ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Monday, November 19, 2018
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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One to go
Michigan set itself up for one final showdown with Ohio State — for all the marbles — by defeating Indiana on Saturday, 31-20.
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CITY
City council seeks legal counsel after appeal claim Developer company took action after A 2 denied housing complex proposal
ANNIE KLUS/Daily
LSA senior Hoai An Pham speaks at the breakout session held by the Michigan Student Power Network during the Organizing Against White Supremacy conference in Mason Hall Friday.
LEAH GRAHAM
Workshop talks combatting white supremacy, power of organizing
Daily Staff Reporter
Trinitas Ventures is taking legal action against Ann Arbor after City Council denied a proposal for a student housing complex north of campus. The Indiana-based developer filed a claim of appeal, arguing the project complies with relevant zoning regulations and calling for a reversal of the city’s decision on the development. In September, City Council rejected the proposal — in which Trinitas planned to construct the complex at 2601 Pontiac Trl., more than two miles away from both North and Central Campus — in a unanimous vote. Then, in November, it voted unanimously
Michigan Student Power Network centered the workshop on importance of collective action LIAT WEINSTEIN & ZAYNA SYED Daily Staff Reporters
In response to the growing visibility of white nationalist movements across the country and subsequent debates about free speech, the social justice
nonprofit Michigan Student Power Network hosted a workshop Friday afternoon about the power of community organizing and action. The workshop was one of many events hosted during the conference “Building Power: Organizing Effectively Against White Supremacy,” which discussed topics like nonviolence and the Black
Action movement. Inspiration for the conference, which described itself as “Blackled,” stemmed from controversial events last year that received pushback from students and campus organizations. In November 2017, white supremacist Richard Spencer’s request to speak at the University of
Michigan incited protests from the Black Student Union and the University’s chapter of the NAACP. Spencer cancelled his request to speak in January and canceled all national college tours after violence broke out at his stop at Michigan State University. MSPN member Hoai An Pham, See NATIONALIST, Page 2A
in favor of a $150,000 contract to retain outside legal counsel to fight the developer’s claim against the city. City Councilmember Zachary Ackerman, D-Ward 3, said despite the fact legal precedents in the state tend to favor developers, he was pleased the council was taking action to block the Trinitas plan. “Precedent is set by our court system and generally not by legislative branches, and the precedent that’s been set in the state of Michigan protects developers who believe they have the right to build a certain way on a property,” Ackerman said.
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Ann Arbor Airbnb hosts take in $1.5 Burt Lake Economics event talks million during football Saturdays conference
CAMPUS LIFE
BUSINESS
Biostation recognition
The host community housed over 8,900 guests throughout the season
University research station situated on stolen acres of Native American land
Between alumni, parents and general Michigan fans, people flock to Ann Arbor on Saturdays during the fall. The Ann Arbor Airbnb host community has seen this firsthand and earned $1.55 million in supplemental income from 8,900 guests during University of Michigan home football game weekends this season, according to Airbnb. This included the $117,000 in projected income from the Indiana game on Saturday. The $1.55 million in Airbnb income is up from $1.2 million during the 2017 football season. Janice Cutting, an Airbnb host of several local properties, said she has no trouble finding guests for football weekends. “If you have a football game, clearly the demand is much higher and you can raise your price,” Cutting said. “But when it’s a little bit slower, you need to lower your prices.” Cutting is a Superhost, meaning she has a 4.8 rating or higher, a 90-percent response rate and zero cancellations. After staying in above-average Airbnb properties, Cutting said she wanted to provide her guests with an excellent experience. Cutting provides coffee, creamer and soap products for her guests, and she hires professional cleaners between each guest. “About 80 percent of the time they’re booked,” Cutting said.
KATHERINA SOURINE Daily News Reporter
Students and faculty gathered Friday night for a Native American Heritage Month event, a historical discussion of the Burt Lake Burnout led by historian Richard Wiles and the Burt Lake Tribal Council. The event first centered around the history of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and later discussed the band’s ongoing struggle to achieve federal tribal recognition. On Oct. 15, 1900, the government forced the relocation of the Burt Lake Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Native Americans, burning their village and giving the land to a local developer who claimed to have purchased the property. The University later gained ownership of some of this property in 1909, and the U-M Biological Station currently sits on this land. Last December, native students and faculty submitted a request to the University to investigate the land ownership belonging to the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Native American
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“When I first started out, my prices were a little bit lower and I used to get them booked up in the 90 to 95 percent of the time. But when I’m pricing it lower I have found that you don’t get quite as nice a clientele, so they didn’t treat the properties quite as well.” Jack Savas, also a local Airbnb Superhost, decided to use his home for Airbnb because he travels often and his daughter attends college overseas. After
four years as a host, Savas said he has learned communication and honesty is essential to finding guests who will respect the property. “Surprisingly, I’ve had excellent guests,” Savas said. “In many cases, they leave the house cleaner than when they arrive. But I think the key to maintaining a residence that’s clean and immaculate is transparency with the guests and pricing your house at the
right amount of money.” Savas currently maintains two Airbnb properties and is planning on listing a third. Especially for hosts who maintain multiple properties, Savas said Airbnb can present a great opportunity for earning extra income. “A peak month I did $14,600 but on average on average I earn between $5,000 and $7,000,”
michigandaily.com
SEPT 21 – 22
SEPT 14 – 15
OCT 5 – 6
$76,000
$134,000
$293,000
$218,000
720
960
1600
1300
Guests
Guests
Guests
WESTERN MICHIGAN
SMU
SEPT 7 – 8
Guests
NEBRASKA
MARYLAND
SEPT 21 – 22
SEPT 14 – 15
$343,000
$371,000
$117,000
1720
1700
940
Guests
WISCONSIN
Guests
Guests
PENN STATE
University hosts Economic Outlook panels, featuring research and forecasts SONIA LEE
Daily News Reporter
Read more online at
Ann Arbor Airbnb Host Income During Home Football Game Weekends SEPT 7 – 8
emphasizes education
INDIANA
The University of Michigan’s 66th Annual Economic Outlook Conference discussed research on the national and state economic future, especially as a recession rapidly approaches. The program’s 10 presentations, held between Thursday and Friday, spanned talks from “Election Implications for Small Business Spending and Hiring” to “NAFTA, Tariffs, and the U.S. Automotive Industry.” The conference was organized by the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, a modeling and forecasting unit in the Economics Department that provides quarterly forecasts for the U.S. and Michigan economies. The conference is the longest running one of its kind in the U.S. , and is attended by upper level government and business economists, economic analysts, and academics. RSQE Director Gabriel Ehrlich spoke about Michigan’s economic outlook at the conference on Friday.
