proposal also leans upon the University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic plan to argue divestment represents a campus commitment to inclusion by uplifting marginalized voices of Palestinian students. During CSG’s final meeting in October, more than 50 members of the Latinx Alliance for Community Action, Support and Advocacy, expressed their support of divestment as well. “It is my moral obligation to stand here in solidarity with my Palestinian brothers and sisters,” Public Policy senior Gloriela Iguina-Colon said. “As Latinx people we know what it feels like to be run out of our homes, to know that there are legacies of colonialism persisting today, to feel in our souls the pain of ours and others’ oppression, to know that our liberation is bound together.” For many Jewish and proIsrael students, the implications of a resolution for divestment align with the broader Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, though SAFE states its resolution is unaffiliated. Many Jewish students said they feel divestment promotes anti-Semitism. University of Michigan Hillel, an organization providing programming for Jewish students on campus, recently circulated a petition for students who oppose divestment and the BDS movement to sign. In a statement to The Daily, LSA senior Joshua Blum, chair of Hillel, said the petition is evident of the resolution’s
AWARENESS From Page 1 about normative narratives of transpeople coming out as feeling like people are trapped in the wrong body when they’re a kid,” ze said. “I actually came out as trans in my late twenties.” At the time Nicolazzo worked at the University of Arizona, primarily with students in fraternity and sororities. Ze moved to Ohio where ze attended Miami University to pursue hir Ph.D. in Student Affairs in Higher Education, and saw it is as chance to start over and come out. In deciding on a topic for hir dissertation, Nicolazzo explained ze wanted to think about what life was like for people who didn’t necessarily have the same privilege that ze had, to move to a new place. Ze noted ze didn’t have a traditional transgender college experience. “When I moved to Ohio I didn’t really have a whole lot of trans or gender nonconforming or gender
STATEMENT From Page 1 prejudice motivation will not be tolerated and will be sanctioned,” Sarkar said. “Not only will you be sanctioned for the act you committed, but you will also be sanctioned for the motivation that you had to commit the act.” E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life, discussed the degree to which OSCR is engaged in the process of these incidents. “(Students) believe the only recourse is the criminal recourse,” Harper stated. “Sometimes it’s not a crime in the criminal kind, it is a violation of our own values and standards.” Martin Philbert, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, served as a second guest speaker and reported University President Mark Schlissel believes the University should not tax the income of graduate students. “These are people who have already engaged in undergraduate education and are going to contribute to society in a deeper and sometimes broader level through the acquisition of even higher education, and adding a financial tax on that commitment to deeper engagement to society just seems unwise,” Philbert said.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017— 3
divisiveness. “The resolution pits different student groups against each other, rather than promoting the diversity of voices,” he said. “For me, I oppose divestment because I feel as if it targets the one Jewish state unfairly and it is not conducive to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Last January, after the 2016 resolution to divest on the University campus failed by a vote of 34-13, then-LSA junior Gaby Roth — a CSG representative — and then-LSA sophomore Eli Schrayer — a CSG representative and member of Hillel — proposed a resolution to fund monthly luncheons to promote dialogue between sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Then-CSG president David Schaefer, an LSA senior, vetoed the effort, arguing CSG’s priorities did not align with the values put forth by the dialogues, and voiced concern SAFE did not sponsor the resolution. The luncheon measure did not pass, even after the body’s judiciary committee overturned Schafer’s veto. Roth, along with members of the Palestinian and Israeli community, met unofficially four times, but still opposes the resolution due to its perceived ties to BDS. “It’s hard to see that this movement, the BDS movement that #UMDivest is part of, is anti-Semitic because it’s not necessarily blatant swastikas being painted around campus,” she said. “I think that at this point I can really relate to some of the calls to action in the resolution and I understand a lot of what they are saying just from hearing some of the author’s perspectives and stories and family history. It’s all real and it’s all their own
truth. But with that said, I think that divestment is really problematic for a few reasons,” she said. “There are things happening in Israel that I really stand against, but at the same time it’s a complex issue and this just doesn’t paint the full picture.” The Egyptian Student Association countered Blum’s points on division with an email statement. Supporting divestment, the board stated, is a cause uniting marginalized communities in their efforts to be heard and supported on campus. “ESA strongly supports SAFE’s mission to divest from companies that profit off the violation of human rights of the Palestinian people,” the statement reads. “ESA is part of a large campus coalition that stands with this movement,” it read. “This is what real DEI looks like — listening to marginalized and silenced voices on campus that are being amplified by communities of color. We urge CSG to listen to these communities and not to be complicit in this abuse.” CSG representative Hafsa Tout, an LSA senior authored the resolution this year. She agreed on the need for dialogue, and emphasized its place within divestment. “It’s not just dialogue between students at that point,” she said. “It’s an institutionalized conversation around this topic. If a committee—which the resolution calls for—will decide whether or not the University will divest, and to get there you have to start that institutionalized dialogue on the issue.” Potential for Backlash Even as SAFE members take action, they said they remain
fearful of the repercussions of their activism. Divestment, they said, has received the support of faculty, including tenured professors, These faculty members, however, remain silent on the issue due to similar concerns of losing their jobs. A SAFE member argued the issue’s playing field is unlevel given no professors can publicly support the effort. “The people who oppose the resolution usually bring in administration or professors to speak and have institutions backing them up,” the member said. “Although we have the same (support) as well, it’s that that institutional support cannot be voiced and show because they are scared.” At first reads of the resolution last week, LSA Rep. Jay Cutler, a Public Health junior voiced concerns about the direct impact Palestinians face. One of the SAFE members answered the query to The Daily, describing the many threats affecting her day to day life. “I know specifically a Palestinian student who was at the frontline of this issue, she literally attended therapy sessions because she was put on a blacklist for voicing her concerns about the violations of human rights of the people in her country,” she said. The SAFE member went on to argue consequences for speaking in favor of divestment play out differently in terms of student welfare than anti-divest students. “When you’re sitting there studying and then you get a tweet from a blacklist or a tweet that literally says we’re watching you, obviously that’s going to take away from your focus,” she said.
The national — and global — context Attempts at institutional action towards divestment at the University campus has primarily remained contained in CSG chambers. According to University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald, there has not been “involvement in this topic.” LSA senior Nicholas Fadanelli, LSA Student Government president, also confirmed he is not aware of divestment being brought to LSA SG. In fact, no governing student body at any U.S. college or university had passed resolutions to divest from Israel until April 19, 2003, when Wayne State University’s Student Council voted 9-7 in favor to call upon its administration to divest from companies doing business with Israel. The Wayne State University Board of Governors signed a statement which reads: “Therefore be it resolved that the Board of Governors of Wayne State University supports the October 2002 statement of the President and will not take action to divest the university in interests it may hold in companies that do business in Israel.” Other local divestment efforts were soon successful, as the University of MichiganDearborn’s student government passed a similar resolution one year later in 2004. For all of SAFE and #UMDivest’s struggles, U-M Dearborn’s Student Government passed five additional divest resolutions in six years. Though the group brought the measure to the same Board of Regents CSG reports to, yet none of the resolutions gained an actual foothold with the board after being deemed not in accordance with the board’s policy on
student activism. Outgoing U-M Dearborn student body President Fiana Arbab gave her farewell speech at the Board of Regents meeting held at the University’s Dearborn campus this March. Once again, she brought up the government’s most recent successful divestment resolution that passed last year. Regent Mark Bernstein (D) spoke out at the meeting, expressing his deep sentiments against BDS. “I believe it is an intellectually bankrupt, morally repugnant expression of antiSemitism,” he said. He outlined a set of criteria known as the “3-D Test of Anti-Semitism” that argues the merits between constructive criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism. Arbab recounted the weeks leading up to the Regents meeting in an interview with The Daily. She said Schaefer, then-University student body president, repeatedly asked to review her address to the board, offering help and eventually suggesting to not bring up the divestment issue at all. “He had requested that I send him my speech for at least a week straight,” Arbab said. “He didn’t know exactly what I was going to do or say, but he did know that I was going to bring up divestment. He wanted to have a phone conversation with me in ‘preparation for the Regents meeting’ to help me out, and I knew exactly what he was doing. He tried to advise me on how I should bring it up, or like, ‘Maybe you shouldn’t bring it up at all, but if you did be very vague.’”
