Thursday, August 9, 2018
ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
inside
Government
NEWS
Whitmer and Schuette win
Mayoral results Incumbent Christopher Taylor wins the Democratic primary against Jack Eaton
Party favorites beat out opponents in gubernatorial primaries
>> SEE PAGE 3
OPINION
On unplugging
By GRACE KAY
Columnist Julia Montag reflects on stepping away from technology >> SEE PAGE 4
Summer Managing News Editor
ARTS
COURTESY OF NOEL ST. JOHN
‘ASTROWORLD’ Travis Scott returns with an energetic, powerful third release with guests >> SEE PAGE 7
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
Of “Pasalubong” The intricacies of being Filipino American
>> SEE PAGE 9
Mexican journalist freed by ICE accepts U-M fellowship After a seven-month detention, Gutierrez Soto will join KnightWallace Program By ALICE TRACEY Summer Daily News Editor
SPORTS
Duncan Robinson The former Michigan guard is embracing his new role in the NBA using the skills he glearned at Michigan >> SEE PAGE 12
INDEX Vol. CXXVII, No. 12775 © 2018 The Michigan Daily
NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ............................... 4 ARTS/NEWS..........................6 MiC......................................... 9 SPORTS................................ 10
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Emilio Gutiérrez Soto, a 55-year-old Mexican journalist recently released from ICE detention, will be joining the University of Michigan community as a Knight-Wallace press freedom fellow for the 2018-2019 school year. Through the Knight-Wallace Fellowship program, which sponsors up to 20 mid-career journalists annually, Gutiérrez Soto will spend eight months in Ann Arbor studying security issues facing the press. Gutiérrez Soto fled his home country in 2008 after discovering his name was on a hit list due to his reporting on corruption in the Mexican military. He and
his now 25-year-old son, Oscar, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near Columbus, New Mexico and requested political asylum. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 45 reporters have been killed in Mexico since 1992 and 37 of those murders went unpunished. In an email interview with The Daily, B.A. Snyder of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists said Gutiérrez Soto had legitimate cause to seek asylum in the United States. “Mr. Gutiérrez-Soto and his son had a credible fear of persecution,” Snyder wrote. “There was abundant evidence that Mexican journalists who have reported on government corruption face persecution (including death), and that such crimes are committed with impunity. To deny Petitioners asylum would have been an egregious break with this Nation’s long-standing commitment to provide refuge to journalists from foreign lands who are the targets of reprisal.”
For the first seven months of asylum proceedings, Gutiérrez Soto and his son lived in a detention facility, but were eventually released with work permits. They moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where they spent nine years working in food business. Represented by attorney Eduardo Beckett, Gutiérrez Soto continued to work towards political asylum, meeting regularly with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials throughout the process. In July 2017, Gutiérrez Soto’s asylum request was denied. Beckett filed to reopen the asylum case. Meanwhile, various organizations dedicated to free press, including the National Society of Hispanic Journalists, the National Press Club and Reporters Without Borders, began to advocate for Gutiérrez Soto.
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After winning the primary elections Tuesday night, gubernatorial candidates Gretchen Whitmer and Bill Schuette will face off in the general elections in November. A former state senator, Whitmer beat out Indian-born entrepreneur, Shri Thanedar and ex-Detroit health director, Abdul El-Sayed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, while Attorney General Bill Schuette beat out Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, state senator Patrick Colbeck and doctor Jim Hines for the GOP primary. Both Whitmer and Schuette were considered the favorites in their respective parties. While Whitmer was backed by her extensive political experience and community envolvement, Schuette was supported by his current involvement in state government and openly endorsed by President Donald Trump. The Associated Press called the race for Schuette at 9:24 p.m. Schuette was still in the lead as of 10:20 p.m. With 2,086 of 4,805 precincts reporting, Schuette was winning by 51.0 percent of the vote with Calley trailing behind at 24.4 and Colbeck at 13.9. Whitmer’s success was announced soon after. At 9:55 p.m. Whitmer officially claimed her spot as the Democratic candidate in the general election. As of 10:20 p.m. with 2,136 of 4,805 precincts reporting, Whitmer had 49.6 percent of the votes. El-Sayed trailed just behind her with 34.1 percent and Thanedar with 16.2 percent.
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2 NEWS
Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Judge defends U-M Bias Response Team Federal ruling says team does not threaten free speech By GRACE KAY Summer Managing News Editor
A federal judge has denied Speech First’s motion to end the University of Michigan’s use of the Bias Response Team after the nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit against the University claiming the team hindered free speech on campus. Judge Linda V. Parker of the U.S. District Court sided with the University’s defense stating the Bias Response Team does not mete out discipline but rather works as a support system for victims of bias incidents. “The evidence does not even reflect an instance where the BRT criticized the speech of an individual who is reported to
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have engaged in biased conduct,” Parker’s statement reads. “But even if the record reflected that the BRT had criticized an individual’s speech, there would be no First Amendment violation ‘in the absence of some actual or threatened imposition of governmental power or sanction.’” University spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said the University is reviewing the ruling but is pleased by the result. “We are carefully reviewing this ruling for all of its implications,” Broekhuizen wrote in an email interview. “We are pleased to see the court has affirmed our definitions of bullying and harassment and agrees that the mission of the university’s Bias Response Team is educational, not punitive and does not violate the First Amendment.”
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Cisco and Duo sign $2.35 billion deal Ann Arbor-based Duo Security to help IT giant create multicloud solutions By ALICE TRACEY Summer Daily News Editor
In a $2.35 billion cash deal announced Aug. 2, Ann Arbor-based internet security company Duo Security will be acquired by Cisco Systems, a multinational information technology and networking corporation based in San José. The acquisition, Cisco’s secondlargest ever, is expected to close during the first quarter of the 2019 fiscal year. Duo will become part of Cisco’s networking and security unit, with Dug Song, Duo CEO and co-founder, staying on as the company’s general manager. There will be no employee relocations, and until the deal closes, the two companies will continue operating separately. Duo provides cloud-based unified security access and multi-factor authentication to help secure users from cyberattacks. Founded in 2009, the company now has locations in Ann Arbor, San Mateo, Austin and London and reported over $100 million in annual revenue for 2017. Song and co-founder Jon Oberheide were named 2017 Entrepreneurs of the Year by the Michigan Venture Capital Association. During its Series D funding round in Fall 2017, Duo set a state record
for venture capital funding, raising $70 million from investors including Cisco. Todd Graham, the director of security strategy for Cisco and a University of Michigan alum, said Cisco and Duo grew closer personally and professionally after the investment. He noted they had already been partners for several years due to their many similarities and shared customers. “There are many, many customers that use our solutions together already,” Graham said. “They’ve been partnering with us on a certain level – on a more basic level – for years now, let’s call it three, four years. Really only the last year have we been, as part of the investment, working to figure out how we could work more closely together.” Describing the acquisition of Duo as a natural extension of the relationship, Graham said the two companies offer very compatible products. According to Graham, Cisco’s Identity Services Engine helps protect users of a particular network, whereas Duo’s security platforms provide access control even when a user goes off-network. “We have provided solutions for quite some time that allow you to bring the notion of someone’s identity, who they are, and create policy around them on the network,” Graham said. “What we obviously have discovered is the world has moved to a multi-cloud world.”