CASEY TIN/Daily
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVIII, No. 34 ©2018 The Michigan Daily
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
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SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............5 SPORTS....................1B
News
2A — Monday, November 19, 2018
MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers
TUESDAY: By Design
WEDNESDAY: This Week in History
135
$5.6 MILLION
65 law students filed complaints with the city of Ann Arbor, according to law student Akash Patel, regarding the safety of the crosswalk at the corner of
State Street and East Madison Street
The crosswalk is not easily visible from the driver’s perspective, especially at night.
THURSDAY: Twitter Talk
After studying
The University of Michigan Biosciences Initiative recently decided to fund to build the Michigan Concussion Center which will focus on the prevention, treatment, and consequences of concussions.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
of the most popular free and paid mobile applications for children
FRIDAY: Behind the Story
In a statewide study led by Michigan Medicine doctor Ryan Howard, researchers found patients usually take only
1/4 of opioid
pills prescribed. The study also found doctors prescribing almost
5 years old and younger, 70 different opioid pills pediatrician and University of Michigan researcher Jenny Radesky and her team found apps for children
contain disruptive, and often inappropriate, advertisements.
pills for minor or less invasive surgeries.
Campus precincts in Ann Arbor cast
4,977 votes
on November 6, 2018 up from 1,541 votes in the 2014 midterm election. VIVIAN HARBER/Daily
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ON THE DAILY: SENIORS DETAIL THEIR LAST EXPERIENCE IN THE BIG HOUSE
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It was the last of many for University of Michigan seniors: a willingness to wake up early for tailgates (unlike classes), singing “Mr. Brightside” with 100,000 spectators and enjoying a football game at the Big House as undergraduates. The Michigan football team beat Indiana University 31 to 20. Engineering senior Rachel Fenberg has gone to football games since her freshman year,
and gained appreciation for the experience as she attended more games. “I love the atmosphere of the Big House and I always look forward to going to games,” Fenberg said. “I think as I have gotten older, I’ve been able to appreciate it more and now as a senior with the team being so amazing, it’s been really exciting to be a part of the student section and watch all the games.”
LSA senior Rachel Cohen felt bittersweet about a great experience coming to an end. “It’s really bittersweet for me,” Cohen said. “As a freshman, I didn’t know anything about football. I started staying at the games and getting more invested in it so eventually now over the course of four years I started understanding football and I really loved staying for all the games. It’s really sad for that to be over.”
Seniors at the game expressed sadness as two of its players, LSA senior Chase Winovich and Rackham student Berkley Edwards, both sustained injuries in the second half and did not return to the game. The athletes were transported to the hospital, but reports show they sustained less severe injuries than expected. Michigan will take on Ohio State University next Saturday in Columbus.
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NATIONALIST From Page 1A
construed it is a little bit harmful. some privileges and things like It perpetuates the idea that in that,” Davis said. “But everyone order to see the change that we has a place in the larger work for want to see in the world, to see a justice.” Kaitlyn Wilson, a Master’s problem and want to change it, it’s an LSA senior who helped lead student at the School of the workshop, said the discussion individual responsibility.” was intended to challenge the Pham noted how issues like Social Work, acknowledged white supremacy cannot be the uncertainty some white belief that individual action is the best way to create meaningful confronted by individual action people may feel with their role Sudoku Syndication http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ change. Instead, Pham stressed because they are often systemic. in organizing against white However, she The workshop discussed supremacy. nationwide movements expressed the importance of such as the Women’s March utilizing racial privilege to help that has failed to address dismantle it. “I am a white woman,” Wilson white supremacy. LSA senior Chanelle Davis, who said. “For me, something like EASY also led the discussion, said this, I might feel like maybe I’m the lack of Black student not welcome because I’m kind of representation in meetings the group that we’re organizing about Spencer’s proposed against, but I think it’s important visit turned her off even that white people like myself though she was invested in are also able to be a part of it and acknowledge our own privilege the cause. “Although the and use it to work towards collaboration got it done dismantling white supremacy.” Workshop attendees discussed — Spencer didn’t come — it was missing that piece what holds them back from opportunities for about building sustainable pursuing organizing spaces and activism, as well as movements groups and relationships that have not been successful in combating white supremacy. One with folks,” Davis said. Davis also mentioned attendee brought up the decline how communities need in the labor movement, while to acknowledge the another mentioned how the differences of opinion and “we’re all immigrants” sentiment the historical background among their disregards oppression of Native Americans members. “We each possess and African Americans. Pham unique experiences and said revisiting the history of also different identities and marginalized groups is crucial © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. EASE INTO IT puzzle by sudokusyndication.com we also face oppressions Read more online at differently and at different michigandaily.com levels, and we also have the effectiveness of community activism. “How many of you have heard the phrase, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world?’” Pham asked. “With our workshop based on collective action and saying why individual action isn’t enough, the meaning behind this phrase or the way that people have