queer people to spend time with,” ze said. “So I thought doing this research would be a way not only to write my community into existence but to find a community to spend time with in the first place, and really try to think about how we could do this project together — me and the participants.” Nicolazzo explained what ze called the transgender paradox — that there appeared to be a lot of research and writing on the transgender identity, new communities, new industries and new disciplines in the late-20th century, yet there was not a lot of research on transgender college students. As part of hir work, Nicolazzo spent 18 months with nine transgender college students; ze spent time on campus without them, observing the campus, and then spent time with them. Ze traveled to the places the students enjoyed on campus and those they avoided, as well as the events and classes they attended. In compiling hir findings, Nicolazzo explained it wasn’t
fair to simply pull together and “package” the common themes, because there are too many ways to consider one’s transness, gender and identity. Ze explained those identities change across time and space as well. Instead, ze explained ze wanted to discuss the ways in which the participants’ narratives converge, or arrive, at similar points, but also how they diverge, or depart from one another, so as to not lose outlying moments. Ze explained the students ze observed seemed to understand what cultural discourses were operating on their campus. “There was a binary understanding of gender,” ze said. “There were only two ways people could exist on that campus. You could either be a cisgender, nontrans man, or a cisgender, nontrans woman.” Ze found the participants could easily articulate what these two groups looked like. Additionally, Nicolazzo developed the term “compulsory heterogenderism.” “Participants would talk about how their gender identities were
erased and instead they were understood through stereotypical notions of sexuality,” ze said. For example, one participant in Nicolazzo’s study identified as agender. This student explained identifying as agender would require an explanation for what agender meant. Since people don’t typically understand transness, the student explained, it was easier to identify as a lesbian, because that is how this person was perceived. “This is about cultural erasure,” ze said. “Both the notion of compulsory heterogenderism and the gender binary discourse are what I call twin cultural realities. This is kind of the cultural ether in the air and constructs college campuses as spaces in which trans people are not understood nor can they be understood.” Another key component of Nicolazzo’s discussion was talk of resilience. However, ze wasn’t interested in using the word in the stereotypical sense, where it is often paired with words like grit. Ze explained the notion of grit implies one is living in a toxic
environment and individualizes the reality of someone needing to push through, rather than considering the negative cultural climate itself. Nicolazzo explained participants did many things to navigate their toxic climate. Some described not walking past certain areas, what ze described as a practice of resilience. Some would listen to music or text as they walked. “All of these (are) small, little micro-examples of how it is that we’re able to navigate through our day.” Nicolazzo also discussed what ze described as the labor of being trans on campus. “The ways in which knowledge is commodified and packaged and basically sold to students who are then seen as consumers of that knowledge and then spill it out all over tests … in much the same way these trans participants were often put on the spot to do the work of educating cisgender people on campus,” ze explained. At a fall welcome event for the LGBTQ community at the school
Nicolazzo observed, ze explained the chief diversity officer actually called on the trans and gender queer community to teach the rest of the community what they need to know. “This was exhausting that students were basically told in no uncertain terms you need to teach us what we need to know: you different people — is the words that weren’t there — need to teach us normal people what we need to know,” ze said. Nicolazzo explained hir findings don’t mean anything unless they are used to change how campuses are constructed. Mark Chung Kwan Fan, assistant director for engagement at the Spectrum Center, said there is a lot of conversation around how to support trans students on campus. Fan explained Nicolazzo has been a pioneer in this space. He also said he thinks measures taken to support trans college students vary from college to campus.
“It puts them in financial jeopardy and deepens the divide between those who can afford and those who we would like to bring in but can’t necessarily afford.” Though the University would like to reach this goal, the reality of budgeting interferes with any chance of it. According to Philbert, current budget proposals, being in the tens of millions of dollars with some reaching $20 million, create a challenging obstacle for administrators. However, based on this financial need among students, Philbert is hopeful to make tuition as low as possible. “There is a clear sense among staff and the student body that along with making a healthy living, there is a healthy need to make the world a better place, but that frequently comes at the cost of making a healthier financial living, so I think we need to provide as affordable education as we possibly can,” Philbert said. Philbert also discussed the faculty’s role in diversity, equity and inclusion and how to create a more open campus climate that welcomes dialogue. “The nearest I have come to it is: Are we welcoming of everyone?” Philbert asked. “Within that welcome we are mindful of the fact that people come from different places, different experiences, and they are all here, so that for faculty,
students and staff this is a place of learning.” When discussing solutions to reach this goal more effectively, Philbert emphasized the importance of using the humanities to connect with people rather than relying solely on science and numbers. “Let’s not underestimate the power of the humanities in describing the world, describing society and the power of using the narrative rather than the measurement,” Philbert said. “One of the ways that President Schlissel has articulated this is by placing a greater emphasis on public engagement.” Sami Malek, Senate Assembly member and associate professor of internal medicine, discussed the need for more open dialogue, since many faculty members believe they will be marginalized or labeled if they stand up for an issue that is important to them. “We ought to look at the way we are permissive towards open dialogue,” Malek said. “There are many places in this University and this society that are not open to open dialogue, and unless people feel that they can say what’s on their mind without feeling ostracized for it, I think we’re missing the boat.”
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Opinion
4 — Tuesday, November 14, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MICHAEL MORDARSKI| COLUMN
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LUCAS MAIMAN | COLUMN
A
Yes, our bicentennial matters
t first glance, the University (and only the University) causes the stress that defines many parts of our college lives. That stress has translated to action many times over; it seems that every other week, some coalition of students expresses its grievances toward University of Michigan President Schlissel. This academic year has been no different. In September there began more of a push to rename the C.C. Little Science Building; in October, Charles Murray; and this month, perhaps as a chaser for the acrimonious start to the year, East Quad Residence Hall dining hours. At the University, when students detect so much as a drop of blood shed by the University, you can say goodbye to nuance. Outrage and oppression take the wheel. I myself am not entirely blameless of this mindset. I have been contemptuous of the University in the past; a few of my columns have even dealt with problems that I believe the University should address. Nor do I believe students must always acquiesce to the University. We pay a premium to attend the University of Michigan. There is something to be said about ensuring we have the best experiences here. But is our university really so broken that we must harp on its small shortcomings, rather than its years of triumph? Must the student body so frequently drive a wedge between itself and the University? On both counts, I found myself answering in the negative. I arrived at this answer not out of disdain, but from my Twitter feed. It was on my Twitter feed where, proudly displayed on the University’s Twitter account, I saw an homage to Janaki Ammal, the first woman to earn a U.S. doctorate in botany. In the backdrop of our own seemingly taxing lives at the University, consider Ammal’s life. Ammal, one of 19 children, was born and raised in India. Although she was arranged to marry her first cousin, Ammal instead left for the United States after she earned a prestigious Barbour Scholarship from the University of Michigan. At the University, she first earned her master’s degree in 1925 and then her doctorate in botany in 1931. She then returned to Coimbatore, India, where she used her expertise in cytogenetics to create a high-yielding strain of sugarcane that thrived in Indian conditions. Shortly thereafter in 1935, Ammal was invited to be
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a research fellow at the Indian Academy of Sciences, but her status as a single woman of a low caste forced her to move to London to continue her research. Working in London during World War II, Ammal would describe to friends how she would dive under her bed during German night bombings and continue with her research the next day.
There is a wealth of potential for us to seize on campus Stories of University alumni like Ammal put our own lives in perspective. Ammal used the University to explore and to innovate. For Ammal, the University was not an infringer, an impediment or an institution confining us to our daily routines. The University was instead a bridge, moving her from poverty in India to international acclaim in the sciences. For those of us today who inevitably hail from more fortunate backgrounds, Ammal’s story still offers valuable lessons, like the need to step back and considers the University’s storied history before embarking on our own diatribes. Lessons like these hold true in the stories of the other impressive alumni emblazoning the University’s Twitter feed. There were the familiar names, of course, like Desmond Howard, the University’s stud wide receiver who won the Heisman in 1991, and Larry Page, the co-founder of Google. But the University predominantly celebrated some of its less well-known, but equally impressive alumni like Ammal. There was William Mayo, who co-founded the Mayo Clinic in 1889; Frances E. Allen, he first woman to win the Turing Award for her high-speed computing innovations; and Robert Shiller, who shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in economics. For the unaware, the surge in alumni acknowledgments and folklore comes as the University celebrates its Bicentennial. The University has used the hashtag #umich200 to honor alumni like
Ammal, Howard and Mayo. For the cynics on campus, the Bicentennial is easy fodder. A cursory look at the Bicentennial celebration flatly reads as another distraction to dodge on the walk through the Diag. And, for that matter, is this even the University’s true Bicentennial? A little research reveals that yes, it is in fact the University’s true Bicentennial, and, yes, the Bicentennial celebration is more than a Diag nuisance. If it were not for the University’s prolonged celebration of its Bicentennial, perhaps the stories of Janaki Ammal, William Mayo or Frances E. Allen would have remained sparsely told. If nothing else, the Bicentennial celebration has done a commendable job in acknowledging our University’s history. Possessing a deeper understanding and knowledge of the University’s history helps us when we feel tempted to lash out at the University. For the students who feel bogged down by the stresses of University life and for those who feel the need to issue demands toward President Schlissel, the Bicentennial reminds us that our most notable alumni worked with the University rather than in opposition. It does not invalidate our rights as students on campus. We deserve the best here, and it is within our jurisdiction to hold the University to the best standards. But celebrations like the Bicentennial that honor people like Janaki Ammal should give us perspective on how lucky we are to be at this University. There is a wealth of potential for us to seize on campus. And while protest is a right guaranteed to us all, something I touched upon in a previous column, we would do better to remember the great people and the storied history of our University. We are a part of the University, not a foil to it. Consider the role of the University in the life of alumni that the Bicentennial has illuminated. Appreciate that we go to a University that takes pride in alumni like Janaki Ammal — not all schools celebrate their history. Ally with the University and who knows, maybe when the tricentennial comes along, you, too, will be mentioned in kind.