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NEWS 3 Claimant offers details on Rubadeau’s termination Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
LEO helps lecturer file grievance against U-M By GRACE KAY Summer Managing News Editor
ALEC COHEN / DAILY
Taylor beats Councilmember Eaton in mayoral primaries, winning 59% of vote
Incumbent to run for third term as Ann Arbor Mayor in November By ALICE TRACEY Summer Daily News Editor
Christopher Taylor was chosen as the Democratic candidate for mayor of Ann Arbor in the Aug. 7 vote, beating his opponent, City Councilmember Jack Eaton, D-Ward 4, with a 59-percent majority. Taylor, a Democrat, was elected mayor in 2014 and has since served two terms. Unlike Taylor’s first two terms, the upcoming term will last four years, according to a 2016 vote regarding term leng th. Prior to serving as mayor, Taylor represented Ann Arbor’s 3rd Ward in City Council from 2008 to 2014. He also practices with Hooper Hathaway, P.C., a law firm in Ann Arbor. A New York City native, Taylor has four degrees from the University of Michigan, in English, vocal performance, American history and law. As Mayor, Taylor has centered his platform around infrastructure, sustainability, social justice and affordability. Recently, he has taken action on downtown development, advancing the sale of Library Lot to developer Core Spaces. He also supported the formation of the Ann Arbor Police Task Force, a group working to outline how the city should monitor the Ann Arbor Police Department. During the mayoral race, Eaton criticized Taylor’s approach to a number of issues. Eaton accused the mayor of
falling short on improving public resources, addressing environmental concerns and making housing more affordable. “The promises that the current mayor is doing, what he will do for the next four years really ref lects what he and his majority have not done for the last 10,” Eaton said. Taylor, however, said he is committed to promoting progressive values in Ann Arbor. “I support funding and building affordable housing, I support funding and implementing our climate action plan, I support an active and strong policing commission,” Taylor said. Taylor’s campaign won the endorsement of numerous Ann Arbor public servants and City Councilmembers. He has also received donations from the Michigan Laborers’ Political Leag ue PAC, LGBTQ activist Jim Toy and Laura Rubin, executive director of the Huron River Watershed Council. Amanda Uhle, CEO of the Hawkins Project, praised Taylor for his dedication to the city of Ann Arbor in an endorsement on Taylor’s campaign website. “Having known him for many years, I’m always astonished by his unf lagging energ y and his thoughtful approach to everything he undertakes,” Uhle said. “Taylor has demonstrated that he is precisely what Ann Arbor needs — a
deeply empathetic leader who makes bold, considered decisions to benefit us all.” Commenting on his approach to leadership, Taylor said he values being honest with his constituents. Taylor hopes to see open lines of communication between Ann Arbor voters and elected officials such as himself. “One of my principles serving as mayor is to tell people candidly what we can do and what we cannot do,” Taylor said. “I think it’s important that people know that they can rely upon their mayor not to tell them what they want to hear but to tell them the truth.” Ann Arbor also held Democratic and Republican primary elections for City Council Aug ust 7. Democrat Jeff Hayner won the Ward 1 primary and will face Democratic Socialist Ryan Hughes in November. Kathy Griswold, a Democrat, topped incumbent Kirk Westphal in Ward 2. Democrat Julie Grand, who currently serves on Council, won in Ward 3. Wards 4 and 5 both saw some changes, with Democrat Elizabeth Nelson defeating incumbent Graydon Krapohl (D-Ward 4) and Ali Ramlawi beating incumbent Chuck Warpehoski (D-Ward 5).
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John Rubadeau, an award-winning senior English lecturer at the University of Michigan, was flooded with student support after his former typist Parker Procida sent a mass email to more than 4,000 alumni informing them their former professor was terminated by the University without benefits. A Facebook support group titled “Friends of John” currently features 339 members and a petition signed by 553 people. The group was created shortly after alumni and undergraduate students received news of Rubadeau’s termination. While alumni continue to voice support for Rubadeau, one former graduate student who asked to remain anonymous explains undergraduate students don’t understand the entire story behind Rubadeau’s termination. “The reasons that seem to be circulating around the undergrads are not true,” he said. The former graduate student expanded on this point by explaining allegations that Rubadeau was fired due to “unprofessional behavior” are inaccurate. “It doesn’t make sense to me that it has anything to do with pronouns, or dyed hair or beard,” he said. “From my perspective as someone who has been in that department and knows how people feel about him and how people worried about him, it is far more than that. This story is about harassment, maybe of a sexual nature, maybe just of a repeatedly strange and inappropriate nature toward colleagues.” The former graduate student had heard stories about Rubadeau from female colleagues even before he began working in Angell Hall. “My female peers warned me about him and told me stories about him making them feel sexu-
ally vulnerable,” he said. “They didn’t want to be alone in a hallway with him.” While his colleagues had warned him to avoid Rubadeau, the former graduate student emphasized it wasn’t until he began working on the same floor as the lecturer that he began to feel uncomfortable himself. “Later on, when I began working in closer proximity to him, it became very clear he always wanted to be the center of attention,” the former graduate student said. “It was this weird behavior where if you didn’t pay attention to him, he would make you pay attention to him. I couldn’t shake him and it started to feel a little creepy. He would always be stopping me in the hall to talk to me and it got to the point where I felt I needed to wear headphones.” The former graduate student sought outside advice regarding Rubadeau in the Fall 2017 term regarding the lecturer’s unusual behavior. He explained he wouldn’t have reported Rubadeau to the Office for Institutional Equity and spoken to English Department Chair David Porter if he hadn’t heard stories of Rubadeau making his female peers feel uncomfortable and openly objectifying women in the department. The former graduate student explained Rubadeau stopped one of the student’s close friends in the hall and told an inappropriate joke about a woman in his cohort. “My friend felt ashamed and gross to have had that interaction,” he said. “I wouldn’t have gone on to talk to the department chair if I hadn’t known there were others. I felt I needed to add my voice to help others like my friend who felt less comfortable coming forward.” The former graduate student explained Rubadeau’s behavior was atypical: He often stood too close to women and would reportedly burst randomly into colleague’s offices. He explained the incidences that were reported are hard to pinpoint as sexual harassment or could even be dismissed as social awkwardness.
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4 OPINION
Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
JULIA MONTAG | COLUMN
Recharge your mind, not your phone Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com
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NATALIA MADRIGAL MARTINEZ| WOLVERINES ABROAD
A
How to not piss off the Buddha
summer in China with your best friend sounds like an absolute dream, right? It is, of course, just as long as you know the basic guidelines of navigating a Buddhist temple. As the typical obnoxious Americans we are, we made a couple mistakes; from talking loudly to taking clandestine pictures of Buddha. My best friend Jocelyn and I had decided to travel to Beijing for a couple days before the official start of our Clean Energy program in Xiamen, China. Since we were shameless tourists, we absolutely had to visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace. Honestly, the main reason why we chose to go to the Summer Palace is because it had the most attractive pictures when we were searching up historical attractions in Beijing. And wow, Google did not disappoint — the Summer Palace was absolutely breathtaking . In hindsight however, what we really should have googled was “proper temple-visiting etiquette.” The Summer Palace itself could be best described as a miniature kingdom. When you first walk in through the main gates, you quickly stumble upon an area that seems to be lost in time. The palace was crowded with a lot of visitors, as well as several services meant for the hundreds of daily tourists, but even with all the hustle and bustle, the palace maintained a sense of
reverence and beauty that I had never experienced before. After climbing up a regrettable number of stairs, we finally arrived at the first major temple. At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes of the size, the brilliant gold and the almost godlike quality that the Buddha statue effortlessly possessed. The statue itself was located in the center of the temple, almost as if to say that he was too the center of the universe. Ignorantly, my first reaction was to take a photo so that I could remember the majesty of the grand Buddha that commanded in front of me. But before my finger could even press down on the camera button, I felt a sharp nudge on my side. It was Jocelyn, wide-eyed and surprisingly silent she pointed at a nearby sign that had a huge cross in front of a picture of a camera. Whoops. I didn’t know that you aren’t allowed to take pictures of the great Buddha, and couldn’t believe that I had almost committed blasphemy in such a sacred and revered temple. We wandered along the lakeside for a while before deciding to take a dragon-shaped boat to a small island that resembled a small mountain in the middle of the lake. From within the boat, we could see that there were easily hundreds of people all around the lake who had come to pay their visit to Buddha as well as the great architectural skills of ancient China. It was a truly awesome sight to behold, knowing that we were celebrating the beauty of
the same culture alongside each other. Almost hidden on top of that miniature mountain, we stumbled upon a temple that was strikingly distinct from any of the others that we had seen so far. The entirety of the temple’s walls, both inside and out, were covered with tiny yet intricate Buddha statues that must have been no taller than six inches each. Glancing at a nearby sign that thankfully had some English written on it, we read that the temple had more than 700 of these tiny Buddhas as decoration. Regardless of the location, however, we got distracted and began joking loudly with each other. It wasn’t until a random lady began yelling at us in Chinese that we realized we were being incredibly rude, and that we should have acted in a more respectful manner to both the people and Buddha himself. Cheeks burning red from pure embarrassment, Jocelyn and I apologized profusely in English and once again had to leave the temple area in complete and utter shame. After that whole ordeal, both Jocelyn and I can tell you that the moral of this story is pretty clear. When traveling to a country with a different culture than your own, please make sure to research the culture. That means religion, too — unless you want to face the consequences of looking as foolish as I did that day in the Summer Palace. Natalia Madrigal Martinez can be reached at nmadriga@umich.edu.