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Michigan in Color
Monday, November 19, 2018— 3A
No,
conservatives aren’t discriminated against MICHELLE FAN/Daily
DANYEL THARAKAN MiC Columnist
A headline from The Michigan Daily reads “Conservative commentator Steven Crowder critiques erasure of conservative voices on campus.” As a photographer for The Daily, my editor assigned me to cover a live taping of his show, Louder with Crowder, on Oct. 25 at the Power Center. Crowder had the nerve to claim “no one is othered on college campuses more than conservatives.” Unbeknownst to me, what was to ensue was, as a person of color, one of the most terrifying events of my life. I walked into Power Center to be rudely greeted by a University of Michigan police officer, who begrudgingly let me talk to the event organizer who directed me to the press area. Walking into the main auditorium felt like walking from the dungeons into the Coliseum as a gladiator. The auditorium was with over 1,381 people in attendance, almost all clad in the Trumpian uniform of red MAGA hats and white rage. Crowder was late. His fans were getting anxious and unruly. Chants of “We want Crowder!” broke out through the audience, gaining power and zeal with each passing minute. Finally, the “Arthur”-voiceactor-turned-white-nationalist peeked out from behind the
curtain, to be met with a roar and a raucous chant of “U.S.A.!” Crowder did a victory lap on stage, dressed as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh wearing a red MAGA beer hat, spilling one of the cans of Miller Light onto the floor when the hat tumbled off his head. Getting settled, some of the very first words out of his mouth constituted a threat, instructing the audience to hold up their phones to show “the media” that they have their own account. The crowd obliged, shining their phone flashlights onto me and the other photographers present while hissing a menacing jeer. I stayed as long as was necessary to take enough photos; on account of reporters getting harassed and assaulted at 45’s rallies, and especially cognizant of my perilous position as one of the few Brown people in the room, I left out of fear for my own safety. Even if I didn’t feel endangered, I still would have left – I tested my patience by withstanding roughly 20 minutes of blatant homophobia, transphobia, misogyny and racism before I felt like my stomach was going to vomit up all of the hate that my eyes and ears had ingested. Shortly after coming on, he described to the audience in great detail about how beautiful and lovely his assistant was: comments that
were patronizing and clearly made her uncomfortable. He continued on a 15-minute tirade mocking transgender people and gender identity, egged on by the audience’s raucous laughter. Not satisfied with only spewing vitriol against women and the LGBTQ community, Crowder aimed to prove he was also well-versed in racism and xenophobia, interspersing his show with a running joke mocking a Honduran immigrant being interviewed by CNN. Crowder never explicitly attacked any of my identities as a person of color, which may leave some white folks wondering why the experience was so terrifying. Being surrounded by a large, unruly crowd composed almost entirely of white people would give any person of color pause, even if they hadn’t congregated for a colloquium of hate. Crowder and other members of the so-called “alt-right” (read: white supremacists) have not hesitated to espouse loathsome ideology against people who look like me before. Given the history of
white violence against racial minorities in this country, and its recent encouragement by the fascist demagogue in the White House, I had every reason to be on my guard. This was a situation during which the threat of violence was ever present. To exacerbate the threat, the police, representing the authority of the state, were sent to protect this odious pundit from facing any pushback against his opinions. I have personally experienced enough misconduct at the hands of the police to know they were more likely to cause me harm than give me help in the event that something did occur. According to political scientist Iris Young, one of the five faces of oppression is not only violence itself, but also the constant threat of violence because of one’s membership in a social group. Whenever I hear some white boy crybabying about how conservatives and whites are the ones who are actually discriminated against, I always want to laugh, but too many white people across the country
Given the history of white violence against racial minorities in this country... I had every reason to be on my guard
Preserving A/PIA history at UM NISA KHAN
White fragility is a huge roadblock in the fight against racism. Many white liberal students here would probably be surprised by how many people attended Crowder’s event, seeing the University as a liberal and diverse place. Students of color know this is a lie, and have experienced all of the day-to-day traumas stemming from interactions with white people, which is why Crowder’s popularity is unsurprising to me. I doubt very many of the people in that auditorium would identify as racists. Most would probably react very defensively to the accusation, and this is counterproductive to the goal of getting someone to actually critically evaluate themselves. Crowder and others like him railing against “identity politics” fail to realize that whiteness is also an identity, and it has been the dominant political force over the entire history of our country. They profess feeling marginalized on college campuses for their political beliefs, but when your beliefs include spreading hostility against actually marginalized groups, like women, people of color and the LGBTQ community, then you can expect repudiation. A tolerant society must be intolerant of intolerance.