Lucas Maiman can be reached at lmaiman@umich.edu.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
“He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of. ”
— Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., after recent sexual assault allegations against Senate candidate Roy Moore
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Prioritize language study
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I never use the word very. It is a very weak word.” That quote from former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is written on a whiteboard above my desk. It’s there alongside other quotes from an almost comically diverse group of writers and public figures, which the warmongering Rumsfeld is a part of. Quotes from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, George Carlin, Khaled Hosseini and Aaron Sorkin overfill this whiteboard in fading dry-erase colors. And as an avid reader and writer, I like to think they serve as reminders about how effective written and verbal communication can be within our world. No matter how poorly others may think of my writing, I take pride in my efforts when attempting to thread together words and thoughts in order to inspire emotion and motivation within my readers (see my article “We smug liberals”). And if I could do anything in the world, it would be writing speeches for a future president of the United States. Yet, this passion I have for writing is restricted to a single language. I have not truly expanded these skills and talents into anything other than English. Sure, as LSA students here, we are required to develop proficiency in a foreign language. And most likely, many of us, after years of tepid practice in elementary and high school, develop a beginner’s fluency in our language of study. But in the overall spectrum of our higher education, the courses are not properly stressed as being equal to the core requirements for our degrees — but they should be. The importance of another language is paramount in the rapidly changing world. Physical distance no longer matters as the instantaneous connection between countries continues to expose us to new people, cultures and economies. Participating in this new hyper-connected world requires learning new languages in order to break down the final barriers holding
us back from connections across the globe. America has a language skills problem. My self-absorbed story at this university is not even remotely exclusive. Across the country, foreign language is viewed as secondary to the more emphasized core courses within education.
The importance of another language is paramount The Atlantic published a piece last year that highlighted the ineffective way in which our education system teaches foreign languages throughout the country. The author, Amelia Friedman, argued that foreign language courses are not prioritized, which has a massive impact on students early on. The secondary level at which we value these courses prevents the proper funding, emphasis and applicability of learning a new language within schools early on. This lack of prioritization creates low enrollment levels in which a cycle emerges where fewer students study a foreign language, and less work is put in to promote such courses. And even the languages that are studied are still primarily European and not applicable of the emerging global markets. According to Friedman’s article, “In 2013, roughly 198,000 U.S. college students were taking a French course; just 64, on the other hand, were studying Bengali. Yet, globally, 193 million people speak Bengali, while 75 million speak French.” Mandarin, Arabic, Bengali and Hindi — all languages on which we place less emphasis, despite them being some of the most widely spoken in the world. All these lang uages of peoples and markets are ready to be connected to, but only if these communication barriers could be more
effectively broken. In totality, the academic culture we learn in can make people feel intimidated when they attempt to learn a foreign language. According to Richard Brecht, the founding executive director and founder of the Center for Advanced Study of Language at the University of Maryland, “It isn’t that people don’t think language education important. It’s that they don’t think it’s possible.” Learning a new language is challenging, and maintaining it is even more difficult within the United States, as there is often a lack of opportunities to practice and maintain such skills. But the world has shrunk; the globalized economies we live in can provide such connections. Prioritizing foreign languages would further encourage us to study these courses and be able to transfer such skills to the professional world. To be clear, the teachers and instructors are not the ones at fault here. Personally speaking, here at the University of Michigan, I have had some of the most hardworking, passionate and caring instructors who deeply cared about students gaining this immensely resourceful skill, and I know fellow students who have felt the same way about other instructors. I just wish there was greater emphasis placed on this requirement, not only in college and high school, but far earlier on within our elementary classrooms as well. I take pride in my writing and communication, but I have, in the most underachieving way, restricted myself from billions of others in our world. There is another quote on my whiteboard that comes from George Carlin. He was once said: “Language is the most elementary aspect to our humanness, probably. In addition to that, it’s the embodiment, it’s the apotheosis of the human experience, it’s the way we summarize ourselves.” Learn another language; the world is a small place.
Michael Mordarski can be reached at mmordars@umich.edu.
LEAH SCHNECK | OP-ED
This is America, but this is not us
W
hen I was about five years old, I found a picture book in the children’s section of my neighborhood library with an illustration of a mass of KKK members in white sheets, riding horses down a hill. I don’t know whether the book was about Reconstruction or the civil rights movement, but that image has been a visceral, scarring memory ever since. I had no idea what the KKK was, but it was one of the first times I instinctively felt utter fear. My stomach still drops each time I think about it. With civil rights and public interest lawyers as parents, I had picture books about Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Ruby Bridges. In my family’s annual Passover seders, we talk about the connection between the enslavement and centurieslong persecution of Jews, and the enslavement of African people and persecution Black people throughout the world deal with today. We talk about the responsibility we feel to work for equity and justice. So when in my first semester at the University of Michigan I learned there was strong presence of KKK sentiment just 30 minutes away from campus, I was naively but seriously unnerved. I looked more closely at hate group maps from the Southern Poverty Law Center. I talked with folks about the way that chapter’s existence impacts the movement of people throughout the state and its psychological effect on residents near the chapter. Of course, in my time at the University we have seen white
supremacy surface above its daily institutional and cultural presence to interpersonal violence, pseudoscience f liers, a student-organized debate and more.
Join me in demnading the University deny Spencer’s request
On Aug. 11 and 12, white supremacists converged in Charlottesville. They brought with them anti-Blackness, antisemitism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and hatred for anyone who “isn’t a member of their respective communities.” If that were my campus, I probably would have been in the crowd of counterprotesters. While swastikas are triggering for me, I think I would mostly not have felt threatened as a Jew because white privilege allows me to pass as Christian. But I would have been terrified as an unarmed young person standing up to a mob in military gear. I would have been a target with a masked identity, a complex positionality I often feel in this political moment. I don’t want to have to make that choice of whether or not to show up to protest against a mob of white supremacists, but if University President Mark Schlissel and the Board of Regents allow Richard Spencer to come to campus, I will have to. Let’s make it so that none of
us have to make this decision. Join me in demanding the University deny Spencer’s request to speak on campus. Sign the petition, write a letter and ask alumni, friends and family to do the same. As a student organizer, I think a lot about who feels like they belong on this campus and how I can help make it so that more and more people feel that way. The white supremacists who marched through University of Virginia’s campus took a space away from students, professors and staff who cultivate it, but the reality is that many marginalized students have likely never felt that space totally belonged to them. At our predominantly white, higher-income institution, we white people — especially those of us from higherincome backgrounds — need to lean into the things that help our fellow Wolverines feel welcome and safe. Michigan is a battleground. We need to call out bigotry. We sometimes need to put our bodies on the line. We need to check-in with and check our friends. We need to report bias incidents in class instead of worrying about our grades and recommendation letters. We need to be in spaces where we are the minority (if we’re welcome) and listen. We need to set goals for selfeducation. We need to actively acknowledge that this is America and this is real, but this is not us.
