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Thursday, July 19, 2018

ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

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Administration

NEWS

LEO approves new contract

Nurses rally Thousands of U-M nurses picket for safer staffing and a better contract

Three-year agreement raises pay across U-M campuses

>> SEE PAGE 2

OPINION

Interrupting death

By GRACE KAY

Part two of Julia Montag’s look at the opioid crisis through the lens of higher education >> SEE PAGE 4

Summer Managing News Editor

ARTS

COURTESY OF IBRAHEEM MALIK

Sacha Baron Cohen returns “Who is America?” is an inconsistent show of his talents >> SEE PAGE 6

MICHIGAN IN COLOR

The conundrums of white guilt “I have always wondered what it would be like if I were white”

>> SEE PAGE 9

SPORTS

Beilein extends contract Michigan coach John Beilein gets a contract extension until 2022-23. >> SEE PAGE 12

NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ............................... 4 ARTS/NEWS......................... 6 MiC......................................... 9 SPORTS................................ 10

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U-M Hyperloop to race in Elon Musk’s competition Team will test high-speed pod on 1-mile SpaceX track By ALICE TRACEY Summer Daily News Editor

Michigan Hyperloop, a team of University of Michigan students designing a pod that can travel at nearly 300 miles per hour, will be traveling to Hawthorne, California to participate in a July 22 competition hosted by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The team will race its pod along SpaceX’s Hypertube, a mile-long, 6 footdiameter, nearly vacuumized track, competing against 17 other universities from across the globe. Michigan Hyperloop is the only team from the state of Michigan racing this year. Musk founded the Hyperloop Pod Competition in 2015 with the goal of encouraging young engineers to think creatively

about high-speed, futuristic transportation. According to Michael Umbriac, Michigan Hyperloop faculty advisor, SpaceX envisions eventually using Hyperloop pods to shuttle passengers and cargo. In fact, Hyperloop One, a company co-founded in 2012 by Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar and former SpaceX engineer Brogan BamBrogan after a conversation with Musk, is currently mapping potential routes domestically and abroad. “The ultimate goal is to have a pod that travels about 700 miles per hour from city to city,” Umbriac said. “One of the ideas that was proposed was a pod that can make the trip from Detroit to Chicago in 30 minutes.” Project team lead Sam Elwell, an Engineering junior, said SpaceX required participating teams to consider the potential future applications of their designs. “The competition started as a way to foster the technological

development of it (high-speed pods), so it is inherently embedded in all of the teams competing to keep the end game of making this a reality in mind when designing,” Elwell wrote in an email interview with The Daily. “For that reason, there is a portion of our final design package that is required to discuss how our vehicle could be scaled to a full scale vehicle that could actually be implemented someday.” The first two Hypertube competitions occurred in January and August 2017. The University competed on a joint team with Cornell University, Harvey Mudd College, Northeastern University, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Princeton University in January, then competed individually in August. At the competition, Hyperloop pods are judged solely on speed, and starting this year, all designs must be self-propelled along the track. There is no prize other than recognition.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

After three days of electronic balloting and five membership events spread out across the three campuses outlining the new contract, the Lecturers’ Employee Organization voted to ratify a new labor agreement with the University on July 13. Ninety eight percent of LEO members voted in favor of the new contract which will raise wages, improve healthcare and boost job security for lecturers across the three campuses. The contract was reached and presented to the union members for a vote following months of negotiations and numerous bargaining sessions with the University. LEO represents a union of more than 1,700 lecturers who collectively teach tens of thousands of students at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. “This agreement is a result of months of hard work at the bargaining table – and much more,” LEO Vice President Kirsten Herold, a lecturer at the U-M School of Public Health and manager of the LEO bargaining team, said in LEO’s official statement. “We organized. We marched. We rallied. We lobbied. And we built a coalition that includes students, tenure-track faculty, union members on and off the campus, elected officials and community allies.” LEO’s previous contract expired on May 29. Since the beginning of the last academic year, LEO has been pushing for higher wages, improved healthcare and greater equity of resources across the three U-M campuses. See LEO, Page 8

2 NEWS $10 million survival jet streamlines patient care Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Michigan Medicine’s new plane improves transport to hospital By MAYA GOLDMAN Daily News Editor

Michigan Medicine’s new Survival Flight jet has only been in service since June 1, but it’s already making missions faster and safer for the hospital’s most severely ill and injured patients. Michigan Medicine launched the Survival Flight program 35 years ago to rapidly and safely transport patients to hospitals. Since then, the program has grown into a booming operation with 24 flight nurses, 10 communication specialists, 10 helicopter pilots, eight fixed-wing pilots and seven mechanics. The new $10 million converted Learjet 75 replaced the plane the program had used for the last 17 years. Like most medical planes, previous aircraft, a Cessna Sudokuthe Syndication Citation Encore, was a typical

commercial jet fitted with medical equipment. Denise Landis, Survival Flight clinical director, explained though the previous plane served its purpose, its original commercial function added certain difficulties to the job. For example, its door frame was only 19 inches wide. “It was very hard to get patients in and out of the door safely without injuring the patient, without injuring the crew and without damaging the aircraft,” Landis said. Though Landis said no patients have been harmed on their way into or out of a Survival Flight plane, the new jet makes that fear a non-issue. Specifically converted by aircraft refurbishment firm Hillaero, the new plane also began its life as a corporate jet; however, after input from Survival Flight stakeholders from all over the University Hospital, it began to transform into an aircraft that could fit all of Survival Flight’s medical needs, including wider doors.

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COURTESY OF GRACE KAY Retired U-M nurses Pat Dillow and Val Barrie, and current U-M nurse’s Katie and Julia Barrie join the nurse’s rally in Fuller Park Saturday.