Erasure ELIZABETH LE
MiC Senior Editor
What were the first meeting notes like for East Wind, the first space for Asian/Pacific Islander Americans at the University of Michigan back in the ’70s? What were leaders of color on campus in the late ’90s debating when they occupied the Michigan Union for 38 days straight? What were the reactions of Asian-American student organizations during the 2016 election? These are questions that explore the history of Asians and Asian Americans on this campus, and the best way we can answer them for future students and activists is saving our important work through archiving. There is unfortunately not a lot about Asian-American organizing and action in the Bentley Historical Library. But the United Asian American Organizations and the Bentley want to change this! We are gathering vital flyers, meeting notes, videos, Google Documents, events, petitions, projects and so much more to send to the library for archiving, so the legacies of
share the same ignorant, uninformed opinion for me to dismiss it this easily. The opinions espoused by extreme conservatives like Crowder are directly contributing to the propagation of systems of white supremacy. As a person who is directly threatened by this, I have every right to push back. This is not discrimination, this is self-defense. Conservatives on college campuses are not exploited, are not marginalized, are not powerless or threatened by violence: the hallmarks of discrimination. The Daily article gave them the privilege of presenting his open mocking of gender identity as “debating whether gender is a social or biological identity” and generally commented more on how conservative students feel than about how these beliefs oppress others. The presence of the police at the event shows how dedicated the state is to protecting them, not only against violence but also against facing any contrary opinions at the event. Actual discrimination is more than just having someone disagree with you. If white conservatives (or any white people, for that matter) had to face any degree of the constant trauma people of color face on a daily basis from the institutions of white supremacy, I’m not convinced they would survive.
MiC Columnist
No one ever returns from intimacy whole. We always leave a part of ourselves in the crux of another person’s history, a bookend to their yesterday. Here lies the flesh, its youth pulled taut, and here is the tongue which conquers it. In my dreams, I am a gentle noise rolling through the countryside, catching stories on my limbs. I am my mother’s child until the sound of a foreign boy
takes down an entire village. A spark of lust or maybe just curiosity gone wrong. The white of the flames so perfect I can almost rewrite my family’s past. His heat begins to dissolve the tension in my chest, erase the color with which I was born, so I put out his light before it can claim me, too. After all, what good is a body that is no longer a home?
COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR
our organizations and their progress is documented and, hopefully, recognized. But we need your help! If you have anything related to UAAO and A/PIA student organizations, we would be incredibly happy to see it. Even if it’s something you don’t think
is a big deal, it might still be a valuable piece of information that stands for something in our point of time — so send those Canva posters! We aim to be inclusive and thorough. We want to make sure we are properly representing the A/PIA community.
Students, professors, faculty, staff, alumni — everyone is extremely welcomed to submit. Please forward all questions and submissions to Nisa Khan (nisakhan@umich.edu) with [UAAO Archiving Project] as the subject line. COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR
Opinion
4A —Monday, November 19, 2018
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MARISA WRIGHT | COLUMN
What the contempt for Nancy Pelosi tells us about 2020
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KENDALL HECKER | COLUMN
D
Expectations versus reality
espite the fervor with which I despise the manic pixie dream girl archetype, I have always found the film “(500) Days of Summer” to be undeniably charming. To the uninitiated, it is the indie tale of Summer played by Zooey Deschanel, who doesn’t believe in love, and Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is an unapologetic romantic, and their relationship spanning a year and a half. They have their ups and downs as Tom slowly falls in love and Summer slowly does not. In a scene toward the end of the film (after they have broken up), they run into one another and Summer invites Tom to a party at her apartment. Tom is thrilled: This is his chance to win her back. The night of the party, the screen splits in two, one side showing Tom’s expectations for the night, the other showing reality. Tom’s expectations split with what the audience perceives as he is greeted at the door with a kiss, and they spend the night flirting, talking and laughing. The spark is reignited, and Tom gets the girl. It is the expected and highly satisfying romcom ending. On the other side of the screen, however, Tom arrives to a cordial but somewhat awkward greeting from Summer. They don’t talk one-on-one at all, and at the end of the evening Tom sees Summer showing off her engagement ring to another party goer. Ouch. When I was in high school, I had spectacular fantasies that played out in my head. I imbued them with intricate detail, making them as plausible as I could, as if the more particular they were the more likely I could will them into being. These fantasies became expectations that led to a general and persistent disappointment in my reality. I had a lot of feelings from ages 12 to 17, as I think most people do—for example I wrote one day (likely in response to one of those expectations failing to come to fruition), “I’m feeling a lot
of things, but most prominent is an eagerness to have one of my feelings validated by an actual event.” I don’t remember what prompted me to write this down, but reading it now makes me chuckle. I’m a bit in awe of my ability to condense the entire teenage girl experience into one sentence. I watched a lot of movies and read a lot of books at 14 and 15. Like many girls, I was obsessed with romantic dramas, finding in them the promise that I, too, could have a grand dramatic arc in my life. I moved through high school perpetually comparing my unrealistic expectations to my banal reality. There are only so many experiences the average teen goes through. I went to school, had friends, went to movies on the weekends, did my homework and spent time with my family. I probably had a better-than-average life and a better-than-average high school experience. For someone like me, though, who inhaled popular culture, there were stark contrasts at every turn. I was only granted access to much of the human experience through back channels: TV shows, movies, novels and second-hand stories. I tried to shove my own experiences into these molds like an ugly stepsister with a too-small glass slipper, impatient to have my own stories to tell. My life seemingly had no plot, and I felt I was being denied a rite of passage. So, I spun my own stories. As I fell asleep each night, I scripted my life in a way believable enough that I would wake up the next morning confident that this alternate reality could unfold if only this or that fell into place. I imagined the boy I had a crush on since sophomore year would finally realize he liked me. I imagined I would suddenly learn to love exercising and get into amazing shape so I wouldn’t always feel like the girl who might be beautiful if she wasn’t a few pounds over the heroine chic ideal. I imagined I would be struck
with a lightning bolt of inspiration and finally find the persistence to write a novel. I had the dedication already written. I became very good at telling myself these stories, and they felt more and more real to me. In the 20 minutes it took me to fall asleep, I would have a first kiss with a boy, become a published author and run a marathon. I was invested in each plot, and I followed myself like a character in a book. I felt what she felt. I woke up in the morning hopeful, then lived the same day I had lived the day before. And the day before that. So, I had a lot of feelings in high school. The problem was I imagined most of them. I craved that swell of emotion you feel when something spectacular happens to a character you have been following for five seasons or five hundred pages. I had never really felt any of those things in real life. I had to create artificial placeholders. Since coming to college, I have experienced one or two of the things I used to only play out in my head. I have had some of the feelings that I craved at 14 validated by actual events. But when milestones are only imagined, it is easy to strip away any undesirable fallout. There are no fights with imaginary boyfriends, and you don’t actually have to sweat if you only imagine losing weight. Reality is always more complicated and a little harder than just the girl getting the guy. Now, I think often of another, smaller scene from “(500) Days of Summer.” One of Tom’s roommates is describing his dream girl in comparison to his current girlfriend. She would have bigger boobs and different hair and be more into sports. “But,” he says, “truthfully, Robin’s better than the girl of my dreams. She’s real.” An imaginary life is perfect, but it pales in comparison to the tangible messiness we get to live every day. Kendall Hecker can be reached at kfhecker@umich.edu.