Leah Schneck is a Senior in the Residential College
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FOOD COLUMN
A Food Network Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 14, 2017 — 5
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
COURTESY OF SMTD
SMTD’s ‘Blood at the Root’ to challenge, inspire explained. “Everyone has an ‘other’; whether based in Daily Arts Writer sexuality, race or gender, we all deal with people who are unlike ourselves. This play “This piece is not for explores the experiences of a the faint of heart,” wrote group of high school students Music,Theatre & Dance and desperately trying to define LSA senior Elyakeem Avraham themselves and navigate in an email interview with The around those who identify Daily. themselves Avraham differently.” will be playing Working De’Andre, one as Associate of the six teens Choreographer depicted in in addition to his the SMTD’s role as De’Andre, upcoming Avraham was performance of drawn to the “Blood at the show for its Arthur Miller Root.” The play content. Theater centers around “When Jena the Jena Six, a Six happened in Nov. 16 @ 7:30 group of black 2006, I was one p.m. teenagers who, of the leaders in in December GA $30, Students a protest against of 2006, were the charges that $12 convicted of the Jena Six beating Justin faced,” he wrote. Barker, a white “For 12 days student at Jena High School in straight, about 300 students Louisiana. wore all black to school in Written by Dominique solidarity with those facing Morisseau for Penn State’s 2014 charges in the Jena Six case. graduate acting class, “Blood It escapes people that racial at the Root” is fictitious, injustices, such as this one, using the historical event as a happened only 11 years ago and launching point for the story to continue to happen today.” unfold. A member of the class, Compelling and expository, SMTD director Stori Ayers was “BATR” isn’t meant to just a producer and an original cast entertain. It’s a story of selfmember of Morisseau’s 2014 agency and the resiliency of the production. human spirit, and it’s intended “We were the winner of to affect — whatever form that the Graham F. Smith Peace may take. Foundation Prize for its (“Blood Other cast members Charda at the Root”) promotion of Jameson (SMTD, sophomore), human rights,” Ayers wrote. Kathleen Taylor (SMTD, “[We] have taken this play to junior), Sierra Stephens many high schools and all the (SMTD, sophomore) and Eddie Penn State Branch campuses to Williams (SMTD/LSA, senior) do outreach and social justice spoke with The Daily on what workshops in hopes of starting being in the play means for a conversation and igniting them: within our generation a spirit “When I read this play for of activism.” the first time last year, the The play aims to challenge thing that stuck to me the both the audience and the most was the fact that each history it’s developed from, and every character in the play and Ayers is imbuing SMTD’s struggles with a certain aspect performance with the same of their own social identity fire as the show’s origin. and cultural context in a very “[The] story’s specificity humanizing way,” Stephens creates a universality that recalled. “As a white person in charges the audience with this piece, being here means the social responsibility of putting my white privilege dealing with the ‘other’ in on the table for analysis. It order to create change,” Ayers means showing the whiteARYA NAIDU
DESIGN BY AVA WEINER
Disclaimer: OK, look. At this point, everyone just needs to get over it. Clearly this isn’t an actual, profound, biweekly treatise on food and the culture surrounding it. Clearly I’m not qualified for this (but who’s qualified for anything, really?). And, clearly, I’m just using this “food column” as a pretense to write about nebulously food-adjacent things I find interesting. Let’s all just accept this and move on. With that being said, here’s a hypothetical scene of Thanksgiving at the Pioneer Woman’s house. For those of you who aren’t Food Networkheads (boo), have fun hanging out with Ree Drummond, Ina Garten, Chris Santos, Marc Murphy, Scott Conant, Geoffrey Zakarian, Marcus Samuelsson, Alex Guarnaschelli, Giada de Laurentiis, Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri. Apparently there are those out there who don’t know who these people are. The boys are outside cleaning up with Ladd. Paige and Alex are inside doing each other’s hair. The kitchen smells of butter and heavy cream and vaguely ethnically inspired foods. It’s Thanksgiving, and Ree Drummond is happy. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this feeling of … warmth, she thinks, for a f leeting moment, before she’s interrupted by the doorbell. The guests are here! What enchanting, bewildering fun. Entertaining has always been a staple of Ree’s lifestyle; thank God Ina let her host this year. Ree puts down her copy of Mrs. Dalloway and rushes to answer the door. Speak of the devil: It’s her. “Oh hey, Ree!” she exclaims with feigned excitement. They hug as if they actually like each other. Ugh. “Jeffrey will be here in a bit. He’s just going to find parking.” “Well, you can just park anywhere in the field,” Ree says. “We’ve got so much open space.” “We just wanted to find a… parking lot,” she replies. “The ranch is gorgeous, though!” Ina walks inside and sets down her dish wrapped in tinfoil. She looks around before placing it in the warming drawer beneath the oven. Ree knows what it is — she just can’t believe it. The stupid lemon chicken. A simple mixture of herbs and olive oil, lemon wedges and slices of onion covering the width of the chicken, all roasted in a pan — and for what? The insipid taste of lemon and garlic infused in a dry slice of chicken? There’s already a turkey. Ree plots to “forget” the dish in the drawer. Take that, Barefoot Contessa. The bell rings again. Ree can hear too many voices at the door, so she knows who it is: The Chopped Boys. She laughs at the thought of their group tattoo, which is actually spelled Chopt Boiz, but that wouldn’t f ly in Oklahoma. She opens the door and laughs; it’s always great to see the boys. They might air backto-back, but they never can seem to find the time.
Chris, Scott, Aaròn, Marc, Marcus, Geoffrey and, of course, Alex. She always was the outsider. Ted didn’t come, though. No one on that show likes Ted. “Hey, Aaron, brought anything good this year?” says Ree. “Ree, mija, you know it’s pronounced Aaròn,” he replies. They all laugh and hug each other. Except for Scott, of course.
NABEEL CHOLLAMPAT Scott never laughs. It’s a warm and inviting atmosphere, and Ree is in a good place. The kids have been great, of course, and Ladd is still such a great and stoic rock for her, but… It’s been so long since Ladd has shown her any affection. Sometimes, she thinks, this whole rugged, country lifestyle might be getting the better of their marriage. Would it be better if they left? Would the boys still be men and the girls still be ladies? Would “The Pioneer Woman” still be a brand? Ah, well. Thoughts for another day, she concludes. After the big shots arrive — Giada, Bobby and, yes, Guy — it’s time to begin the feast. The boys run back inside and Paige and Alex come downstairs. Bobby ruff les the boys’ hair like a proud uncle. It truly is a family at The Food Network. Ree has made her specialty: meatloaf. Some people might laugh, but there’s nothing that screams Oklahoma more than a thick, sweaty slab of meatloaf. Douse that in ketchup and you might as well be yelling “Boomer Sooner” in Norman! Ree chuckles to herself as she places the dish on the table. It jiggles as she sets it down. Yum. Aaròn has brought maíz tortillas to fill with a beautifully grilled skirt steak and chimichurri, courtesy of Marcus. (Ree catches Ina mouthing the words, “storebought” to Giada on the side of the room.) Chris hasn’t brought food, but, as always, he’s brought his guitar — he’s the post-dinner entertainment, always has been. Bobby and Giada have collaborated (not for the first time, Ree thinks to herself ) on a shitty bowl of pasta with a “Southwestern twist!” Great job, sellouts. Ree tries to obscure this with her immaculately constructed centerpiece. Geoffrey and Scott procure, seemingly out of nowhere, a fully cured ham. It’s been sitting in Scott’s basement in Great Neck for months, apparently. Ina shoots
him a “Great-Neck?-It’sNo-Hamptons” look as he explains. Geoffrey pulls the finest switchblade, made in Switzerland, and shaves it in the finest slices known to man. Finally, they let Guy bring out his famous “Bloomin’ Onion, Guy’s Way.” It’s just a Bloomin’ Onion he bought from Outback Steakhouse that he put in a deep fryer again. They let him have this, every year. It makes him feel valued. Ree makes everyone sit down quickly and smirks at Ladd — he knows she’s just negged Ina, HARD. They squeeze hands under the table. This feels right. “Oh my God, guys, no,” says Geoffrey. “We forgot to invite Ayesha!” There’s a moment of silence before they all burst out into laughter. Always the comedian, Geoffrey. But then Ina makes a motion. Of course she does. “Wait, guys!” she exclaims, her exasperated hands waving. She rushes over to the oven and pulls out the dreaded lemon chicken. She rips off the tinfoil and places it right in the center, for everyone to see. Bitch. And then Ree sees it. A smile creeps onto her face. The Contessa has no idea what’s about to happen. “Are those… are those red onions?” Scott trembles at the sight before him. Geoffrey’s face turns gaunt. Alex turns to the rest of The Chopt Boiz and screams. Geofrrey grabs Scott by the face and turns him. “Scott, no,” he whispers. “You can fight this. You are stronger than this.” Scott’s face is now an unrecognizable shade of red. Ree is scared, but secretly happy. She steals a glance at Ina’s confused, horrified face. It’s glorious. “THE ACIDITY!” Scott screams. It’s a lost cause now. “RAW RED ONION IS TOO ACIDIC FOR MY PALATE!” He f lips the table with seemingly unknown force. Everything falls to the f loor. He rips off his shirt. Ree notices he’s surprisingly jacked, but makes sure to comment on that at a later time. “TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME! CRUCIFY THAT BANSHEE! THAT EVIL HAG! BANISH HER FROM OKLAHOMA!” Ina is terrified. She begins to apologize, but Jeffrey puts a finger to her lips. He grabs her by the arm and the two of them sprint out. Ree surveys the scene. Geoffrey massages Scott’s back as he crouches on the ground, panting. The worst is over for now. Alex and the rest of the gang are crying. Bobby and Giada are nowhere to be seen, but a thumping sound is heard from the upstairs bedroom. Guy picks at a tortilla fondly. Ree turns to Ladd and plants a kiss right on his mouth. “I love Thanksgiving.”