U-M nurses push for safer staffing Picketers demand changes to recently expired contract

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let them,” Armelagos went on to say. “Our contract expired on June 30. Yet, administrators refused to meet over an extended 4th of July holiday week. They wanted to go on vacation.” By GRACE KAY “We were working,” the crowd Summer Daily News Editor chanted. Speakers like Armelagos and Alongside various supporters, Read more at MichiganDaily.com http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ thousands of the University of Oppenheim argued that the Michigan Professional Nurses bargaining for a new contract Council (UMPNC) members would look out for the patients gathered in Fuller Park in support by implementing safer staffing of safer staffing and a better practices. “We are here today to demand a contract for U-M nurses. Before marching around say in our nursing practices and we MEDIUM the University of Michigan are unwilling to make concessions Hospital, UMPNC hosted a that jeopardize patient safety,” speaking program with several Oppenheim said. Oppenheim cited issues notable guests including U.S. Michigan Medicine Representative Debbie Dingell within (D-MI), UMPNC President Katie such as managers refusing to Oppenheim and President of the disclose staffing information and Lecturers’ Employee Organization information regarding how many and President of the Huron patients each nurse is responsible Valley Area Labor Federation Ian for at one time. MI Nurses Association’s press Robinson. UMPNC represents about 6,000 RNs, including those at release explains poor staffing and the University of Michigan as well a lack of transparency regarding how many patients an individual as satellite locations. The community rally and nurse is responsible for can harm informational picket comes after patients. “Decades of well established UMPNC’s contract expired on June research prove that when a nurse is 30. One of the speakers, UMPNC forced to care for too many people Grievances Chair and President of at once, it can lead to medication the Michigan Nurses Association errors, falls, and increased infection John Armelagos, said UMPNC has rates, and even patient deaths,” the been working for a better contract statement reads. © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. for more than 100 days. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com Read more at MichiganDaily.com “The University wants to roll back the clock. We’re not going to

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NEWS 3 Task Force outlines role of Police Review Board Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Members create framework for monitoring AAPD EMMA RICHTER/DAILY

City Council establishes housing code for new fraternities and sororities

Citizens express concern regarding Greek Life party culture By SONIA LEE Daily Staff Reporter

At the Monday meeting, the Ann Arbor City Council approved changes to the zoning code for Greek life houses and moved to postpone the approval of a new development plan for the northern part of the city. City Council voted unanimously to approve new zoning for fraternity and sorority houses, which modifies the definition of “fraternity” and “sorority” and requires the organizations to affiliate themselves with the University or another higher education institution. Mayor Christopher Taylor commented the changes will improve Greek life organizations’ interactions with Ann Arbor residents. “Our goal is to more accurately increase the likelihood that fraternities and sororities are good neighbors to everyone,” Taylor said. “In many cases they are. Occasionally they are not. I think this ordinance change will give us the opportunity to do something about it in that minority case.” Though the changes do not retroactively apply to existing Greek life organizations and the new zoning rules will only apply to new Greek life organizations seeking a permit or established organizations looking to expand, neighbors of Greek life houses as well as Greek life alumni came forward to discuss the proposal. Anne Schreiber, an Ann Arbor resident whose house is surrounded by fraternity and sorority houses, was in support of the proposal, saying while some of the organization members are good neighbors, many fraternities in particular cause disturbances. “There are an awful lot of people

that are very unhappy with the way they (fraternities) behave,” Schreiber said. “They are unruly, they are noisy, they’re dirty — lots of garbage and papers and stuff. And I don’t think we should give them any more latitude. I think if anything we need to restrict them and give them some parameters. It seems like nobody can take ownership of the responsibility of their misbehavior.” Peter Nagourney, the co-chair for the North Burns Park Association and neighbor to several Greek life houses, pointed out one neighboring residence housed a banned fraternity. “You should know that one neighbor spent nine months constantly, and I mean daily, dealing with city, University police and Greek life entities before one of these party houses set up by members of a banned fraternity was shut down,” Nagourney said. “This is a real problem. Others in this neighborhood must constantly deal with trash, public drunkenness, loud music and other violations of city ordinances. Oversight of these groups is not done at the national level despite the claims of their attorneys. Oversight by the University and the Office of Greek Life does not seem to make much difference.” Elizabeth Jove, a member of the house corporation that owns the Alpha Phi Sorority property and chapter adviser for the sorority, pushed the council to postpone the decision for approval, stressing a need for all voices involved to be heard. “What we have here tonight is exactly the situation that will continue if council doesn’t let all parties sit and talk together because we’ve heard neighbors who have deeply held concerns and issues with the behavior of

these properties, of the people who live on these properties,” Jove said. “This proposed zoning amendment is not going to address those issues. It doesn’t address trash and noise and parties. It doesn’t address the appearance of your properties.” Nagourney disagreed, claiming Greek life organizations have previously not been forthcoming in responding to neighbors’ concerns. “Hearing tonight’s sudden offers to work with the community are a joke,” Nagourney said. “In 20 years I have never heard from any organization about meeting or dealing with these issues. Never once. And my name’s been on the books for over 20 years.” In addition to the approval of the new housing code for fraternities and sororities, the council also discussed a new development plan for the Cottages at Barton Green. The decision to postpone the new housing development by Trinitas Ventures, an Indiana student housing developer, was made following heavy protests from residents of the Pontiac Trail. The proposed development would range from the west side of Pontiac Trail and south of Dhu Varren Road and include 225 apartments with 716 bedrooms in 92 buildings built on the vacant lot. Major concerns from residents and councilmembers included safety, increased parking and traffic, and an increase in undergraduates that would result in noise and littering problems.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

