Thursday, May 10, 2018
ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
inside
RESEARCH
New pill can detect breast cancer
NEWS
Racist list update University investigation of crass and racist Elite Bar Crawl list is at a stand still. >> SEE PAGE 2
Researchers at “U” develop pill to reduce overtreatment
OPINION
Let’s Make a Pact Hannah Harshe explores how
By NATSAHA PIETRUSCHKA
different standards are set for
Daily Staff Reporter
men and women at work.
differences in intelligence, spoke at the University, several students attempted to shut down the event. The University has experienced controversy on the speech code as far back as 1989. A 1989 case, Doe v. University of Michigan, determined the University’s 1988 hate speech law violated the constitutional right to free speech. Neily claims freedom of speech and the campus atmosphere are stifled by vague and subjective speech codes and bias response teams. “It is very difficult to have a system in place (like a bias response team) without having a mechanism that kills speech,” Neily said. “I fail to see how you can have that kind of system without entirely stifling free speech.” According to the University’s Bias Response Team website, a bias incident is anything that discriminates against a community based on their identity.
Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing a new diagnostic pill that improves conventional detection methods and reduces the overtreatment of breast cancer. The U-M research team, led by Greg Thurber, chemical engineering assistant professor, is refining an oral pill that dissolves in the bloodstream and illuminates tumors under infrared light. According to Thurber, many women who have breast cancer tumors would never suffer from the disease but are treated anyway. Mammography, a common form of breast cancer detection, determines the existence of a tumor but not if the tumor is cancerous or benign. Chemicals in the new pill are able to bind to cancerous tissue and light up under infrared light to inform physicians where cancerous tumors are located. Thurber says that knowing information at the molecular level is at the core of effective cancer detection. “We’ve known from decades of research in cancer biology that it’s really a molecular disease, so what’s nice about our approach is that you’re actually getting molecular information,” Thurber said. The pill is an alternative to mammograms or other methods such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasounds. According to Thurber, mammograms can sometimes be inaccurate, as they may miss tumors in women with dense breast tissue. Thurber believes his team’s method would be useful at spotting tumors in patients where mammograms don’t work well.
See LAWSUIT, Page 3
See RESEARCH, Page 3
>> SEE PAGE 5
ARTS
DANYEL THARAKAN / DAILY
‘This is America’
Childish Gambino releases confrontational new single. >> SEE PAGE 7
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
Defend DACA
Immigrant protections are at risk under Donald Trump >> SEE PAGE 9
SPORTS
Softball prevails over Ohio State On Senior Day, the Michgan softball team defeated its biggest rival >> SEE PAGE 12
INDEX Vol. CXXVII, No. 116 | © 2018 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ............................... 4 ARTS ...................................... 6 MiC......................................... 9 SPORTS................................ 10
michigandaily.com
U-M sued by Speech First over Bias Response Team Organization files injunction against “U” over free speech By GRACE KAY Summer Managing News Editor
The University of Michigan is the first university in the nation to receive a federal lawsuit regarding the effect the U-M Bias Response Team might have on speech freedom on campus. On Tuesday, Speech First, an organization of students, citizens and alumni advocating free speech on college campuses, filed a federal lawsuit against the University, challenging the Bias Response Team’s accordance with the U.S. Constitution and calling for a permanent injunction prohibiting the Bias Response Team from investigating students. Speech First President Nicole Neily said the organization is filing the injunction against the University based on three main
factors. “We have multiple members of the organization at the University,” Neily said. “The University of Michigan also has a combination of a very bad speech code that is very vague, a very active bias response team that is very proud of its achievements because it keeps a log and we have numbers there, though not all were listed in the complaint. These were the three things we needed.” This is not the first time the University’s speech code and freedom of speech has been called into question. In 2017, hundreds of students flooded into the Michigan League to voice displeasure with the Michigan Political Union’s decision to debate the Black Lives Matter movement as harmful to racial relations, causing many people outside of the University to question whether unpopular voices or perspectives can be heard at the University. Similarly, when Charles Murray, author of “The Bell Curve,” a book which argues for the concept of racial
2 NEWS
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor voters approve millage Citizens decide to increase school millage By ALICE TRACEY
Summer Daily News Editor
The vast majority of Ann Arbor voters Tuesday opted to increase the funds collected by public schools. The millage renewal proposed by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education passed with 76 percent in favor. A school millage rate is a decided amount of money per $1,000 of property value that goes toward property tax, which in turn funds public schools. In Ann Arbor, this tax is the public school system’s main source of revenue. Members of the AAPS Board of Education say the operating millage affected by Tuesday’s vote will impact the taxes levied on non-homestead properties, including businesses and rental properties, rather than homeowners. Effective for the next 20 years, the vote renewed the existing millage Sudoku Syndication of 18 mills, or dollars per $1,000
value, and added an upper limit of 21 mills. The new 3-mill cushion gives the AAPS Board of Education more flexibility in dealing with the Headlee Amendment, a decadesold piece of state legislation that allows towns to roll back millages when property values increase more quickly than inflation. The amendment was designed to limit property taxes, but according to Board President Christine Stead, it complicates school funding. Stead claims rising property values coupled with the Headlee Amendment have produced financial losses for the Ann Arbor public school system. “Even though property values are increasing, you’re going to be at a slower-paced recovery because of the Headlee Amendment,” Stead said. “The gap can get bigger and bigger, and so for us, the Ann Arbor Public School District, that difference between what we’re collecting and what we should be collecting is equal to $1.3 million.”
420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com
ASIF BECHER
8
9
3
3
4
4
Newsroom
5
6
2
2
1
8
9 1
5
3
9
9
2
4
6
Office hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. 734-763-2459 opt.3
News Tips Corrections Letters to the Editor
news@michigandaily.com corrections@michigandaily.com
tothedaily@michigandaily.com or visit michigandaily.com/letters
ALEC COHEN / DAILY
U Investigation of racist list stagnant Students criticize lack of response from University
Photo Department Arts Section Editorial Page Sports Section Magazine Advertising Department
photo@michigandaily.com arts@michigandaily.com opinion@michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com statement@michigandaily.com Phone: 734-418-4115 dailydisplay@gmail.com
EDITORIAL STAFF Emma Richter richtere@michigandaily.com
Managing Editor
Grace Kay
Managing News Editor
news@michigandaily.com SENIOR NEWS EDITOR: Rachel Cunningham
Emma Chang
Editorial Page Editor
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
Tien Le & Jacob Kopnick Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com Jack Brandon
Managing Arts Editor
arts@michigandaily.com
Alec Cohen
Managing Photo Editor
photo@michigandaily.com
Jack Silberman
Managing Design Editor
design@michigandaily.com
Olivia Sedlacek
Managing Copy Editor
copydesk@michigandaily.com
Lorna Brown Managing MiC Editor michiganincolor@michigandaily.com Carrington Tubman
Managing Social Editor
2
5
7
Business Manager 734-418-4115 ext. 1240 tomedye@michigandaily.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
had received my complaint, they never contacted me again.” Despite the lack of information and communication with the University, Jong has received plenty of positive feedback from By GRACE KAY Read more at MichiganDaily.com http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ people just as frustrated with the Summer Managing News Editor racism and sexism detailed on the The University of Michigan list. “There are a number of claimed it is continuing to investigate a vulgar scavenger comments and I did get a few hunt list that went viral nearly two messages, but they’re pretty much weeks ago detailing numerous all in support of investigating HARD sexual acts and calls for public and getting the responsible parties off campus and putting nudity and using a racial slur. University spokeswoman Kim pressure on the University to see Broekhuizen explained there real repercussions,” Jong said. are no new developments in the “Nobody has contacted me or told investigation. In addition, The me that I have been spreading lies Michigan Daily and the Office outside of the AEPi international of Public Affairs and Internal member who was quoted by The Communications were unable to Daily.” Jong explained the list could contact the Division of Student Life investigating the incident be traced back to the fraternity because its members were at a Alpha Epsilon Pi because she received the list via a group retreat. Meanwhile, LSA senior Casey message containing several AEPi Jong, who first posted the list on members. In addition, Jong said Facebook under the title “The several of the redacted names on Elite Bar Crawl,” said she has yet the list belong to AEPi members to be contacted by the University, or women associated with AEPi the Interfraternity Council, the members. The list also features several Division of Student Life or the Bias Response Team with which acts that could only be performed by female participants, such as, she filed her complaint. “On my (bias) report I indicated “Call your mom tell her you’re that I would be willing to provide pregnant.” © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. DIE HARD. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com further information if needed,” Jong said. “Other than the Read more at MichiganDaily.com automatic email indicating they Generate and solve Sudoku, Super Sudoku and Godoku puzzles at sudokusyndication.com!
SUDOKU
TOMMY DYE
Editor in Chief 734-418-4115 ext. 1251 asifb@michigandaily.com
7 8
9
1
BUSINESS STAFF Leah Louis-Prescott
Sales Manager
The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published every Thursday during the spring and summer terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $110. Winter term (January through April) is $115, yearlong (September through April) is $195. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press.
