ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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CAMPUS LIFE
Right-wing activists lob free speech Diag debates Off-campus conservatives prompt student discussion on hate speech with beach ball MOLLY NORRIS Daily Staff Reporter
MAX KUANG/Daily
Mayor Christopher Taylor-D discusses the ordinance to amend the city code at the City Council meeting at City Hall Monday.
City Council approves ordinance to include member removal policy
After two years of drafting, councilmembers pass measure for “proper course of action” ALEX COTT
Daily Staff Reporter
At the City Council meeting on Monday evening, council members passed an ordinance to amend city code to include a chapter outlining procedures for removal of councilmembers. The Council also honored Carolyn Grawi for her disability awareness efforts and work toward implementing independent living for people with disabilities.
According to the Council Internal Regulation Ordinance, cause for removal of a councilmember includes conviction of a felony, violation of an oath of office, repeated violation of council ethics or administrative rules, conviction of state criminal misconduct or conviction of city or state election laws. Upon requests for removal of a councilmember, the ordinance specifies the Council Administrative Committee as the investigative staff who must recommend the appropriate
action for the request, such as dismissing without merit, scheduling a Council meeting or referring to a government or law enforcement agency. At least eight councilmembers must approve the removal of a councilmember based on valid evidence. After two years of developing the chapter, the Council passed the ordinance unanimously. Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy, D-Ward 1, emphasized how the ordinance is an essential and relevant
element to the code of the city and enacts a system of checks and balances among councilmembers. “I feel having (the ordinance) is very essential that council members don’t have a double standard,” Kailasapathy said. “That we too have to have code of conduct, ethics and our standards.” With council member terms increasing from two to four years starting next year, Kailasapathy also highlighted See COUNCIL, Page 3
Issues of free speech on the University of Michigan’s campus this year haven’t exactly been fun and games, but an outside conservative group sought to change that Monday afternoon. Students played with and scribbled on a huge beach ball labeled “Free Speech” on the Diag, open to anyone and everyone who wanted to share their thoughts and write something on the ball. Nathan Williamson, one of the facilitators of the event and a Field Representative at the Leadership Institute, an institute intending to provide training for conservative activists, has done this activity at universities all around Michigan in an effort to promote free speech on college campuses. “It’s a beach ball we roll around campus to promote free speech, and we let anybody write whatever they want to on it as a practice of the First
Amendment,” Williamson said. In recent months, the line between free speech and hate speech has been heavily debated by University students and administration. In response to a speech by Charles Murray, a controversial social scientist who promotes a since-debunked relationship between race and IQ, last October, protests were organized, claiming his ideas were discriminatory and did not qualify as free speech. With the impending decision by the University as to whether or not white supremacist Richard Spencer will be given a date and place to speak on campus assuming the safety of students can be assured, the University has organizedevents during the winter semester to examine what free speech means on campus. Williamson said he brought the beach ball to the University because of FIRE, — Foundation for Individual Rights and Education — a free speech watchdog organization that See SPEECH, Page 3
City to install more permanent fencing UC meets Terrorism for 1st time in four parking garages to deter suicide experts talk
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CAMPUS LIFE
in 2018 on DEI & aid
Budget for fences currently set at 400K, comes after seven deaths, injuries in 2 years
Student reps ask Sellers if Guarantee can help students above $65,000
To deter suicides by jumping or falling off of Ann Arbor parking structures, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority is further committing to constructing more permanent fences on city parking structure rooftops. Installment of the fences began last fall when city officials noticed a pattern of attempted or successfully completed suicides by individuals jumping or falling off of the garages in the last three years. Between November 2015 and December 2016, three people died, and two were injured after falling or jumping from city parking structures. Other incidents occurred in September and October 2017, when two men fell from the South Fourth Avenue and East William Street parking structures. These deaths were ruled as suicides. The project will be funded through fees charged to those who park their vehicles in the city’s structures. The DDA board determined in a meeting last week bids will be due by Jan. 16, and work is projected to be underway by the end of the month. City Councilmember Kirk Westphal, D-Ward 2, described the importance of having the fencing installed in the first place to help deter individuals
DANIELLE PASEKOFF Daily Staff Reporter
The University Council convened on Monday night for its first biweekly meeting of the semester, discussing topics including the Office of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion and changes to the academic calendar. The meeting opened with a guest speaker, the Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Robert Sellers. Sellers touched on the DEI plan’s progress and various initiatives that have been implemented for the past year. Sellers presented council members with the goals of DEI, which includes making their strategic plan as inclusive as possible, noting the diversity of experience students possess across various schools and programs on campus. There are currently 49 strategic unit plans, and each respective school, college, and campus unit has their own plan suited to their specific needs. There is also a campuswide strategic plan being implemented by DEI, aiming to promote collaboration across programs See DEI, Page 3
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RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Daily Staff Reporter
from ending their lives. “As councilmembers, our first priority is public safety,” Westphal said. “As an urgent public safety need, the opinion we got from mental health experts is that, while not full proof, this temporary fencing was a prudent strategy to help interrupt the determination of some individuals to take their life.” According to Susan Pollay,
executive director of the DDA, temporary fencing was installed on garages when the bid for the project cost $1 million more than estimated. Contractor availability was also low during this time, leading to the more expensive estimates. As a result, the DDA board approved an installment of chain-link fencing on the structures rather than more permanent materials.
Pollay said city administrators hopes to add fencing to other levels within the parking structures, not just the rooftops. She also said it is important to install the fences in order to better serve the needs of Ann Arbor residents. “It is perhaps most important to focus on the needs of people in our community that are not being met,” Pollay said. See FENCES, Page 3
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority will construct more fences on parking structure rooftops to aid in deterring suicides.
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Vol. CXXVII, No. 52 ©2018 The Michigan Daily
security in Trump era
Former Counterterrorism Center director fears more decentralized landscape KATHERINA SOURINE Daily Staff Reporter
As the second decade after 9/11 approaches, the question of counterterrorism efforts remains pertinent to national and global discourse, from the rise and fall of ISIS to President Donald Trump’s promises to tighten security policies. Terrorism experts questioned this evolution of governmental policy Monday afternoon at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy event, “Terrorism at Home and Abroad: Where are we 16 years after 9/11?” Nicholas Rasmussen, a former State Department official and director of the National Counterterrorism Center, discussed his role in the U.S government in its efforts to eliminate terrorism. He was accompanied by John Ciorciari, the director of the international policy at the Public Policy School and facilitator of the event. Rasmussen first discussed the early stages of his work, especially pertaining to 9/11. See TRUMP, Page 3
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
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MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers
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ON THE DAILY: THE UPPER CRUST OF SELF-DRIVING TECH Many have hailed Mcity, the University of Michigan’s self-driving car site, as the first of its kind in accelerating the global autonomous vehicle technology. In the last year, though, the campus has played host to far saucier competition: The future of pizza delivery. Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda announced Monday the Japanese car company will begin testing self-driving vehicles at Mcity in partnership with Uber, Amazon and Pizza Hut. The class of vehicles dubbed “e-Palette,” according to Wired, will serve as a “mobile hub for services from medical clinics to entertainment and festivals.” Vehicles will be electric and fully self-driving, with some types large enough to even contain small businesses. The announcement marks a shift from driving technology-focused
development to business strategies that can measure— quite literally — deliverable gains. Toyoda projected the concept vehicles would hit testing grounds by 2020. “With Toyota, we are excited to be partnering with an undisputed leader in human mobility with a reputation for innovation, reliability and efficiency, as we define the pizza delivery experience of the future,” Artie Starrs, president of Pizza Hut U.S., said in a statement. “We are focused on technologybased solutions that enable our team members and drivers to deliver even better customer experiences.” Flavor considerations aside, Pizza Hut isn’t too far behind Domino’s Pizza. The Ann Arborbased competitor announced a similar partnership with Ford last August. The companies’ most pressing questions included how
customers would react to having to leave their homes to retrieve their pizza orders. Mcity researchers made their own headlines earlier this week with the release of three potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities in self-driving vehicles. From hacked technology to ransoms, a Mcity report detailed the ways in which self-driving cars could be subject to security threats — and how Mcity plans to tackle them. According to Andre Weimerskirch, lead author of the report, who leads Mcity’s cybersecurity working group and is also vice president of cybersecurity for Lear Corp, the scientific and business communities have not been paying enough attention to cybersecurity within the realm of self-driving cars. “Cybersecurity is an overlooked
area of research in the development out of 10 on a scale the researchers Read more at of autonomous vehicles,” created, with zero being the lowest MichiganDaily.com Weimerskirch said to Michigan probability. News. “Our tool marks not only an important early step in solving these problems, but also presents a blueprint to effectively identify and analyze cybersecurity threats and create effective approaches to make autonomous vehicle systems safe and secure.” In their report, the researchers examine the potential threats involved in automated parking. According to the press release, the most likely attacks are a mechanic disabling the range sensors in parkassist or remote parking in order to require additional maintenance for which a driver would have to pay, and an expert hacker sending a false signal to your vehicle’s receiver to CAT MYKOLAJTCHUK/Daily The Casual Gaming Club hosts one of heir gaming nights at the League Saturday night. turn off remote parking. Both of these vulnerabilities were given a six
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The Multicultural Council of Betsy Barbour and Helen Newberry Residences discuss updating the exercise room and other future events at the Audre Lorde Lounge Monday.