C
ity life nurtures and fosters phone addiction. Calling a cab, pinpointing yourself on a map, and deciding where to grab a quick lunch each contribute to the need to keep your smartphone in your hand. Living in a big city for three months this summer allowed me to face this dilemma head-on; I attempted to navigate my way through Manhattan while keeping my eyes on the world around me, but it became all too easy to quickly respond to one more text or email while using my phone for seemingly necessary tasks. When using my phone to look up the next train time, for example, I’d feel compelled to read a message I’d received. I’d only feel this burden, of course, if I saw the notification. I felt the answer to this was to turn off the iMessage notifications on my phone. That way, while reading an e-book on the subway or trying to figure out whether I was walking east or west, I wouldn’t be bombarded by distractions. While listening to music, reading some news or managing my calendar that I’ve programmed my phone to control, I wouldn’t accidentally be available to chat. It worked. I slowly but surely began to forget to check my phone and started to intentionally use it with the purpose of contacting somebody: to make a phone call, send an email or make plans, but never just to chat, never to make small talk, which would have kept my eyes superglued to my phone and would’ve robbed me of the bustling and colorful New York City surroundings. Phantom phone vibrations, anxiety-induced phone checks and habitually full hands faded as I honed my ability to resist distractions. This allowed me to eat while walking — a novelty. I became able to get lost in the work I was meant to be doing without hearing a buzz to nag me to stop. I became aware of the peculiar way we’ve adopted into our society “the phone vibration,” which was initially meant to increase the ease with which we communicate, but instead, has increased the difficulty with which we do anything else.
I have since moved out of New York and planted myself in Maine for the rest of the summer. Out of the chaos and into the serenity, both forested and rustic, conducive to physical activity and lounging. Someone in a coffee shop on West 26th Street once told me that “the sun is warmer in Maine.” I’d have to agree. Here, I work as a counselor at an all-girls summer camp that proudly and strictly bans cell phone use. It’s been this way for 97 summers, and no one plans on changing it anytime soon. Living simply and without electricity allows campers and staff alike to step from a hectic world into a space that challenges us to learn, connect and make friends without hitting “send.” I’ll gladly be the first to say — no, the first to shout — that being here makes me feel healthier. I haven’t charged my phone in four days and I feel like I’ve been released from its maw. In my downtime, I read or start a conversation with somebody who also put their phone away for the summer; there isn’t even an outlet in my cabin to charge my device if I wanted to. I feel present, attentive and more capable of making my own decisions without the input of others. Call me crazy, call me archaic, but I’m not the only one who feels this way. This week, in an effort to bolster educational practices, France decided that smartphones will be banned in schools for students aged three to 15, with Greece implementing similar policies; the London School of Economics and Political Science found that this ban discernibly raises test scores. Scientists have been researching other aspects of this overwhelmingly invasive technologydependent culture, especially among students. Sleep, a prequel and sequel to hard work, is diminished by phone use; a Spanish study discusses the potential of cell phone abuse interfering with healthy sleeping patterns, resulting in detrimental consequences such as anxiety, as well as causing personal stress, which leads to a state of alertness that results in Continue reading on page 5.
Recharge your mind, not your phone by Julia Montag continued below:
sleep and lower sleep quality. Another study found that students who refrained from using their phones during class wrote down 62 percent more information from lecture and scored a full one and a half letter grades higher on a multiple-choice test. Aside from the question of how phones impact the lives of students, what are mobile devices doing to us socially? Upton Saiidi reported that “87 percent of millennials admitted to missing out on a conversation because they were distracted by their phone,” corroborating Melissa Dahl’s claims that the presence of cell phones make us less empathetic; simply placing a mobile device on the table during a meal reduces feelings of “interconnectedness.” Cara McCoogan and James Titcomb provide us with the evidence showing that the presence of smartphones make us less smart, while Mike Elgan writes about how they make us distracted and unproductive. “As a thought experiment,” he writes, “imagine that an employee who used to pay attention to your business eight hours each day now pays attention only seven hours a day because he or she is now focusing on Facebook during that last hour.” He then goes on to cite Flurry Analytics, whose data put U.S. smartphone usertime to be more than five hours per day, and found that the time spent using mobile apps increased 69 percent from 2015 to 2016. The story to which I relate most is one written by Michael Gonchar for the New York Times; it raises the point that though technology is supposed to make us feel more connected to one another, though it is supposed to help us stay in touch all the time,
a lot of us actually feel that it’s “getting in the way of real socializing” and “making us more alone.” I know we can’t all go to Maine for the summer, and we can’t all go four days without a phone because of safety and responsibility; group texts are quite necessary for collaboration on projects and a perfectly timed email tells you that class is cancelled. But summer is the perfect time to take baby steps, to opt for that one day at a time without your phone. An even smaller step, a movement in which Generation Z is apparently participating, is electing to get off social media by deleting your apps or accounts, thus removing any temptation to refresh your news feed. We grew up “digitally connected,” looking at photos of lives where the grass is always greener, or it’s edited and filtered to look that way. Summer is the perfect time to turn off text notifications and only use your phone for its map and camera, to try it out and monitor whether you feel less anxious or sleep more soundly. It is the perfect time to rehabilitate your relationship with your phone, to reshape your brain to focus on what’s in front of you, a skill for which you’ll be grateful when it’s time to get back into schoolwork. It is the perfect time to go on a hike and not document it on Snapchat or Instagram, to like your day instead of a picture of somebody else’s. Summer is the perfect time to recharge your mind instead of your phone. So give it a shot. I dare you. Julia Montag can be reached at jtmon@umich.edu.
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MARLEE BURRIDGE | COLUMN
H
ero. That ’s a big word, a t it le not ea sy to come by. Let ’s t h i n k about t he cla ssics: Super ma n , Capt a i n A mer ica , Spider ma n , Bat ma n — t he list goes on . However, at t he ESPYS t h is yea r, we saw a new wave of heroes cla i m t hei r t it les. La r r y Na ssa r, t he for mer tea m doc tor for USA Gy m na st ics a nd M ich ig a n St ate Un iversit y, ha s recent ly been sentenced to up to 175 yea rs i n pr ison t ha n k s to t he brave test i mon ies of hu nd reds of t he su r v ivors of h is sex ua l abuse. Thei r spea k i ng up wa s i ncredibly i mpor t a nt i n brea k i ng t he cu lt u re of silence t hat nor ma lly su r rou nds women’s spor t s. A ly R a isma n — a t wo -t i me Oly mpia n a nd t h ree-t i me gold meda list at t he foref ront of t he movement ag a i n st Na ssa r — is one of t hose ma ny heroes. Her test i mony ha s been power f u l a nd mov i ng a nd ma ny have felt encou raged by her words, a s ma ny wou ld never suspec t t hat such a st rong, t a lented, power f u l woma n cou ld have gone t h roug h such a t rau mat ic ex per ience. The t r ut h is, her stor y is a ll too com mon . At t he ESPYS, 141 of Na ssa r ’s v ic t i m s took t he st age to cla i m t he A r t hu r A she Cou rage Awa rd. These su r v ivors spoke w it h so much w isdom when t hey accepted t hei r awa rd a nd it wa s a n honor to w it ness. Sa ra h K lei n , Na ssa r ’s f i rst v ic t i m , sa id, “ Ma ke no m ist a ke, we a re here on t h is st age to present a n i mage for t he world to see, a por t ra it of su r v iva l. A new v ision of cou rage.” She cont i nued on to t a l k about how i mpor t a nt it is to spea k out ag a i n st abusers, no mat ter how dif f icu lt t hat may be. The most shock i ng pa r t of t he accept a nce wa s when R a isma n listed a ll of t he yea rs t hat t here were cla i m s of sex ua l abuse ag a i n st Na ssa r. “1997, 1998, 1999, 20 0 0, 20 04, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.” For 10 yea rs, t hose Na ssa r abused were ig nored. How ca n t hese adu lt s ig nore you ng women a nd g i rls telli ng t hem about t hei r abuse? Here we have a n exa mple of when t he su r v ivors weren’t silent , but t he system fa iled t hem over a nd over a nd over ag a i n . The
Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
people i n posit ion s of power decided t hat t he words of
“We have an example of when the survivors weren’t silent, but the system failed them over and over and over again... the wordsof these women were not strong enough.” t hese women were not st rong enoug h to st a nd ag a i n st La r r y Na ssa r. They let h i m cont i nue h is abuse. Th is lack of accou nt abilit y f rom t hose i n cha rge is what cont i nues to d r ive t h is cone of silence su r rou ndi ng women’s spor t s. It stops v ic t i m s f rom com i ng for wa rd a nd a llows t hese coaches, t ra i ners, ma nagers, etc. to cont i nue to abuse. The Na ssa r sca nda l doesn’t st a nd a lone. Recent ly, t here have been a lleg at ion s ag a i n st a for mer doc tor for Oh io St ate Un iversit y. Those who ca me for wa rd revea led how badly t he sit uat ion wa s ha ndled. Ba sed on Ron McDa n iel’s stor y, it wa s clea r t hat coaches a nd ad m i n ist rators k new of h is abuse a nd cont i nuously fa iled to ac t . McDa n iel spoke about how when h is tea m mates hea rd about what had happened to h i m t hey just laug hed a nd ba sica lly sa id, “ Yea h , t hat happen s a ll t he t i me to ever yone. It ’s no secret .” At t he Un iversit y of Sout h Ca roli na t here have been a lleg at ion s of abuse ag a i n st t he ca mpus g y necolog ist . The abuse is sa id to have spa n ned over 30 yea rs a nd, a s of now, 20 0 women have come for wa rd w it h t hei r stor ies. He did t h is