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
RESEARCH From Page 1 “In the short term, we wouldn’t be necessarily replacing a mammogram; we would be trying to provide more information to the physician so that they could make better decisions from the results they would get from both this imaging and a mammogram,” Thurber said. “Long term, the idea would be to completely replace (mammograms) because there are many challenges with mammograms that we believe our approach can help overcome.” Providing more accurate screening results is also comforting to patients. Rackham student Sumit Bhatnagar assisted with the research for the project and emphasized the importance of reducing the overtreatment of breast cancer. “When you have a lot of patients that have to go through chemotherapy
and all these procedures that are not required, it leads to a loss of quality in life for a lot of these people,” Bhatnagar said. “So that’s something that can be avoided in the screening stage that would be preferable.” The pill is taken orally and dissolves into the bloodstream, just like food, says Thurber. The carefully-designed molecules are distributed throughout the body and bind onto breast cancer cells. After a few days, a physician looks for tumors by shining a near-infrared light on the breasts. Pharmaceutical sciences professor David Smith assisted Thurber’s team with the research. According to Smith, one of the team’s challenges was assuring the molecule was correctly absorbed by the body. The team had to design a molecule that was soluble enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream, but also greasy enough to pass through a tumor cell’s membrane. “It has to have the right chemical
structure to have selectivity for cancer cells and not normal regular cells,” Smith said. “So you can imagine getting all those qualities in one molecule is not so easy.” According to Bhatnagar, the research team created a range of different imaging agents with varying properties to see which combination of properties would work best in the body. “We did cell experiments and plate experiments to eliminate a few of these, so based on certain properties we narrowed it down from the five or six to about three, which we then tested in mice to see which one was the one we could get the highest amount of into the blood,” Bhatnagar said. With successful results on mice, the team is looking to expand the method for not only other types of cancer, but other diseases as well.
investigating the incidents and the students involved. The Bias Response Team reacts to incidents such as the blackface Snapchat mocking #BlackLivesMatter during the spring term and the racial slurs written on dorm door name tags during the fall term, by investigating the incidents and using a detailed log to explain the steps taken to respond to the racist incidents.
and harmful speech, Speech First seeks to protect all student voices, even if they might be unpopular. “In recent years, colleges have adopted various policies — including speech codes, ‘safe spaces,’ and ‘free speech zones’ — with the goal of shutting down unwanted speech,” the Speech First website states. “The message is clear: Students with unconventional ideas should shut up and keep their opinions to themselves. Censoring speech infringes the rights of students to express their opinions on campus. Just as important, it harms the rights of other students to listen to the speech — to challenge, debate, and learn from the views of their fellow students.” The University is one of several universities in the nation with a bias response team, but the first to receive a federal lawsuit. University spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen declined to comment regarding the lawsuit. “We haven’t been served a copy of the lawsuit and have no comment at this time,” Broekhuizen wrote.
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
LAWSUIT From Page 1 “A bias incident is conduct that discriminates, stereotypes, excludes, harasses or harms anyone in our community based on their identity (such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion),” the website states. Ultimately, the lawsuit filed by Speech First questions whether the opportunity to report bias incidents and mete out justice stifles the atmosphere at the University. Speech First also challenges the legitimacy of the bias reports filed and focuses on the vague terminology on the Bias Response Team website. The University’s Bias Response website explains a bias incident can be anything inciting uncomfortable “feelings.” “Bias comes in many forms. It can be a hurtful action based on who someone is as a person,” the website states. “The most important indication of bias is your own feelings.” The Bias Response Team allows students to file complaints and follows up the reports by
The website explains a bias incident can be anything inciting uncomfortable “feelings.”
While the Bias Response Team seeks to eliminate hateful
Visit MichiganDaily.com for more content
NEWS 3
Holocaust survivor shares her memoir at local library Retired Public Health professor presents book By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Summer Daily News Editor Author Irene Butter, a retired Public Health professor, presented her book “Shores Beyond Shores, From Holocaust to Hope: My True Story” at the Ann Arbor District Library Tuesday evening. OriginallyfromBerlin,ButterisasurvivorofBergenBelsen concentration camp. She arrived in the United States on Dec. 24, 1945. The Holocaust lasted from 1941 to 1945, where Jews and other groups were systematically tortured and exterminated by the Nazis throughout camps in Europe. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, approximately 6 million Jews, and many others from other groups, were killed. Library Director Josie Parker introduced Butter, giving positive reviews of Butter’s book for its enlightening and moving content. “It’s a very different story than many of you might think of or read in the past regarding the Holocaust,” Parker said. “It’s inspiring. It’s moving. It awakens your spirit in a time when we really that.” Butter began by explaining how she came about to write the book with her coauthors, Kris Holloway and John Bidwell. Holloway was a former student of Butter’s and Butter met Bidwell through her. She explained that their goal was to recapture childhood memories Butter had at each stage of her Holocaust experience. “The guiding principle throughout our journey was to recapture the (course) of the child at each stage in this narrative,” Butter said. “There are many memoirs about the Holocaust, yet how children lived through these experiences, what they heard, what they saw and what they felt has really been revealed.” Holloway felt it was important to document what life was like for Irene before the Holocaust began. “An important part for me of writing the book was to portray the early years before all the horror happened,” Holloway said. Holloway then went on to read a section of the book detailing Butter’s first experience seeing a “Jews Forbidden” sign while biking. Bidwell then read a section of the book detailing Butter’s experience in BergenBelsen as the camp became overcrowded and hunger more prevalent. “Asthefoodhitmylips,mybodywanted to slurp down every last drop and chew
every last crumb,” Bidwell read. “Maybe, maybe this is how vampires feel about blood.” After working with Detroit and Ann Arbor students, Butter explained that she feels students see the importance of tolerance and have a desire for stories that bring hope. “Students recognize that all of us are responsible for each other regardless of our color, religion or race,” Butter said. “We are all hungry for stories of hope and triumph over tragedy.” Butter explained the impact of a marriage between her Jewish daughter and a Palestinian man. “My granddaughters were born in Israel to a Jewish mother, my daughter, and a Palestinian father,” Butter said. “This has not always been easy for them. But I’ve learned that the surest path to peace may be when the other becomes your own.” In a question and answer portion, Butter answered a question regarding what “Never Again,” a phrase dedicated to genocide awareness, means to her. “‘Never Again’ is a wish,” Butter said. “Sofar,Iwouldsayithasbeenanunfulfilled promise. Just seeing it doesn’t make it happen. I think a lot more has to go on before ‘Never Again’ can become a reality.” Butter then reflected upon her relationship with Anne Frank. Although she did not know her well, Butter lived near Frank when in Amsterdam, and eventually ended up at Bergen-Belsen with her. Butter was friends with Frank’s close friend Hanneli Goslar, and the two threw clothes to Frank when she did not have any in BergenBelsen. “One day she (Hanneli) found out that Anne was in a joining (camp) separated by barbed wire,” Butter said. “She found out her sister (Margot) was too sick to come to the fence and she didn’t have any clothing, only a grey blanket wrapped around her, so Hanneli said she would try and find some clothing and come back the next night.” Butterexplainedthatthenextdaysomeone else picked up the clothing bundle they threwoverthefence,butthepairtriedagain with another bundle and Frank received it. Ann Arbor resident Helen Aminoff‘s family came to the United States from England at the beginning of World War II without any trouble. At the event, Aminoff explained she felt fortunate that her family could come to the US before the borders closed. “Wewereveryfortunate,”Aminoffsaid. “We did not have anyone who died in the Holocaust. I have so many friends who lost family members. I usually get very annoyed with people who deny the Holocaust and sayitdidn’thappen.It’snottrue.Checkyour facts.”
4 OPINION
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALI SAFAWI | COLUMN
Republicans’ Medicaid madness Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com
ASIF BECHER
EMMA CHANG
Editor in Chief
EMMA RICHTER
Editorial Page Editor
Managing Editor
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Emma Chang Joel Danilewitz Samantha Goldstein Elena Hubbell Emily Huhman Tara Jayaram
Jeremy Kaplan Sarah Khan Magdalena Mihaylova Ellery Rosenzweig Jason Rowland
Anu Roy-Chaudhury Alex Satola Ali Safawi Ashley Zhang Sam Weinberger
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s Editorial Board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
AUDREY GILMOUR | COLUMN
A
Civil rights are human rights
s a student of political science and international studies at the University of Michigan, I have learned about human rights atrocities across the globe from the Rwandan Genocide to the Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar. In these courses, I have learned that a fundamental human right is freedom from discrimination based on any identity including race, ethnicity and gender. These courses have touched on human rights concerns in the United States such as suffrage for women and human trafficking. Not once have I heard of Jim Crow laws referred to as human rights violations or seen the Civil Rights Movement addressed in a class focused on human rights. The Civil Rights Movement was a fight for human rights and, as such, should not be excluded from conversations or classes about human rights. On Tuesday, March 20th, Carol Anderson came to the University of Michigan to give a lecture about her most recent book “White Rage” which addresses the reactions of White Americans throughout history to combat attempts to provide Black Americans with equality and human rights. Earlier that day, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Anderson through an International Institute event. Anderson told us about her first book “Eyes off the Prize: The United Nations and the AfricanAmerican Struggle for Human Rights, 1944-1955.” She spoke about the groundbreaking research that she did while writing this book, linking the movements together in a way that had never been done
before. She treated the Civil Rights Movement as an extension of the human rights movement of the time. This perspective made me stop and think; I had never heard these two movements connected before. As Dr. Anderson described the Civil Rights Movement as a fight for human rights, I realized that the conversation about human rights is still incomplete. The Civil Rights Movement was a human rights movement. Black Americans were fighting for rights as citizens of the United States, rights that have also been recognized by the international community as fundamental human rights. The Civil Rights Movement fought for the equal treatment of Black Americans during the time of Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow laws discriminated against Black Americans based on their race and prevented them from receiving equal access to education and public services. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which the United States is a signer, all humans have a right to education and equal access to public services. Under this document, all people specifically have the right to freedom from discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement fought for Black Americans’ access to these universal human rights making it just as relevant in the history of human rights as any other movement. Civil rights movements in other countries, such as the movement against Apartheid in South Africa, are referred to in the framework of human rights so the American Civil Rights Movement should be as well.