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
SMTD presents “Blood at the Root”
identifying community what it means to recognize privilege and what it means to confront the systematic racism we perpetuate every day.” “BATR” is self-aware, and it’s cast embodies this sentiment — knowing that the world isn’t OK, and people sometimes aren’t OK, but collectively we can be. “(The play) portrays young people as fiercely intelligent, deeply feeling human beings. I think it’s rare to find a piece of media that takes teenagers so seriously,” Taylor wrote. A thoughtful piece, “BATR” hopes to give a holistic view on modern-day racism. “(The audience) should expect to see different perspectives and viewpoints,
No matter the background you’re coming from, ‘Blood at the Root,’ promises to be hopeful and provoking
both from people involved in the issues that arise and the people that actively choose to stay out of them,” Williams mentioned. Telling a story that needs to be heard, the show makes sure to involve moments of light to keep the performance charming. “Peope should expect to be moved in ways that are uncomfortable, but to also go on a fun ride, with dance and comic relief mixed in our piece,” Jameson noted. No matter the background you’re coming from, “Blood at the Root,” promises to be hopeful and provoking. The performance is scheduled for this Thursday evening in the Arthur Miller Theater.
ARE YOU TIRED OF SEEING WHITE ADIDAS SUPERSTARS AND FAKE SUPREME HOODIES ON THE DIAG? WANNA SOUND OFF ABOUT THAT? Our Style beat is hiring new writers! Email us at arts@michigandaily.com for more information on applying
Arts
6 — Tuesday, November 14, 2017
TV REVIEW
SHOWTIME
‘Shameless’ takes on the Trump era in season 8 SAMANTHA DELLA FERA Daily Arts Writer
Standing in her bra and underwear, staring at an unclothed Tinder match, Fiona Gallagher (Emmy Rossum, “You’re Not You”) shakes her head and proclaims “I can’t do this anymore.” It is a moment of self-determination and realization; in a single sentence, this woman who has struggled through hell and high water decides that she’s had enough — enough with
random hookups and enough that keeps them true to their with the way life tosses her disposition while remaining around. As she smiles at the pertinent in 2017. Gone are the blurred lights of Chicago’s Gallaghers of 2011, dancing skyline while the chorus of on the edge of poverty on PrettyDeep’s the southside “SugarCane” of Chicago. synths in the These are the Season 8 Premiere background, one Gallaghers thing becomes of the Trump Sundays @ 9 p.m. glaringly clear: years, and Showtime these are not the they’ve got Gallaghers we newfound have seen before. money in their In its eighth season, pockets to spend (albeit as a “Shameless” looks to result of pushing their dead transform its lovable, mom’s meth) and mended degenerate characters in a way futures to pursue. And while
with her latest tenant status. Debbie (Emma Kenney, “Epic”) looks directly into the face of collapsing trade industries when talking to her new welding classmates. Kevin (Steve Howey, “Blue & Green”) faces the stigma and uncertainty of male breast cancer. Only Frank (William H. Macy, “Room”) seems to be stuck in his old ways, continuing to blame his deceased wife and enabler for pretty much everything wrong in his life. Still, it seems that smoking a half-pound of meth has allowed him to reach some level of enlightenment. Every scene with Frank shows him apologizing to people he’s wronged over the past forty or so years (which, by the way, leads to the best line of the episode, in which he kneels at a tombstone and declares, “Wow, when you’re right, you’re right. I should’ve let you drive.”) “Shameless” has finally freed
its characters, allowing them to take control of their own lives rather than having to work with the continuous blows that life has delivered them. Of course, the show would not be the drama it is without conf lict, and the fact that the Gallaghers and Co. are doing so well right now only means that their inevitable fall will hurt that much more. Eradicating the looming shadows of addiction and poverty let the characters look deeper into themselves and decide what kind of people they are going to be. Will they reverse back to their old, destructive ways? Or will they take the the high road out? These are the difficult questions driving the show as it teeters on the edge of becoming Showtime classic or just another series overstaying their welcome. I, for one, can’t wait to come along for the ride.
FILM REVIEW
‘Daddy’s Home 2’ a failure Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis 27 Chief of __: Army leader 30 Wall recess 33 Make off with 34 Sorbonne sweetie 36 Point to debate 37 Collaborative 1993 Sinatra album 40 Half a winter warmer 43 Stretchy 47 Like 1% milk
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49 Wimbledon sport 50 __ Domingo: Dominican capital 51 __ Yello: soft drink 53 23rd Greek letter 54 Picket line crosser 56 New Mexico town known for its art scene 60 Lean-__: shacks 61 Wash. neighbor 62 Tricky 63 Guys
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have been written in the first place. Daily Arts Writer This is doubly disappointing considering the caliber of the cast. Ferrell, despite being The Christmas season has in the middle of a streak of finally arrived, and with it, lackluster f licks like “The the inevitable tide of bad House” and “Zoolander 2,” is Christmas movies. We already an icon of modern comedy, and got the astonishingly lazy on the rare occasions when “A Bad Mom’s Christmas” “Daddy’s Home 2” works, last week, and this week we it’s because of him. Mark come to “Daddy’s Home 2,” Wahlberg has also proven the sequel to the 2015 comedy himself a more than capable that existed to make us forget leading man in both drama and how great Will Ferrell (“The comedy, and series-newcomer House”) and Mark Wahlberg John Lithgow (“Miss Sloane”) (“Transformers: The Last — here playing Brad’s father, Knight”) were in “The Don — has recently carved Other Guys.” Now, its sequel himself out a niche as a reliable doubles the character actor number of dads of genre and and drenches prestige fare. everything in a Even John Christmas veneer Cena (“The Paramount Pictures to distract the Wall”), known fact that there’s better for his Rave Cinemas, nothing going on Goodrich Quality 16 professional underneath. wrestling Of course, the persona, has shallowness would be easier shown himself to be willing to forgive if “Daddy’s Home to commit to insane stunts 2” were actually funny, and in for big laughs in projects all honesty, there are moments like “Tour de Pharmacy” and where it verges on entertaining. “Trainwreck.” But again, the It’s nearly impossible to count material that would allow for more than five times when it this simply isn’t there. Instead, actually crosses the line into the talented cast languishes chuckle-worthy, but there under the unfunny material are set-ups here that brief ly and lackluster direction. appear promising before they The obvious odd one out in go to waste. The obligatory the cast is Mel Gibson (“The Christmas tree incident finds Expendables 3”). Like the Brad (Ferrell) accidentally rest of the cast, Gibson has cutting down a cell phone proven his comedic chops in tower. The family gets into the past, but it’s hard to see a fight while participating what he brings to the role of in a live Nativity. The other Kurt, the father of Wahlberg’s patrons at a bowling alley get Dusty, besides the discomfort way too invested in how bad of seeing the controversial one of the kids is at the sport. actor essentially playing a A director dedicated to their toned-down version of himself premise would be able to guide for laughs. It seems like an their cast to comedic gold with example of cynical stunt any of these. casting more than anything The problem is in the else. execution. In “The Other Still, “Daddy’s Home 2” is Guys,” the scenes that worked a Christmas movie, or at least did so because Adam McKay it carries itself as one, so it’s was willing to let Ferrell and important to view it through Wahlberg riff off each other. that lens. This is where the The extras on the Blu Ray are film fails the most. It has all filled with alternate takes of the hallmarks of a holiday the two taking a premise like a movie — the bickering family, simple confrontation between the mall Santa, the lightstheir characters and running related disaster — yet until with it. With more outlandish the shoehorned delivery of ideas like the ones on display the final message, it’s all in “Daddy’s Home 2,” there’s surface level. Even “A Bad little reason they couldn’t do Mom’s Christmas” for how the same, but director Sean tired its script was, seemed to Anders (“Horrible Bosses 2”) at least be written by people seems unwilling to allow his who enjoy the spirit of the cast to let loose. Audiences are season. In “Daddy’s Home 2,” stuck with jokes and scenes there’s nothing but paper-thin that either fizzle out before characters paying unfunny lip they show any signs of life or, service to the most wonderful in the case of an unfortunate time of the year. incest gag, probably shouldn’t JEREMIAH VANDERHELM
RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, November 14, 2017
DOWN 1 Word before bum or bunny 2 “Tell __ About It”: Billy Joel hit 3 “That’s __brainer!” 4 Wall calendar pages 5 Welcoming prop on “Hawaii Five-O” 6 Scheduled takeoff hrs. 7 Opposite of cheap 8 Taste and touch, e.g. 9 Nas or Nelly 10 *Started a construction project 11 More green around the gills 12 Shoe bottom 14 Old Western villain 17 “The Simpsons” bartender 22 Footnote ref. 23 __-racking: very stressful 24 *Money-saving investment accounts 25 Belt holders
the Trumpian effect is evident in the show it is nowhere near centerstage — at least not yet. Newly militarized Carl (Ethan Cutkowsky, “Law & Order: SVU”) laments over the ungrateful elite. An ICE agent responds, “Do you really have to ask?” when asked why he only cares about illegal Mexican immigrants over Russian ones. Perhaps these ideas will be explored further as the season progresses, but right now, those lines serve the same purpose as the use of a fidget spinner in various scenes: “Shameless” is wellaware of the trends and tirades of 2017, it’s just not ready to tackle them head-on quite yet. But for once, that’s not a bad thing. The season premiere is filled to the brim with new plotlines that poignantly tackle very real and very relevant issues. Fiona exploits the benefits of gentrification
“Shameless”
Classifieds ACROSS 1 Fancy pillowcase 5 Not as expensive 9 Stats for sluggers 13 Lotto variant 14 Actress Davis played by Susan Sarandon in TV’s “Feud” 15 “Alice’s Restaurant” singer Guthrie 16 *2010 Grammy winner for Best Metal Performance 18 Opinion sampling 19 2,000 pounds 20 French possessive 21 __-Ball: midway game 22 Discreetly, in slang 26 Nag, nag, nag 28 Black-eyed __ 29 Electrified particle 31 Without an escort 32 Bygone Honda sports car 33 Impassive type 35 Dry-sounding deodorant brand 38 ICU drips 39 *TV cooking competition hosted by Padma Lakshmi 41 Sch. in Columbus 42 Tiny laugh 44 Bundle of papers 45 Put into service 46 Airline to Tel Aviv 48 Flub it 49 Letter-shaped hardware item 50 Sinuous ski race 52 Gets in the way of 54 H.S. exams 55 Dripping 57 SEAL’s org. 58 Tech news site 59 Paint choice ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally be 64 Longfellow’s “The Bell of __” 65 Standoffish 66 Just sitting around 67 Pear variety 68 Mix, as a salad 69 What Simon does
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
11/14/17
“Daddy’s Home 2”
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Tuesday, November 14, 2017 — 7
Michigan finishes 1-2, both advance to NCAA Championships Sereno leads women’s cross country team to regional title DELANEY WALKER For the Daily
The Michigan women’s cross country team came into the NCAA Great Lakes Regional as a heavy favorite after winning the Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines lived up to that expectation Friday, finishing first overall – outracing second-place Michigan State by 16 points. It was Michigan’s third consecutive regional win and sixth in the past seven years. “It feels pretty good,” said Michigan coach Mike McGuire. “It’s a nice reward for the hard work the women have put in this year and a continuation of a nice legacy established in the past.” The first-place finish guarantees the Wolverines an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships next week
in Louisville, Ky. It will be Michigan’s 16th appearance in the championships – the third-longest qualifying streak in the nation. Fifth-year seniors Gina Sereno and Jamie Morrissey led the Wolverines in the regional, finishing second and third, respectively. Morrisey improved her time from last year significantly, jumping up 18 spots from 21st place. “They’ve had an outstanding year,” McGuire said. “Jamie really has stepped up her game, running at the highest level she has ever been. Gina has just been a tremendous, steady force for the last several years, so you know, it’s definitely nice having a twoheaded attack to get started.” The pair was never far behind Indiana runner Katherine Receveur, who finished first overall. Receveur was unsuccessful in
carrying fifth-place Indiana to a qualifying spot at next week’s nationals. Michigan was the only team to finish with five runners in the top 30 – a key factor toward its success. Junior Claire Borchers finished 15th overall, another steep improvement from her 39th – place finish a year ago. Sophomore Madeline Trevisan finished 22nd and fifth year senior Haley Meier finish 29th. In terms of preparing for nationals next week, the Wolverines plan on continuing the routine that has worked well so far this season. “There isn’t any magical workout that’s all (of a) sudden gonna change the world,” McGuire said. “I don’t see us improving our national ranking, but I don’t see us going backwards either. We’ll probably be eighth ranked nationally going in.”
Flanagan wins, men’s cross country team comes in second DYLAN CHUNG Daily Sports Writer
A year after surprisingly missing out on the NCAA Championships, the No. 10 Michigan men’s crosscountry team came into this season seeking redemption. A top-two finish at the Great Lakes Regional Championship would ensure that the Wolverines would secure an NCAA berth this time around. Friday afternoon, they got the job done. At LaVern Gibson Championship Course, Michigan punched its ticket to the national championship with a second-place finish. Led by a platoon of fifth-year seniors, the Wolverines posted an excellent team score of 79. Although No. 13 Michigan State edged Michigan by 11 points, coach Kevin Sullivan isn’t too worried about not winning the meet outright. “Our focus has been on making nationals. That’s been our focus all year,” Sullivan said. “Today was
just getting the job done, qualifying for nationals and keeping everyone healthy.” As he has all season, fifth-year senior captain Ben Flanagan spearheaded the Michigan effort. Amidst a field of 268 elite runners, Flanagan stormed ahead for a first-place finish. Running with a combination of discipline and ferocity, he pounded his feet across the line with a time of 30:54 — an astonishing six seconds faster than his closest competitor. “(Flanagan) has got a lot of talent,” Sullivan said. “And he backs that up with a lot of commitment and dedication to better himself in every area, both in athletics and academics. Those are traits that really set him apart.” Flanagan wasn’t the only Wolverine that excelled, though. Fellow fifth-year senior Connor Mora also finished strong, ending up in seventh place. Three more Michigan runners finished in the top 26 — illustrating their valuable
EMMA RICHTER/Daily
Fifth-year senior Gina Sereno finished as the runner-up individually, and the Wolverines finished as champions.
depth, and executing Sullivan’s strategy perfectly. “We just wanted our guys to be in the main pack, in the all-region spots, and we felt that if we had five guys in the top-25, we’d go back to nationals,” Sullivan said. “We were a little short of that, our fifth guy was one spot out of all-region, but everything else kind of played out the way we planned.” Next Saturday, Michigan will compete in the national championship race in Louisville. Out of 30 championship appearances, the Wolverines have failed to finish higher than fourth place. They have only finished in the top-10 once since 2004, but Sullivan believes Michigan is capable of it this year. “Our focus is on trying to be a top-10 team next week,” he said. If his team can repeat its performance from regionals, that finish is within its grasp. They just need to get the job done — one last time.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Fifth-year senior Ben Flanagan stormed ahead for a first-place finish in a field of 268 runners in the regional.