ALEX KUBIE | COLUMN
“T
Seven years in the making
he sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.” That February night in 2011 was particularly cold. In the dark confines of my room, I watched as then-19-yearold Zach Wahls stood before the Iowa House of Representatives. Raised by two mothers, Wahls spoke out against the proposed House Joint Resolution 6, which would ban civil unions for samesex partners in the state. His heartfelt speech unsettled me, as the concept of having to defend the legitimacy of his own parents seemed so degrading. Yet, his conviction and sincerity gave me a glimpse of hope for the future. Nonetheless, his words were still too premature for the chamber, as it moved to pass the committee by a majority vote. I turned off my computer, and the dimming of the screen was met by a frigid darkness. Coming to understand my sexuality at the start of this decade was a particularly tumultuous circumstance. Relative to years past, great progress for the LGBT community had been made. Yet, like with many other struggles, as small strides toward justice commence, strong currents of pushback erupt. As I began to develop what being gay meant to me, our nation began to develop what being gay meant for it. I knew each step toward acceptance of myself also came with an inherent loss: an inability to marry the person I loved, the inability to serve our country’s military and invitation to a newfound
scrutiny. I watched as national leaders warned of the dangers of “homosexuals,” expressing toxic rhetoric: “They are intolerant. They are hateful. They are vile …and are engaged...in an agenda that will destroy them and our nation.” I remember getting onto the school bus to hear the news that North Carolina voters passed Amendment One, banning same-sex marriage in the state. Despite my initial hurt, these events did not constantly reverberate in my thoughts. But one thing I could not shake out of my mind were the words of Zach Wahls, specifically, “the content of (his) character.” This phrase, albeit simple, evoked the sentiment of civil rights activists also dedicated to a more perfect union. Maybe I saw myself in him – I saw someone I could maybe become one day. Years have passed since those nights alone in my room, and much progress has come along with it. We have seen the enshrinement of marriage equality in our laws, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and a surge in public support for LGBTQ rights. Yet, during the midterm election on Nov. 6 midterm election, something felt different. Finally, this abundant societal change became reflected in our nation’s representatives. In Colorado, we saw the election of Jared Polis, the nation’s first openly gay governor. In New Hampshire, two transgender women, Gerri Cannon and Lisa Bunker, won seats in the state House of Representatives. Sharice Davids,
an openly gay candidate in Kansas, joined Debra Haaland of New Mexico as the first two Native American women elected to Congress. Voters in Massachusetts handily defeated a proposal to repeal transgender rights and protections. After almost a week delay, the state of Arizona will elect the nation’s first openly bisexual U.S. Senator. At the local, state and national level, a wave of LGBTQ candidates was voted into office. There was one person also elected on Nov. 6 who, though not gay himself, allowed me to see just how far I—and this nation—have come. Zach Wahls, the once 19-year-old student who spoke in defense of his parents, was elected to the Iowa state Senate. In 2011, the people who he stood before may not have been ready, but finally, seven years later, the people of Iowa were. So on a Tuesday evening seven years later, I again found myself in front of a screen, seeing the same man whose words I used to watch night after night in secrecy – and resignation. Except this time, that feeling of longing and sadness was replaced with hope. This time, the cold confines of my childhood bedroom were replaced with the comfort of friends, tightly packed onto a worn living room couch. Each one of our faces was marked with a cautiously optimistic glimpse of hope. And as each one of us stared at the screen, we were beginning to see people that looked just like us staring back. Alex Kubie can be reached at akubie@umich.edu.