Apartheid called for the separation of citizens of the same nation based on their racial identities and appearances. Black South Africans were separated from their White counterparts and treated as secondclass citizens, much like Black Americans were in the Civil Rights Movement. There is no reason for two such similar moments in history to be treated differently in the academic context. Black American Civil Rights should be included in the framework of human rights education. The conversation about human rights needs to be expanded to make room for discussion of the Civil Rights Movement. One way to accomplish this on campus is greater collaboration between the International Institute and the Department for Afroamerican and African Studies. International studies courses focusing on human rights should utilize this collaboration to better include the Civil Rights Movement in their curriculum. The two departments are already making progress with this event featuring Dr. Anderson. However, the Donia Human Rights Center should use increased collaboration with the Department for Afroamerican and African Studies as an opportunity to host more events focusing on this issue to encourage students to think of Black Americans’ civil rights as human rights. Audrey Gilmour can be reached at audreymg@umich.edu.
E
arlier this year, Michiganders would lose their President Donald Medicaid coverage resulting Trump’s administration in a 15-percent reduction in enrollment. The told state Medicaid impact of S.B. 897 directors it would would be even more support states devastating. seeking waivers To be fair, there to impose work is an urgency in requirements for reducing the cost of people covered Medicaid because by the public the legislation that health insurance created the Healthy program— a Michigan program, partnership an expansion of between the federal Medicaid under government and ALI Obamacare, has the 50 states plus SAFAWI a provision that the District of would shut the Columbia. So far, program down if net Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas and New Hampshire costs outweigh net savings. have received these waivers If that happens, Michigan and it is estimated over a will revert to pre-expansion million people will be affected Medicaid rules and thousands would lose coverage. However, by these work requirements. In April, the Michigan just because work requirements state Senate passed their own are a solution does not make it Medicaid work requirement the right solution for Michigan. The ba sic log ic behind bill, Senate Bill 897, that would require “able-bodied” enrollees work requirements, a s fa r to document at least 29 hours of a s I ca n tell, is t hat t hey work, education or job training w ill event ua lly lead people to employer-ba sed per week lest they lose their eit her health coverage. Off the bat, I private hea lt h insura nce or should note other states that to a fa mily income above have already implemented work 138 percent of t he federa l requirements, or have asked for pover t y line, t he cutof f under waivers to do so, set them at Medica id expa nsion. While Obamacare did reduce only 20 hours per week. So even by their fellow Republicans’ the medically uninsured rate standards, S.B. 897 proposed in this country, there is still by state Sen. Mike Shirkey, the problem of the Medicaid coverage gap, an unfortunate R-Clarklake, is extreme. The bill is currently in the circumstance where a person state House of Representatives or family makes too much and has the support of Speaker to qualify for Medicaid but Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt. not enough to qualify for subsidies to Luckily, Gov. Rick Snyder, Obamacare whose one silver lining may help pay for private health be his support of Medicaid, insurance. And what about health believes this bill to be employer-provided unreasonable and will likely insurance? Well, that workplace veto it. However, according to benefit is rapidly disappearing Leonard, Shirkey is working (though state legislators may with the governor’s office to not have noticed seeing as make changes to S.B. 897. The they have coverage). Per the only solution I can suggest is to Kaiser Family Foundation, only 57 percent of surveyed burn the bill. The logic behind Shirkey’s employers in 2015 offered bill is simple enough to follow. health insurance to at least Medicaid is expensive, costing some of their employees and Michigan 30.2 percent of its expect workers to contribute, budget in 2016. Republicans’ on average, 29 percent of the solution? Use work premium for family plans. requirements to force people off of the program. Under lessstringent work requirements Continue reading on page 5. like those in place in Kentucky, approximately 150,000
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Republicans’ Medicaid madness by Ali Safawi continued below:
Furthermore, the nature of employment in America has become part-time; 6 million Americans have parttime jobs but want full-time employment. Twenty-five percent of part-time workers live in poverty and would likely qualify for Medicaid. Part-time work and the associated job insecurity also leads to worse mental health. Imagine adding the potential of losing Medicaid coverage or a family’s coverage to the mix. Chronic stress is linked to many physical health problems including cardiovascular disease. Conditions like diabetes can also worsen with stress. Programs like Medicaid are meant to improve health, not make people sick. Even if work requirements did have a positive impact on people, how many people would be affected? According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 7 percent of Medicaid enrollees are not working for a reason other than disability, school attendance or caregiving. Furthermore, 25 percent of workers, such as seasonal workers, who would meet the 29 hours per week requirement on average would risk losing their Medicaid because they cannot meet the requirement every month. In another cruel twist to the already toxic bill, there is no exemption for caregivers of children up to thirteen years old despite the efforts of state Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, to amend S.B. 897. But perhaps the biggest, reddest f lag concerning S.B. 897 is the clearly racist provision that would exempt residents in rural, mostly white counties from the
requirements. The provision states that counties with unemployment greater than 8.5 percent would be exempt from the work requirements. Sounds fine and not-racist, right? Well, let us conduct a comparison. Lake County is in western Michigan and is 87 percent white. In this county, the unemployment rate as of March was 9.2 percent, well within the range for exemption. On the other hand, in Detroit, which is 80 percent Black, unemployed people would not be graced with the same exemption because Wayne County writ large has an unemployment rate of only 5 percent. Same goes for other majority-minority cities like Flint, Saginaw and Benton Harbor. While I do not think that this provision to S.B. 897 was meant to be racist, it certainly is. In summary, S.B. 897 will lead to poorer health for disadvantaged Michiganders who rely on Medicaid with particularly harsh impacts on seasonal workers, parents or guardians of children, and urban people of color. It is racist and classist. I understand the need to cut down on Medicaid spending in Michigan but there are better alternatives. It is clear from the push for Medicaid work requirements and the earlier fiasco to repeal the Affordable Care Act that Republicans do not believe health care is a basic human right. It is up to vigilant voters to defend the health of our fellow Michiganders. S.B. 897 must be opposed. Ali Safawi can be reached at asafawi@umich.edu.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and op-eds. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while op-eds should be 550 to 850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University affiliation to emmacha@umich.edu
OPINION 5
HANNAH HARSHE | COLUMN
I
College women, let’s make a pact
’m standing in the doorway she’s perceived to be 14 percent less of Shannon’s room. She’s competent than her peers. Seemingly confirming this sitting on her bed, her laptop viewpoint, in a board on her lap with an meeting for Uber episode of “New Girl” last June, Arianna paused on the screen. Huffington spoke We’re yelling at each of the importance other, over each other, of increasing the really. Our voices are number of women growing increasingly on the board, saying loud and angry, and when more women people walking down join, it shows other the street outside our women that they apartment are probably can feel comfortable wondering whether HANNAH joining. “Actually, we’re safe. HARSHE what it shows is For the record, yes, that it’s much more we’re safe, but I’m pissed and so is she. We’re arguing over likely to be more talking,” David what is probably the most trivial Bonderman, who was on the board thing a person could possibly at the time, infamously replied. argue over and we know it, but we also both know that we’re right, so the conversation isn’t going to end anytime soon. Shannon mentions most girls are pretty and very few girls are averagelooking. I counter that according to the definition of the word “average,” most girls are averagelooking, even if that means that average-looking girls are also pretty. From there, we begin arguing. I pull out my laptop to look up the dictionary definition of “average,” we’re holding whiteboards and plotting what we believe are the distributions of various levels of attractiveness. I thought it’s definitely a bell curve, but Shannon’s adamant that it’s skewed to the left, and, yep, we’re yelling. After about 15 minutes of He resigned after receiving arguing, I walk out of the room pushback for this comment. This is a pervasive attitude in and say she’s annoying me and I don’t want to talk to her the workplace: When men talk a anymore. She asks if I want to go lot it’s because they’re smart, but to Starbucks. I say yes, and we when women talk a lot it’s simply put on our shoes and go. Neither because they’re opinionated. of us ever concedes or apologizes, Further, anger is typically seen but later that afternoon, Shannon as a positive quality in a man but says to me, “I’m thankful that a negative quality in a woman. I have a roommate I can get in Brescoll elaborates on this in a New York Times article, stating, yelling matches with.” Unfortunately, not everyone is “Men are less often punished so appreciative of situations in for (showing anger), but they are which women loudly voice their actually seen as more deserving opinions. In her study “Who of power, status and higher Takes the Floor and Why,” Yale salaries. By contrast, women who researcher Victoria L. Brescoll show even mild forms of anger are determined that when a male CEO often viewed as emotionally ‘out speaks more often than his peers, of control’ and are less likely to professional men and women be hired and advanced to higher consider him to be 10 percent positions within their firms.” So how do people respond to more competent than his peers. However, when a female CEO women who have strong opinions speaks more often than her peers, and anger? They interrupt these
This is a pervasive attitude in the workplace: when men talk a lot, it’ s because they’re smart, but when women talk a lot, it’s simply because they’re opinionated.
women. A study found that male Supreme Court justices interrupt their female colleagues more, ignore their ideas and ultimately hinder them from moving up in the workplace. In a few short years, Shannon and I will be moving out of our apartment at the University of Michigan and starting our careers. The days of our yelling matches will be behind us and we’ll no longer stand in her bedroom growing genuinely angry, desperate to prove who’s right. We’ll still be the same people, just as adamant and bold and strong in our beliefs as we are now, but we’ll hold those qualities in our workplaces instead. If we were men, this would be perceived as a good thing; we’d be seen as smart and confident. But because we happen to be women, we’ll likely be punished for those qualities. So, I guess, this is my formal promise: In two years, or five years or 10 years or however long it takes me to get a real job, I will not give up the tenacity that keeps me standing in Shannon’s bedroom, determined to prove that I’m right. Never in a million years would I let Shannon talk over me or let her imply my opinions are wrong. When I’m in the workplace, I refuse to give up that adamant, determined spirit. I hope Shannon doesn’t give up hers either. It’s easier said than done, I’m sure. Women face so much backlash for being angry and opinionated, and retaining those qualities into the workplace puts your career at risk and is not realistic for everyone who needs to keep their job. But I know who I am: I’m the girl who can engage random strangers in debates about Michigan football, and I’m the girl who always finds herself in a yelling match with Shannon over something as shallow as what constitutes an “average-looking girl.” If I were a man, this confidence would be a career asset. To my fellow college women, let’s make a pact: When we enter the workplace, let’s refuse to let anyone turn our bold spirits into liabilities.