Archaeologist laments preservation of famous Indian landmarks in lecture Hosted by Center for South Asian Studies, Nyanjot Lahiri spotlights poor conservation Lahiri studies ancient India and is a professor of history at Ashoka University. She won the 2013 Infosys Prize and has published multiple books on ancient Indian history and archeology. CSAS professor Thomas Trautmann introduced Lahiri and described her writing historical works. “She is a wonderful writer and a very engaging one and notes it and appreciates and curates it,” Trautmann said. As Lahiri took the stage, she referenced the Archaeological Survey of India which states
there are only 3,700 nationally protected monuments, 10,000 Daily Staff Reporter monuments protected by state and union territories and over On Monday, the University 500,000 monuments in India of Michigan’s Center for left unprotected and subject to South Asian Studies hosted mistreatment. Professor Nayanjot Lahiri, a “I think it’s necessary to historian and archaeologist, to remember that … (even though) discuss conservation struggles a monument has been declared faced by India’s archeological protected or just because efforts. Lahiri referenced the there are lots of antiquities in mistreatment of major Indian different museums in India, national monuments and possible this is not in itself enough to solutions to protect these ensure that they will be properly Sudokumonuments Syndication and educate the conserved,” Lahiri said. Indian people on Indian heritage. During the lecture, she projected images of Indian monuments harmed by human actions such as the Taj Mahal and the Elephanta Caves. She showed statues on which people have hung HARD clothes and the Elephanta caves covered in garbage. She stated more than twothirds of India’s federally protected monuments are left unguarded. Lahiri also blamed the poor treatment of the monuments on encroachments as part of a systematic land grab and politicians who favor these actions over ones that protect the heritage sites. “These beautiful monuments, as a consequence, has (sic) been turned into a rubbish dump,” Lahiri said. One example of this, according to Lahiri, is when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government allowed the creation of a petroleum refinery within 40 kilometers of the Taj FROST BITE. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. As soon as Mahal in 1968. 1973, it became evident environmental pollutants REMY FARKAS
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SPEECH From Page 1 looks at college campuses around the country and rates their free speech policies. FIRE rates “green light schools” are campuses it views as friendly to friend speech, while red light schools are the worst. FIRE rated the University as a red light institution. “U-M has red light policies that basically show that the school is less open to free speech,” Williamson said. “So the purpose
TRUMP From Page 1 He highlighted the fear he felt of future terrorist attacks, both within his work with colleagues at the White House as well as within general society. He explained officials’ general belief in the last decade that another attack was around the corner, which further incited a race to strengthen defense against terrorism. These conditions, he offered, have outsize influence on more aggressive policies instituted by the U.S. government after the attack. Rasmussen also illustrated the growing complexity of anti-terrorism initiatives with the diminishment of al-Qaeda as a main player and the introduction of ISIS. “What we’ve seen with the ISIS variant of global terrorism over the last few years, is that impact can be achieved with frequency, with randomness and the terror that comes with being unpredictable,” Rasmussen said. Ciorciari mentioned the operation to capture and kill Osama bin Laden, which Rasmussen cited as a perceived symbol of conclusive defeat over terrorism in the U.S. Still, the operation continued to have varying implications in its overall success. “Much of the work that was done against al-Qaeda was focused on collecting really finely-grained intelligence to give us insight into what particular groups of individuals were planning,” Rasmussen said. “And we had some pretty significant advantages at the time. In many ways the problem set was more manageable then, because we were dealing with a relatively contained group of terrorist actors around the globe.” In contrast, ISIS operates organizationally to gain as much global support as possible.
of this specifically is to just promote a culture of free speech here on campus.” FIRE has deemed some of the University’s policies on hate speech, bias-related incidents and sexual harassment to be examples of red light policies that restrict students’ free speech. Williamson had been to many campuses around the state of Michigan, and said that he hadn’t been at the University’s campus long enough to really tell how the policies were enforced. However, regardless of how they are enforced, Williamson said the way
Rasmussen also discussed his role throughout the shift into the Trump administration, affirming that consistency within national security, especially during a potentially more vulnerable political environment, has been prioritized. “Much as President Obama, when he assumed office after President Bush, kept a number of senior counterterrorism officials in place, it was obviously President Trump and his administration’s conclusion that continuity in some of these areas was in the national interest as well,” he said. In regards to a statement about President Trump’s potentially destabilizing remarks toward Muslim and minority populations, as well as foreign groups, Rasmussen agreed any statements that deepen distrust between the government and communities makes the process of counterterrorism increasingly difficult. However, he highlighted there is a holistic need for the government to initiate efforts towards structuring an approach to community engagement that encourages an environment of mutual trust. “There isn’t a single rightsized federal program that I think could be applied, at scale, across the country, that could account for all of the differences in the way that communities are responding to extremism across the country,” he said. LSA senior Anna Horton attended the event out of a general interest in foreign policy as an international studies minor. “I figured it would be helpful to get some insight on what a former government official thought about terrorism in the U.S and also our involvement in counterterrorism overseas,” she said. “I did really like his comment about there needing to be a local grassroots response.”
that the policies are written are not necessarily welcoming to free speech. In addition to the Leadership Institute’s display at various universities, other conservative advocacy groups such as Turning Point USA have been increasing their presence in higher education. Last year, a website by Turning Point called Professor Watchlist identified about 150 professors around the country as discriminating against conservative students. Williamson said at times, the beach ball and other events he
COUNCIL From Page 1 how the procedures outlined in this ordinance would relieve Ann Arbor residents of timeconsuming actions to remove council members. “If residents feel that someone misbehaved, let’s say in being elected, they would have to wait another three years for that councilmember to be replaced,” Kailasapathy said. “We are putting an undue burden on the residents to collect the number of signatures to recall that councilmember.” Although supporting the ordinance, Councilmember Westphal, D-Ward 2, also
FENCES From Page 1 Some garages, like the Maynard structure, already feature fencing. Pollay told The Daily in October structures that will be prioritized include the rooftop of the Fourth and Williams streets structure — topping the list due to its sheer size — followed by the Ann and Ashley streets structure, the Fourth and Washington streets structure, the Maynard structure,
DEI From Page 1 and express solidarity regarding certain topics. The discussion then shifted to questions regarding the Go Blue Guarantee and its potential effect on students. The Go Blue Guarantee, effective January 2018, promises free tuition for four years to in-state undergraduate students on the Ann Arbor campus with family incomes under $65,000. CSG Vice President Nadine Jawad, a Public Policy senior, expressed concerns for the lower middle range of students applying for aid but not meeting the income
has organized have been met with protesters and even police interference. In this specific display, the ball was met with curious looks and some questions, but no one seemed particularly threatened by it. Many students stopped to write on the ball. While some students wrote song lyrics or drew pictures, others took a more political route with their writing. One side of the ball had “Palestine” written with a heart under it, and the other had “G-d Bless Israel.” There was one comment that read “speech isn’t free,” and some that were more
vulgar; for example, “F— Mike Pence.” One student who stopped to write on the ball was LSA sophomore Lucas Renno, who thought while the beach ball may not entirely get the point across, it was a good start to talking about free speech at the University. “I believe that free speech, as in the very idea of the right that anybody should be able to express an opinion without being censored or persecuted, is a right that is fundamental to our modern society, and to the very
concept of democracy itself,” Renno said. Engineering freshman Anu Tuladhar, who stopped to look at the ball, also said she believed it was a “cool way” to promote free speech. “I think having a physical representation to just put your thoughts on is nice because it’s not something online where it’s completely anonymous, and you feel completely protected by cyberspace,” Tuladhar said. “You still have this place where you can just show everyone, ‘this is what I’m thinking.’ ”
brought up the need for caution regarding the way the procedures are implemented. “I understand that recalls are a great tool to have and they can be effective but it is a great burden,” Westphal said. “Certainly if there is an inkling of something like this be used improperly, we would modify or remove it, so I think we will be keeping an eye on it.” Mayor Christopher Taylor-D emphasized the ordinance as a necessary new chapter that will provide a proper course of action for Ann Arbor residents to remove councilmembers. “This is something that we as a council have needed for some time to put rules in place,” Taylor said. “We need to have
an ordinance that provides a structure for folks who have concerns about the actions of council members.” However, Ann Arbor resident Edward Vielmetti highlighted how the ordinance could politicize a polarized council and be used to oust a council member through an unfair method. “The process of removing a Democrat being elected member of Council by non-democratic method doesn’t strike me as a particularly good one,” Vielmetti said. “It strikes me as something that in a climate could be used as a political weapon … and to fill this hole (in the code) might come back to haunt us in years to come.”