OPINION 5
f rom t he t i me he beg a n h is job at t he u n iversit y u nt il t he t i me he stopped work i ng t here. Th is shows t here is a pat ter n of abuse t hat goes ig nored a nd is hushed up by u n iversit ies a ll a rou nd t he cou nt r y. Women a nd men have come for wa rd, sha r i ng t hei r stor ies a nd telli ng us t hey were br ushed of f a nd not t a ken ser iously by u n iversit y of f icia ls. Thoug h women i n pa r t icu la r face more of t h is k i nd of abuse t ha n men , especia lly i n t he spor t s com mu n it y, it is so i mpor t a nt to remember t hat t here a re ma ny people out t here who have gone t h roug h what you have. Women a nd men a li ke, despite a ll t he dif ferences, go t h roug h si m ila r issues, have su r v ived t he sa me abuse a nd st a nd st rong t h roug h it a ll. If t here is goi ng to be a ny k i nd of prog ress, it needs to st a r t w it h ad m i n ist rators a nd t he people receiv i ng t hese repor t s. Each one shou ld be t a ken ser iously a nd t horoug h ly i nvest ig ated. Dism issi ng t hese k i nds of a lleg at ion s shou ld no longer be, a nd never shou ld have been , a n opt ion . R a isma n’s words so accu rately depic ted how t he system fa iled a ll 141 women st a ndi ng on t hat st age: “A ll t hose yea rs we were told, ‘ You a re w rong. You m isu nderstood. He’s a doc tor. It ’s okay. Don’t wor r y, we’ve got it covered. Be ca ref u l. There a re r isk s i nvolved.’ The i ntent ion: to silence us i n favor of money, meda ls a nd reput at ion .” But she t hen rem i nded ever yone t hat nobody is a lone when she sa id, “ We may suf fer a lone, but we su r v ive toget her.” These women a re t r ue heroes. These women a re t he new i mage of cou rage. They stood up to t hei r abuser despite cou nt less setback s, show i ng u npa ra lleled cou rage. Let ’s use t hese women a s a n exa mple of what it mea n s to be brave a nd use t hei r stor ies to add ress t he mu lt it ude of issues — li ke v ic t i m-bla m i ng a nd payof f s — t hat ex ist w it h i n t he system . Let us no longer be silent . Let us be brave. Let us be cou rageous. Let us follow i n t he foot steps of t hese heroes.
Marlee Burridge can be reached at marleebu@umich.edu.
6 ARTS
Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FESTIVAL REVIEW
ALICE LIU / THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Lollapalooza 2018 curates a varied, impressive lineup MEGHAN CHOU
Summer Senior Arts Editor
Given the constant turbulence in Detroit, I’ve always considered Chicago as the closest city to Ann Arbor, and the capital of the Midwest. Rather than venture east down I-94, my family always opted to go west a few extra hundred miles. I familiarized myself with the Loop over Woodward Avenue and Chicago-style hot dogs over Coney Island depots in secret parts of D-Town. I could even trace a map of Grant Park on my palm to help locals navigate the 319 acres of urban greenery. But add in multiple stages, food vendors, medical tents and an influx of very dehydrated people and Grant Park transforms from the familiar to barely ordered chaos. At Lollapalooza, you can stop in the middle of a road with working traffic lights and take in old-school rock through one ear colliding with EDM from the opposite side. The diverse, but strictly structured lineup makes for a hit-or-miss schedule spread over four exhausting and memorable days. DAY ONE Nick Mulvey opened Lollapalooza at Tito’s stage to a low-energy crowd, many of whom were stalling for a nearby act: A position in the schedule no musician would envy. The English singer-songwriter’s elaborate rhythm guitar patterns and lyrics did not make the task any easier. However, Mulvey’s English roots were not the source of his
set’s appeal. The abundance of British-influenced rock makes a soloist unlikely to provide originality. Instead, Mulvey pulled from his musical education in Havana, Cuba, for rich vocal runs that engaged the listless, intimate gathering in a calland-response. In comparison to Mulvey’s listening-room style atmosphere, Cuco, at the neighboring Bud Light stage, was a lesson on psychedelics and swagger. The young hip-hop artist added an interactive screen to an electric instrument ensemble that shimmied with each bump of the drumset. A plume of cannabis smoke saluted him when he, needlessly, asked, “Where my smokers at?” As Cuco fluctuated between dazed swaying and crazed jumping, the crowd matched his every move. Afternoon festival-goers not inclined to hip hop or EDM hopscotched across a dusty field for the slew of alternative bands at the adjacent Lake Shore and Grant Park stages. People worried about permanent damage to their hearing lounged on a hill like football fans impartial to the final score, just hoping to watch both endzones for a spectacular catch. Although admirable each in their own right, a general lack of stage presence made the badass and expressive sign language interpreters a better show than the featured performers. The cameramen agreed, often focusing on an interpreter with a ginger Khal Drogoesque ponytail fohawk who did a more impressive air guitar than the
actual musicians. Seasoned vets Stars, who last played the festival a decade ago, strained to keep non-superfans interested. The vocal pairing between the reserved Amy Millan (of Broken Social Scene) and aged maniac Torquil Campbell clashed poorly live. While Millan’s angelic voice created a contemplative mood, Campbell went haywire with incomprehensible shouting too far away from his microphone to pick up a signal. Since Campbell largely contributed melodica and tambourine, while sharing vocals with his bandmates who had legitimate instruments, his antics were likely a sign of overcompensation. The Wombats and Franz Ferdinand followed, drawing crowds of supporters, but fading into the cliches of their respective genres with little impact. The next two bands to share the expansive field were the standouts of the whole first day. I would nominate them as headliners if the first, LANY, had a longer discography and the second, CHVRCHES, had more intentional set design and choreography. Paul Klein, frontman of LANY, burst onto the stage with a freshly shaven head and an unintentional mission to bring back sagging pants. At various points, Klein flashed the audience his boxer-briefs, coupling this carefree nature with an extroverted intensity that added depth to the bubbly and relatable set. Even with a number of technical setbacks, LANY kept the energy
level high. While the audio-technicians tried to solve the mystery problem, Klein launched into an impromptu solo performance of “Made in Hollywood” that proved his charisma alone could carry a concert. CHVRCHES had the task of playing against platinum-selling artist Khalid. They delivered a set that left no regrets for those who passed over the young R&B singer. Despite lead vocalist Lauren Mayberry sporting the stature and speaking voice of a twelve-year old girl, her vocal strength made the open space take on the dimensions of an enclosed stadium. After these two knockout performances, the headliners for Thursday night were a disappointment from the inaccessible Arctic Monkeys to the unnecessary Galantis — I’m sorry, but what’s the point of watching a DJ “live” — and the mayhem of Travis Scott, which included a naked man, an awkward proposal and an even more cringe-worthy attempt from a fan to snag a photo with Scott. Although there will never be a consensus on “objectively good music,” fun sets with a broader appeal make a reliable headliner fallback option, which Thursday lacked. LANY’s catchy lyrics, where one listen turns the chorus into a sing-along, could have filled that role. Similarly, the upbeat electro-pop of CHVRCHES welcomes newcomers rather than only entertaining longtime fans. Plus moving Mayberry’s band into the last time slot would add a more than worthy female-driven act to the all-male headliner schedule. DAY TWO Matt Maeson kicked off Friday with a hard-to-beat standard for the otherwise weak early afternoon schedule, which included a pitchy cover of Avril Lavigne from Alex Lahey. Maeson showed his nerves during soundcheck, running through his songs up to the last minute and incessantly chain smoking. However, every musician knows a little anxiety gives urgency and authenticity to the performance. Dressed in all white, Maeson provided soulful, raw vocals with his father slaughtering the occasional guitar solo. Among the series of smaller artists, the BMI stage, known for introducing artists like Chance the Rapper and Lady Gaga, presented pop-punk band Mainland. Located beneath a tunnel of trees, the area lured people to the shade for some
new music. In an interview with The Daily, Mainland lead vocalist Jordan Topf described the origins of the band’s name, “The first time I heard the word ‘mainland,’ my mom told me a secret she kept from me my whole life about a time when she was 18 and fell in love with this professional surfer and moved to Hawaii with him to have a secret marriage. She ended the marriage because she missed the mainland of California. It’s this hidden piece of her story that resonated with me when we were trying to find a name. We’re all from California and that became the genesis of our name.” Although based in New York City, the California-roots of the band members shine through their East Coast veneer as they explore darker subject matter through bright hooks. Anticipation for Post Malone overshadowed James Bay whose evening set unfortunately turned into an opening act for the rapper. Eager Post fans occupied the front area and many did not hide their disinterest in Bay’s highly contrasting musical style. Regardless, Bay put on a masterclass on guitar and vocals. Unlike other attractive rockstars, Bay left no question that his talents lie in his music and not just his looks. Traditionally, sets end on the musician’s biggest hit. After a late rendition of “Let It Go,” the crowd braced for the possibility of “Hold Back the River,” Bay’s other charttopper. Sensing the anticipation, Bay led the audience in an extended karaoke of the song’s bridge, “lonely water,” before letting the dam break. A few years ago, during the wave of popular alternative music that benefited The 1975 and Mumford & Sons, The Neighborhood playing the relatively small Tito’s venue would have been a surprise. However, since their breakout single “Sweater Weather,” the band has struggled to create songs distinct from one another with each verse reminiscent of the last and not in a way necessary to make an album cohesive. Played one after the other live, the similarities become more apparent and turn memorable tunes into uninteresting repetitions. Even with the promise of Bruno Mars and The National to close the night, the craze around Post Malone made the popular rapper feel like another headliner. An hour before his start time, the crowd began chanting his name.