By ALICE TRACEY Summer Daily News Editor

The Ann Arbor Police Task Force, a committee of 11 citizens, gathered at the CTN building Thursday night to continue working towards its goal of developing written framework for the implementation of an official police review board before late August. City Council assembled the task force earlier this year, responding to incidents such as the 2014 shooting of Aura Rosser and the 2017 arrest of Ciaeem Slaton, both of which sparked allegations of police brutality on the part of the Ann Arbor Police Department. Thursday’s meeting was dedicated to the review of the task force’s documentation. Specifically, Task Force members discussed two sets of proposed edits, one submitted by Task Force Co-Chair Richard Friedman and the other by Transforming Justice Washtenaw, a community of advocates against police brutality and racial discrimination. The task force started by debating its written procedure for filing a complaint with the police review board. Voting member Dwight Wilson said the task force should mandate the existence of multiple sites where citizens can pick up complaint reports, noting some people might feel uncomfortable setting foot in City Hall to fill out the form. Friedman touched on sections of the document pertaining to confidentiality, saying he felt confident his proposed edits clearly communicate the fact that a complaint brought before the review board does not need to be submitted to the police, if the complainant so chooses. Voting member Richard Sable asked why a complainant would bother going through the review board if they wanted to submit their issue to the police. Friedman explained the complainant might see the review board as an ally

dedicated to investigating their allegation against AAPD. Countering Friedman’s point, Wilson said the complainant may or may not consider the review board an ally; they might just be reaching out to as many organizations as possible in order to be heard. “They may simply want to make sure that other people know,” Wilson said. “I do that all the time. If I want to make sure I’m going to get an answer, I will copy two or three people, just to put pressure on the person who may not answer me.” Moving on to the language of the police complaint report, which is meant to be filled out by someone with an issue related to AAPD behavior, voting member Robin Stevens said the initial form should not ask for any personal details. “In my opinion, we shouldn’t be asking for race, sex, ethnicity, any of that until the commission decides how are they going to handle that information,” Stevens said. City Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy, D-Ward 1, reminded the task force personal data could help the police review board identify patterns of discrimination. “We need to be collecting enough information, not immigration status, but for example, whether it’s regarding who is being stopped on the road,” Kailasapathy said. “The data that comes from there is also going to help us to understand if there is systemic discrimination or systemic targeting of people.” TJW member Maren Spolem agreed with Kailasapathy, but said the police review board needs to have a protocol in place for handling the personal information of complainants carefully and confidentially. Spolem then mentioned one of her proposed edits to the task force’s documentation, saying TJW wants it to be clear the review board’s first step in handling a complaint will not be to reach out to the police. She said a person who has experienced trauma, like sexual misconduct, at the hands of the police might be hesitant to approach the review board otherwise.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

4 OPINION

Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

JULIA MONTAG | COLUMN

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MARLEE BURRIDGE| COLUMN

Covering progress

ately I’ve been pretty hard on the sports community. It definitely needs some tough love and perhaps a wake-up call in order to fully realize the kind of inequalities it is perpetuating. I’ll give it this: The sports industry is going to be a tough nut to crack. Many people who work in this industry are set in their ways and perhaps are having a harder time adjusting to more progressive policies and ideas. Regardless, I can say confidently there are many athletes and supporters who will continue to speak out about any injustices and will not stop until equality is achieved. Despite many issues that still need to be addressed, I must give credit where credit is due. In the spirit of shedding some light on the good things that the sports community is doing, let’s talk about the ESPN Body Issue.

The Body Issue has always focused on creating positive conversations about body image as well as trying to garner a true appreciation for the incredible physical forms of these athletes. It shows off their strength and the overall impressive feat of nature that are the bodies of these top athletes. This year, ESPN featured Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird. Not only are these women some of the most incred-

ible female athletes of their age— Bird being the all-time leader in assists in the Women’s National Basketball Association and Rapinoe being a prolific scorer and long-time member of the U.S. national soccer team—but they are the first-ever LGBTQ couple to be featured in the issue, let alone on the cover.

Male athletes are expected to be strong and “macho.” Unfortunately, unjustly and untruthfully, people have categorized gay men as just the opposite. This has made it difficult for male athletes to come out because they believe others will think they are less of an athlete and incapable of playing their sport at the highest level. Of course, this is not the case as all athletes at the highest level, regardless of sexual orientation, are extremely capable, and it is brave young men like Martin who will continue to inspire this wave of support and understanding.

This cover shows a very positive shift in the diversity of the issue. It has always been difficult, especially for male athletes, to come out as LGBTQ, but hopefully more progress like the cover of the Body Issue will continue to be made and the sports community will Yes, the sports world has continue to support everyone many faults and much to work regardless of gender and sexual on, but there are many posiorientation. tive things that are happenI recently saw another article ing as well. The cover of the that I feel needs some attention. 2018 Body Issue and Martin’s The18.com wrote about a young statement have helped to spark man by the name of Collin Mar- positive conversations around tin. Martin, a Minnesota United female and LGBTQ athletes. soccer player, just recently came Hopefully this progress conout as gay on Twitter. He is now tinues and the sports commuthe only openly gay male athlete nity can help heal a lot of hurt in major professional U.S. sports. and be an example for people He discusses how he has been everywhere. Nobody should out to family, friends and team- be discriminated against for mates for many years, but that or defined by their gender or this is his first public statement. orientation. Differences should As a result of his tweet, there was be embraced, respected and an outpouring of support and encouraged. encouragement from the soccer world. This kind of positivity and support is exactly what is needed to start enacting change.

Marlee Burridge can be reached at marleebu@umich.edu.

Interrupting death

his is Part 2 of Julia Montag’s series about how the opioid crisis affects campus. Part 1 was an interview with Mary Jo Desprez, Director of Wolverine Wellness, about the importance of educating the student body on prescription pill misuse.