Yet, Councilmember Julie Grand, D-Ward 3, explained the need to enforce this ordinance now rather than waiting for a violation to occur. “A time when we are not dealing with a particular action with a particular council member is the time to impart rules so that we are not trying to make up things as we go.” With the new chapter’s approval, the ordinance will take effect ten days following legal publication. “I hope we can file this under a never need to use category,” Westphal said. “It would certainly be great to have in a very unlikely event where it would actually play a role.”
the Liberty Square structure and the Forest Avenue structure. The DDA will also pursue other tactics such as signage and structure management. After deaths last September and October, city officials pivoted to taking action on the temporary fences. Matt Lige, an Ann Arbor Police Department Lietenant, was one such official who expressed initial frustration. “I’m frustrated by the volume of deaths from parking structures in the city of Ann Arbor,” he said on the scene of the October fatal
fall. “I think it’s safe to say that we’re all frustrated.” The city has also installed signage with the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and other psychiatric service information to deter individuals from committing suicide. University of Michigan-owned structures do not have the same barriers as city-owned structures do. In an email interview, Stephen Dolen, executive director of University Logistics,
Transportation and Parking, stated options are currently being evaluated to implement similar deterrent methods to University-owned parking structures. “The Logistics, Transportation and Parking unit has been working with parking consultants to evaluate options, reviewing the effectiveness, operational considerations and costs of adding some types of additional preventative measures and it continues to be a topic of ongoing discussion,” Dolen wrote.
threshold required for the new effort. Councilmembers asked questions regarding where the cutoff income for the guarantee lies, and which students truly benefit from it. “[The Go Blue Guarantee] is a gradually need-based policy,” Sellers said. “It is the most affordable need-based aid educational opportunity within the state [of Michigan]. In terms of DEI’s progress since its launch in October 2016, Sellers told council members that the goal is to make DEI a critical part of the University’s core values, while inciting longterm institutional change. The fact that DEI is now a term widely
recognized by students is a sign of its effectiveness over the past year, according to Sellers. LSA Student Government President Nicholas Fadanelli, an LSA senior, explained preliminary efforts being made to potentially change the academic calendar for upcoming school years, specifically extending winter break or shortening summer break. These alterations to the calendar will most likely not be effective until the 2020-2021 school year. “This has been on the backburner for a couple years now,” Fadanelli said. “There’s a decent number of faculty members who don’t want to lose a week from their very long summer.”
There are varying opinions across the University’s schools, but council members discussed sending out surveys to their respective schools in order to determine students’ opinions on the proposition. “A lot of people decide to do internships in the summer, and that week at the end [of break] could make a difference,” Jawad said. Fadanelli told council members that a consolidated opinion on behalf of the entire University Council could be more effective when presenting the proposition to administration, which they are planning to have complete by spring break.
Opinion
4 — Tuesday, January 9, 2018
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MAGDALENA MIHAYLOVA | COLUMN
Why (good) foreign language education is important
L
ike all true romances, ours was long and slow, but when it came, it was everything. Yes, I didn’t fall in love with Spanish until my senior year of high school, but now, I am planning to major in it and already looking forward to studying abroad in Buenos Aires. But why did it take so long for me to discover this passion, and why do I feel like I am the only one? In the United States education system, there is no national foreign language requirement. Most kids don’t start learning a foreign language until middle school, when they are forced to pick between limited options, usually opting for either Spanish or French. Their first experience with the language is often through a tired, bored teacher who is usually neither a native speaker nor qualified to teach the language in true depth; the result of this is unmotivated and resentful students. “My Spanish education turned me off to (learning Spanish) as learning Spanish began to seem more like work than a useful skill,” Jessica Baker, LSA freshman, said. However, they trudge on through rudimentary vocabulary games, English movies with French subtitles and unhelpful grammar games until they have fulfilled their school’s requirements. For example, Ann Arbor Public Schools only requires two years of a high school foreign language, after which most students pause their learning until college, where they feel lost and unprepared. The majority of high school and college students finish their language requirement with no desire to actually employ their new skills. This is due to the poor quality and tardiness of their language education. First, starting language education in sixth grade is too late; this is past what psychologists call the critical period, the period after which learning a language natively is thought to be impossible. It is still possible to speak and understand f luently, but with much more difficulty, and never as naturally. Because of this critical period, schools should employ mandatory language education starting in kindergarten. Certain Ann Arbor schools do this, however, it is often optional and not offered at all schools; Spanish is the only language offered at all Ann Arbor elementary schools. If these programs are
integrated at the beginning of school, children will be more likely to become proficient, well-spoken and interested in their second language. I am lucky — I grew up speaking Bulgarian, so it was easier for me to learn Spanish, despite my late start. If all children grow up bilingual, they will gain stronger and more refined cognitive skills. This will have a butterfly effect and impact schools, the workforce and the world positively. Another issue with secondary language education is the poor quality of teaching. World language teachers are usually not native speakers or qualified to teach, but rather someone who studied the language years ago in school. For example, my middle school had two Spanish teachers; both were Americans. This meant that they had a good comprehension of the language on paper, but not in speech, culture or dialect; these are arguably the most important features to know. In turn, most class activities are on paper.
It is atrocious that students who spend so much time ‘learning’ a language can barely apply it. “I think I learned how to read, write and answer multiple choice tests in Spanish very well, but I thought there was very minimal practice with speaking the language in an unstructured conversation,” LSA freshman Lindsay Hasson said of her Spanish schooling. “We had a few tests in which we recorded our voices, but even with these assessments we had time to write out what we would say. I felt that I lacked the ability to have a casual conversation in Spanish, so if I could change one thing it would be to make time practicing speaking in situations that would occur in real life.” It is atrocious that students who spend so much time “learning” a language can barely apply it. I also felt this hopelessness after my six years of Spanish education. I wanted to communicate with my aunt, who is Spanish, but the only way I could show my skills was
over email, where I could take my time and edit profusely. Even then, the Spanish was forced and formal, not casual and realistic. The third reason why foreign language education is so inferior in the U.S. is the low standards for proficiency. The Michigan Department of Education has a functionscontent-accuracy model for proficiency that is vague and basic. A large majority of students who feel dissatisfied with their f luency report also having passed those classes, and additionally passing the University’s college placement exam. This causes confusion among students. “I ended up testing out of Spanish at the college level, so what I learned in high school is all I will probably get,” Baker said. “I’m advised not to take a Spanish class as I’m not planning on minoring or majoring in it, so it’s like taking Spanish would be a ‘waste’. I guess I’m surprised that I’m considered to have a sufficient amount of Spanish experience for college.” It is true that universities often disregard the need for a second language comprehension altogether, as seen in the College of Engineering or the Ross School of Business. Even in LSA, it is easy to test out of a language, despite feeling unprepared to utilize it. I will always remember how lucky I was to be in a situation where I could fall for Spanish. Senior year of high school I elected to take a University class through a program my school offered. So, every day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., I headed over to the Modern Languages Building to take Spanish 232. It was here that I finally uncovered the secrets to loving learning a language: quality teaching, curriculum and participation. My professor was passionate (and a native Argentinian), the class was small and involved and our curriculum was stimulating. Taking this class made me realize the importance of good foreign language teachers and interesting coursework. If these standards are implemented from an early age, the benefits will be countless. Quality foreign language education is critical, and it cannot be halfassed. If we take this necessary skill seriously, it will have wonderful effects on students and, eventually, our society.
Magdalena Mihaylova can be reached at mmihaylo@umich.edu.