Hannah Harshe can be reached at hharshe@umich.edu.
6 ARTS
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FILM REVIEW
‘Tully’ is fresh
MUSIC INTERVIEW
nings with Marlo. As the friendship between the two women grows, their Daily Arts Writer bizarre, almost sister-like chemistry What does modern motherhood strengthens and, invigorated by Tullook like? The spectrum of cinematic ly’s free-spirit and zest, Marlo slowly depictions of what it means to be a emerges from her state of emotional mother is seemingly endless, ranging blankness and depression. from lighthearted, surface-level porThrough her character’s feelings trayals of mothers in “Freaky Friday” of self-doubt, numbness and inner and “Mean Girls” to far darker depic- and outer exhaustion, Theron briltions of mothers acting ‘un-motherly’ liantly delivers the powerful message in “Carrie” and “Ordinary People.” that motherhood is multifaceted. Despite the variation in genre, what While, in part, it is unconditional all these films have in common is that love, joy and relentless devotion, it their portrayals of mothcan also lead to a loss of “Tully” erhood are over-exagidentity and emotional gerated and unrealistic. deterioration. MarFocus Features When it comes to interlo’s unsweetened and State Theatre preting motherhood, uncensored moments as the film world turns to a mother create the tone using a phony lens rather than show- of realness that persists throughout ing the grittier and occasionally less- the movie. pleasant truth of the stresses and Arguably most commendable anxieties that mothers actually expe- about “Tully” is its boldness in tackrience. Void of unnecessary fluff and ling the theme of mental health, over-dramatization, Jason Reitman’s a topic seldom explored in adult film “Tully” offers audiences a fresh characters. Throughout the film, as and sobering glimpse into the rarely audience members, it is clear that revealed side of modern-day mother- Marlo is experiencing some form of hood and its overshadowed intersec- postpartum depression and severe, tion with mental health, challenging debilitating insomnia. Yet, the other the unfair standards that expect con- characters in the film, Marlo’s husstant stability and overall perfection band included, are oblivious to her from mothers. struggles. This oblivion speaks more Marlo (Charlize Theron, “Mad broadly to the manner in which, until Max: Fury Road”), a mother of fairly recently, mental health, espetwo elementary-aged kids and a cially postpartum depression, was newborn baby, is far beyond her often unacknowledged as legitimate breaking point. Life has become or relevant by society. Still today a merry-go-round, but instead of there exists a skewed and ancient spinning around and around among notion that mental health can be colorful animals and smiling faces, boxed up and designated to fit a speMarlo is rotating through the same cific type of person, which simply is numbing routine that mainly consists not true. Through the presentation of changing diapers, breastfeeding of Marlo, a thirty-something mother and prepping microwave dinners. In and a character that viewers would a state of perpetual sleeplessness and not expect to be suffering from with minimal aid from her loving depression, “Tully” overturns the yet ridiculously unhelpful husband false assumptions that there is a mold Drew, (Ron Livingston, “The Con- of any sort for what mental health juring”) Marlo is running on empty, ‘should’ look like. heading toward a downward mental More than anything else, “Tully” spiral. However, a beacon of light is a film that aims to enlighten. shines down when, eager to revive Reitman re-evaluates the notion of his sister’s spirits, Marlo’s wealthy motherhood from a more humanbrother Craig (Mark Duplass, “Safety istic perspective, tearing down the Not Guaranteed”) offers an unusual implicit and outdated stereotypical baby-shower gift: a night nurse. standards that expect expert childDesperate for a sliver of R&R, care, relentless positivity and endless Marlo takes her brother up on his smiles from mothers. With Mother’s offer, quickly finding herself face-to- Day fast approaching, “Tully” takes face with the youthful, enviable and an unconventional route, exposing illustrious Tully (Mackenzie Davis, the reality of motherhood’s tribula“Blade Runner 2049”). Despite tions, honoring all mothers by chalTully’s initial purpose of simply car- lenging the illusion of ‘the perfect ing for the baby through the night, mother’ and beautifully shattering her late-night house calls gradu- the misconception that there is a way ally evolve into gossip-filled eve- that mothers are supposed to be. SAMANTHA NELSON
Caitlyn Smith discusses her music career, album JULIA MOSS
Daily Arts Writer
When the next big thing is in front of you, you sit up and take notice. That’s the effect Caitlyn Smith has on a room: She demands your undivided attention. While she may not be a household name yet, her show at The Blind Pig on May 3 had the distinct feel of a rising star — the kind of grungy, small-venue performance you brag about having seen a year later when the artist is all over the radio. Smith is already the biggest name you’ve never heard in the music industry. Her origin story fits neatly into the mythology of the all-American country singer: Raised in a small town in Minnesota, Smith started performing in the Twin Cities before moving to Nashville, where she built a career as a songwriter. Some of her songs were picked up by major recording artists, including Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (“You Can’t Make Old Friends”), Rascal Flatts (“Let it Hurt”), Lady Antebellum (“747”), James Bay (“Hear Your Heart”) and Meghan Trainor and John Legend (“Like I’m Gonna Lose You”). Smith struggled to establish herself as a performer in her own right until Starfire, her breakout release this January from Monument Records for which she is currently touring. “This album was the end of a long, winding road. I went around to every label in Nashville and tried writing for radio and tried writing what I thought other people wanted from me. Finally, after years of hearing ‘no’ from record labels and ‘no’ from most of Nashville, that’s what brought me to
creating Starfire,” said Smith in a phone interview with the Michigan Daily. “I stepped back and I thought, you know what, I can write songs that are my story and not think about genre, not think about radio, not think about anything except making music that I love.” The tracks on Starfire tend toward confessional, drawing from Smith’s Minnesota roots and the hustle of trying to make a name for herself in Nashville. For Smith, the freedom to be more vulnerable and personal in her songwriting was an important reason for the shift towards performing her own songs: “When you go in the room to write for an artist or for a specific project, it’s
“This album was the end of a long, winding road.” a little bit more like work. You’re able to dig around in what the artist is thinking, but not necessarily tell your story. You can play a character in a room, but it’s not as personal. When I’m writing for myself I’m digging around my own heart and my own story and my own truth and trying to write that.” The intimacy of these songs is always evocative and occasionally heartbreakingly raw like in “This Town Is Killing Me,” a song about Smith’s struggles in Nashville with the lyrics, “Nashville, you win / Your steel guitars and broken hearts have done me in / I gave you my soul / I wanted it
so bad and now I just wanna go home / This town is killing me, this town is killing me.” Smith covers a lot of ground in Starfire, both in terms of emotional range and genre. As much as she can access vulnerability and grief, Smith is also able to pump out brighter, brassier tracks like “Contact High” and “Before You Call Me Baby” that wouldn’t be out of place on the Top 40 charts. While the album holds a country backbone, Smith includes popinflected hooks and elements of blues and rock, making her style difficult to pigeonhole. Despite this variety, Smith’s songs show off her meticulously honed instinct for songwriting — unsurprising, since she considers herself “a student of songs” and cites singer-songwriters like Carole King, Paul Simon and Patty Griffin as some of her biggest influences. Smith identifies a common thread in her work: “All the songs have some guts! Even on the more fun songs, I still feel it from my toes.” With Smith’s powerhouse vocals and take-noprisoners confidence, it’s easy to see how gutsiness could be her calling card. After finishing the Starfire tour, Smith will go on the road with country legends Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and then with Sheryl Crow. She says, “2018 is about getting this music out to the fans. And then anytime I’m in Nashville and have a few days off I’ll definitely be writing and making some new stuff up for the next record.” Whatever that next record may be, there’s no denying that Caitlyn Smith is on the rise, and she’s taking all of us along for the ride.