about the Clinton-Adapt partnership; as grateful as she is for its existence, she is proud of the work that the University of Michigan has put into tailoring its Collegiate Recovery Program to well fit its student body. “If you’re going to be giving that out, make sure it is wrapped in a bundle of serMy conversation with vices – like referral and treatDesprez left me a bit unnerved ment.” and pushed me to think about what I would do if I had to help an addicted friend. Or an overdosing friend. A 2015 study on perceptions and use of opioids intensified my worries. Among the troublesome results was the statistic that more than 37 percent of our country’s college-aged youth would not know where to go for help. So I typed and I searched and I read, and it turns out that when opiate overdoses hit a sharp incline earlier this decade, the Clinton Foundation partnered with Adapt Pharma to equip college camThe University’s College puses with 40,000 free doses of the nasal spray that has Recovery Program is a suplife-saving properties. If given port resource that stems from within minutes, Narcan can the desire of college adminreverse the fatal consequences istrators to assume responsiof an opioid overdose by coun- bility for students in recovery teracting the body’s physi- and after treatment, as well ological responses to the drug. as to support and nurture them to their full potential. Voila! Donation programs like The tenet of nationwide CRPs this one are noteworthy, as is that though there exist they are setting the stan- many models to abet recovdard for other organizations ery, the process is “definitely and creating a path to follow; NOT a one-size-fits-all.” This hopefully, other companies is important because it means will also want to assist in each institution needs to concurbing addictions and over- sider several pieces when developing a CRP that’s just doses. However, as discussed by right. Ours has been breeding Jennifer Plum for the Wash- success stories for years. “I’m all about a lifesaving ington Post, this well-intentioned program creates a false drug, but don’t just have it be sense of security. How, she a lifesaving drug,” Desprez asks, does a dose of Narcan attests. “Narcan is hugely save a life when it is sitting on important because it interthe shelf of a nurse’s office? rupts death. But it can’t just “It is imperative that nalox- be that, because otherwise one be placed directly with somebody will just keep using the people who are most at it.” Instead, Desprez mainrisk of an overdose or are most tains the importance of the likely to witness an overdose: University’s CRP, explaining the roommates, family mem- that they try to coach and bers, friends and even relative support students in a more strangers,” she writes. And holistic way. she’s right. Remember, Narcan must be administered within minutes to work its wonders. Continue reading on page 5. Desprez had similar doubts

“How, she asks, does a dose of Narcan save a life when it is sitting on the shelf of a nurse’s office?”

Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Interrupting death by Julia Montag continued below:

Desprez helped me situate where the CRP falls in a recovering addict’s life. “If you can imagine, you get sent to treatment, which is great for a lot of people, but then they have to come back into the environment in which they were using.” Keeping the students healthy through recovery allows the program to accomplish one of its primary goals, which is helping students finish their college degrees. When we spoke, I asked Desprez if a drug user’s access to Narcan is as useful as an uneducated, unprotected, sexually active teen’s access to Plan B. She laughed uneasily, but agreed with my point: “Yes, there is a danger in the moment, and a person needs care that extends beyond that dangerous moment. I think that’s a really important piece of it.” Beyond the CRP, the University has a considerable number of resources that recovering drug users can utilize; upon request, we have recovery dorm rooms, or safe housing particularly designed for those in need of a recovery space. Our campus is also home to MedSafe, an anonymous medication take-back program that allows students to drop off unused, unwanted meds to protect themselves and others from drug abuse. Along with this resource exists a crowded map of other drug disposal sites around the state. All of these security measures lent some hope

to my research, but I was still preoccupied about how Narcan gets out of University Health Services and into the hands of my fellow students. I discovered a reassuring piece of information: In 2016, University Division of Public Safety & Security officers were required to carry Narcan in all patrol vehicles. According to University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald, DPSS officers have only used Narcan twice, and both times the recipient survived. The abounding list of U-M resources could be a whole article in and of itself. Interestingly, each college campus has different standards about educating and providing support for its student body, taking on various forms of care; at the University of Rochester, students now must undergo screenings for hard drugs, while in Philadelphia, the Haven at Drexel houses students from the nearby University of Pennsylvania, Temple and Villanova. However, the magnitude of University of Michigan’s campus and student body matches the immense number of initiatives that are either in the works or in existence already. So, if Wolverines mirror the 37 percent of students nationwide who wouldn’t know where to seek help, this one’s for you.

Julia Montag can be reached at jtmon@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

AYUSH ARORA | WOLVERINES ABROAD

Adopting a new mindset

linking into the bright sunlight, I emerged from the local hospital in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, where my M-HEAL (Michigan Health Engineered for All Lives) team and I had displayed the result of a year of research and development: an automated surgical warming mattress. The hospital we were assisting was in a dire situation: The lack of air conditioning, supplies, and personnel only barely scratches the surface of the problems facing the hospital. The project, which was to create an automated temperature reg ulator to prevent perioperative hypothermia in the surgical setting, now definitely had the feedback and push it needed for the next year. However, as part of the M-HEAL team PeriOperative, our contribution to the community we were serving was not only technical; it was also cultural. After delineating our device’s function, ensuring that the staff understood its technicalities, and attaining feedback about its usability for their specific purposes, we switched gears and headed to a nearby elementary school to teach English lessons.

Now I know what you’re thinking. After all, how are a bunch of engineers supposed to teach English? Even worse was the fact that none of our seven members knew how to speak Spanish. As we neared the school, we witnessed a scene quite different from our expectations, noticing the thick coils of barbed wire that encircled the gates enclosing the campus. When we entered the gates, we were escorted to the headmaster’s office and then directed to a couple of nearby classes. Prior to entering the classes, our team split into groups to attend each individual classroom and stopped to discuss “the plan.” Truthfully, we had none. We had brought some basic instructional materials but nothing substantial. We had just come from hours of discussing a PID feedback control system, a far cry from the instruction we were now attempting to offer.

In addition, the environment was different from what we were used to. In the unfamiliar heat and openness of the school, the translator, our ling uistic lifeline, was nowhere to be seen. Regardless, I took a deep breath and entered the third-grade classroom.