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Graduate students need our support
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hen I first heard about the proposed tax increase on graduate students, I thought, “why would anyone make it harder for motivated, capable people to pursue higher education?” I work in a lab with many graduate students, and I am considering graduate school myself. This tax would have hurt people I know, and although it would not affect me immediately, it could certainly impact my future. I sent emails to both Michigan senators as well as my district’s congresswoman urging them to fight against the provision increasing graduate students taxes. This was a national effort supported by many universities and groups of graduate students across the country. Even with support for these students, over the next week, I was still reading article after article about how it could be left in the final bill. The tax would have been harmful to not only individual students but the entire United States graduate school system. I wanted to show other students how harmful this could be, so I decided to speak with someone who would actually be affected. Through talking with people I knew within the physics department here at the University of Michigan, I was able to set up an interview on Dec. 4 with Shruti Paranjape, a Rackham student studying theoretical physics. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune, India. I first wanted to get some background on Paranjape and why she chose to come to the University. After all, there are many institutions all over the world that have great graduate programs. Paranjape mentioned that she knew she wanted to come to the U.S for graduate school because American programs offer the most comprehensive instruction. She ultimately decided on the University of Michigan because she had heard about the great reputation of the school. “There were very few places in India that measure up to the quality of the universities I was considering in the United States,” Paranjape said on why she decided to come to the U.S. to pursue her
Ph.D. instead of India. The U.S. is known for having great graduate schools. According to US News and World Report, eight of the top 10 global universities for graduate studies are American universities. The rankings are based on factors such as research publications, academic conferences and reputation surveys. If the U.S. wants to keep its universities at the top, it must continue to attract the best students. It is hard to do that when students think that they will not have the support or money needed to live their lives. As I continued with the interview, I started to become aware of some of the things that graduate students have to sacrifice. While Paranjape can live comfortably on what graduate students are currently supplied with, she still has to make sacrifices. This past winter break was the first time that she had been home to visit her family. International flights are expensive, and graduate students save up for months to be able to afford to visit their home communities. This is a common situation for international students. “You barely get to see your friends, your family, that entire community you built up for years,” Paranjape said. We eventually came to the topic of the proposed tax. I asked Paranjape if she thought that it would force her to sacrifice more things or force her out of school, and she said she would have to cut down on some hobbies, but she would find a way to remain at the University. She was more worried about how it would have potentially affected others who might not be in the same position as her and that the` tax would make United States graduate school no longer a viable option for many students. These changes the tax bill would have brought would have been devastating for international students especially. It would have left them with few options and no money for the start-up costs of moving to a new country let alone dealing with general living expenses. At Rackham Graduate school, just over 35 percent of the graduate students enrolled are international students. This is a large group of people, and if this kind of tax provision passed, we would most
likely see that number drop. At the end of our conversation, I proposed the idea of giving a greater amount of support to graduate students rather than taxing them more. I asked Paranjape if this hypothetical change could bring more diversity to universities. She thought it would. “Just from a pragmatic standpoint, say all you want is for your department to do amazing research, the more diversity in the kind of people that are thinking will lead to more diversity in the kind of ideas they are thinking about. It would mean better research and make for a better department. The more diversity, the better, period,” Paranjape said. Diversity is important in bringing new perspectives to any field and helps make any project more innovative and well-rounded. If graduate education had become more expensive through this tax increase, there is a good chance that many universities and their departments would have lost out on applicants who would no longer see graduate school as affordable. As Paranjape said, this would have narrowed the type of people that would be able to afford graduate school, leading to a shrinking of ideas. Graduate students have a lot on their plate, including research, classes and just trying to live a comfortable life. They are always busy and this tax bill would have been another burden for them to bear. Graduate students are the people who are pushing our understandings and developing new ideas. It is already a stressful time and many, like Paranjape, are away from family and friends. I do not believe that they should have to worry about not having enough money to support themselves. Although the proposed tax on graduate students was not included in the final bill that was passed, there is a good chance that it will be brought up again. As students, as educators, as U.S. citizens, we must continually support graduate students. Not just to fend off attacks that would make it harder for them, but to give more aid whenever possible.
Robert Dalka can be reached at rpdalka@umich.edu.
KRYSTAL HUR | COLUMN
When becoming ‘woke’ turns toxic
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ecently, my friend told me about an encounter with a classmate of hers. Her classmate had shared that they* felt irked that a girl wanted to join an organization they were a part of because she was white, and they wanted the club to be diverse. They then proceeded to say to my friend, who is half-Mexican, “you know, like you.” My friend recounted the incident to me with a disgruntled expression on her face, and then sarcastically told me that she was glad that she could be their “Latina friend.” This got me thinking: Am I too, as an Asian woman, only sought out for friendships because I am part of marginalized groups? I’ve certainly had worries about people not wanting to associate with me because I’m not white, and there also have been times when people have attempted to “get to know me” by asking me uncomfortable questions (What are you? What language do you speak at home?). However, I had never considered that people may want to be friends with me because I’m a person of color, as some sort of twisted method of becoming “woke” or validation that they already are. When I pondered the incident, however, I realized what her friend had said to her shouldn’t have been so surprising to me: There are plenty of people who argue that they cannot be racist because they have a Black friend or believe they are automatically not sexist because they have a female co-worker. I’ve heard people excitedly say they’d love to have a “gay best friend” to give them fashion advice and be their love gurus as if stereotyping all gay people into one, flamboyant personality type isn’t wrong. And while this kind of thinking is less harmful than hurling hateful slurs at others, believing that any sort of association with a person of a marginalized identity as proof of being accepting is problematic.
This way of thinking treats anyone who is a part of a marginalized group, whether it is because of their sexual orientation, race or any other part of their identity, as a cheap accessory. It’s one thing to want to have a diverse group of peers, but it’s another to actively seek out people of marginalized groups, or in the case of my friend’s classmate, dismiss those who are privileged as ignorant. And as someone who is part of a couple of different marginalized groups, the idea that someone would want to associate with me simply because of my race or gender is demeaning. I don’t owe it to anyone, with or without privilege, to act as their obligatory Asian female friend. And while purposely surrounding yourself with people who’ve gone through hardships sounds like a great idea in theory, it’s not by any means an effective way to become educated about the inequality rampant in the nation. This is not the way to become “woke,” and it is not the way to fight injustice. In contrast, being “woke” means listening to those who speak about their experiences facing inequalities. It means supporting Black Lives Matter and other equal rights movements, believing that terrorism has no religion, that love is love and that gender is a spectrum. But this is by no means an exhaustive list, and it’s okay to not be aware of every facet of the struggle for social justice — what is most important is a desire to learn in a way that doesn’t diminish the very people you are trying to support. I myself struggle with not knowing everything and accidentally stepping on the toes of others, but over time, I’ve found that learning about and fighting for social justice is a journey. While this journey may seem arduous and painful, it’s anything but, and the options for learning are endless — reads such as Roxane Gay’s “Bad Feminist” and
articles by Gloria Steinem are great resources for unpacking feminism. Hasan Minhaj’s Netflix show “Homecoming King” and Ralph Ellison’s novel “Invisible Man” are wonderful sources that expose the effects of racism. Engaging in conversation with those who want to discuss relevant topics, whether it’s over a cup of coffee or on Twitter, is a surefire way to learn about different perspectives. Joining an activism organization can also be helpful. Some organizations at the University of Michigan include HeForShe, the Autism Society of Michigan and the Black Student Union. I am a member of HeForShe and enjoy group discussions on topics ranging from gender roles to intersectionality. I find that when I include myself in these types of conversations, I can better relate to my peers in a way that is invaluable and enlightening. And while I may not be creating widespread change, I’m taking steps in the right direction. I am by no means an expert on all things social justice, and I am certainly not trying to preach to a crowd or slam others for not being liberal enough. Instead, what I am trying to do is inform others that there are infinite ways to become “woke” that are far better than being nitpicky about friends or asking invasive questions. This distinction is important because miscommunication is perhaps one of the biggest culprits behind the polarization of society today, and effective methods of communication could potentially act as a huge catalyst for spawning change. While wanting to learn and understand the people calling for action is great, it must be done with respect. It is only then that we can truly begin to understand each other. * “they” refers to her friend, who uses they/them/theirs pronouns. Krystal Hur can be reached at kryshur@umich.edu.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Arts
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 — 5
DAILY HEALTH & WELLNESS COLUMN
ALBUM REVIEW
Sex as its own dichotomy Erika Shevcheck weighs the pros and cons of sex on campus
SideOneDummy
Rosenstock continues to criticize capitalism SEAN LANG
more genuineness and less arrogance. Second, POSTalso seems to refer to the We’re starting this year on “after” following an event, the the right foot, with a surprise cleaning up of some aftermath. release from Long Island Maybe a tenuous connection, native Jeff Rosenstock. An but the album cover is a man absurdly prolific vacuuming the musician with a entryway of a career spanning venue, and it’s over 20 years, not hard to guess Jefff Rosestock POST-, released to which event to Rosenstock’s the “after” might Polyvinyl Bandcamp on refer. (Hint: New Year’s Day, there was a follows 2016’s WORRY. as rather significant election in his fourth solo full-length late 2016.) and first for Polyvinyl. As POSTfollows 2016’s with his past work, POST- excellent WORRY. not might best be described as only in sequence, but also a joyful expression of angry ideology. WORRY. tracks discontentment. Lyrics focus “HELLLLHOOOOLE” on the struggles of being an and “Festival Song” saw individual in an increasingly Rosenstock expressing his modern world while also discontent with modern condemning the state of the society — not least his own world at large. life — singing “They wouldn’t POST- is also a continuation be your friend if you weren’t of Rosenstock’s powerfully worth something,” as both anthemic songwriting. Songs personal reminder and lament explode out of nothing and for the nature of human move at a breakneck pace, interactions in a capitalist driven by electric guitar and culture. POST- is in large part percussion and interspersed also an examination of how the with tasteful solos as well as human experience is declining a number of more ambient in quality. interludes. Here, Rosenstock Opening track “Mornin’!” appears to be more invested in is a disquietingly robotic his craft than ever before, from voicemail: “Hello, best friend both lyrical and compositional / It’s me / Hope this makes perspectives. Where WORRY. it on your new record.” crams 17 songs in 37 minutes, It’s a vague sort of mission POST- gives us 10 in just over statement (parallel to the 40 minutes. Each song on aforementioned “Festival the new album is undeniably Song” lyric), a manifestation dense, skillfully intertwining of the way interpersonal the personal and political. relationships are too often Rosenstock’s focus and viewed as commodities, determination are at all-time friends and acquaintances as highs on POST-. A call to arms, opportunities to further one’s the album itself is a passionate own social status. plea to end complacency. Immediately after is the The album title itself has lengthy “USA,” POST-’s true two express functions. First, exposition, whose cornerstone it acts as a gentle jab at the is the repetition of “tired “post-”s of music’s alternative and bored.” At eight minutes scene, generally used by long, the song is longer than those who have decided that any other in Rosenstock’s the existing lexicon isn’t discography, save for “Let sufficient to describe some Them Win,” which appears work or another. It’s a fair later on the album. Despite its criticism, but we shouldn’t length, it never loses focus, get caught on the specifics; a testament to Rosenstock’s Rosenstock is just calling for growth as an artist. “Please be Daily Arts Writer
POST-
honest / Tell me was it you?” he pleads, a vague question which we can assume is directed at potential Trump voters. The song closes with a chorus of voices crying “Et tu, USA?” an allusion to Julius Caesar’s final words — “Et tu, Brute?” — upon having been killed by someone he thought to be a friend. Rosenstock’s borrowing of the phrase parallels that sentiment, ref lecting the betrayal that Rosenstock, among countless others, felt on November 8, 2016. Rosenstock goes on to acknowledge that technology is suffocating us on “Powerlessness.” “Meet me at the Polish bar / I’ll be the one looking at my phone / Shaking like a nervous kid / Absolutely terrified of being alone,” he sings. He puts up the finger at Trump on “Yr Throat,”
A call to arms, the album itself is a passionate plea to end complacency.