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FILM REVIEW
ARTS 7 MUSIC REVIEW
EPIC RECORDS
WALT DISNEY STUDIO MOTION PICTURES
‘Christopher Robin’ lacks the charm of its comfy roots JEREMIAH VANDERHELM Daily Arts Writer
In any other year, “Christopher Robin” might’ve swooped into theaters and stolen our hearts with its whimsy and all around pleasant spirit. After all, who doesn’t love Winnie the Pooh? No one, that’s who. In increasingly divided times, the enduring awesomeness of the silly old bear might be the one thing we can still agree on. Unfortunately, in 2018, Pooh has to contend with the feature film vehicles of another eminently likeable bear, Paddington, whose latest release stands as one of the best of the year. Clearly, Pooh Bear was going to have to up his game for “Christopher Robin,” his first foray into live-action. He’d have to be more wholesome, more aloof and more dangerously addicted to honey. He’d have to practice his adorable pratfalls into the long hours of the night. Even Heffalumps and Woozles would find themselves captivated by his endless good nature. It was either that, or coast on doing what the character had always done without adding anything new in the way of story or style, completely banking on the public’s love of the inhabitants of Hundred Acre Woods. You can take your guess which option the creative team chose. “Christopher Robin” is a perfectly fine movie. It’s funny and cute in all the ways you’d expect: Pooh remains an absolute
delight of a character and, if you grew up on Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” movies, seeing characters like Piglet, Rabbit and Eeyore again feels like reuniting with old friends (for the short time they’re on screen, at least). Unfortunately, the story all too often leaves those old friends behind to focus on scenes of the title character’s generic family drama and work struggles. Like last year’s “Goodbye Christopher Robin,” it settles for being just likeable when it could and should have been so much more. Robin (Ewan McGregor, “Beauty and the Beast”) leaves behind the Hundred Acre Woods and decades later spends so much time working that he doesn’t have any leftover time for his
“Christopher Robin” Ann Arbor 20+ IMAX, Goodrich Quality 16 Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures wife, Evelyn (Hayley Atwell, “Marvel’s Agent Carter”), and young daughter. It’s only after his family leaves for a vacation in the countryside without him that he is reunited with Pooh Bear, who needs his help to find his missing friends and maybe, just maybe, teach Robin a lesson about what’s really important in life. Given the title of the movie, the increased focus on Christopher Robin was unavoidable, but was Christopher Robin ever anyone’s
favorite part of the Winnie-thePooh movies? Is Christopher Robin the reason anyone will be seeing this movie? In the animated Disney films, he was usually the audience proxy, the character put in the story so the kids watching at home could pretend that they were playing and learning lessons in the Hundred Acre Woods. The script banks on childhood nostalgia in the same way as “Toy Story 3,” presuming many of those who grew up with Winniethe-Pooh have gone on to have lives and children of their own, so when they see Robin’s struggle in the trailers, they’ll relate and take their kids to see it. “Toy Story 3” didn’t focus on Andy, though. The story wasn’t as much about him moving on from his old toys as it was his old toys moving on from him. The same lesson was imparted and we all still cried, but the focus remained on the parts we’d always loved. “Christopher Robin” is like if “Toy Story 3” just followed Andy around as he prepared for college. Having director Marc Forster (“World War Z”)behind the camera doesn’t help. The director’s resume speaks for itself, but he all too often trends toward muted colors and shallow focus close-ups that don’t mesh well visually with Pooh’s bright world, rendering it downright dull at times. Even childhood scenes meant to be happy dampen the charm of the film. The Hundred Acre Woods have never looked so bland.
‘Astroworld’ hits with moxie, force
release boasts all of the above. The album’s first three tracks Daily Arts Writer (“STARGAZING,” “CAROUSEL” and “SICKO MODE”) singe you You reach above your head and with modern trap heat packed pull the lap bar down tightly over with perfectly placed beat switchyour thighs, which have morphed ups that spin your head around into the concave shape of the hard without breaking your shoved-out seat that took some getting used to. neck. However, the pace changes Per usual, a park employee comes suddenly but smoothly with “R.I.P. around to test your work by jostling SCREW” and “STOP TRYING TO the lap bar. Tight enough, she BE GOD,” two contemporary hip decides. You do your best to shove hop ballads soaked in beautiful your neck out past the “padded” bass. Then, just as a roller coaster beams on either side of your head shoots you from a low to a high to see if your friend to your right is in the blink of an eye, Scott dials as excited as you are. He’s shoving the hype back up to a fever bitch his neck out too. Suddenly, but with “NO BYSTANDERS,” a track not surprisingly, the floor your featuring Scott’s most skilled feet were softly planted on drops rapping to date and a hook that will have you and your legs dangle. Some guy ASTROWORLD shouting “fuck the club up, bitch!” — on the platform Travis Scott something you’ve presses a button, always wanted to a weird hissing Epic Records say but never had noise pierces your the chance to. ears and you jolt Travis takes advantage forward. The roller coaster has begun; you’re now at the mercy of of the trend of hiding artist features on a track list to make the powerful machine. If you’ve ridden a roller for chills-inducing moments of coaster before, Travis Scott’s collaboration. Frank Ocean slides ASTROWORLD — an album title in to deliver a sultry hook on derived from a shuttered Houston “CAROUSEL,” Drake drops catchy amusement park of the same name bars on “SICKO MODE,” Stevie — should be easy to understand. If Wonder and James Blake grace you’re a scaredycatlame-o who’s “STOP TRYING TO BE GOD” never been on a roller coaster, well, with harmonica and haunting that’s your loss, but ASTROWORLD vocals respectively, Tame Impala psychedelia over is a near-perfect encapsualtion of sprinkles that experience. What makes for “SKELETONS,” The Weeknd a thrilling amusement park ride? adds soprano sweetness to Thrashing twists and turns, high “WAKE UP,” John Mayer and highs that drop to low lows that Thundercat funkify the hazy shoot to higher highs, a surprising “ASTROTHUNDER,” 21 Savage loop, behind-the-curtains does 21 Savage on “NC-17” and mechanical perfection that makes Quavo and Takeoff enhance the for a comfortable and safe ride southern-trap sound of “WHO? and a smooth ending that allows WHAT!” you to catch your breath and crave another round of the excitement Read more at MichiganDaily. you just experienced. com Scott’s third major label MIKE WATKINS
8 NEWS
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RELEASE DATE– Thursday, August 9, 2018
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Beer and burger restaurant closed for business By ROB DALKA
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08/09/18
TMD reflects on popular joint, Quickie Burger
Daily Staff Reporter
Earlier this summer, while most of the student population was away, Quickie Burger quietly shut its doors and boarded its windows. The manager, who made very little information about the closing available, did not reply to efforts for comment, so patrons of the burger joint can’t do much more than reflect upon their memories. Quickie Burger opened in 2008 at State and Hill streets. Situated near plenty of student housing, it quickly became a popular burger joint among University of Michigan students. Some of Quickie Burger’s busiest days were Saturday home football games when thousands of passing tailgaters would stop to grab food. Quickie Burger was not the most critically acclaimed burger place in Ann Arbor, but it was still able to attract lines out the door. In a 2009 MLive food review, Alan Warren wrote Quickie Burger had inherent appeal despite tough competition. “Don’t get us wrong,” Warren wrote. “If we were a college student looking for a reasonably cheap, post-bar feed chased with a Pabst Blue Ribbon, or, say, a Jaeger Bomb, we’d likely be in line with the rest of the students at 2 a.m.” Alongside other late-night hot spots, Quickie Burger held its own. Students flocked to the restaurant for pitchers of beer and stacked burgers, both before and after going out. Quickie Burger was a lively place that many students remember fondly. Information rising senior Miguel Martinez found Quickie Burger before his first year at the University and was impressed with what the burger joint had to offer. “A friend introduced me to Quickie one day during freshman orientation,” Martinez said.