“Imagine teaching a language to someone whose language you can’t speak. That’s the situation we were in.” The first surprise was the discipline. The children, no more than eight or nine years old, were extremely quiet. The teacher standing in the front of the class sat down and allowed us to take over. I tried introducing myself in Spanish using a translation in a lesson book, but the children laughed pretty hard when I said it, so I’m not quite sure my intended message went through. After all, when I was in high school, my teacher obviously knew English. Imagine teaching a language to someone whose language you can’t speak. That’s the situation we were in. Eventually, I just pointed to myself and said my name and the message was received. Then, I saw a world map and pointed from myself to Michigan. At this point, the students were quite amused, so we just went on with the lesson. A rough start for sure. It slowly got better, and throughout the lesson, I learned two things. One, always be positive, even if you have no idea what you are doing. By remaining enthusiastic, the students’ involvement grew, and I actu-

ally found myself having fun despite my pathetic attempts at Spanish. And two, be simple. This is an engineering concept: Never make things more complicated than they have to be. We started with pointing at colors on the walls and naming them. We then moved to shapes, drawing and naming them individually, and eventually to the alphabet. Using basic hand motions and identifiable gestures, we taught the children some basic English words in a couple of hours. Though I was the person teaching, it was just as much of a learning experience for me as it was for the children. I most definitely gained insight into some interesting aspects of Dominican culture. In an attempt to get my attention, one of the students referred me as “Indio” and another instructor in my group as “Chino.” I was taken aback at first, since calling someone out by their race so directly is definitely not tolerated in the United States, especially in an educational environment. In their usage, however, there was nothing derogatory about this identifier. After spending another couple of days in the hospital demonstrating our project, we returned and taught with better knowledge of the community, culture and expectations. The students were no doubt delighted to have us again, evident from their exuberant “How are you’s” and vigorous usage of various English terms. I can easily say that teaching English ended up as one of the highlights of the trip. To conclude, I say this to all students who wish to go abroad, for any reason: immerse yourself. Even if you don’t know the language, learning the host culture is exhilarating, and coming out of your comfort zone is of utmost importance.

Ayush Arora can be reached at aroayush@umich.edu

6 ARTS

Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

TV REVIEW

UNIVERSAL PICTURES

‘Skyscraper’ is simply the Rock

doesn’t make much sense now, but just think of how bitchin’ it’s Daily Arts Writer gonna look at the climax. It’s so “Skyscraper” was once self-seriously absurd, there’s a described by its star and producer sense that had it been released Dwayne Johnson (“Rampage”) in a different time, it may have as an “original concept movie,” been fodder for an episode of a film about a man whose family “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” is endangered by terrorists However, released today, its in a massive skyscraper and shortcomings are all too visible. “Skyscraper” comes prethe physical trials he must go through in order to get them packaged with the message that back. Clearly, this was a film that the characters Johnson plays could be anyone. had never been They’re family done before. men who will Then, when ‘Skyscraper’ risk life and the demigod Ann Arbor IMAX 20+, limb to protect formerly their loved ones. known as The Goodrich Quality 16 “Who wouldn’t Rock realized Universal Pictures want to be this that most of guy?” it argues. the American That’s what viewing public had in fact seen a little indie draws so many people to these flick by the name of “Die Hard” movies: It’s a chance to step into that — would you believe it — the shoes of someone who we’re had that exact same premise, he told is just like us and can do was quick to rebrand the film as something extraordinary. It’s an “homage” to films like “Die wish fulfillment, and there’s an Hard,” “The Towering Inferno” undeniable charm to it. Still, while we’re encouraged and “The Fugitive.” Obviously, I can’t definitively to identify with The Rock, he say whether or not “Skyscraper” seems reluctant to identify with is a rip-off or an homage. All I the everyman he’s supposedly can argue is that if it is intended portraying. He plays Will as an homage, it seems to miss Sawyer as the same unkillable, what made films like “Die Hard” unhurtable and unstoppable and “The Fugitive” work in the machine he always plays. You first place, and much of it stems know, the sort of “everyman” from The Rock playing a very who can hold together an entire Rock-esque character in a movie suspension bridge with just his that needed him to be someone bare hands and overwhelming masculinity like Captain America else. Before the action starts, stopping a helicopter from lifting Johnson’s superhuman charisma off. Sawyer never truly fails is the duct tape that keeps because “Skyscraper” seems to “Skyscraper” from falling apart. believe that would disrupt the The rest of the film isn’t bad, illusion it’s constructing where but apart from The Rock, the any of us could and would do the clunkiness of the exposition same thing. Why would we want and foreshadowing are the most to watch a character who can’t punch, lift or otherwise muscle memorable parts of the movie. A scene that introduces a his way out of any situation? sort of high-tech hall of mirrors Read more at MichiganDaily. may as well end with one of com the characters saying, “Sure it JEREMIAH VANDERHELM

SHOWTIME

‘Who is America?’ flashes Baron Cohen’s brilliance SAYAN GHOSH Daily Arts Writer

He’s back. Ali G, Borat, Admiral General Aladeen, the guy who really should have starred in the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic — better known as the iconic, irreverent Sacha Baron Cohen. Like pretty much every comedian in the country, he is trying his hand at exploring Trump-era America on a new Showtime show aptly called “Who is America?” While none of the characters he portrays are as downright hilarious as any of the aforementioned ones, the series premiere ranges from uncomfortable to absolutely terrifying in very SBC fashion. The half-hour episode is divided roughly into four sections, during each of which Cohen plays a different caricature aimed at poking fun at a certain political or social class. His first is Dr. Billy Wayne Ruddick, an Alex Jones-esque conspiracy theorist who interviews Vermont senator and ex-candidate Bernie Sanders. While the segment falls short on delivering hard-hitting satire, it provides a wonderful series of gif-able reactions from a visibly befuddled Sanders, who (bless him) patiently tries to comprehend any of the nonsense Ruddick spews about economic theory and the finite energy in one’s body. Next, Cohen plays Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello, a hyper-progressive NPR host. He visits the home of a South Carolina-based

Trump delegate and her husband and has a dinner which he starts with a “tribal chant” and then fills with a couple of ridiculous stories about everything from urinating to a particularly disturbing story about a dolphin. Like Sanders, this couple patiently tries to sort through Cohen’s over-the-top cariacature. In what is perhaps my biggest pet peeve with much of Cohen’s work, he becomes slightly too selfindulgent and reliant on shock humor in this segment, making it unclear just exactly what the point of it was in the first place. The segment is not quite surreal in an Eric André sense, but devolves into crass storytelling after setting up an intriguing premise. The third segment features the