expressing his confusion with the presidency: “It’s not like any other job I know / If you’re a piece of shit they don’t let you go.” On closer “Let Them Win,” he turns the dejected quality of the previous nine songs into determined defiance. Though there’s still a hint of hopelessness as Rosenstock lists his grievances — “They can hang us out to dry / They can profit from their lies again / They can shake our souls / They can send us home” — he ends the album shouting, “We’re not gonna let them win / We’re not gonna let them win / Fuck no.” Let’s hope he’s right.
Jon-Erik Kellso Quartet stays true to classic jazz Kellso brings Kerrytown Concert House back to the 1900s SAMMY SUSSMAN Daily Arts Writer
Modern jazz audiences rarely get the chance to hear early 20th century jazz. While many ensembles play pieces from this time period, few remain authentic to this style of playing. Fewer, still, perform concerts entirely devoted to music of this era and its many subgenres. Jon-Erik Kellso, however, is not your average jazz musician. His performance
with his namesake quartet at the Kerrytown Concert House last Saturday was comprised entirely of early jazz by notable greats, such as Louis Armstrong and Irving Berlin. His knowledge of these early jazz musicians was on display throughout the evening, and it was a pleasure to watch this master go about his craft. Kellso began the evening with a couple of slower pieces such as Louis Armstrong’s “New Orleans Stomp.” Kellso’s simple, relaxed playing style during these opening numbers
set the mood for the rest of the evening — this concert was about four extremely talented musicians playing together for fun. The intimacy of the Kerrytown Concert House also gave this performance an unassuming and light nature. It felt as though one was witnessing a dialogue rather than attending a concert. The talents of the musicians were almost swallowed by the intimacy of the experience, almost as though one were listening to a recording of early jazz music and not witnessing
I’ve wanted to write about sex for awhile. Impactful on our health and organic to our human nature, sex is a dayto-day topic of discussion. But I’ve held off writing about it due to its complexities, its frustrations, its demands. Sex is this game where many of us want to play, but there are all of these rules, all of these different strategies, all of these precautions… so on and so on. And yet, regardless of these hurdles, we play anyway. As we know, college campuses have been serving as the microcosm of sex culture for decades. As we also know it, college campuses serve as a place of individual growth, success and discovery. I think about how sex culture is so dominant over an entire student body, and yet that student body consists of individuals who hold their own beliefs and ideas. We live in a place where sex is this overshadowing stigma, this idea that “everybody’s doing it.” But how does this social pressure affect us young adults and our sex lives? The act of sex itself has its pros and cons (mainly the former) that impact everyone on a physical and mental level. And just because sex is such a pleasure in life, it’s not the only pleasure which we should be seeking. But we’re pulled in these directions — one, sex is and should be healthy and a choice that varies from person to person, but two, we believe we should be having sex because that’s what we’ve been told by our society and our media. We believe if we aren’t having sex, there’s something wrong. We believe if we don’t have sex a certain way, there’s something wrong. This daunting stigma and social norm now stomps all over what should be a positive, natural act for our well-being. I decided to look more into this intro dichotomy of sex and how it affects people.
Some articles propose that sex makes your memory stronger or that it can allay symptoms of anxiety. Others discuss how sex affects your brain in the same way as drugs do, releasing inf luxes of dopamine and other natural compounds.
a live performance. As Kellso explained it during the show, this was a concert of four musicians that he had played with since the ’80s. As the night progressed, the complementary skills of these four musicians continued to exceed expectations. They were obviously enjoying each other’s company, pushing one another in every piece to perform better than the last. The abilities of pianist Jim Dapogny, for example, were on display in solos throughout the night. Dapogny is known
passages of four measures traded between the trumpet player and the drummer) throughout the night, particularly during “I’m Sorry That I Made You Cry.” While delegated to a background role during this concert, these two could, and did, hold their own throughout the night. The ensemble also switched between different early jazz styles, playing ballads, standards and blues charts. Kellso’s love for the New Orleans style of jazz was another frequent feature of the night. Provided mainly by Siers, this New Orleans feel was given to many of the Armstrong tunes that Kellso chose. At one point, Kellso even explained his love of New Orleans culture, explaining that he visits New Orleans nearly every summer and that it feels like “another home” to him. Later in the set, Kellso demonstrated his skills with faster swing pieces from the early 20th century jazz idiom. Irving Berlin’s “My Walking Stick” felt quite relaxed despite being played quickly. The fast tempo was barely noticeable given the comfort that the ensemble seemed to possess playing at any tempo. At no point throughout the night did it seem as though the musicians were falling behind the music, though there were some brief moments of confusion and misdirection, particularly at the ends of a couple of the pieces. These moments, however, were handled with grace — a slight hesitation at the end of “Hindustan,” for example, was quickly seized by the other musicians as a repeat of the last portion of the melody. Occasional spoken directions
Jon-Erik Kellso, however, is not your average jazz musician.
as being among the foremost experts on Jelly Roll Morton, and his performance of Morton’s “Good Old New York” was unsurprisingly authentic and enjoyable. At another point, Kellso asked Dapogny to perform a piece “without the trumpet.” Dapogny improvised an impressive five-minute blues piece that modulated between five different keys. Bassist Kurt Krahnke and drummer Pete Siers also shone in solos throughout the night. Krahnke, in particular, seemed right at home while soloing, at one point over four or five choruses. Siers excelled during the many sections of trading fours (short solo
only myself, but a population of young people to see sex in a certain, fixed light. Many of my own friends have rushed into sexual situations or looked at sex from a single-minded perspective. They’ve told me how the sex itself was fine, but they still feel so shitty. Some are addicted to it and some straight up stay away from it. Regardless of how one may feel about sex, we can’t deny that sex is a dominant lifestyle and a daunting pressure that as young people, we just can’t help but think about. Sex is just as mentally effective as it is physical. It’s just as pleasing as it is harmful,
ERIKA SHEVCHECK I found mixed answers about how sex can decrease feelings of depression but can also lead one to be depressed (talk about confusing, right?). But just like drugs and alcohol, sex, the thought of it and the act itself, can be full of contradictions. It puts peer pressure on young adults who are just beginning to get their hands on it and express interest in doing it. This opposing force of the sex itself versus sex culture is what causes this whole game to be unhealthy. When I was a freshman in college, I was worried about sex. These fears ran through my head of what it would be like, who it would be with, if they would be my significant other or not, if they thought I would be “good in bed.” This fear, these continuous questions and scenarios swimming through my brain, took away my focus of the positives of sex and into the dark side its stigmas. Even as a junior, I still worry about sex to some extent. Those thoughts and pressures alone restricted not
Sex is just as mentally effective as it is physical. It’s just as pleasing as it is harmful, just as comforting as it is unsafe.