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MUSIC REVIEW
RCA
‘This is America’ challenges ROBERT MANSUETTI Summer Senior Arts Editor
For a title as open-ended as “This is America,” one would assume Childish Gambino’s latest single would poignantly capture the racial tensions of the nation, using the Black experience as a vessel for artistic expression. For a listener completely unaware of the clandestinely corny wunderkind that is Donald Glover, they would perceive him to be a yet another (admittedly more melodic) toughguy rapper singing self praises while lyrically waving the barrel of an AK in their faces. While the artist known as
Childish Gambino, a masquerade slowly thinning to reveal a bristly Donald Glover wise beyond his years, is far from being a gardenvariety trap rapper, with “This is America,” he purposefully assumes that costume for the sake of flashiness. “I got the plug in Oaxaca / they gonna find you like blocka” boasts Bino, an NYU grad raised middle-class whose standup routines often cycle back to his love for nerdy, traditionally white interests. Yet his boasting isn’t hollow flexing; his claims flow naturally because they’ve become the accepted social rhetoric. It’s the talk of the trap music scene, an environment ironically
glorified by society where a violent background is seemingly essential, where every Black man is a gun-toting gangbanger. Throughout the song, Donald recruits a veritable team of trap maestros to bolster this irony. BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage and Young Thug pop up erratically for the occasional woo, blaow and skrrt, with the latter lending a whimsically haunting outro as well. These varied ad libs are woven frequently into the lyrical content, as if Childish Gambino aims to elevate something which ends up being critically associated with lazy, repetitive rapping. “This is America” is deceptively
ARTS 7
simple, but through the dichotomy and Twitter memes, every shot of the music (which quivers from in the video is backdropped by spirited sing-alongs to booming, playful pandemonium — hordes sparsely instrumented snares), of sprinting bystanders, burning a bigoted dichotomy of Black art cars, even a possible manifestation is revealed: If it’s not deemed by of Death riding by on a pale white our predominantly white artistic horse. world to be culturally important, While not making sweeping it’s ignorant. Black artists are statements about racism, the seldom described as within the oppression in the “America” intermediary space of the critical according to Donald Glover is spectrum which white artists can built on choice. We choose to freely populate, a place where parse Black culture only for one can be corny or innovative or its shining success stories and plain without their race labeled as remain ignorant of the chaotic a defining characteristic of their backgrounds from which Black art. artists came, which systematically This titular “America” is one fight to keep them down. We where to be Black is to be trending, choose to handle guns with care be it for the latest dance craze or and disregard the bodies of the the latest kid to be shot. The music people they slayed (as represented video for the song is a microcosm by the gleefully jarring murder of the world Glover that kicks off “This is lives in. He cavorts the video). Race, around a warehouse however, is not a America” followed by a choice. The chorus, Childish Gambino legion of schoolwhere Gambino RCA aged dancers, implores the “Black his movements man” to “get your combining elements of viral money,” echoes the implicitly dances like the Shoot with acknowledged values of our the Gwara Gwara, Alkayida society. The illusion of choice and other popular dances bestowed upon people of color from Africa. While Gambino’s is one-strike-and-you’re-out: To expressiveness has warranted a be caught “slippin’ up” is to be mountain of lighthearted GIFs engulfed by America herself.
BOOK REVIEW
‘Twilight of the Gods’ looks back NATALIE ZAK Daily Arts Writer
Billy Joel’s and Elton John’s Face to Face tour came to Buffalo, New York, in March of 2010, and it was the first concert I ever attended. Sitting eagerly in the stands of the massive, sold-out HSBC Arena, I was 12 years old and knew the majority of the men’s discographies by heart. My parents started playing their Greatest Hits albums for my sisters and I when we were too young to understand the lyrics, but old enough to commit them to memory. Years later, we would learn their songs on the piano, each of us assuming a different anthem. For Mimi and Elizabeth, it was Joel’s “Piano Man” and “Miami 2017,” and for myself it was John’s “Tiny Dancer.” The performance itself operated around the premise of these two legends playing individually and then in tandem. Their pianos, which
would rise out from under the stage, faced each other from opposite ends where they would banter and play duets in response to the adoring screams from the audience. As it turned out, this would be the final rendition of the Face to Face tour, which had been recurring since 1994. Rumors of discontent between the artists circulated, but nothing was ever confirmed. Joel would later sign a contract with Madison Square Garden to become their resident artist and pretty much stop touring, while John, who recently announced his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, is heading towards retirement, but not without playing 300 stadiums across the world first. Here are two gods, both of classic rock fame, who are careening towards the end of their careers in the way typical of our surviving rock legends — performing at large stadiums to fans who grew up treasuring their music, be them Baby
Boomers or Gen-Xers. It is a popular in the last two years alone, this is a progression of classic rock legends reality the music world has had to these days. Live albums, stadium face. But while the subtitle for this tours and residencies seem to be the book suggests that Hyden reaches three distinguishing elements of the the end of classic rock, whatever rock star in the 2000s. Steven Hyden this may look like, he instead acts points this out in his new book as a catalyst for what the discussion “Twilight of the Gods: A Journey of classic rock will look like once to the End of Classic Rock,” but also all of its icons are gone. For years, adds a caveat to these characteristics: cultural critics have written and Soon, tours like these will no longer reflected on the effect these bands exist because the legends will all be and musicians have had, but most of gone. Stadium concerts are unique these conversations have occurred to our rock gods, the ones draped in while the members are still alive. nostalgia for the beat-up leather of Now, we face the strange task of Cadillacs and drug-addled parties in retrospectively considering the a stranger’s basement. Once men like careers of all these artists in a time Billy Joel and Bruce when young listeners Springsteen and are further and “Twilight of the Mick Jagger finally further removed kick it, what will from the tenets of Gods” become of classic classic rock. The Steven Hyden rock? admiration and Harper Collins It is easy to tell recognition for stars that “Twilight of the like Bowie and Petty May 8 Gods” is a response are there, but it’s to the recent loss of musicians who difficult to truly reckon with their seemed incapable of ever dying deaths when we are so far removed because, in truth, they never seemed from their heyday. human. David Bowie, Prince, Tom At the start of the book, Hyden Petty, Gord Downie and Greg takes care to differentiate between Allman — none of these stars ever classic rock and classic rock. “Classic seemed subject to mortality, but is a value judgement, whereas classic
rock denotes a particular era of music signified by bands that may or may not be shitty.” This sentence serves as a foreshadowing for both the structure and tone of the book. Stylized like a double album, the book has four sides which are split into songs — or chapters — and which follow the trajectory of a concept album like The Who’s Tommy or Genesis’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. A “hero” makes his way from birth to death while attempting to uncover the meaning of life along the way, be this through drugs, God or both. Except the hero here seems to be Hyden himself, and Hyden is just a placeholder for the larger category of classic rock fiends who were captivated by classic rock mythology at a young age with its tortured artists and romantic visions and who now face its impending end. Hyden traces the arcs of our most beloved rockstars from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen alongside the overarching decline of classic rock as we move into an increasingly digital age.
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
8 ARTS
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
‘Being Serena’ is a look into a full life
old daughter with charming husband, and Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian. Still, what the media so often fails to recognize about Williams is the adversity she had to overcome to make it to the top as a Black female athlete, as well as the more personal insecurities she continues to face about being a “good-enough” mother. In a raw look into the anxiety and pressures that lurk within the greatest tennis player
MORGAN RUBINO Daily Arts Writer
Through the public eye, it’s easy to view every aspect of Serena Williams’s life as pictureperfect. She’s not only one of the greatest athletes of our generation — with 23 Grand Slam tennis titles and four Olympic gold medals — but she’s also a new mom to an adorable eight-month
RELEASE DATE– Thursday, May 10, 2018
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Bookie’s concern 5 Wedge-shaped bones 10 Elite Eight org. 14 Bygone depilatory brand 15 Cantilevered window 16 Panhandler’s income 17 Start of a business journey 19 Watery defense, perhaps 20 Hustle 21 First name in bike stunts 23 Phased-out Secret Service weapon 24 Way to get from 17- to 39-Across 29 Doce meses 30 Roll of bills 31 Woolly mammal 32 Seasonal song ender 34 Proceed tediously 37 Like pals who go way back 39 Pinnacle of the journey 44 Three Gorges project 45 Wail 46 Former autocrat 47 Stat for Miguel Cabrera 49 Menu phrase 51 Letter before omega 52 Way to get from 39- to 63-Across 58 Bygone greeting 59 Site with digging 60 Witty remark 61 Word with work or play 63 End of the journey 68 Field of work 69 Food poisoning cause 70 Times past 71 Place of bliss 72 Summer Triangle star 73 WWI battle river
DOWN 1 Top 40 title for Metallica or U2 2 Resting place 3 Overthrew 4 Las Vegas feature 5 Peruvian currency 6 Occur 7 Catlike carnivore 8 “Deathtrap” actor 9 Gene variant 10 ’60s hot spot 11 Data storage medium 12 Render speechless 13 On the move 18 Cry of pain 22 __ gravity 24 Wholesale quantity 25 Figurine material 26 Mesmerized 27 Wing it 28 Dutch earthenware city 33 High-tech greeting 35 Fertility clinic specimens 36 Big name in whisky
38 Naysayers 40 Darker-thanocher pigment 41 Cantina cooker 42 Threw 43 Pelee Island’s lake 48 Toughened 50 Top of the heap 52 Triangular part of a house 53 Roundish 54 Sierra __
55 Pizza slice, say 56 Playwright Chekhov 57 Comfortably familiar 62 Understanding 64 Seine site 65 Corduroy feature 66 “Dream on, laddie” 67 Original Dungeons & Dragons co.