‘Who is America?’ Showtime Sundays at 10 p.m. Series Premiere character of Rick Sherman, a British ex-con turned artist who visits an art gallery in California to discuss his work with Christy, a fine art curator. Once again, Cohen employs quite a bit of toilet humor, as Sherman’s art is primarily made from a variety of bodily fluids. In what is ostensibly a satire of the art world’s supposed pretension and detachment, Christy seems the exact opposite, and it

is interesting to contemplate to what extent she is just being openminded, versus outwitting Cohen himself. The final segment is the episode’s crowning achievement, featuring Cohen as Erran Morad, an Israeli military figure and ardent gun enthusiast. In conversations with gun rights activists such as Philip Van Cleave and Larry Pratt, he tries to promote a program called “Kinderguardians,” in which little children as young as three and four years old are taught about the usage of guns. In a segment full of memorable quotations, it is incredibly difficult to fathom just how absurd the aforementioned activist’s endorsement of the fictional program is, as well as stunning moments such as the implied condoning of marital rape and Islamophobic violence. Even worse, a series of current and exCongressman appear to endorse the program, with others espousing the importance of hormones such as “Blink-182.” This segment is shocking while remaining believable, and sees Cohen at his best. The final segment alone makes this rather hit-or-miss episode a worthy watch, and previews of future episodes with figures such as Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney seem equally promising. It is unclear whether a master of satire like Sacha Baron Cohen is even necessary given our current reality, but if there’s anyone with a proven track record to make it work, it’s him.

Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

SHOW REVIEW

ARTS 7 TV NOTEBOOK

FUELED BY RAMEN

Urie is revelatory at Detroit show Revisiting: ‘Community’ is the whiskey of TV comedy HULU

SAM LU

Daily Arts Writer

As someone who usually opts out of arena concerts and happens to also be a longtime Panic! at the Disco fan, I was worried my love for Brendon Urie would be drowned out by the claustrophobia-inducing crowds a sold-out arena concert entails. Nonetheless, the night started off on time, which surprised me given the number of far smaller (but far less punctual) concerts I’ve attended. The opening acts, Hayley Kiyoko and A R I Z O N A, were exactly what opening acts should be: Long enough to give unsuspecting listeners a sample of the band’s discography and sound, but short enough so that people who didn’t care wouldn’t get bored. For some concerts, the opening acts feel as if they’ve been picked at random, and it’s hard to trace even a shadow of a connection to the headliner. However, A R I Z O N A’s dreamy electropop vibe and Kiyoko’s synth-heavy sound formed a pretty balanced, cohesive pairing, especially against the star attraction. I’ll be honest, I would have gone even if the concert was just Hayley Kiyoko alone, but the combination of Urie and Kiyoko at the same performance made for not only a uniquely complementary sound, but also a powerful force against heteronormativity. Kiyoko’s “Girls Like Girls” and Panic’s “Girls/Girls/Boys,” both of which were performed on Saturday, are merely two versions of the same message, a particular step toward more LGBTQ representation in the music industry. The Pray for the Wicked

concert was quite possibly one of the best I’ve ever attended. Over the years, Panic!’s official members have been whittled down from four musicians to just Urie himself. From his stage presence alone, anyone can tell that he’s perfectly fine with being the lifeblood of the Panic! brand. While he sang, he smiled nonstop, and had a habit of inserting dramatic, drawn out vocal flourishes at the ends of verses, further upping the showtune-y sound that’s already present in Panic!’s more recent releases. Urie’s dance moves were more bouncy than elaborately coordinated, but that much more genuine. While I swayed to his voice throughout the concert, I kept thinking that he dances the way I wish I could — more cool, notreally-trying confident rather than gangly newborn calf. His obvious passion for his music and vivid expressiveness made for a sound that was even better than what was on Panic!’s studio tracks. I’m certain, however, that even an unbiased audience member would have agreed that the show was far from average. For one, there were live string and horn musicians supplying instrumentals for many of the songs. My favorite involved an adorable coordinated swaying dance number in “Dancing’s Not a Crime.” The songs performed weren’t restricted to tracks on Pray For The Wicked, but rather spanned “Nine In The Afternoon” from 2008’s Pretty. Odd. to the title track from 2016’s Death Of A Bachelor, meaning that you could enjoy the concert even if you hadn’t listened to the new album.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Thursday July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

You’re not racist? prove it By ALLIE BROWN MiC CONTRIBUTOR

You’re not racist? Prove it. White classmates, white friends, white family, white colleagues and white people: I write this in earnest, in frank honesty to document that we are in a political crisis of values and ethics - that you white people have a decision to make. The consequences of that decision, to either stay silent at the oppression of people of color and immigrants in this nation or speak up, will decide how this nation prevails, or fails, in the age of democracy. Many of you white people claim that if immigrants want to come here, they should do it legally. But do you realize that you are here because of the genocide you committed? The land you stole. The laws you wrote which helped your people who primarily look like you to immigrate? And the injustices you created, all to help you get ahead? You, as a demographic, hold the highest concentration of wealth in this nation. You head most of our companies. You control most of Congress. You’re not imprisoned at the same rates as your black counterparts for the same crimes. You have crippled communities economically for decades. You control many of the world’s industries, from finance to beauty. (Shoot, you can even get rich off fetishizing culture that isn’t yours). And most of you sit out here, going about your daily routine, doing absolutely nothing to combat the further devolution of our nation into a hellscape where

kids are being put into concentration camps and become unable to recognize their parents, parents are unable to find the whereabouts of their kids, journalists are attacked for reporting the truth, and countless other atrocities take place. Or worse, you married a person of color and pretend as if their issues of oppression are moot in a “post-racial” America. Or even worse than that, you voted for Trump. You all make me sick and angry. Many of you say that if you were alive during slavery, Jim Crow or the Civil Rights era, you would’ve been an ally. You say you would have spoken out. You would’ve been an abolitionist. You would’ve fought, but you never would’ve. But look here: How you live your life is your chance to speak out and do something. To get involved. To write. To talk about your privilege. To discuss toxic nativist sentiment, i.e. white nationalism. To confront your friends who keep saying problematic shit. To stop calling the cops on Black people living (i.e., going to the pool, delivering newspapers, barbecuing, using Airbnb, moving into their apartments). To stop ignoring the existence of people of color and their plight. To speak out about the world around you. We need you to stop calling the cops on us. Stop acting like the oppression of people doesn’t exist or only speaking up when it benefits you. So if you’re not racist, you will get out here with us, and try to save our dear country.