just as comforting as it is unsafe. It’s the high demands of the sex talks, the free condoms, the jokes, the sexual depictions in our media and more that lead us to turn something so natural and enjoyable to something that can be unsettling and confusing. Maybe the mental aspect of it all is the thing we forget so often — to be cognizant of our choices, our own comforts and our own beliefs when it comes to doing something that affects our health. Erika Shevcheck can be reached at ejshev@umich.edu.
from Kellso demonstrated the improvised nature of this concert and the ensemble’s almost uncanny ability to work together and anticipate each other’s moves. The ensemble’s easygoing, humorous atmosphere made
As Kellso explained it during the show, this was a concert of four musicians that he had played with since the ’80s.
the night quite enjoyable. Kellso offered background information before almost every piece, occasionally adding jokes and puns, as well. Before “Hindustan,” for example, Kellso quipped that “hopefully it’s not somewhere we’re invading anytime soon.” Unlike many other musicians, the quartet resisted updating the rhythmic and harmonic language of this time period to meet that of today. This concert was nothing more than early jazz played very well by a group of immensely talented musicians.
Arts
6 — Tuesday, January 9, 2018
FILM REVIEW
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
Strokes of pen and water: Casey Barrett at Literati Former Olympic swimmer reads from new novel ‘Under Water’ swimming for much of his adolescent life, going on to swim in college as well as Daily Arts Writer professionally. He has not swam in over 20 years, having What do an author and dedicated his life to his family, an Olympic athlete have in his writing and his business, common? They are enduring Imagine Swimming. a constant uphill battle to In 2002, Barrett co-founded success. Both the path of a Imagine Swimming, Inc., a successful Olympic athlete school that sets out to teach and an author thousands of are extremely students between difficult, the ages of six regimented months and 12 Casey Barrett and timeyears how to consuming. “Under Water” swim at pools However, author across New Literati and Olympic York. In addition swimmer Casey to education, 7 p.m. Barrett has been Imagine January 10th, 2017 able to achieve Swimming both in his 42 oversees a swim Free years — having team, water both published polo team and a novel and a synchronized competed as a swimming team. Canadian swimmer in the On his career path and 2002 Olympics. accomplishments, Barrett Despite the fact that to claims: “I was restless and the naked eye swimming ambitious, and seemed to and writing are not similar thrive on change. I ‘got into’s in any way, Barrett would wimming like most kids — disagree with this statement. showed a bit of talent in a “The discipline and lifestyle summer league; a coach or of swimming and writing is some other parents mentioned almost exactly the same,” he year-round teams to my mom wrote in an email interview & dad; I liked working hard; with The Daily. “So much so became hooked on improving; success & ambition fed on themselves ... Until it became my entire identity.” Despite the fact that swimming has been an important part of his identity, he claims that he “moved to NYC to get away from that swimmer’s life.” His life went from swimming to publishing, as he studied print journalism at the University of Southern California and Southern Methodist University. However, through all this, he always knew that he wanted to become a fiction writer on his own terms. In 2006, with an infatuation for crime fiction, Barrett embarked on a life changing journey — penning his first novel, one of an that I’m baff led there aren’t anticipated series titled more former swimmers “UNDER WATER.” He who’ve become fiction writers began by accepting a private ... My ideal writing routine is apprenticeship in crime pretty much identical to my fiction for about five years. To old training schedule: I do my this process he noted, “I read best writing between 5:30a - as much as I possibly could in 7:30a in the morning, and then the genre, knowing that was in the late afternoon between where I was headed. Then, 3:30p.m. - 6p.m. I suppose at some point around 2012 or that’s when my body & mind so, I realized that the reading have always worked best.” could (and would) go on Barrett was serious about forever, and that I was ready ELI RALLO
Univeral
With third installment ‘Pitch Perfect’ falls flat that seemingly trades in musical hijinks for low-budget Daily Arts Writer spy parody, the film rapidly descends into a mockery For a film series that began of itself. The plot (so much with a classic as there is message about one) revolves finding oneself around the “Pitch Perfect in college and Barton Bellas’s learning to make trip across 3” the most of Europe while Universal your talents, it’s performing at disconcerting to United States Goodrich Quality 16 say the least that army bases and Rave Cinemas the final film in in an attempt Ann Arbor 20+ the trilogy begins to convince IMAX not just with the DJ Khaled to obligatory song make them and dance, but also the opening with an exploding act of his next yacht. It seems unlikely that show. If that premise sounds there are many “Pitch Perfect” silly on paper, it’s even more fans that wanted to see their preposterous on screen, with favorite fictional a cappella Khaled strolling through the group in the plot of a bad James picture for a number of cameos Bond movie, and audience that feel not only tacked on, but members that weren’t on also like they were filmed in board with the franchise thus the span of a day or two. While far will hardly be convinced the audience is continually by the new direction. “Pitch reminded by the script every Perfect 3,” directed by Trish few minutes that almost all Sie (“Step Up: All In”) and of the Bellas have romantic featuring returning stars Anna interests in someone in another Kendrick (“Trolls”), Rebel band, the film stumbles and Wilson (“Bridesmaids”) and trips through these storylines Hailee Steinfeld (“The Edge of in a fashion reminiscent of a Seventeen”), spends its two- poor game of darts. There’s a hour runtime destroying any lot being thrown at the wall sense of goodwill the audience here, but almost none of it may have had for these sticks. characters and solidifies the For what it’s worth, series’ fate as a forgotten relic Kendrick is still the highlight that remains at the bottom of of these movies, and her arc, the five dollar Walmart bin. although incredibly similar From the opening sequence to her storyline from “Pitch IAN HARRIS
Classifieds
Perfect 2,” is in fact the only part of the movie with any kind of emotional resonance whatsoever. Even the most coldhearted of individuals will find it hard not to smile when the gang at last gets their big reunion song on stage at the end. It doesn’t strike nearly as strong a chord as it might have if the movie was actually a good or even decent meditation on leaving your college friends and safe life on campus behind yet still trying desperately to keep in touch with that part of yourself, but “Pitch Perfect 3” simply isn’t up to that challenge. Even the once-exciting a cappella numbers feel forced here, serving only to remind the audience of better scenes in better films. The film overall suffers from the feeling that it was totally and completely unnecessary. There isn’t really much of a story left to tell for the Bellas, and it shows here, with the movie falling quickly into the kind of hollow narrative structure that reeks of late ’90s sequels. An early rendition of the riff-off competition (one of the highlights of the first two films) feels completely lifeless and perfunctory here. It’s easy to see that scene as a metaphor for the film as a whole. The Bellas fall totally f lat against the competition. Like the “Pitch Perfect” film franchise, all of their best days are behind them.
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RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
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“The discipline and lifestyle of swimming and writing is almost exactly the same”
to write confidently in my chosen ‘field’.” Because of his background in Olympic sports and his previous writing on his blog “Cap & Goggles,” he knew that the plot line began with the sexual abuse that has affected swimming and other Olympic sports. The path of a previous Olympic athlete and the path of a committed fiction author seem to really intertwine here, creating a wonderful melody between the two subjects. Often, we see Olympic athletes finishing their athletic career to write a memoir, short stories, a biography or other nonfiction works. That being said, it is
In 2006, with an infatuation for crime fiction, Barrett embarked on a life changing journey — penning his first novel titled “UNDER WATER.”
incredibly refreshing to see a former Olympic athlete creating works of fiction roughly based on his other passion — swimming. As a very committed individual in two different fields, Barrett has many incredible and special life experiences despite his young age. When asked what advice he has for aspiring Olympic athletes and authors, Barrett replied: “All it takes is committing your entire life to it. If you’re not willing to step off the ledge and lose your mind doing it, don’t bother.” Barrett will be having an event at Literati bookstore to read and discuss his new novel “Under Water” on Wednesday, January 10th at 7 PM.