“They asked me if I wanted their secret sauce with my burger and I was conflicted but my friend urged me to try it, along with their signature fries. Needless to say, I was floored.” Others, like Engineering rising senior Jonatan Hervoso, who shared his thoughts in an email interview with The Daily, found Quickie Burger to be a place of convenience and tradition. “I heard about quickie burger (sic) for the first time during my freshman year and a few friends and I started going pretty frequently after rugby practice,” Hervoso wrote. Quickie Burger had a signature vibe. There was no divider between the cash register and the kitchen, revealing the cooks flipping burgers and working the fryers. Beer taps lined the wall alongside a row of liquor. Stools sat across from the register counter, facing the window along State Street. One might not see it at first, but around the corner there were stairs that led down to a basement with table seating and televisions in each corner of the room. According to Quickie Burger patrons, the restaurant was small but friendly. It was often boisterous but still a great place to eat a burger and have some fun with friends, Quickie Burger fans told The Daily. Quickie Burger was not fine dining, but never set out to be. “There wasn’t much that I disliked other than maybe the cleanliness of the bathrooms,” Hervoso wrote. “However I always appreciated quickness of service and quality of food, again cheap but good.” Now the building sits empty and quiet, with cardboard taped to the inside of the windows. No more burgers will be flipped or pitchers of beers consumed in the crowded basement. For many, it is a sad sight, and there is no doubt many students will be caught off guard without the State Street staple upon their return this fall. Most patrons of Quickie Burger were unaware of the initial closing. For Martinez, it was surprising and saddening news.
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Mujhse Shaadi Karogi
MICHIGAN IN COLOR 9
Of bridges of “Pasalubong”
By ZAINAB BHINDARWALA MiC SENIOR EDITOR
My queen, Priyanka Chopra is reportedly engaged to pop star Nick Jonas. As much as this news excites me, I can’t help but feel 5,000 more feelings than just excitement. Chopra recently dropped a Bollywood movie she was expected to star in, and the director made some not-so-subtle hints that it was because of her relationship with Jonas. Maybe this means a wedding is happening soon and that’s great, but to me, this seems like one more way Chopra is distancing herself from Bollywood as she gains more traction in Hollywood. As a Brown kid growing up in the diaspora, I spent my childhood struggling to fit into American society while my parents desperately wanted me to stay ~ ` connected to our ~ Indian roots. Now that I’m older (and wiser), I’m committed ` to remain connected to my heritage and make sure I don’t live just an American lifestyle. This is why Chopra’s relationship, and now engagement, with Jonas shook me to my core. Chopra represents the metaphorical bridge I have in my mind between American and Indian pop culture. Though connected, I view them as distinct and choose to engage with them in very different ways. For example, while I don’t really bother following most Hollywood relationships (obviously with the exception of Chopra
and Jonas), I followed Sonam Kapoor’s wedding a little too closely and was waaaay too invested in every detail When I first heard that Chopra was going to play the main character in ABC’s new show “Quantico”, I was so excited. Seeing my childhood idol on American television was like a dream come true. When Chopra debuted on American television, I was hoping she would be like a bridge between Hollywood and Bollywood. But the news of her engagement to Jonas and pulling out of a Bollywood movie has made me feel like she’s officially joining Team Hollywood and leaving her Bollywood roots behind. Also, can you blame me for being disappointed that she’s marrying a white dude? Chopra brought (more) international attention to one of the many Indian film industries (fun fact: there are at least 12 official film industries in India), and through her interviews, she is challenging people’s view of what life in India is like. Chopra’s presence in Hollywood is significant. It makes a statement and she makes it very clear she does not represent the entire Indian subcontinent nor is she willing to act in a stereotypical role. Her decision to play Alex Parrish – a role written with a white woman in mind – is proof of this. So it feels like Chopra’s decision to marry a white boy instead of a desi man
is another statement she’s making to the world. As happy as I am for her, I wonder how this will change the way Chopra is perceived. Some people say this is a “step up” for her, but just because someone works in Hollywood, that doesn’t mean they’re “making it.” In fact, in terms of numbers, the Bollywood film industry does better than Hollywood – Hollywood creates about 500 films a year while the Indian film industry creates over 1,000 – and Chopra was “making it” long before she dipped her toes in the American film industry. She had more successful movies under her belt prior to “Quantico” than some Hollywood actors have in an entire career. Others are disappointed that Chopra hasn’t made more of a stand now that she’s a wellknown Indian actress working in the United States. My response to this is simple: Not every icon who’s a person of color is going to be a champion of social justice and assuming they must is inherently problematic (we don’t assume every white icon is going to care about social issues). Regardless of Chopra’s stand on different issues facing both the American and Indian film industries, her supposed engagement to Jonas still makes me feel all the feels and if it happens, this is a wedding I’ll definitely be following very closely.
By CHRISTIAN PANEDA
Kathleen Guytingco
MiC SENIOR EDITOR
Connecting to the Philippines and my identity as a Filipino American is something I think about nearly every single day. I have not been back to the Philippines lately. Though I wish very much to make another trip, current circumstances of life do not allow me to yet. For now, I let myself live vicariously through my family and friends who have. When my mom or dad lands at the airport or I reunite with my college friends from a long-deserved break, I relish in the time I have with them to listen to their adventures in the Philippines. Sometimes, the stories are joyful: catching up with old friends, breathing the air of a familiar land, exploring new places. But sometimes, the stories are painful: death, a funeral, mourning. Amidst the whirlwind of tales, experiences, and anecdotes about the Philippines, an array of boxes and luggage filled with surprises almost always make an appearance so suddenly. Pasalubong. In, Tagalog, one of the main languages in the Philippines, it roughly means souvenir. Yet similar to other languages, English fails to fully translate its significance. The concept of pasalubong is an important aspect of Filipino American heritage. Pasalubong
are gifts given to others when one comes back from a trip. The practice of giving and receiving may seem simple. After all, isn’t it customary to give gifts to your loved ones? While there might be some truth to that, pasalubong can be more than that. Pasalubong may be rooted in the idea of reciprocity in the Philippine culture. The aspect of selfless remembrance for relatives and friends, ecstatic welcomes for one’s return home, and perhaps an unspoken expectation of a pasalubong could possibly convey cultural norms of maintaining relationships. And though the word pasalubong can sometimes refer to items from travels of any location, pasalubong oftentimes relate to gifts specifically from the Philippines. Pasalubong come as they are in many forms packed in cardboard boxes and brown paper bags. They are the delicious dried mangoes and garlic corn nuts my dad and I love to snack on. They are the joggers my mom thoughtfully bought me for a fraction of the price it would be in the States and the Tagalog dictionaries packed snugly in her luggage because she knows how badly I want to be better at speaking. They are even the statues of the Blessed Mother Mary that watches
over the homes of my extended families but also mine included. While the pasalubong from my family brings me warmth in my heart, the pasalubong from friends has me feeling thrill and adrenaline. Pasalubong for me is also the comic books in Tagalog to help me practice the language, the fashionable barongs perfect for any formal occasion, and the books on textiles from niche art fairs in the Philippines. My most prized possessions are fashion magazines from Filipinx creatives (exhibit A and exhibit B)--beacons of inspiration to always step up my fashion game by stretching my creativity. I put a great deal of importance on these items as they are things not accessible online. Receiving pasalubong from my friends and family is comparable to getting gifts on Christmas (mind you that Christmas is a big deal in Filipino culture). Even still, pasalubong is a different kind of treasure. Pasalubong are much more than souvenirs. They are bridges that connect me to many parts of my heritage that exist oceans away from Southeast Michigan. The act of giving pasalubong is a cultural act of community building. In my view, I am reminded to never forget where I come from. Pasalubong are opportunities to think about the intricacies of being Filipino American.