And if you don’t, I am sorry to say that you are complicit. “First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate,” Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail. “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens’ Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who constantly says ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom …” This has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican, but this has everything to do with your character and who you are as a person. This is a human rights issue. Further, to those who “don’t want to get involved in politics,” or want to look at “both sides,” those who feel it doesn’t affect you and those are silent of issues of oppression: “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it,” Martin Luther King Jr. once said. You need to be out here being a Viola Gregg Liuzzo. A Heather Heyer. A Jessica Chastain. A Tim Wise. A Peter Norman. Rallying. Yelling.

MICHIGAN IN COLOR 9

The conundrums of white guilt By CHARDE Madoula-Bey MiC CONTRIBUTOR

I have always wondered what it would be like if I were white. While wondering about the complexities of such an enigma, there are questions I would ask myself. What would I do with such privilege that is automatically inherited when you are born a certain race? I know if I were a white person, regardless of my socioeconomic status, I would not face the same social, political and economic barriers as people of color. I know I would not feel inherently compelled to speak about race and discrimination (unless I’m a liberal who loves to hear myself speak) plainly because there wouldn’t be any incidents that would resonate with me in comparison to the racism and discrimination people of color face. This is true unless, and only unless, I have faced bigoted actions done by my fellow white peers. So, because I know I would not feel inherently compelled to advocate, I wonder would I still do so as a result of the pressures of white guilt — white guilt being the act of feeling “guilty for racist acts they (white people) have committed … (or feeling) guilty because they have not acted!” Therefore, I wonder if I would spell out my concerns on the difficulties that Black and Brown men and women experience at large? Or would I instead transpose the discussion of said difficulties to a conversation with

me at the center of attention? Would I hoot and holler in attempt to eliminate the wage gap between white men, who in 2017 made on average $971 in weekly earnings, white women, who made $795, and Black women, who made $657? Or would I be aware of the lower earned wages, yet not advocate on the behalf of Black men and women, instead justifying my silence for Black men and women by stating we all have the same 24 hours in a day. Would I, a middle-aged white mother with three children, argue in favor of reducing the prison sentences of Black men and women incarcerated for drug-related activity, aware that the war on drugs was pushed by a government entirely composed of white men? Would I argue in favor of reducing the prison sentences of Black men and women incarcerated for drug-related activity, aware how Black men and women are still being incarcerated at discriminatinatory rates? But would I be more concerned that white people are now being incarcerated for using marijuana recreationally, even though my neighbor Carol believes marijuana makes for better parenting. If I, a white woman or even a white man, were rejected admission to a college or university, yet a person of color (a student with outstanding credentials compared to mine) were granted admission, would I in return protest, claiming

this is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment or is even affirmative action? Actually, yes, I would indeed, but further, I would claim I am the one being discriminated against on the basis of my race. Would I move into a historically Black neighborhood created as the result of redlining, racial housing practices and outright segregation, but then call the police on my Black neighbors for doing “Black things” such as playing loud music, hosting large gatherings in their driveways and community barbecues? Again, yes, I would indeed. Except at the end of the ordeal, I would preferably play victim and say the Black neighbor is invading my space. Would I try to correct the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of Black people, or would I assert to you it occurred a long time ago, you should forget about it and I am not my ancestors? Would I involve myself with politics or racial issues that do not necessarily benefit me — even though I know I could possibly make a difference in regard to the matter? Would I use my race and power for “good” to help those less fortunate by attending to my sense of entitlement because of my need to feel as though I am a white savior? Would I decide to become an ally to #BlackLivesMatter or #AbolishICE protests and activists, simply because I care, or because I feel bad that the oppressors are white like myself? Read more online at

michigandaily.com

10 SPORTS

Thursday, July 19, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

AARON BAKER / DAILY

The Michigan volleyball team will test its resolve against its conference foes

‘M’ conference preview TIEN LE

Summer Managing Sports Editor

The Daily breaks down the conference schedule for The Michigan Volleyball team, and the many challenges it presents. Being one of the toughest conferences in the nation, almost every matchup in the Big Ten is sure to be a bloodbath. With multiple Top 10 teams, and title contenders, it’ll be an uphill fight for the Wolverines to come out on top — though there’s a possibility with the core they have at hand. Nebraska: The first Big Ten match could offer the biggest challenge for Michigan right from the start. Nebraska is the reigning NCAA volleyball champion, and it doesn’t look like its dominance will stop soon. The Cornhuskers were consistently ranked as a Top 10 team throughout the nation last year, before reaching a top-five spot in conference play. Though they will have to replace a lot of production, they’ll focus on star Mikaela Foecke as the centerpiece of their game plan, as well as pushing for Jazz Sweet and Lauren Stivrins to take the next step for the program. Over the previous three seasons, Nebraska has accumulated a 95-11 record, including two championships in three years. To put it simply, the Cornhuskers are the pinnacle of what a program should be. Though the program drops a step in losing two of its top two attackers and its leading setter to graduation, it has faced this scenario countless times over the years — even over its championship-winning campaigns. There’s no doubt that one of the biggest tests of strength will be how Michigan chooses to deal with the looming threat in Nebraska,

especially since the first matchup is on the Cornhuskers’ home court. With the second matchup is at home for the Wolverines, the slight advantage might be able to tip the scale in their favor as the team has always been known to perform well with the fans at its back. And any advantage Michigan can get against the Cornhuskers, it’ll take. Iowa: Iowa had a mediocre season in 2017, finishing with an 18-15 overall record and 7-13 record in the Big Ten. It came as no surprise, as the program has oscillated between mediocrity and disaster over the last decade. It was even less of a surprise how the season played out. The Hawkeyes were either dominated by better teams or well-matched against foes of equal or worse talent than them. The only exception was Michigan. Of the 12 ranked matchups Iowa faced, the team lost eleven — including being swept 3-0 by seven of them. The one victory the Hawkeyes managed to claw away was against the Wolverines. The matchup was a four-set letdown for Michigan, who saw its time on the court ending in utter dismay, as the loss propelled the team toward a negative trajectory. The only player to show out for the Wolverines from the game was then-junior Carly Skjodt, who had a game-high 22 kills. The rest of the team lagged behind and fell hard to Iowa. The difference this year is that the Hawkeyes look to be in complete rebuild mode with their roster — with the majority of its core comprised of freshmen or sophomores. The only anchor they can depend on is returning senior Taylor Louis — who led the team in