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Email mgaudin@umich.edu or yacobson@umich.edu for an application or more information
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
I
Sports
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 — 7
Barnes Arico’s Achilles’ Heel
t’s been a week of ups and downs for Kim Barnes Arico. The juxtaposition of the Michigan women’s basketball coach’s week was clearest on Sunday. Prior HUNTER to the game SHARF against No. 10 Ohio State, Barnes Arico was awarded a jersey with the number 124; this recognized her becoming the program’s winningest coach a few days earlier against Wisconsin. Over the next few hours, the Wolverines lost a back-and-forth overtime game to the Buckeyes. To throw salt in the wound, the teams traded the lead nine times in the fourth quarter alone, and Michigan held a
two-point lead with under 20 seconds to go. “I’m really super bummed we came out on the short side of it,” Barnes Arico said. “We had every opportunity down the stretch to win that game.” Yes, it was close and Michigan played well, but they lost to the Buckeyes. Again. Despite her overall success in Ann Arbor, she’s struggled to beat her rival from Columbus. She is 2-6 all-time against Ohio State and has lost her last four matchups. And for better or worse, when you coach at Michigan, everyone from Jim Harbaugh to Barnes Arico is judged on rivalry games. Unfortunately for Barnes Arico, she’s struggled in these matchups. Her lack of success against school rivals isn’t exclusive to Ohio State. When looking at
“I’m really super bummed we came out on the short side of it.”
her career against Michigan State, it’s not much better. The Wolverines have won just three of their 14 matchups against the Spartans, boasting a .272 win percentage. The last time a Barnes Arico team beat a Buckeye or Michigan State squad was February 2015. In total, 14 of her 67 career loses – or nearly 21 percent – have come to either MSU or OSU. And recent matchups have been no different. Michigan has also lost its last four bouts to the Spartans. The Wolverines should be at least somewhat optimistic, though, going into their next matchup against Michigan State as the Spartans lost their all-time leading scorer in Tori Jankoska to the WNBA. Still, nobody on the current Wolverine roster has much experience defeating a rival. The only players to have beaten
the Spartans and Ohio State are seniors Katelynn Flaherty and Jillian Dunston – and those wins came three years ago, when the duo were freshman. Despite the school’s and fan base’s history of emphasizing rivalry games, should Barnes Arico be judged for faltering in these games? No. Well, at least not yet. In a little over five years, Barnes Arico turned a rather average team into a constant in the national rankings. In the year prior to Barnes Arico coming to Michigan, the Wolverines finished seventh in the Big Ten. Last season, they finished third. She not only has the most wins in program history, but also the best winning percentage at .649. Oh yeah, and she was able to do something no other coach in program history has ever done ‚— raise a banner in the Crisler Center after a title in the 2017 WNIT. Her struggles against the rivals shouldn’t be completely overlooked. But when considering that those two teams are Michigan State and the Buckeyes, consistently two of the nation’s toughest teams, it’s slightly easier to digest. Eventually, though, for the Wolverines to get to where they want to be — a perennial national title contender — they’re going to have to beat Ohio State, Michigan State and other top tier teams. After all, as the saying goes: to be the best, you have to beat the best. That’s the next feat Barnes Arico has to conquer.
As the saying goes: to be the best, you have to beat the best.
RUCHITA IYER/Daily
Michigan women’s basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico now needs to prove that she can beat elite teams in the Big Ten.
Sharf can be reached at hsharf@umich.edu.
‘M’ Hockey swept by ND despite forceful offense ROBERT HEFTER Daily Sports Editor
No. 2 Notre Dame probably didn’t expect to have a tough weekend. And, by looking just at the box scores of the home-and-home series, it handily triumphed over Michigan, 2-1, on both Friday and Sunday. What the box scores may not have shown, however, was a tenacious effort from a steadfast Wolverine hockey team committed to upping its intensity and effort of play. “That’s how we’ve wanted to do it all year is play with that pace and that energy and that speed,” said Michigan coach Mel Pearson. “We have to continue to do that. “You saw it in spurts in the first half, but I think we’re starting to get it now. … We’re going to put the guys in the lineup who are going to play with that pace.” In two back-and-forth games defined by unpredictable opportunities that could have shifted the momentum toward either foe, Michigan couldn’t find any luck. On Friday, senior forward Tony Calderone brought Michigan within one goal of Notre Dame in the first period, and Sunday, freshman forward Josh Norris did the same in the third period. “I thought these were two of our best games all year. We worked hard, we blocked shots, we were physical, we were fast, we put pucks on net,” said sophomore goaltender Hayden Lavigne. “ … They’re one bounce away, each game, from going in the opposite direction.” But, if the Wolverines were generating so many scoring opportunities — letting 70 total shots fly — why couldn’t they break the one-goal barrier that plagued them this weekend? How did the Fighting Irish score two early goals in the same fashion both nights? A possible answer to both of these questions lies in the intent of
Pearson’s game plan at the outset of the series — play with more urgency and pace. Michigan outshot Notre Dame 14-11 in the first period Friday, and 15-7 in the second period Sunday, with no goals to show for it. The Wolverines were visibly trying to increase their pace of play, sending defensemen like freshman Quinn Hughes — who only played Sunday — and junior Nick Boka flying past the blue line into the offensive zone to try to generate more chances. In addition to frequent dumpand-chase plays by the offense, Michigan’s strategy was a noble one. In order to play against the best, it needed to overwhelm them with heightened aggression. While the strategy worked to some degree, the Fighting Irish were well equipped to deal with a fast-paced team. Notre Dame streamlined their attack from goaltender Cale Morris to defenseman Jordan Gross to forward Jake Evans — all of whom entered the series leading the NCAA in save percentage, shots on goal from a defenseman and points (Gross and Evans tied), respectively. “I think every time you’re out there they play as a group, they play as five,” Norris said. “I think you gotta generate a lot of speed and it’s hard to sometimes.” As the Wolverines pushed the puck up the ice with an unprecedented amount of urgency, Notre Dame was ready to pounce back decisively and, as a result, the Fighting Irish created numerous fast-breaks, and Michigan was left skating back on its heels. What ensued were two early Notre Dame goals and a subsequent retreat defensively to thwart any oncoming Wolverine attack. The takeaway for Michigan after this weekend was that it can skate with the best, but needs to control the chaos generated by Pearson’s drive for a high-paced attacking team.
Behind Enemy Lines: Sitting down with Boilermaker center Isaac Haas MAX MARCOVITCH Daily Sports Editor
Michigan State garnered an abundance of attention in the Big Ten race early in the season — and for good reason. But it may be easy to forget Purdue returned five of its top six scorers from a team that won the Big Ten regular season title a year ago. Taking the brunt of the frontcourt offensive load from Caleb Swanigan, Isaac Haas came into the year with unapologetically high expectations. He wants to play in the NBA. He thinks he’s as good as any big in the country. He feels nobody can guard him, and he can guard most anybody. To some extent, the numbers bear that out. For the second straight year, Haas leads the Big Ten in points per 40 minutes. He is leading the charge for an upstart Boilermaker team that is now one of the top five in the country, threatening to take the Big Ten once again from the Spartans. Purdue has wins over Louisville, Arizona and Butler, among others, on its way to a strong 15-2 start. Purdue comes to Crisler Center to battle Michigan on Tuesday night in a matchup that presents the Wolverines its greatest challenge of the season to date. Haas will play a big role in how it turns out. The Daily sat down with Purdue’s 7-foot-2 senior center at Big Ten Media Day to discuss the his personal progress, the Boilermakers’ goals, the matchups with Michigan and more. The Michigan Daily: You led the conference in points per 40 minutes last season. What kinds of techniques are you doing to stay on the floor and stay out of foul trouble? Isaac Haas: Honestly, just running a lot. So that way you’re not making tired decisions, you’re not making tired fouls. I think it’s going to provide me with a lot more opportunity. As well as positioning, understanding the game a little better, understanding, you know, ‘You’ve been here four years, you
know what people are going to do to you, you know what some people aren’t going to do to you.’ You need to know how to take advantage of that, and sometimes when to back off. There are just certain points when you need to press your advantage and some points when you need to back off and not get too far ahead of yourself. TMD: What do you think might be your potential this year if you are able to increase your minutes and stay on the court? IH: I think the potential is through the roof, in my opinion. In other’s minds they may not see it the same way. It’s just a matter of going out and proving what I can do and helping my team win. That’s all that matters.
TMD: What do you think you need to improve upon most to play in the NBA? IH: I think there’s multiple things. It’s never just one thing with somebody. It’s all a matter of conditioning, rebounding and being a better defensive player. My defense on the perimeter used to be a weakness. The more I work on it, the better I’m going to get on it. All I’ve been working on lately is my conditioning, rebounding and perimeter defense. TMD: When you’re playing a team like Michigan that spaces the floor a lot, and with you being a traditional big, what kinds of challenges does that present to you? IH: Well, obviously it presents
a challenge of lateral quickness. That’s something I’ve been working on a lot, especially after training with the NBA, kinda getting better from that whole experience. I do understand that there’s a lot of things I need to work on. I worked with a trainer and now my lateral quickness is a lot better. I know that I’m shutting some of these guys (teammates) down on the perimeter now. The goal is, if I can shut them down, I can pretty much shut anybody down, except for the select few who are just so top-class. It’s just a matter of corralling them, keeping them in front and making sure that I play solid defense and making them make a tough shot. TMD: So do you think you can
shut down Moe Wagner? IH: I think I can shut down just about anybody, it’s just a matter of doing it. TMD: Against Michigan, you guys played some entertaining, back-and-forth games. What do you take away from those games last year as you look toward those matchups this year? IH: I’d just say, it’s going to be competitive, they’ve got guys coming back. Obviously they lost (DJ Wilson), he was a big factor. But I also know that you got more recruits. John Beilein is a great coach, who’s going to get those guys playing together. And I know it’s going to be a tough challenge for us, but I’m looking forward to it. TMD: You hear a lot about
Michigan State going in (to the season), the media’s presumptive favorite. Do you guys feel slighted at all that you’re not in that conversation? IH: I think it doesn’t matter. I think it’s going to be a matter of who’s going to win and who doesn’t. I think they’re obviously very talented. I think they have the potential to do great things. But it’s just a matter of stepping up, understanding that just because we won doesn’t mean anything this year. It’s still 0-0 across the board. That’s why you see none of us wearing our rings here today because we don’t care. We’re happy that we won, but we don’t care. This is a new year and we’re trying to win another one.