A
s a young girl, she was first gains since Watergate. These immersed in the world of wins are absolutely a testament politics as the daughter of to the fantastic and inspiring the mayor of Baltimore, Thomas candidates, as well as the amazing work done D’Alesandro. In the by progressive groups 1970s, she began like Emily’s List, working on California Run for Something, Gov. Jerry Brown’s Moms Demand presidential campaign Action, Indivisible, and went on to become etc. However, credit the chair for the must also be given California Democratic to Pelosi and her Party. After being plan to elect these persuaded to start exciting candidates: her own campaign, MARISA avoid responding to she was sworn in as WRIGHT every terrible thing a congresswoman in 1987 and rose quickly through the President Donald Trump says ranks of the Democratic Party. or does and be disciplined about After the 2006 elections, Nancy the Democratic message on Pelosi became the first female health care. With the benefit of hindsight, it is almost certain that speaker of the House. Though she has been a barrier the focus on health care delivered breaker and continues to be one many districts, especially those of the most powerful people — that flipped from red to blue, to and women — in Washington, the Democrats. Though there were Democratic many candidates ran on an antiPelosi platform in this year’s losses in the Senate and great midterms. There are currently 11 strides made in the House, there Democratic incumbents and 47 is only one Democratic leader former candidates firmly vowing being asked to step down, and to vote against Pelosi to be the it’s not Chuck Schumer, the New Speaker of the House in January York senator and Senate minority when the new congress is sworn leader. Both Pelosi and Schumer in. This coalition of congressional have faced a plethora of criticism, elects and current incumbents including calls for newer, younger seldom raises any substantive leadership, but it comes with policy differences with Pelosi. the job. Still, there is something Even before 2018, the name more visceral about the repeated Nancy Pelosi has been used by denunciations of Pelosi rather many Republicans as shorthand than Schumer, despite the fact for everything wrong with that they share similar identity Washington, a signal to ramp demographics and policy stances. up their base against “coastal- So what gives? Well, there is elite liberals.” Their argument only one significant difference against Pelosi is because many between the two: gender. While some might roll their Republicans have succeeded in making her a target, a new, less eyes at attributing the hostility easily demonized leader would aimed at Pelosi to sexism, it is be better for the party, as if justified simply because it holds Republicans won’t gladly vilify a similar thread to the hostility anyone up for the job before she aimed at Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. or he is even sworn in. Yet, the House of In her book “What Happened”, Representatives will be controlled Clinton describes the fact that once again by the Democrats come her approval rating plummeted January after Democrats gained when she was seen as advocating 37 seats to take at least a 232 to for herself (like running for 198 majority as of publication president, for example), but time with 5 seats currently soared when she was working in undecided. Meanwhile, the the service of others, particularly Republicans maintained control men (serving as President Barack of the Senate by flipping they Obama’s secretary of state, for have flipped four seats as of now. example). It seems as though the Though this blue wave could yield same phenomenon is true for as many as 40 seats, it has already Pelosi, and if it’s true for them resulted in the most Democratic — two white, privileged women
— it might as well be true for all women. Simply put, America does not like female leaders. Despite the politicking against her, it is almost guaranteed that current Speaker Paul Ryan will have to pass the gavel to Pelosi as the new speaker of the House. And for good reason. Pelosi is good at her job. Recently, former Obama adviser David Axelrod, in conversation with journalist Gloria Borger on his CNN podcast The Axe Files, said the Affordable Care Act would not have passed had it not been for Pelosi. Not only did Pelosi craft the health care message for Democrats to run on in 2018, she made this policy platform possible years earlier during the Obama administration. Moreover, both agreed she is one of the most effective and experienced party leaders in recent memory. Pelosi will be just fine. She is likely to be voted in as the next speaker of the House, but she exemplifies a broader American problem. In order to prepare for 2020, Americans — especially Democrats— need to begin to grapple with the extra harassment and genderedcriticisms women face when they become leaders. All of the inspiring women who won in the midterms and are now headed to Washington can certainly aid the country in imagining woman leadership looks like. Still, there are likely to be several Democratic women running for president in 2020: Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren and others are contemplating bids. If Democrats want to win, these women just might be their best bet. Democrats should not kick off the lead up to 2020 by treating Pelosi with the same genderedloathing directed at Clinton in 2016, especially because the hostility toward Pelosi was drummed up by Republicans as a political weapon to win back the House. Instead, they need to consider how this sexist contempt will ultimately hurt their candidates, and therefore, any hope they have of winning the White House in 2020.
Marisa Wright can be reached at marisadw@umich.edu.
ALI SAFAWI | COLUMN
O
Good riddance to the Juul
n Tuesday, e-cigarette maker Juul announced it would remove their fruit-flavored products from store shelves, caving into pressure from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A week earlier, Florida voted to ban indoor vaping through, of all things, a constitutional amendment that also banned offshore drilling. Needless to say, this November has been a rough month for Juul and other e-cig companies. While this is by no means a death blow, it is a sign that the days of the unregulated e-cig industry are over. Good riddance. While the Trump administration is widely, and rightfully, seen as dysfunctional, the FDA under Trump-appointed Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of food and drugs, is coming down hard on tobacco and e-cig makers. In addition to giving e-cig manufacturers an ultimatum to pull fruit-flavored products off the market, Gottlieb is moving to ban menthol cigarettes, which were exempted from the immediate ban on flavored cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Gottlieb has even proposed using the FDA’s regulatory power to force tobacco companies to reduce nicotine in cigarettes. All of these regulatory actions are focused on combating one public health problem: adolescent smoking. According to the findings, the number of U.S. high school students who reported being current e-cigarette users increased 78 percent between 2017 and 2018 to 3.05 million (or 20.8 percent). Numbers among middle school students rose 48 percent to 570,000 (or 4.9 percent). I think we call too many things “epidemics” these days, but if youth e-cig use does not cut it as an epidemic, what does? Many people will take issue
with the FDA’s actions against e-cigs, but any action that increases social good is bound to have detractors. Let us inspect the arguments presented by the pro-vape lobby. Perhaps the biggest pro-vape argument is that e-cigs are safer than traditional cigarettes and we should therefore count our blessings that people prefer a Juul over a Camel] Cigarettes and tobacco kill half the people that use them and its seems e-cigs are indeed a safer option because they don’t involve the combustion of plant matter. This smoke is what creates the cancer-causing chemicals that make smoking so dangerous. However, e-cigs are not harmless. It is important to note the FDA is not moving against all e-cigs, only flavored ones. Currently, e-cig flavoring ingredients are unregulated. That should concern everyone. A Harvard University study found 39 of 51 e-cig flavors tested contain diacetyl. What is diacetyl? It is an organic compound that when vaporized and inhaled can cause a serious lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans. The disease is nicknamed “Popcorn Lung” after it was discovered in workers at a microwave popcorn factory who were exposed to—you guessed it—diacetyl. While microwave popcorn manufacturers removed diacetyl from their products in 2007, e-cig users and those who inhale the secondhand smoke are being exposed to this potentially dangerous chemical regularly. E-cig makers are not required to list the ingredients of their flavors, so your favorite vapor flavor may very well contain diacetyl or other potentially hazardous chemicals. Regardless of how you feel about e-cigs, I hope we can all agree that smokers should know exactly what they are inhaling.