‘M’ seeks villain role Mike Rodriguez makes special appearance at Wolverine dual meet at Catholic Central FOOTBALL
BETELHEM ASHAME Managing Sports Editor
The two most important weeks of the season have arrived for the Wolverines. With its final two games of the year coming up against No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 13 Ohio State, the Michigan football team (5-2 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) has one last chance to make a push into contention for the Big Ten Championship. But in order to pull off the feat, Michigan will have to play spoiler. The Wolverines have embraced that role wholeheartedly. “I think we’ve taken on the role of the villain a little bit,” said fifth-year senior center Patrick Kugler. “People have been doubting us, saying we haven’t beaten a team with a winning record this year — that’s kind of the big one that’s going around right now. “The next two games are big ones, Wisconsin and Ohio State. So if we can come out on top, then the villain wins, and that’s kind of a fun role to play.” It certainly won’t be easy. The Badgers are currently undefeated atop the Big Ten West standings, and the Buckeyes have only one conference loss to lead the Big Ten East faction. “We’ve got two big weeks, but we’re going to take it one week at a time,” said sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary. “... This whole week in practice is going to be getting after each other and making sure everything is perfect. We got an opportunity in front of us, and we don’t want to let it go.” If Michigan manages to win both contests, a 10-2 season is within reach. That record, along with tiebreakers over the two highest-ranked teams in the conference, might be enough to guarantee a spot in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game. That’s been the Wolverines’ goal all along. “Our goal is still to go to the Big Ten championship, and that’s still a possibility,” said junior receiver Grant Perry. “So we’re just gonna do what we can, and
just win.” A few weeks ago, the picture looked entirely different for Michigan. After a blowout loss to thenNo. 2 Penn State, coupled with an unexpected loss to thenunranked Michigan State two weeks before, the Wolverines were pushed out of consideration for the College Football Playoff. Their season could have gone off the rails, but Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made sure it didn’t. “We talked about staying together as a family, as a team, especially after a couple of tough losses,” Kugler said. “And that’s exactly what we’ve done.” The goal since then has been to win out. And Michigan is three games in and two games away from accomplishing that goal. Meanwhile, the rest of the top competitors in the Big Ten have been knocking each other down a peg. Ohio State lost to Penn State, which then lost to Michigan State, which then lost to Ohio State. Now, the Nittany Lions and Spartans have two conference losses, just like Michigan — though the former two own those tiebreakers. The Buckeyes might only have one, but if the Wolverines beat them, the entire pool would be in for a chaotic finish. Still, as Kugler noted, Michigan has been unable to shake off its doubters. “I mean, obviously we’re not getting a lot of love in the playoff polls,” he said. “... But we’re a very tight-knit group. We know what we’re capable of, and we’re just excited for the chance.” As far as the Wolverines are concerned, Wisconsin is just the next team on the schedule on their road to a possible Big Ten Championship berth. But stopping other teams along the way has become a new part of their goal. “It’s just kind of fun to ruin seasons,” Kugler said. “... It’s just kind of fun to go into a hostile environment like Wisconsin and come away with a victory. There’s nothing better than that.”
LANEY BYLER
Daily Sports Editor
NOVI, Mich. — Friday night, Catholic Central’s high school gymnasium was filled to the brim. All sections of the blue bleachers had been pulled out to maximize capacity, but spectators still spilled into the upper deck. They lounged against the railings circling the deck, where numerous state championship banners hung. The Michigan wrestling team stood on the left side of the gym while Arizona State stood on the right. High school staff lined the edges of the mat, waiting for the meet to begin. Everyone quieted down as the announcer began to talk. The two teams would wrestle, but before that, a man would lead the pre-meet prayer. That man was Michigan wrestling legend and former Catholic Central coach Mike Rodriguez. “That was great,” said senior Adam Coon. “That was great to have him here. There was a lot of tradition there, both for Catholic Central and for the University of Michigan. It was great to have him sitting on our bench and I definitely loved the prayer that he led with. That was a very class act, and I very much enjoyed having him on the bench with us for sure.” Added Michigan coach Joe McFarland: “It was an honor to sit next to him on the bench — it was an honor to have him on our bench, I should say. I mean, you think about how many lives that guy has changed. Seriously. From 40 years of coaching here? There’s a lot of lives he molded.” The prayer was short and brief, but it was everything it needed to be. Rodriguez handed the microphone back as quickly as he’d gotten it, but the audience didn’t let the brevity of the moment get away from them, applauding until he took his seat. “Coach Rod” led the Catholic Central wrestling program for 40
years, coaching the Shamrocks to seven state championship titles. He coached in over 730 dual meet wins, earning a spot as one of the winningest high school wrestling coaches in Michigan history. When he was in high school, Rodriguez was a senior with 15 different collegiate offers. But he knew he wanted to go to Michigan. He ended up in prep school for a couple of years because he didn’t have the grades for Michigan yet. He had to focus on rigorous academics at that time, explaining how he had to sit in a room for an hour and write about a single topic. He really wasn’t a fan of the intensity. “I wrote half a page in a whole hour,” Rodriguez said. “I was not
into the writing thing. I wrote half a page, came back bloody. He asked me, ‘Well, what are you doing in here?’ I said, ‘I’m gonna go to college.’ He says, ‘Well, where? Wayne State?’ And I said, ‘No, I want to go to Michigan.’ And he said, ‘Michigan? You are? Who’s gonna help you?’ It was a struggle, but I got there and it was well worth it.” Before his coaching career, he was a threetime Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA finalist. He even was a member of the basketball team until he was cut between his sophomore or junior season. A new coach came in wanting to build his team around height. Rodriguez didn’t fit that mold. He wasn’t happy about it, but he took it out on the mat. That seemed to pay off, as Rodriguez
It was an honor to sit next to him on the bench
graduated as one of the most decorated Michigan wrestlers in history. He even went on to place fifth at the World Championships in Japan. After that? He went home. Rodriguez spent the next 40 years coaching at Catholic Central. So with the Wolverines set to wrestle the Sun Devils at Catholic Central, it was only fitting that Rodriguez led the prayer. “I saw a young man that was here when I had him as a freshman, some state placers, and it’s just such a joy to see them back again and still living and being productive,” Rodriguez said. “They own businesses or are doctors or lawyers, and it’s just such a blessing to work at this place because they come here to be successful. “And you see all of (these banners) up on the wall, it’s all put up there by hard work. God tells us a man should know how to work hard, and that’s what I tried to teach them here.”
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Former Michigan wrestler and Catholic Central coach Mike Rodriguez led a prayer at the start of Friday night’s meet.
Sports
8 — Tuesday, November 14, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Abdur-Rahkman leads Michigan to win, despite another uneven performance MAX MARCOVITCH Daily Sports Editor
Saturday against North Florida, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman took one shot in the first half. The senior guard did not make that mistake again Monday, grabbing a stranglehold of the Michigan men’s basketball team’s struggling offense the way a captain should. He led the team in minutes with 37, shots with 15 and points with 17, guiding the Wolverines to a 72-65 win over Central Michigan. “His aggressiveness really set a tone,” said fifth-year senior forward Duncan Robinson. “His ability to get to the basket and also score from the outside is fantastic for us. We really feel like we’re at our best when he’s aggressive. Hopefully, we’ll see more of that moving forward.” But the outcome, as was the case Saturday, remained in doubt well into the second half. The Chippewas came out eager to shoot threes, and at least early in the game, were making them. They made five of their first 10 attempts from beyond the arc and grabbed an eight-point lead with 7:36 left in the half. On the other side of the court, Michigan showed a familiar dysfunction. Though offensive stagnation was reminiscent of the Wolverines’ season-opening performance, the nature of their struggles was quite different. The Chippewas’ frenetic defense — a soft full-court pressure that broke down into a frantic matchup zone — wreaked havoc early, and Michigan looked out of sorts from the opening tip. At the first media timeout, the Wolverines were 1-for-6 with three turnovers, and trailed an energized Central Michigan team, 8-3. But the shots wouldn’t fall forever for the Chippewas, and slowly but surely, Michigan’s offense began to find its footing.
After combining for just four points in the first half against North Florida, Abdur-Rahkman and junior forward Moritz Wagner took ownership of the offense Monday, combining for 12 of the team’s 26 first-half shots and 16 of the team’s 32 points. A corner 3-pointer from AbdurRahkman sent the Wolverines into the half on a 12-3 run with a 32-31 lead in hand. His personal 8-0 run — with halftime sandwiched in between — gave Michigan the lead. He couldn’t do it alone, though. His backcourt mate, sophomore Zavier Simpson, staked the most defiant claim yet to make that starting spot permanent. Coupled with his usual defensive tenacity, Simpson posted his best offensive performance as a Wolverine, making five of his seven shots and scoring a career-high 13 points. The Chippewas weathered that blow early in the second half, though, to grab a 47-46 lead on a layup from guard Shawn
Roundtree. He led Central Michigan with 19 points, and speaheaded the up-tempo Chippewa offense. “We had Roundtree (before the game) as a, what we call ‘Two-gap’ — a good shooter, but not a great shooter,” said Michigan coach John Beilein.“His points were a big difference in this game. He was really good.” But the effort was not quite enough to pull off the upset. With the Wolverines clinging to a three-point lead with 6:49 to go, it was Abdur-Rahkman who took initiative. With the shot clock running down, he found himself trapped near the baseline. Effortlessly, the senior pivoted out of duress toward the hoop, and made an underhand shot in the lane. He then raced down toward the other end and stole a pass headed for a driving Chippewa, hurdling his way over photographers in the process. “I just love what he’s bringing
us right now with defense,” Beilein said. “We talked about — ‘Are you going to be a thermometer or the thermostat? Are you going to be the one who reads the temperature or are you going to set the temperature?’ “…‘Set the temperature today. Go out there and you gotta show everybody how hard we’ve got to play, because if you’re just playing and you don’t have that extra bit right there, everybody will probably follow that.’ “I just thought it was really a great play from him, and one that really helped us win the game.” From there, Michigan began to pull away, eking out another uneven victory, 72-65, and a 2-0 start to the season. It’s another bumpy perfomance, but, according to Beilein, it is all part of a longer process. “I have some confidence the sun’s going to rise tomorrow, and we’re going to get better,” he said. “I’m just saying it’s going to be a journey.”