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Thursday, August 9th, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
COURTESY OF TWITTER, @PARRIS58
Incoming freshman heavyweight wrestler Mason Parris looks to make an immediate impact after a dominant high school career that saw him win three state titles
Meet the Wolverines’ new heavyweight: Mason Parris JACOB KOPNICK
Summer Managing Sports Editor
For the Michigan wrestling team, there will be a stud at heavyweight. A tall, built, blonde wrestler who dominated in high school and is looking to tear up the competition in the Big Ten. And he is studying to become an engineer. Sound familiar? That’s because incoming freshman Mason Parris bears striking resemblance in his wrestling trajectory to Wolverine legend Adam Coon. With Coon’s recent departure from Ann Arbor, Parris seeks to build his craft where Coon perfected his. Parris, who finished his high school career as the No. 1-ranked high school heavyweight wrestler, looks to continue Michigan’s dominance at heavyweight and take the torch from Coon. While the two will not overlap a year of eligibility for the Wolverines, Parris and Coon will still attempt to build a mutually
beneficial relationship on and off the mat. Their relationship began in earnest when Coon was preparing for the World Team Trials. In order to help him prepare for the best of the best, Coon brought in all the help he could in an attempt to make the World Team. That meant Parris. So during the week leading up to the trials, Parris came up to Ann Arbor where he helped run a youth wrestling camp and assist Coon in his preparation. “We’d wrestle around a little bit, and he would teach me like his upper body, like throws,” Parris said. “Then when we’d live wrestle, I kinda just helped him out by being a faster body for him and kinda trying to get in on his legs so he could fight out of it.” Whatever he did, it worked. Coon would then go on to triumph over Robby Smith to land a spot on the Greco-Roman World Team. “Adam’s been a really good mentor to me, and he has really
helped me out a lot,” Parris said. “He’s told me like a lot about the system, and he’s a really great guy.” Going forward, Parris hopes to maintain his relationship with Coon and use his expertise on everything from on the mat struggles to engineering problems. Parris also hopes to gain assistance with his technique. Throughout his high school career, Parris relied on a unique blend of awe-inducing strength and unrivaled quickness to dominate his high school level competition. After all, we’re talking about a man who only lost once in four years of high school wrestling, capturing three state titles and the respect of the wrestling community. Parris enjoys controlling the pace of his matches, often electing to push his opponents to their limits in terms of tempo and physicality. But in order to bring that same intensity and dominance to the next level, every aspect of his game needs
to be immaculate. “I think (the Michigan coaching staff ) is really, definitely gonna help me a lot with my technique because I still have a lot of things to work on because I did two other sports, and I didn’t wrestle all yearround,” Parris said, “So I think they’re really gonna help me out with my technique and help me adjust a few things.” Technique down or not, it seems obvious that someone with the affinity for wrestling like Parris would easily make the choice to wrestle at the next level. However, that was not always his first option. Due to his raw athleticism, Parris was all-state in three sports and was strongly considering collegiate football over wrestling. In the end, Parris went with his gut and cited two simple yet rational reasons for choosing the mat over the gridiron — the individualism and success he had found with wrestling. “It was a really tough decision for me, but I decided on wrestling
because I really saw myself being a really good wrestler,” Parris said, “And then I really liked how it was an individual sport and how what you put into the sport is what you get out of it.” However, Parris’ football journey may not end in Ann Arbor. Many collegiate wrestlers have taken their talents to the NFL or even garnered professional interest. Most recently, certain NFL teams have even expressed interest in acquiring Coon as an offensive lineman. While he won’t be training under Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh during his time with the Wolverines, the path exists for Parris to take football to the next level. But as he’s gotten older, Parris has fully adopted every facet of the wrestling world. From the tight-knit community to the brutal physical toll of the sport, Parris has embraced it all and doesn’t see himself burning out anytime soon. “Well, when I was younger I wasn’t like a huge fan of wrestling, but I did it still because I liked it and I was pretty good at it,” Parris said. “But when I got older, like around middle school, I really developed a love for wrestling, and I think it was just me winning tournaments and stuff that made me really like it and all the people I’d meet. I like the challenge too. “I don’t think I’ll ever burn out of wrestling because I really love it, but I think some challenges are gonna be maintaining my health.” As Parris shifts from being a part-time to full-time wrestler, his mission is clear — maintain the level of dominance he exhibited in high school. Attaining the No. 1 ranking in anything is never easy, but as Parris explains it, that wasn’t the difficult part. “It just makes me drive more because they say it’s harder to stay on top than to actually get there,” Parris said. “So, I really worked a lot harder when I saw that because I knew I had stuff to prove to put me there.” While the level of competition will surely increase as Parris heads for the Big Ten, the greatest wrestling conference in the country, the goal stays the same. But with a mentor like Coon and the physical tools already at his disposal, it’ll be hard to bet against this kid.
Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
All good for Rodriguez JORGE CAZARES Daily Sports Writer
In the muggy fields of central Florida, Roberto Rodriguez takes his three kids to their impromptu training ground. Up the hill. Next. Up the hill. Next. Up the hill. The three future collegiate ballplayers sprint up the hill adjacent to their Monteverde home in a test of endurance. Next come the agility and speed drills as Roberto times and tracks the progress of his athletes. Eventually the drills transition to the diamond behind their local church, where the focus switches from building endurance and speed to improving fielding, hitting and IQ. Roberto would create a scenario: runners on first and third, one out. The ball is hit to you. What do you do? It was this intensity and attention to detail on the familiar diamond that prepared his players for the bigger and unpredictable stages that were ahead. Natalia Rodriguez is the youngest and the smallest of the three, but from as early as the age of five, she was matching her two older brothers, stride for stride, drill for drill. Through this gauntlet of exercises, her competitive nature was born. Rodriguez comes from a baseball family. Her father played baseball growing up and coached all three of his children. Her mother, Iris, played softball at Yale, and her two brothers, Roberto and Sergio, played at Georgetown and Amherst, respectively. As the youngest of three, she credits having her two older brothers as role models and motivators for the level of competitiveness that she now exhibits. “It built up my competitiveness,” Rodriguez said. “Just going out there trying to be better than the boys.” Whether it was organized drills with her father or a friendly exhibition game, she refused to give her brothers the edge despite any disadvantage she had physically. It is the mentality she had as a child and one that she carries with her to this day. *** It is easy to mistake physical appearance for ability. Picture the selection process that takes place before a pickup game: The most physically gifted athletes are selected first. Who gets
picked last? Well, the least imposing players, of course. If you were to categorize Rodriguez amongst other softball players, she would likely fall in the latter. Listed at five-foot four, Rodriguez is notably one of the smallest players on the field for the Wolverines. But petite stature is no new foe for her. In the seventh grade, Rodriguez was playing for her high school team at Montverde Academy. She was told that she wasn’t big enough or strong enough to be a shortstop, so she acquiescently made the move to the outfield. “She didn’t want to settle for being the littlest one the team,” Roberto said. “She wanted to prove she could be just as good as anyone else. She was always driven, always motivated. “ … I told her to just keep being the best player you can be wherever they put you.” And that is exactly what she did. During her time at Montverde Academy, Rodriguez went on to set every offensive school record and earn numerous awards. She batted .506 as a junior and led her team to the state championship game. She was the defensive MVP at shortstop during her sophomore season and the team MVP in her junior and senior seasons. In her senior season, she was also named the Montverde Academy 2017 Female Scholar of the Year. “I just went out there and working with the team, it was just about getting better,” Rodriguez said. “It was a … program that pushed us and we weren’t –– we grew a lot, definitely, since I started playing there in middle school.” Despite initially being moved to the outfield in high school, she remained in the middle infield for her travel team, where Roberto coached her from the time she was nine until she was 16. When she was 10, her team finished in second at the USSSA/ ESPN 10U World Series, and Rodriguez earned defensive MVP honors at shortstop. Three years later, her team would win the 2012 USSSA/ESPN High School World Series 16U A Championship –– a moment Rodriguez considers the biggest of her playing career. “I was playing with a couple girls that I had played with for over four or five years,” Rodriguez said, “So it was with really close friends of mine, and it was in Florida –– Wide World of Sports. It was just a great
SPORTS 11
ALEC COHEN / DAILY
Freshman shortstop Natalia Rodriguez comes from a baseball and softball family, which has given her to drive to succeed.