Gottlieb and the FDA are not coming for flavored e-cigs and menthol cigarettes because of chemicals, but instead because flavored products are more attractive to young people. Even if there was no malicious intent, e-cig makers who market flavors such as mango and Skittles are basically waving a big flag to young people saying “come and try me, I am fun and flavorful.” Imagine if Skittles-flavored oxycodone hit the market. Would you approve? If you think I am over-exaggerating, just remember nicotine addiction kills 7 million people globally every year. Yes, those deaths are not caused by nicotine directly, but 30.7 percent of teen e-cig users become smokers (includeing the use of cigarettes, cigars and hookahs) compared to only 8.1 percent in teens who do not vape. Because 90 percent of adult smokers start by the age of 18, you can see why that vape-totobacco statistic is striking. E-cig companies love to advertise their products as a way for people to get off of tobacco. If Juul and other companies truly believe their products can help people quit, then they should submit their products to the rigorous FDA approval process that all medical devices go through. But these companies will not do that. Why? Because their objective is to make money, and hooking adolescents, with their developing brains, on either nicotine or marijuana is a great way to make customers keep coming back. Removing flavored e-cigs from the market will make adolescents less likely to start the habit because tobacco flavor (which would not be banned) is not nearly as appealing. Good riddance to flavored e-cigarettes. Good riddance to the Juul. Ali Safawi can be reached at asafawi@umich.edu.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FILM REVIEW
Monday, November 19, 2018 — 5A
TV REVIEW
‘Crimes of Grindelwald’ is ‘Sally4Ever’ excites while a crime against audiences mastering artful boredom
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Harry Potter fans of those earlier and superior films, she serves no Daily Arts Writer purpose in this movie and is given maybe five lines. If she does have There’s almost nothing a purpose in the overall narrative, fantastic in this sequel to 2016’s it won’t be clear until some other “Fantastic Beasts and Where to movie down the line. That’s how Find Them.” The magic that once most of the things in “Crimes of permeated every frame and page Grindelwald” feel. Appearances of of Harry Potter’s story has all Minerva McGonagall and Nicholas Flamel act as wholly unnecessary cameos and at this point, it’s “Fantastic not clear how Newt himself is possibly going to stay relevant to Beats: The the proceedings, as the coming Crimes of war between Dumbledore and Grindelwald begins to take center Grindelwald” stage. Basically, every character Warner Bros. other than those two titanic Pictures wizards could be removed from the story and nothing of consequence Quality 16, Rave would change at all. Rowling Cinemas steeps her story in exposition, giving characters who only appear but evaporated. All that remains in this film, don’t make it to the end, are one-note characters and an and will probably never be seen extremely convoluted series of again long flashbacks explaining subplots that never quite come their history and motivations. together. Directed once again by While that kind of thing can work David Yates (“Harry Potter and the in a 700-page novel, on the screen, Deathly Hallows”), who has now it comes across as unfocused and helmed six of the 10 films in the disjointed. One sequence in the Potterverse, the movie feels like a third act is literally two different final confirmation of what many five-minute monologues going already knew: It’s time for him to into the family tree of a character move on. J.K. Rowling herself is whose origins are later revealed to again the sole credited screenwriter be entirely different to what was here, leaving much to be desired. previously believed. This entire The cast is sprawling and massive, section of the film is so confusing but only Eddie Redmayne (“The that even the most diehard of Theory of Everything”), Johnny Potter fans may find themselves Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) hopelessly lost. A final twist at the and Jude Law (“The Young end is so utterly baffling that it will leave viewers Release Date: Monday, November 19, 2018 wondering if J.K. Rowling has truly lost her mind. There are a Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis few bright spots. ACROSS 3 *Economic 34 Former Energy 49 Silver salmon Jude Law shines 1 Fast plane conflict often secretary Steven 50 On the ocean 4 Sultan’s group involving tariffs 37 Days long gone 51 Deep depression as Dumbledore, 9 Prickly seedcase 4 “Papa Bear” of 38 *Hiker’s carryall 53 Raves’ and despite all of 12 Organ with a football 39 Beatle bride companions the controversy hammer and 5 Gamer’s game 40 Buddhist 54 Added anvil face discipline conditions surrounding his 13 Puts money 6 “Curious 41 Roger who hit 56 Suffix with casting in this George” creators away, as for 61 in ’61 movie Hans and retirement 43 Take care of 57 1975 Wimbledon film, on a strictly Margret 15 Opposite of performance 44 Estate homes winner Arthur 7 Corner PC key WNW 45 Bordeaux 58 Twist, as facts level, this has to 8 Chips in a 16 Actress Longoria brothers 60 Troy, N.Y., be Johnny Depp’s garden 17 *Kids’ school 47 Neaten (up) 9 Order recreational garb best performance 10 Repurposes to 19 Revolutionary ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: in years. Were replace, as a British soldiers the film to have tool 21 John of “Fawlty 11 Stitch again focused entirely Towers” 13 Pick out in a 22 __ lot: stuffs on the relationship crowd oneself between 14 __ sci: college 23 *Two-person log Dumbledore and major cutter 24 Little chess piece 18 Conical home Grindelwald it 20 Ray Charles’ 26 Genetic initials might have come “I __ Stop 28 UFO passengers, closer to touching Loving You” presumably 23 Dry riverbed 29 On the house that Harry Potter 24 Links gp. 32 Elicit magic. With three 25 Radio host 35 Put on TV more “Beasts” Shapiro 36 *Soar 27 India’s first prime 38 Dickens pen movies in the minister name pipeline, it’s hard to 30 “__ tree falls ... ” 41 City hall bigwig imagine how this 42 Opposite of cruel 31 Underhanded 33 “Yuck!” 44 Artist’s deg. 11/19/18 story can possibly 46 Moscow’s land: stay interesting Abbr. for six more hours. 