EVAN AARON/Daily
Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein and his team will have its hands full on when No. 5 Purdue and 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas travel to Crisler Center with an undefeated Big Ten record.
Sports
8 — Tuesday, January 9, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Boilermaker Vincent Edwards could give Wolverines matchup issues MIKE PERSAK
Managing Sports Editor
The Michigan men’s basketball team has a challenge ahead of it on Tuesday. No. 5 Purdue Purdue at comes to Michigan Ann Arbor in Matchup: what is likely Purdue 4-0 Michigan’s Big Ten, 15-2 overall; toughest matchup to Michigan this point. 3-1, 14-3 With that being When: said, there are Tuesday 9 plenty of things P.M. ET that need to go Where: Crisler right for the Center Wolverines to TV/Radio: win the game. One in ESPN particular, though, is matching up with Boilermaker forward Vincent Edwards. Michigan coach John Beilein made no bones about it at his press conference Monday. He believes that Edwards may present even more of a problem than former Purdue forward Caleb Swanigan did for the Wolverines last season. “(Swanigan) was a really great player,” Beilein said. “He gave us so many problems. At the same time, the way we play, with four guys that go, that presented matchup problems for them at times. Caleb’s so good, so I don’t want to say that’s why we won, but it’s different now. They have our type of ‘4’man. … (Edwards) is that ‘4’ who can play. He can guard another tough ‘4’, and he can guard on the perimeter as well, if you have more of a skilled ‘4.’ ” Of course, Beilein neglected to give the scouting report on how the Wolverines plan to attack Edwards, but he did say that freshman forward Isaiah Livers, fifth-year senior forward Duncan Robinson or redshirt sophomore guard Charles Matthews could match
up with him. Livers is excited for the potential responsibility. “He told me in film yesterday,” Livers said. “He said, ‘Isaiah, you have a big challenge. This guy is kinda just a replicate of you. Just, he has a lot more experience than you.’ And I was like, ‘Great, Coach. Now I can see where I’m at.’ So I’m looking forward to it.” The freshman has perhaps improved the most of any Michigan player this season, and Tuesday’s matchup with Edwards could be the next benchmark for just how far he’s
come, especially considering that the Wolverines have been hurt by dynamic ‘4’-men in the past. In their loss to North Carolina, one of the major pitfalls was the production of the Tar Heels’ ‘4’-man, Luke Maye. Whether it was Robinson or Livers guarding Maye, they seemingly had no answer, as he lit them up for 27 points. Livers remembers that game, but he believes the defense has come a long way since then, and he sees the game against Purdue as a potential yard stick for where Michigan stands.
“That was like an early test for us,” Livers said. “So I think that’s gonna help translate over to our game tomorrow. I’m excited to see where we are.” Beilein and Livers will both admit the freshman has a long way to go. Beilein has taken special care in aiding Livers’ growth, because he sees his athletic ability and realizes that, with the right coaching, he could really turn into something special. Beilein has said that he typically spends 15 minutes with Livers after practices to sharpen his skillset. He says one of the next
EVAN AARON/Daily
Wolverines face biggest test of the season when a titan of the Big Ten enters Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan men’s basketball team has found a groove. The Wolverines (3-1 Big Ten, 14-3 overall) haven’t lost since their early-December collapse to Ohio State, racking up seven consecutive wins — including ones over Iowa and Illinois last week. Freshman forward Isaiah Livers has gone from virtually invisible on the floor to a key spark in Michigan’s offense since the holiday break — as has sophomore point guard Zavier Simpson. And with guards Charles Matthews and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman continuing the productivity that led the Wolverines early on, the team has started to take form. But there’s no shortage of looming danger to threaten that notion. Michigan will face No. 5 Purdue and No. 4 Michigan State on
animal, though. For whoever guards him, whether it’s Livers, Robinson or even Matthews, a new level of production and focus will be needed. “It’s gonna be tough,” Beilein said. “We talked about that a lot today, about, as the game goes on, what we do. Once again, Duncan’s done a great job for us over there. His defensive numbers the other day were really good, but Isaiah continues to be that guy that will continue to be there. And then, play Duncan more at a natural position if we feel the need to.”
Freshman forward Isaiah Livers has been slowly improving on all sides of the ball this season, but against Purdue and Vincent Edwards on Tuesday, Livers will face the toughest test of his young career.
Michigan set to take on No. 5 Purdue Tuesday MARK CALCAGNO
steps for Livers to take is improvement in corralling defensive rebounds. That’s another area where Tuesday’s matchup can be a barometer of progress. Edwards leads his team with 8.6 rebounds per game — 2.8 of which coming on the offensive end. Illinois was a prolific offensive rebounding team entering its game with the Wolverines last week. Beilein thought his team did well to hold them to just 10 offensive rebounds, since three of them were late in the game. Edwards is a different
Tuesday and Saturday this week, first at Crisler Center then in East Lansing, respectively — easily the Wolverines’ most daunting twogame stretch. “We got quite a week (ahead),” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “I really think that Michigan State and Purdue are two of the top five teams in the country. I think they can beat anyone in the country at any time on any court. We’re playing them back-to-back, and it’s really a challenge for us. “They’d be huge for us if we can win any of these games and then continue to win.” The Boilermakers (4-0, 15-2) have won their last 11 games, surging into top-ten spots of national polls this week with a shooting percentage and defensive efficiency that rank near the top of the conference. Purdue is averaging a scoring output of 86 points, led by guard Carsen Edwards and center Isaac Haas, who average 16.7 and 14.7 points per game, respectively.
“We’ve had some guys become so good at boxing out.”
When asked about advice for junior center Mortiz Wagner in guarding the 7-foot-2, 290-pound Haas, Beilein had a simple answer. “Good luck.” That’s the type of challenge that the Boilermakers’ size brings. Along with 7-foot-3 freshman Matt Haarms and multi-talented forward Vincent Edwards, Purdue boasts one of the most effective frontcourts in the country. “We’re not going to concede any baskets,” Beilein said. “(But) there are some times we’re just not gonna be able to stop it. (Haarms) is bigger than Haas — and longer. You’ve got to stay one step ahead of the passes. … They find ways to get the ball inside.” That will certainly challenge a traditionally weaker side of Beilein-coached teams, defensive rebounding. But this season, despite starting the comparatively undersized Wagner and fifth-year senior Duncan Robinson in the front court, that hasn’t been as much of
an issue. And against a lengthy Illinois team, the Wolverines held their own, surrendering just six secondchance points Saturday. “We’ve had some guys become so good at boxing out, but for whatever reasons we’ve been better,” Beilein said. “We’ve had some guys stand around and could never do it. We’ve got some guys who are really good at getting in front and getting the ball. “I particularly love the way Moe is rebounding the ball right now. He’s getting people out of his area, keeping balls alive — those are big things.” Speaking of Wagner, the Wolverines’ leading rebounder is slowly working back to normal after a foot injury that sidelined him for two games in December. Wagner blocked three shots Saturday — again displaying the defensive improvement NBA scouts wanted to see when he returned to school for another year. And after scoring just four points last Tuesday at Iowa, Wagner assembled a strong 14-point, seven-rebound performance against the Fighting Illini. But achieving those sorts of numbers will be far more challenging against Purdue. “You can’t get an easy shot (against them),” Beilein said. “They’ve got the whole package now. They’re a beautiful basketball team.” Recently, Michigan has also looked like more of a complete package. Now, it’s time for the Wolverines to prove that against the country’s best. “(It’s a) huge challenge,” Livers said, “I know a lot of teams lost (last week), and Purdue is moving up in the rankings. We’re just getting ready for the war.”
“They’re a beautiful basketball team.”
EVAN AARON/Daily
Junior forward Moritz Wagner is still trying to get to 100 percent after suffering a foot injury against Texas.