in the world, the five-part HBO mention, Serena stays terrifiedly documentary series “Being cognizant of the riskiness of Serena” lets Williams take the her future delivery (considering reigns and write her own life her past history with blood story for a change. clots during surgery). All of this In the first episode of the pressure to be perfect and the series, titled “Fear,” Williams uncertainty that comes along with encounters a series of unexpected, being a first-time mother appear yet significant challenges. Just to suck the confidence right out of days before she was set to take our champion, her vulnerabilities on her sister, Venus, manifested and in the final match of exposed. “Being the 2017 Australian As the camera — Serena” Open, Serena had a sometimes intimately bewildering dream handled by her HBO that she was pregnant. husband, Alexis — Series Premiere Her suspicions follows Serena around rang true and, after the house, to training receiving clearance to play from sessions and, ultimately, into her doctor, she went on to win the delivery room, we become the title (with Venus joking that it privy to some very private wasn’t a fair match because it was moments. Even though filmed really two against one). celebrity births are nothing new From then on, the documentary to television, the way in which showcases Williams coming Williams documents the entirety down off of her good-news high of her pregnancy sheds light on and sinking into a deep hole of the not-so-glamorous parts of fear. Worries about not being the the process. In this way, “Being best mother and tennis player Serena” rarely feels forced or of all time rise to the forefront manicured as a series and ends up of Williams’s thoughts. Not to playing out more along the lines
of an upscale home movie. The most heartwarming instances of the premiere episode occur when Serena gets up close and personal in a oneshot frame and provides some very conversational video diary updates. She vows that she will return to tennis even stronger after the birth of her daughter, using the documentary as a source of motivation to re-watch down the road. As the credits role and no formal director is cited, the most remarkable aspect of “Being Serena” is revealed — its honest, first-hand perspective. Even without an uber dramatic storyline or intense, singular moment of conflict, “Being Serena” wins in its willingness to highlight vulnerability and the unpleasant truths associated with change. As the episodes go on, the documentary will surely continue to offer some muchneeded reassurance to those feeling isolated by their anxieties because in the end, even those who seem unstoppable are still human.
SINGLE REVIEW: “STREAKY”
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
05/10/18
THIRD WORLDS
By Jeff Stillman ©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
05/10/18
“Streaky,” released this past Saturday, is not standard fare from Death Grips. It still has all their tells — blipping synths, MC Ride’s inexhaustible, commanding voice at every volume, anxiety and a sense of foreboding but not since “Hacker,” from their 2012 release The Money Store has Death Grips sounded so pop friendly. There’s a clear progression from chorus to verse and back to chorus again, which seems to be an intentional choice rather than falling back on simpler com-
positions. In addition, all leitmotifs are introduced within the first minute of the track. There’s something comforting about the shift to a more
“Streaky” Death Grips Third Worlds traditional place, but also something intensely disconcerting. “Streaky” possesses the sleekness of a Government
Plates track and the coolness of some of the calmer moments of Bottomless Pit, but, as always, tension and worry are boiling underneath. Their six albums and other releases have proved that the group is capable of creating evocative, disparate sonic landscapes and “Streaky” points to a definite turn for Year of the Snitch. The predictability and ease of “Streaky” might be a sign of future restraint —or just a red herring. - Jack Brandon, Daily Film Editor
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
OPINION By JONAE’ MAXEY MiC Contributor
Donald Trump, as always, broadcasts his political affairs and opinions on Twitter’s platform. On April 1, he tweeted: “Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. ‘Caravans’ coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!” Trump’s reasoning for getting rid of DACA is ridiculous. He believes that people under the age of 31 who immigrated to America before turning sixteen protected under DACA since 2012 or, “Dreamers”, are inherently criminal and dangerous. In fact, he attributes America’s crimes and economic problems on immigrants, including the Dreamers. However, the Dreamers are law-abiding residents of this country who positively contribute to the country’s growth. These individuals are young people who grew up in America and have attended our schools, served in our army and have careers. The only thing that sets them apart from any other citizen in America is their citizenship status. The government has encouraged immigrants, particularly Mexicans, to travel to America to assist in its economic development. DACA is the least America can do to acknowledge and appreciate this fact. DACA should be kept and here’s why. Mexico and the United States have had a relationship for a long time. Once the “Mexi-
MAX KUANG / DAILY
can Miracle” came to an end in the 1970s, Mexico experienced a huge recession that contributed to a decline in wages, worsened working conditions and plummeting economic conditions. Due to Mexico’s failure to provide subsequent opportunities for families to live in, many Mexicans migrated, illegally, to the United States to find work and to support their families. What was the cause of the decline of the Mexican Miracle? What or who made Mexico no longer internally sufficient? America. Of course, it was America. American and Mexican ties were renewed because of America’s need for oil, manufactured goods and labor in the early 1940s. This alliance harmed many Mexicans because it took jobs away from them. Mexican farmers were replaced with commercial farmers who expedited the process of farming through hybrid seeds and new
DESIGN BY JACK SILBERMAN
technologies. Mexico’s government also prioritized commercial farmers and illegally rented Ejido land to agribusiness or private farmers. Aside from the stealing of property and eradication of jobs, America tried to assist Mexico by providing jobs. American companies, including rail lines, beet factories and manufacturing companies, recruited heavily in Mexico starting in the early 1920s. Companies and employees saw the work done in America as temporary. However, American companies began requesting their workers to stay longer by increasing wages. This is when the occurrence of long-term stay in America truly began. It was highly influenced by America itself. As Mexicans began to stay in America, the economy in Mexico continued to get worse. For example, today, the pay rate and working conditions in Mexico are drastically different than those in America.
America pays more and provides better working conditions than Mexico. According to Business Insider, “Mexico OECD data show that Mexican workers labored 2,327 hours on average during 2014, far ahead of the 1,796 hours worked by Americans. These workers, however, were only paid $12,850 (based on purchasing power parity) during the year. … Americans earned $57,139 during the same period.” America’s presence in Mexico for recruitment and dominating production has left Mexico dependent on America. Furthermore, many Mexicans have made a home in America because of the lack of opportunities in Mexico. The United States government has acknowledged these facts and has, in some ways, tried to protect some of the immigrants who are merely trying to help their families by migrating. DACA was not the only legislation
passed to help immigrant workers. The first appearance of a support for migrants who support the economy was the implementation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 also known as the IRCA. The IRCA provided amnesty for the previous generation of unsanctioned border-crossers comprised of undocumented immigrants who had continuously resided in the United States since January 1, 1982; penalized the employers of unsanctioned workers and increased funding for the United States Border Patrol. The IRCA introduced the idea of protecting immigrants who positively contributed to society from deportation. Under this bill, immigrants’ education increased, poverty rates fell and the rate of homeownership increased drastically. Once the immigrants were legalized, many gained jobs of high ranking. The IRCA was a great foundation
9
for the creation of the DACA legislation. Former President Obama’s reasoning for developing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was to lift the fear of deportation from young people who were brought here as children so that they could continue to contribute to our communities and our country and maybe become citizens of the United States. Immigrants were considered for DACA if they were under 31 years old on June 15, 2012, came to America before turning 16 and had lived in the country since June 15, 2007. Another requirement was that individuals must have a high school diploma, GED, have an honorable discharge from the military, or must still be in school. They could not have a criminal record. The benefit of DACA is that it awards temporary work permits and protection from deportation to childhood arrivals. Today, DACA serves over 800,000 people, who are often called Dreamers. The thought of eradicating DACA is frightening for many American citizens and those who classify as Dreamers. Trump continues to talk about the disadvantages of DACA and insists on repealing it. It is time for everyone to fight this battle for DACA. The lives of the Dreamers and American citizens have become intertwined as one. Our nation’s culture, economic growth, and protection have been supported and uplifted by the Dreamers. To turn our backs on people who have grown up here and who have never harmed the country is absurd. Don’t forget, it was America who initiated the presence of these migrant workers.
10 SPORTS
Thursday,May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Beaubien highlights All-Big Ten selections for ‘M’
ALEC COHEN / DAILY
ARIA GERSON
Daily Sports Writer
In a season where the No. 16 Michigan softball team (18-3 Big Ten, 43-10 overall) reclaimed its spot atop the Big Ten standings, it’s only natural that the accolades have come pouring in. Four Wolverines were named to All Big-Ten teams Wednesday, with freshman left-hander Meghan Beaubien — named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year — highlighting the slate. She and senior first baseman Tera Blanco were also unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selections. Joining them on the first team was junior second baseman Faith Canfield, while junior catcher Katie Alexander garnered second-team honors. Additionally, Beaubien and freshman shortstop Natalia Rodriguez made the inaugural All-Big Ten Freshman Team, while Canfield was recognized for her glovework as the secondbase representative on the AllBig Ten Defensive Team. Senior catcher Morgan Swift was Michigan’s Sportmanship Award honoree. For her work in leading a rela-
tively young team to the top of the conference standings, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins was named Big Ten Coach of the Year — the 17th time she has received this honor. The Daily breaks down each all-conference selection and their best performances in conference play. Meghan Beaubien People knew Beaubien was going to be good, but they’d be forgiven if they didn’t think she was going to be this good. Nohitters, statistical milestones, national recognition — Beaubien has them all. Beaubien ranks fifth in the country and first in the Big Ten with a 0.90 earned-run average and leads the nation with 32 wins — including a 16-1 conference record. She is just the 11th pitcher in school history to rack up 30+ wins. As if that weren’t enough, she also threw three nohitters and combined for another with freshman right-hander Sarah Schaefer. Due to her eye-popping statistics, Beaubien was also named a top-10 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Best performance: May 5 vs. Ohio State — 5 IP, 1 H, 5 Ks
Though Beaubien threw two no-hitters against conference foes in Purdue and Maryland and had games where she garnered twice as many strikeouts, her start against the Buckeyes — her final of the regular season — was her best because the lights were brightest. Against one of the toughest offensive teams the Wolverines would face, Beaubien delivered, making Ohio State batters look silly time and time again. The lone hit she allowed was to Lilli Piper — one of the best hitters in the conference — and Piper was thrown out attempting to advance to third base with no damage done. Michigan would eventually win the game, 8-0. Tera Blanco After a down season by her standards last year, Blanco largely returned to form at the plate while also serving as the Wolverines’ No. 2 starting pitcher, behind Beaubien. In conference play, she batted .438 with an on-base percentage of .645 and a slugging percentage of .813. She also knocked ten home runs — five in conference games — and drove in 23 runs. Her OBP and RBI marks were both second in the Big Ten.