kills in 2017. The first matchup is in Des Moines, which could potentially be a trap if Michigan comes out too overconfident in the game. However, the Wolverines have a good history of returning the favor at home after an away loss. Rutgers: If there was any constant in Big Ten volleyball, it’s Rutgers’ placement at the bottom of the standings. Since joining the Big Ten, the program has only seen one Big Ten win over that four year span — which came in 2015 from a five-set up-anddown game over Maryland. It’s 5-27 season leaves a lot of room to grow, but little foundation to do so. For Rutgers and its freshman and sophomore-heavy roster, the only positive is the potentially blank slate the team has coming into the season. With only one senior on the roster who’s experienced the woes of the program, the hunger needed to elevate the team could be present in those who have nothing but a negative legacy behind them. The statistics speak for themselves, though. With almost a 1:2 kill-to-error ratio, the team doesn’t know how to capitalize on its attack, doing so at a conferenceworst .143 attack percentage. In fact, no statistics favor the Scarlet Knights, whether against Michigan or any other Big Ten foe. But until the game is played, there’s no guarantee for any outcome. A short-sighted Michigan could see a repeat of the 2015 MarylandRutgers matchup that ended in a loss for Maryland. Michigan coach Mark Rosen has always emphasized the seriousness of every match, regardless of the team, however, which should look to prevent an upset from occuring. Penn State: When the only major losses in a team’s season come from the national champion, the season should be considered a success, even if they didn’t win the championship. With a near perfect record — 33-2 overall, 19-1 Big Ten — the Nittany Lions saw their only losses come from Nebraska, losing to them twice including a season-ending postseason loss. In there words, they were every bit of world-beaters as the worldbeaters themselves. Last season, Penn State returned to form with a strong regular-season record and a deep postseason run, something it had departed from just two years prior. In part, it was due to Nittany Lion coach Russ Rose. Entering his 40th

season at the helm, Rose has had one of the most successful runs as a coach — winning a nation-leading seven titles and 17 Big Ten championships. Having never had a season under 22 wins, he heads into the upcoming season as the all-time leading coach in wins. Great coaching is what is needed in order to help Penn State through the transition from the loss of four of its top five offensive facilitators. Losing high-production talent is something all teams have to deal with eventually, but the annual pattern might hit this team harder than normally, as the makeup of the 2018 roster looks shallow and full of holes. However, in the hands of Rose, any roster can be made to look like a legitimate contender, and even if they skip a beat initially, Michigan should be in for a hard-nose fight. Purdue: Purdue is a team that has had repeated success against Michigan until 2017. Dropping both of its matchups late in the season to the Wolverines is what had in turn helped Michigan make the NCAA Tournament. Funny enough, before the 2017 season, Michigan had gone on a seven-year drought on wins against Purdue, a curse that plagued many of the seniors who graduated without a win against the Boilermakers. But when the team needed it the most, it prevailed with back-to-back wins. Looking to repeat that success against Purdue, the Wolverines’ core anchored its win against the Boilermakers. Learning patience and the ability to build upon the slip-ups of Purdue helped the team mature into a tournament team. Purdue will have to reshuffle a lot of its starting rotation, but the experience the new leaders of the team gained in the previous year should grow into success in tackling the new role on the team. Indians: It’s been near a decade since Indiana last finished about .500. Every year since 2010, it’s been the same old song and dance every season. The Hoosiers find ways to end their seasons in disappointing fashion, trying to start on a clean slate but failing and falling back into the process of returning to a .500 team. Part of that disappointment was evident in 2017 when Indiana went nearly winless in conference play. In fact, the only team the Hoosiers did manage to beat was the one that went winless in the Big Ten — Rutgers.

The only thing worse than its 2017 season, however, is the trajectory of the roster. With no seniors and only two juniors, the youthful group looks to make an impact by relying on its underclassmen — many of whom have never had a minute of Division 1 (1st mentor) experience. Michigan — who caught fire to end its regular season — had no trouble in dispelling the Hoosiers and soundly defeated them in a 3-0 sweep. If the direction Indiana’s program holds true, the Wolverines should look to repeat the result. Ohio State: Wishy-washy is a good way to put Ohio State’s season. Ending 15-16, a clear departure from prior year’s 25 wins, the team struggled to adjust to the difficulty of its schedule and saw its resulting record dip to a below .500 — something the Buckeyes haven’t seen in over a decade. However, with a solid rotation consisting of veterans and novices — not unlike Michigan — Ohio State look to bounce back this year. Standouts Lauren Witte, Jordan Fry and Hannah Gruensfelder look to grow into first option roles. Madison Smeathers will also adopt a bigger role on offense after displaying efficiency in the down season. Finding new production will be essential for the Buckeyes in moving on from their off-year. They will use this as a learning tool to power them through the upcoming season — where they’re likely to face similarly challenging foes — especially in the Big Ten. Michigan managed to sweep the series against Ohio State despite a midseason struggle. It won both games, 3-1, which in part, helped the Wolverines through the slump. The upcoming matchups won’t be as easy as last year for either team as both teams look ready to move forward in development. Maryland: Maryland has had a recurring problem with mediocrity. Elevating Adam Hughes to head coach for the upcoming season is a step that further cements the complacency of the program to remain where it had always been — in the middle of the pack. However, in the influx of transfers and recruits, the program looks to reach a 20-win season that could, in turn, allow the team to regain confidence — one of the factors they lacked taht contributed to their mediocrity.