atmosphere and I think it was just my first big win, so that was pretty big for me.” In the summer before her freshman campaign, along with two of her teammates from the 16U World Series squad, she represented the Puerto Rican Junior National Team, helping her grandparents’ native country to a bronze-medal finish in the 2017 Junior Women’s Softball World Championship. “It’s always great to represent your nationality,” Rodriguez said. “It was a lot of fun. You meet a lot of girls from the island… And it also allowed me to work on my bilingual skills.” The three of them — who were the youngest players on that world series squad — teamed up one more time to compete against countries from around the world for the international tournament in their home state of Florida. When it came time to be recruited, Rodriguez received offers from several schools around the country, ranging from east coast Ivies to PAC12 schools. But it wasn’t until her junior year that she received an offer from the school she felt was the best fit. “After I got the offer from Michigan, I didn’t let anyone else get a chance to be quite honest,” Rodriguez said. As the Wolverines said goodbye to their switch-hitting shortstop and four-year starter Abby Ramirez at the end of the 2017 season, they welcomed in another switch-hitting shortstop in Rodriguez. In spite of being small and
frequently overlooked, Rodriguez has remained confident in her abilities. Or, as her father likes to put it, like “a little silent assassin.” But make no mistake, this quiet confidence is often infused with an energizing swagger. In the clubhouse, she has the reputation as the player with the most “swag” as some of her teammates have put it. “I think it’s really just me having fun –– it’s being me. I like to dance a little bit. I think they’re referring to a little juju, shoulder lean…its nothing crazy… just make people laugh and get everyone involved.” The dancing simultaneously keeps her teammates grounded and her swagger-level sky high. From a young age, she showed her dedication to the game and the desire to constantly improve. It takes this sort of approach to the game to remain passionate and hungry. Some athletes eventually fall out of love with the game, burnt out from the years of dedication. But not Rodriguez. “Can’t say (quitting softball) crossed my mind,” Rodriguez said. From the diamonds of Montverde, Fla. to Ann Arbor, Mich., Rodriguez has found her way to always enjoy the game. *** Last season, fans became accustomed to seeing the slickfielding freshman ranging the shortstop position for the Wolverines. She has become a staple of the Michigan defense — which ranked first in the Big Ten and second in the nation in
fielding percentage through the end of the regular season. But she wasn’t supposed to be the starting shortstop. Sophomore third baseman Madison Uden was slated as the likely candidate be the everyday shortstop by coach Carol Hutchins. In the fall, the coaching staff noted how talented the freshman could be, but it was junior second baseman Faith Canfield who saw Rodriguez’s potential and vouched for her to get the nod next to her in the infield to begin the season. “I think (Canfield)’s the one kid in our program that thought Natalia was the one to go to shortstop,” Hutchins said. “She, from the get-go, recognized what a talent Natalia is.” Canfield took on a mentor role last season with Natalia as they partnered in the middle infield. “That’s one thing with Natalia is just that she believes in herself and knows that she knows how to play the game,” Canfield said. Rodriguez forced Hutchins’ hand, expediting what was supposed to be a year more for development and less for playing time. But it was the work ethic and passion for the game that her coach and teammates saw in her which gave her the opportunity to be the starting shortstop –– a work ethic and passion that can be accredited to her family. On and off the field, her demeanor doesn’t change much: calm, cool and collected with a hint of swagger and a wide-eyed grin crossing her face. “I just tell her to smile and have fun while you’re out there,” Roberto said. “... Nothing but good will come out of it.”
12 SPORTS
Thursday, August 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
KATELYN MULCAHY / DAILY
Former Michigan guard Duncan Robinson signed a contract with the Miami Heat and is taking his developed skills to the NBA
Robinson embraces role in NBA RIAN RATNAVALE Daily Sports Writer
Before signing a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, before barraging the NBA Summer League with 3s and even before he was a key cog in Michigan’s run to the NCAA championship game, Duncan Robinson met Michigan assistant coach Luke Yaklich — and went straight to work. As one of the architects of Michigan’s recent run to the NCAA championship game, Yaklich picked apart hours of film with the fifth-year senior forward. He knew that Robinson would be vital to the Wolverines’ offense as a capable 3-point shooter. At the same time, Yaklich recognized that the 2017-18 incarnation of Michigan basketball couldn’t necessarily just run-and-gun its way to success like past Wolverine teams under John Beilein. “He just asked me ‘What do I need to do to get better?’,” Yaklich said. “I kind of will always remember that. We talked about things that we could do against certain teams and he just had this
presence of mind about him and a understanding of basketball. His basketball acumen is really high.” To make the plan work, Robinson — and everyone else on the roster — had to embrace the defensive side of the ball. Originally, the plan was to start freshman Isaiah Livers at power forward over Robinson. While Livers showed early flashes of defensive versatility, he had a hard time initially grasping Michigan’s offensive scheme, so the Wolverines went ahead and started Robinson. Robinson though, struggled to find his shot during the start of Big Ten play, ceding the starting job back to Livers. Against No. 5 Michigan State on Jan. 13, Livers made his first start, helping the Wolverines to an 84-75 win. As Michigan marched on, Robinson finally faced the reality of playing from the bench. “That season epitomized growth… to the team but also to myself,” Robinson said. “Specifically as a leader, I definitely had my ups and my downs over the course of the year,” Robinson said. “But I
tried to stay true to my law as an adapter and a guy who had been through more to help out these younger guys.” And despite his reduced role, Robinson kept finding new ways to contribute. Sophomore guard Zavier Simpson’s dogged manto-man defense and redshirt sophomore wing Charles Matthews’ lanky-armed steals might be easier to see, but it was Robinson who was Yaklich’s selfdescribed defensive “sounding board.” Robinson would bounce ideas back and forth with the coach on how to improve Michigan’s defense, then adopt what he had gleaned onto the court. Robinson and senior guard MuhammadAli Abdur Rahkman even called out other teams’ offensive plays, according to Yaklich. “I know there was a point, it was in the middle to second half of the conference season,” Yaklich said. “There was just a confidence about him that no matter who he was guarding, whether it was (Ohio State forward) Keita BatesDiop or a more physical 4-man in our league, Duncan was going to be a chameleon and adjust to
however that particular opponent needed to be played.” In a crucial road game at Penn State, Robinson racked up a Wolverine career-high three blocks. As the primary defender, he limited Bates-Diop, the eventual Big Ten Player of the Year, to 5-17 shooting in a win over Ohio State. Michigan held its opponents to 62.0 points per game during its 14-game win streak that led the Wolverines to the Final Four. Robinson even rediscovered his shooting stroke to the tune of 44 percent shooting from behind the arc in February and March and was named the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year. Still, Robinson wasn’t done. It was time to take his shooting and his defensive growth to the NBA, even if he wasn’t as heralded as some of his peers that declared for the draft. All of the teams he had official pre-draft workouts with — the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers — employed schemes that rely on spacing, shooting and value help defense. So far, so good. While training in the Los Angeles area though, the Heat sent one of its scouts to look at Robinson. After a solid workout, Robinson was intrigued. He knew that the Miami had a lot of previous success with player development — guard Josh Richardson was a crucial piece for the Heat immediately as a second round pick, and the coaching staff revived the careers of former journeymen like center Hassan Whiteside and forward James Johnson. Even his former Michigan teammate, guard Derrick Walton Jr., was on the team. “It’s not every day that one of your good friends has had that same experience that, as you are about to go through,” Robinson said. Although Robinson ended up going undrafted, he knew where to go next. When Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra first talked to Robinson about potentially playing for Miami’s Summer League team, Robinson was sold. Spoelstra pitched Robinson as a player who could fit the same mold as Heat shooting guard Wayne Ellington — a player who bounced around the league for eight years before signing with Miami and finishing sixth in the NBA in three pointers made last season. “[Spoelstra] really likes guys that shoot the ball, and how
they prioritize that within the organization and how my combination of size and skill could maybe help them in games,” Robinson said. “So they used the example of Wayne Ellington and how he’s always encouraged him to shoot and stay invested. And it’s not necessarily about how many makes, but he’s just always encouraging and that to get them off in there. That’s what every shooter wants to hear.” Robinson won’t necessarily have as many responsibilities in the NBA as he did at Michigan. At least in the beginning of his career, his success will hinge on being in the right place at the right time. In his first Summer League game Robinson had a largely uneventful performance, going 1-4 from behind the arc and finishing with three points. Fast forward to the next game, though, and Robinson found himself channeling his inner chameleon in the same way that he did at Michigan. On the first Heat possession of the game, Miami’s Bam Adebayo grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to the top of the arc, where it effortlessly fell into the waiting hands of Robinson. Casually, Robinson pulled up and sunk the 3-pointer. On the ensuing Heat possession, Robinson glided up the floor on a fastbreak, corralled in an outlet pass and, barely touching the ball, feathered in another deep 3 — two minutes later, another triple, from the same spot as the first one. Later in the first half, he even slipped a screen, and jammed a powerful two hand baseline dunk off a pass from Walton Jr. Robinson finished the game with 19 points, adapting his game like he had at Michigan, this time on a more micro level. It’s easy to mistake Robinson’s performance that day — and the ensuing ones in Las Vegas — as one of many Summer League hot shooting streaks that end up dying without so much as a whimper in the G-League. For every Manu Ginobili, there are twenty Anthony Randolphs or Josh Selbys that burn out. Like many of the great undrafted players before him, however, Robinson knows his role and has shown a willingness and the ability to revamp and add to his game when things aren’t going right. “It was never a question mark of what was going to happen,” Yaklich said. “We knew we were going to get the best out of him.”