This is the third consecutive year that Blanco has been named to the All-Big Ten First Team. Best performance: Mar. 31 vs. Purdue — 3-3, 2 HR, 4 RBIs In the second game of a weekend series against Purdue, Blanco had a game for the ages. She reached in all four of her plate appearances — garnering three hits and a walk — in Michigan’s 11-1 win. In the fourth inning, she hit a home run into the outfield of Ray Fisher Stadium, and, not to be outdone, ended the game in the fifth when she blasted another pitch off the camera tower in center field for a walkoff three-run shot. Faith Canfield As the Wolverines’ leadoff batter, Canfield’s job was to set the tone for every game and serve as a catalyst for the rest of the lineup. She did just that. In Big Ten play, Canfield posted a batting average of .417 — just behind Blanco for fifth in the conference. She also had seven doubles, 15 RBI and only one strikeout. She also showcased her speed with four stolen bases. Defensively, Canfield posted a fielding percentage of 1.000 — unusual for a middle infielder — and demonstrated her ability to make both the routine and flashy plays, earning her a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Best performance: May 5 vs. Ohio State — 3-4, 2B, SB, 2 RBIs In one of the most important series of the year and against the toughest opponents Michigan would face in conference play, Canfield came through. With the Wolverines up 1-0, an RBI single and an error by the Buckeyes’ right fielder extended Michigan’s lead to a more-comfortable 3-0. Then, in the bottom of the fifth with runners on first and second, two outs and the score sitting at 6-0, Canfield hit a deep double to right-center field to score both runners and end the game early with a run-rule rivalry win. Katie Alexander Though her stats weren’t as flashy as Blanco’s or Canfield’s, Alexander made her presence known both at the plate and behind it. Not only did the former bullpen catcher develop into an offensive force, she also caught all six of the Wolverines’ no-hitters — a program record — and managed the varying per sonali-
ties of the newcomer Beaubien and the veteran Blanco. Alexander earned her secondteam nod by batting .351 in conference play with 11 RBIs, five doubles, two triples and a home run and even added a stolen base. Defensively, she boasted a .994 fielding percentage and Big Ten opponents went just threefor-nine on stolen base attempts with Alexander behind the plate. This is her first all-conference nod. Best performance: Apr. 6 at Penn State — 3-4, 2B, 2 RBIs After an up-and-down start to her season, Alexander broke out in State College. In Michigan’s 14-2 run-rule win, Alexander had an RBI single in the second, a double in the fifth and a twoout, bases-loaded RBI single in the sixth — part of a seven-run rally that extended the Wolverines’ lead from five runs to 12 runs and ended the game early. Other honorees Rodriguez — along with Beaubien a representative on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team — didn’t post the eye-popping traditional stats of some of her teammates, but she made her presence known in other ways. A vacuum at shortstop, Rodriguez showed off her range by saving many a would-be hit. She posted a .913 fielding percentage in conference play. At the plate, the slap-hitter punished opposing defenses with her speed and was a perfect three-for-three in stolen bases. Swift, Michigan’s Sportsmanship Award winner, served primarily as the bullpen catcher and appeared in just four games over her career with the Wolverines — and only one in 2018. Though her lone career at-bat was three years ago, Swift is still an important veteran leader on the team. A stalwart in the classroom as well, Swift double-majored in business administration and mechanical engineering and was named Academic All-Big Ten in 2016 and 2017. Hutchins kept her team calm through a bad start to non-conference play and led them to an 18-3 conference record — including a 15-game winnings streak. Michigan won 37 of its last 41 games and will once again be the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Salter brothers’ final face off
BASEBALL
Wolverines victorious over Central Michigan JACOB KOPNICK
Summer Managing Sports Editor
NATSUME ONO / DAILY
JACOB KOPNICK
Summer Managing Sports Editor
For as different as the Michigan and Michigan State baseball teams are, on Wednesday they both had one thing in common: a Salter brother squatting behind home plate donning the number 11 on the back of his jersey. In the non-conference rivalry contest, the younger brother Harrison and his fellow Wolverines prevailed, as Michigan (14-3 Big Ten, 31-14 overall) trounced Michigan State (8-9, 17-26) 10-2. It’s fitting that a rivalry depicted as the squabbling between siblings has now featured a legitimate battle between brothers. It was clear that this game would be special for the Salter family from the beginning. During the second inning, Will Salter stepped up to the plate where his younger brother Harrison was waiting for him. Sitting a mere inches from his brother, Harrison anxiously awaited to see how his brother would perform under the unique circumstances. Not wanting to disappoint, the senior knocked a single to left field to load the bases. After a forceout and strikeout ended the inning, it was the redshirt freshman’s turn. Not to be outdone, Harrison knocked an RBI single also to left field to match his brother hit-for-hit and give the Wolverines the lead. But the fraternal competition would not stop there. In the bottom half of that same inning, Will would get another chance to show his brother who was boss. Will then legged out an infield single which was hit to third base for his second hit of the day. After the Wolverines regained the lead in the fourth inning, Harrison and
co. entered the fifth wanting to extend that lead and show his brother up. The younger Salter would do just that, clobbering his first career home run deep over the right field fence again with his brother within spitting distance. “I haven’t hit a homerun since I was 12 years old,” Salter said, “but the past couple weeks I’ve been working with the coaching staff on getting balls to drive and stuff like that. Luckily I got that pitch to drive. It was kinda a blur for me walking around the bases, but it was a really cool experience. “I’ll probably hold on to that forever.” Wanting to add further to his career day, Salter then slapped another RBI single up the middle extending Michigan’s lead even further to 6-2. This would mark the end of the Salter family’s fruitful day at the plate. Ending with a combined five hits and a lot of brotherly love, this contest will surely be one the boys will remember. “It was a little weird at first because he’s always been my best friend, always been on my side,” the younger Salter said. “He’s definitely my role model, my older brothers are my role models, so it’s definitely a cool experience to definitely compete with him, but I got over it now and it’s a great feeling.” Besides sharing a field together, the brothers also share a number — 11. The number was worn by their grandfather, legendary catcher Bill Freehan and is even retired at Ray Fisher stadium in Ann Arbor. Harrison was granted special permission to wear the number in honor of his grandfather. “When you can assign deeper purpose and deeper meaning to wearing a number and playing for a school, that’s how you get some magical performances,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich. “And for he and his brother Will and his brother Blaze, they have
been so strongly influenced by one of the legends of the game in their grandfather Bill Freehan, so it means an awful lot to wear number 11 for him… so he’s a totally selfless kid and it just means so much for him to play for Michigan and wear the block-M and to be at a school that his grandfather played at and coached at. “There’s not a person on the field or in the stands that isn’t happy for those types of moments.” Also contributing to the Wolverines’ big day was freshman left fielder Jordan Nwogu. The first-year had two momentous plays that added crucial insurance runs deep into the game. The first came from an extremely rare inside-the-park home run off a ball clobbered to center field. After flying out to center field earlier in the game, Nwogu found better luck in the seventh inning, as he turned on the jets and rapidly slid into home plate. “At first, I thought it was a line drive to center field because at my first at-bat I hit a very similar hit and he caught it, so I was discouraged a bit because I saw it went right to him, but then I saw him dive for it and immediately I turned on the burners,” Nwogu said. “It was just exhilarating. I ran as fast as I could, and it just felt like little league.” Then, to follow up with the astounding play, Nwogu cranked an absolute moonshot over the left field wall for perhaps the team’s farthest home run of the year. The solo shot marked the team’s 10th run and the last of Michigan’s dominant performance. For a game between conference opponents but without conference standings consequences, the dramatics surely were not lacking. Despite the outcome, this was a game that both programs — and brothers — will remember forever.