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led the team in minutes, shots and points in 72-65 win on Monday night.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Simpson’s aggressive approach sparks ‘M’ MIKE PERSAK
Daily Sports Editor
John Beilein said he wished Zavier Simpson would “look at the basket” more after Michigan’s season opener on Saturday. It was a plea for the sophomore guard to be more aggressive offensively — to make plays and take his shots when they’re there. Monday, against Central Michigan, Simpson heeded his coach’s advice. In a game where the Wolverines couldn’t find their offensive touch — especially from 3-point range, where they shot 29 percent — the Chippewas were able to hang around. With just 3:32 left in the game, a shot from forward David DiLeo pulled Central Michigan within seven points. Michigan needed a spark from somewhere to push it over the edge. The Chippewas entered a hawkish, full-court press — different from the more relaxed full-court defense they had employed all game. The Wolverines didn’t panic, though, breaking the press with ease. Simpson ended up with the ball in the frontcourt. He lobbed it over the outstretched hands of the last Central Michigan defender and gently toward the hoop where junior forward Moritz Wagner slammed it home. Moments later, after the Chippewas answered with a 3-pointer, fifth-year senior forward Duncan Robinson drove into the lane and kicked the ball out to a wide-open Simpson at the top of the key. And on a day when scorers like Robinson and Wagner struggled to find their stroke, Simpson didn’t. The shot was a high point of a 5-for-7 shooting performance that netted him 13 points. While Beilein believes there’s more work to be done, he saw the performance as an sign of improvement for his point guard. “That’s what he has to do. He
can’t be a swinging gate out top,” Beilein said. “We’ve got to get closer. If you watch him and Jaaron (Simmons), sometimes they’re standing on the block ‘M’ reversing the ball (and) we’re playing four on five. That’s a spatial thing we’ve just got to keep working on. … That’s what he has to do.” In addition to his improved shooting, Simpson continued to do the things that put him in the starting lineup in the first place. Defensively, he added two steals to his stat sheet, and on a number of different occasions, he forced bad shots or jump balls. And after having only one turnover against North Florida, Simpson had none against the Chippewas. While his assist numbers did drop from nine to three in the two games, the sophomore noted that taking care of the ball is a main focus for him. It’s something he credits assistant coach Deandre Haynes for instilling in him. “It’s definitely a more concerted effort to take care of the ball,” Simpson said. “It’s important as a team. We try to limit ourselves to no more than 10 turnovers a game. With assistant coach — coach Deandre — he’s on me about turnovers, whether that’s in practice or the game. “… For a starting point guard, it’s just important that I take care of the ball.” Beilein has said recently that he’s eventually hoping to cut the threeman rotation at point guard to two. It was already a fairly safe bet that Simpson would stay in that rotation. It’s less of a sure thing, though, whether he’ll maintain his starting role once fifth-year senior guard Jaaron Simmons gets acclimated. But if Simpson can continue to improve his aggressiveness offensively, while maintaining his defensive and ball-protecting capabilities, he’ll make it hard for Beilein to bench him.
Notebook: Wolverines “excited” for first trip to Madison since 2009 KEVIN SANTO
Managing Sports Editor
It’s been a while since the Wolverines took a trip to Camp Randall Stadium. The Michigan football team hasn’t faced Wisconsin on the road since 2009, but that streak will finally be broken this Saturday. The stage for the return couldn’t be much bigger. The fifth-ranked Badgers are out to defend an undefeated record. Michigan is dead set on winning out and hoping for some help that could place the Wolverines in contention for a Big Ten title. And for the second time this year, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be on the scene prior to a Michigan kickoff. The Wolverines boast a roster ready to get their first in-person taste of playing football in Madison. “I actually visited Ben Bredeson, he has an older brother in my class,” said junior wide receiver Grant Perry. “I went back to his house a couple summers ago, met a couple of the Wisconsin players and they were all telling me about the “Jump Around” thing that they do, and how hype it gets. I’m excited for it personally.” Added fifth-year senior Patrick Kugler: “I heard it’s awesome, one of the best environments in the country. … I’ve never played there (and) I’ve been here five years, so I was excited when we found out we were playing at Wisconsin. You want to play at every stadium and I haven’t had the opportunity to do that in the Big Ten unfortunately, even (in) five years.” AN UNCONVENTIONAL TASK: Despite losing T.J. Watt and Vince Beagle to the NFL, the Badgers still return a plethora of talent on their defensive front. Couple that with a true 3-4 scheme rarely seen consistently on the college level — one that Kugler said is “different than what we played all year” — and the Wolverines will have their
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh provided updates on the slew of injuries that have befallen his team this year, including Lavert Hill, Ty Isaac and Wilton Speight.
hands full. The formation functions so well, in large part, because of nose guard Olive Sagapolu. Kugler called him “a big boy,” and even that may be underselling it. At 6-foot-2 and 346 pounds, Sagapolu could prove to be a major test for the Wolverines’ offensive line. Kugler and his unit are relishing that challenge. “It’s exciting,” Kugler said. “Everyone always talks about Wisconsin’s O-line and how they’re always one of the best in the country, and we’re trying to throw our name in there too. I think we’re very capable and it’s gonna be a great battle on Saturday. “They’re a very physical front on defense as well. And so
it’s gonna be a great challenge for us, but it’s more exciting than anything.” WHERE’S THE CALL?: Maryland didn’t make freshman wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones’ life easy. On the Wolverines’ first drive of the game, Peoples-Jones was targeted on 1st-and-10 from Michigan’s 41-yard line. He wasn’t able to reel in what would have been a first-down reception, but was animated after the play, pleading for a pass interference call after seemingly having his jersey pulled. Jim Harbaugh took exception to the no-call as well, expressing his frustrations to the referee on the sideline. And on Monday, Harbaugh
I think we’re very capable and it’s gonna be a great battle
articulated his dissatisfaction. “There was one of those. There was another one where the DB had his hand on the back of his jersey, horse collared him and (he) wasn’t able to go catch the ball and make a play,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know what to tell him at that point. ... Lift more weights so they don’t grab you and horse collar you from making a catch?” As for Perry, he did find one silver lining to Saturday’s events. “That’s respect because, you know, if they can’t guard you without holding you, that says something,” he said. “He’s gonna learn how to fight through that, and we’re definitely gonna work on that this week. It’s gonna be a tough, physical game in Madison, and
we’re gonna be ready for it.” RUIZ GETS THE NOD AGAIN: Cesar Ruiz got the first start of his career against Minnesota. He didn’t have to wait long for his second. The freshman right guard got the starting nod again against the Terrapins, and continued to impress. “I found out a lot of good things about Cesar,” Harbaugh said. “I’m very happy with the job he’s done. He’s acquitted himself very well.” Ruiz’s second start was, once again, the byproduct of an injury Michael Onwenu sustained against Rutgers. Though Onwenu was dressed for the matchup against Maryland, Harbaugh said the sophomore wasn’t “100 percent.”
He’s gonna learn how to fight through that
Harbaugh added that the rest was beneficial and that he anticipates Onwenu will be back this week. As for who will start against Wisconsin when Onwenu does return, Harbaugh cited that, as always, the Wolverines function as a meritocracy. Either way, Ruiz’s performances to this point haven’t gone unnoticed. “We knew since day one (when) he got here that he was a great talent,” Kugler said. “Sooner or later he was gonna get his opportunity, and we knew he was gonna take advantage of it when he did. He’s been doing a great job at right guard.” INJURIES: Michigan continues to work through a slew of injuries, and Harbaugh provided updates on them Monday afternoon. Lavert Hill exited Saturday’s game, and Harbaugh said that the sophomore cornerback is currently going through concussion protocol — though he did not indicate whether or not Hill will be available against the Badgers. Ty Isaac, on the other hand, did not make the trip to College Park. Harbaugh said he received “positive news” on the fifth-year senior running back, and that he would know more as the week moves on. The big question, of course, is the status of redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight. It appears not much has changed since last week, when Harbaugh said that Speight was cleared to throw but not for contact activity. “(Freshman tight end Nick Eubanks) and Wilton will be in the same category this week,” Harbaugh said. “They’ll practice, they’ll be in a red jersey, they won’t have contact. I don’t know if either one will be cleared by the time we get to the game on Saturday, but they’ll be reintroduced back into practice per the doctor’s clearance for being able to practice but not being able to have contact.”