SPORTS 11
Whether it wanted to or not, the Michigan baseball team has faced its last non-conference opponent. On Tuesday, the Wolverines (14-3 Big Ten, 30-14 overall) trounced Central Michigan (12-9 MidAmerican, 20-26-1) 9-2 in the kind of play that one expects from a program gearing up for its conference tournament on the horizon. While it eagerly awaits its shot at glory in the remainder of conference play, Michigan has had a love-hate relationship with its non-conference schedule, officially ending it with a non-conference game against Michigan State on Wednesday. Perhaps legendary rock group Led Zeppelin best characterizes the testy relationship in its smash-hit, “Good Times Bad Times.” Good times bad times you know I had my share Throughout the long season, the Wolverines suffered crushing defeats, been on the wrong side of walk-off hits and were dealt blistering losing streaks while also surging to walk-off wins, glorious victories and uplifting win streaks all against nonconference opponents. In the days of my youth, I was told what it means to be a man And now I’ve reached that age, I’ve tried to do all those things the best I can No matter how I try, I find my way into the same old jam Starting the season with a demoralizing 4-11 record, Michigan was crushed by non-conference foes. No matter how incessantly Michigan coach Erik Bakich reminded his players of the fundamentals of Wolverine baseball, nothing seemed to be working. Michigan knew what it meant to be a man but couldn’t escape the pangs of rebuilding. Then, after returning from a bruising west coast road trip, the Wolverines turned it around and began their famed 20-game win streak against yet another nonconference opponent: Bowling Green. Then, sixteen, I fell in love with a girl as sweet as could be Since then, it’s been nothing but blue skies against non-conference combatants, as Michigan failed to lose a game against them. The Wolverines fell in love with winning and couldn’t seem to quit it. The driving factor behind their
success can largely be attributed to mentality. In its successes this season, Michigan has consistently stayed on the offensive, letting the bats fly early and often while being buttressed by stout pitching and solid defense. These positives were on full display against the Chippewas as three different Wolverines notched threehit games and on seven separate occasions, Michigan put its leadoff hitter on base. “That’s the most leadoff hitters that we’ve had reach base that I can certainly remember this season and in quite some time,” Bakich said. “It’s something you strive to do. We have a goal to always try to hit the leadoff hitter on most innings, but it was an advantage today. We were able to get guys in motion and keep pressure on ‘em and score in multiple innings, so just a good job by the offense of being locked-in and ready to go.” In a separate demonstration of the team’s locked-in mental state, the Wolverines suffocated Central Michigan with a three run ninth inning while already being up 6-1. “They understand how valuable those runs are and how fresh in everybody’s mind was the beginning we gave up at Rutgers on Friday,” Bakich said. “So a 6-1 lead is a good lead, but it’s not enough. Credit to the guys for wanting to expand that lead and put that pressure on ‘em and keep competing in the box and not throw any at-bats away.” One player who surely did not squander any opportunity on Tuesday was junior second baseman Ako Thomas. Thomas went threefor-five from the plate after missing the previous weekend’s contests due to injury. Thomas and his teammates completed the dominant win despite not playing at home — the final piece of Michigan’s non-conference success. I sure do wish I was at home Over the season, the Wolverines are an astounding 17-1 at home and undefeated against non-Big Ten foes at Ray Fisher stadium. Therefore, it’s fitting that Led Zeppelin’s ballad concludes with a touching sentiment that can also be applied to Michigan’s affinity for the turf field in Ann Arbor. You can feel the beat within my heart Realise, sweet babe, we ain’t ever gonna be apart.
12 SPORTS
Thursday, May 10, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wolverines find glory on Senior Day against rival OSU
MATT VAILLIENCOURT / DAILY
TIEN LE
SummerManaging Sports Editor
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The essence of the American dream is chasing those ideals as well creating success and opportunity through hard work and dedication. So for the Wolverines, they were living the dream. On Saturday’s matchup against Ohio State, the No. 14 Michigan softball team celebrated its senior day with a 8-0 win in six innings. After a blunder-filled game Friday, the Wolverines eased their doubts by fixing all the the wrong things and keeping all the right. “You always want to beat Ohio State, especially on Senior Weekend,” said senior designated player Taylor Swearingen. “It’s the cherry on top. And winning the Big Ten Championship, it’s like a dream come true right now.” However, a rivalry win, a dominant display and a Big Ten title don’t just fall from the sky. None of those things came easy. And as early as the opening inning, that was evident. After creating some momentum with a quick three-up-three-down inning at the top of the first, the team saw its offensive struggles return with three outs on four at-bats — including two groundouts and a pop out. With the three outs coming in rapid succession, silence was ushered throughout the crowd and dugout. A positive that came from the inning was second baseman Faith Canfield returning to form. The senior hit a single to left field attempting to find a groove to offset her recent batting struggles. Canfield then additionally came away with a steal — upping her confidence. However, it would take more than just a single and a steal to rile up the dwindling spirits around Alumni
Fields. Another three-and-out top of the inning brought some noise around the stadium but it still teetered between the edge of snoozing and erupting — just looking for the extra push to tip the balance. Then it came at the bottom of the second inning. With bases loaded, sophomore outfielder Haley Hoogenraad broke open the scoring — and the silence — with a fielder’s choice play that brought the stadium back to life. The run was set up by junior catcher Katie Alexander’s walk. Senior outfielder Aidan Falk drove a fly ball down centerfield that enabled them to advance a base before being joined by Swearingen to load the bases. Swearingen’s patience at the plate allowed her to fight back from a 0-2 count to eventually get the free base by walk. “Hitting the ball out of the infield,” said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. “You know our first run kind of came on kind of a blue pit, and don’t get me wrong, those are great because we’re swinging. “And you know, our whole group broke through a bit because I saw more, I mean, Aidan had a well-hit ball.So we’re just trying to score runs and it was really big to get out and get a lot of runs. We really needed that.” The exuberance in the dugout and in the stands showed just how much it was needed. After Friday’s game, where runs came at a premium, the early signs of a potent offense was much appreciated. And it didn’t end with one run. Freshman Natalia Rodriguez hit a line drive to second base that advanced everyone but Hoogenraad who was subsequently tagged out on her way to second. With runners on the corners, Canfield looked prime to inject even more life back into the stadium. Hitting a single down right field, she sprinted to first, pleased to
expand the lead even if it was just by one. But a mishandle by the Buckeye outfielder allowed Canfield to continue on her path and end at third — a two-RBI hit. From that point on, the Wolverines had all the freedom at the plate as they wanted. Junior outfielder Natalie Peters stood firm at the plate, waiting for her pitch. But it never came. She watched three go by without biting on any for a 3-0 count. The next pitch she chose to swing, but she had the liberty to do so even though it resulted in a strike. The pressure wasn’t on her. It was on the Ohio State pitcher who was facing a runner in scoring position with a three-ball count during the at-bat. What was the result? Peters was walked in the next pitch — restraining her swing on the high ball. Senior first baseman Tera Blanco followed suit during the very next atbat. Sensing the thin ice the pitcher was walking on, she took a chance on the off-speed pitch but was called for a strike. However, the liberty at the plate came to her just as it had Peters. Four consecutive balls came, and she made her way to first for loaded bases. Now in an defensive free fall, the Buckeyes changed pitcher in hopes of a more promising outcome. But it was the same story for the Wolverines. Sophomore third baseman Madison Uden knew the strike zone and waited for the pitch to enter. Instead, she came out of her atbat seeing four straight balls, upping the lead by one. “Yeah, I think we were just trying to command our zone a little bit better today,” Swearingen said. “And that actually helped us, and I mean, we took advantage of the free bases, and we got timely hits that way.” Ohio State stopped the bleeding with a strikeout on Alexander to end the inning and close a threatening situation.
Whereas the Michigan batters had liberties at the plate, the Buckeye batters had none. Another three-up three-down inning forced Ohio State off the field and gave the Wolverines an ample opportunity to widen the gap. It was all part of the game plan. “I think more than anything with our offense, you look at up at (Michigan State) the other day, we ended up with eight runs,” Hutchins said. “We kind of chipped away every inning. And taking walks was huge. We took a lot of bases. And if they’re going to give us bases, we need to take them. We need to not be walking back to the dugout after ball four.” While in many situations, a walk or two can be made up for with stellar defense. But with the unforgiving lineup for Michigan, every mistake matters. So when Swearingen was once again walked — another fourpitch walk — Hoogenraad promptly capitalized. With knees bent and stance tightened, she hit a no-doubt home run into the branches of the trees behind left field. “I don’t know if anything I saw to any of them really matters,” Hutchins said, “but I said I’d like them to swing more like Haley Hoogenraad, because Haley’s got a big ole swing.” The Wolverines ended the inning after two outs by Rodriguez and Canfield on a bunt attempt and a groundout, but the team did its damage. Pushing for a response, the Buckeyes failed to deliver — though giving a viable scare at the top of the 4th. After a groundout by the leadoff batter, Ohio States’ Lilli Piper — their most potent offensive player who had hit a home run the game prior — hit a double down line in left field. A fielder’s choice sent her to third, and hope emerged that the team could put one on the board. But Uden put the crowd at ease with a groundout.
It wasn’t until a full inning later did another scoring chance emerge, but this time, for Michigan. Swearingen saw another free base as she was walked through four pitches at the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore designated player Abby Skvarce — substituting for Rodriguez — was hit by pitch before being replaced at first back by Rodriguez. The spotlight fell to Canfield to put an early end to the game. After three balls and a foul for a count in her favor, the junior saw Hutchins urge her on to swing hard. “She hit the ball way better today,” Hutchins said. “She did. She swung harder. She swung through it. I said you can’t be afraid to miss. It’s ok if you miss. I’d rather have you swing well and miss than just make contact and be out.” Getting full contact on the swing, the ball was sent down centerfield and to the wall. The runners made a mad dash to home where Swearingen easily saw home plate. However, Rodriguez froze at third despite further urgings by Hutchins to continue. The moment of hesitation looked costly, as Rodriguez bit the bullet and made her way to home plate even though the catcher looked prime to garner the ball in time. But with her speed, the freshman hustled near the batter’s box before diving to the dirt — her hand safely on the plate just as the catcher bent over to tag. It was ironic. The freshman tagging home to secure the seniors a Big Ten championship on their senior day, effectively accepting the torch being passed down. In a rush of happiness, the dugout emptied, as the players inundated the field to accept their title. This was supposed to be just a stop in the long race. After all, the Wolverines have their eyes on the finish line — a College World Series title — but in the moment, they were living the dream.