48 App symbol In this film, the 49 *Daytona 500, e.g. plot seems to be 52 Practical joke running on fumes 55 Inexact lunch and this only part time 56 Mom’s and dad’s two of five. To see dads the once perfect 59 Engage in film franchise tomfoolery ... and a hint to and do-no-wrong what goes with author fall so far each part of may be hard for the answers to starred clues, but some fans, but not in the same general audiences way have been down 61 Set a price of 62 Miners dig it this road before. 63 Sides of an issue Prequels, as any 64 Michael of “SNL” fan of “Star Wars” 65 Snake’s sound or “Lord of the 66 Bogs 67 London’s __ Rings” will tell you, Gardens just never quite seem to work out DOWN 1 Boo By Jerry Edelstein 11/19/18 the way you want ©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC 2 Roof overhang them to. IAN HARRIS
Pope”) — who portrays a younger version of legendary wizard Albus Dumbledore — register in any kind of way. The story begins sometime after the first film, following magical zoologist Newt Scamander (Redmayne) as he attempts to track down Credence, the powerful and dangerous wizard who seemingly perished in the last movie but is back here and is once again the MacGuffin that drives almost the entirety of the plot. All of the characters from the first movie are back, along with a whole host of new characters who only serve to derail the action and distract from the main story. None of these new characters are given nearly enough to do to justify their existence. Newt’s brother is introduced and proceeds to do almost nothing in the rest of the film. An emotional moment surrounding him falls completely flat at the end as a result of how little build-up he gets. Other new additions include the human version of Nagini (who will one day become one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes), Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz, “Big Little Lies”) — a distant relative of the villainous Bellatrix Lestrange — and a whole cadre of aurors and wizards who work for Grindelwald, none of whom are distinguishable from each other. The appearance of Nagini in this movie is the perfect small-scale example of the problems of the “Fantastic Beasts” series at large. Seemingly included only to remind
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
HBO
ALLY OWENS
Daily Arts Writer
It is no secret that queer women still lack normalized representation in the media, but we already knew that. And with more and more television shows mistaking representation for
“Sally4Ever” Series Premiere HBO Sundays at 10:30 p.m. exploitation, it is refreshing to sit down and watch a television program in which a woman chooses to experiment sexually without the specter of the male gaze looming over its inclusion. “Sally4Ever” is a BritishAmerican comedy created and written by Julia Davis (“Electric Dreams”), taking its place among “Chewing Gum” and “Crazyhead” in the new renaissance of femalehelmed British comedies. The series follows protagonist Sally (Catherine Shepherd, “Paddington 2”), as she struggles to come to terms with the boredom of her existence. This boredom manifests itself through the many mundane aspects of her everyday life: her pointless job, her dull sex life and her seeming lack of friends. With her boyfriend David’s (Julian Barratt, “Flowers”) recent proposal of marriage, Sally’s life seems to be headed towards a permanent flatline. That is, until she locks eyes with a stranger named Emma (Davis) on the tube, and begins to question what she truly wants in life. Where “Sally4Ever” shines is
in its realistic exploration of this boredom. Showing that someone is unhappy with pretty much every aspect of their existence can be a tough feat — you must show that the person has a justifiable reason to be bored, yet avoid making their lives look like a farcical mockery of everyday life. Julia Davis’s writing nailed this niche to a T. The dialogue that took place between Sally and her co-workers and between Sally and her husband was so realistically awkward and passive aggressive that it was hard not to feel second-hand discomfort. In addition to the realism that highlighted the cause of Sally’s crisis, the authenticity of her actions while in the midst of her break also felt sensible. Rather than writing Sally as going off the rails and abruptly taking on a new persona once she is momentarily tempted by Emma, she stays true to form. Sally challenges herself to sneak out to the rave that Emma is performing at, but attends dressed like a middle schooler. Some of the best comedy of the pilot episode was derived from this dance between Sally’s clear internal wanting to be dangerous and her subpar execution. However, the downside of a show that is so realistically boring is that sometimes there are points where it just seems boring. Every secondary character retained more entertainment value than Sally. Even the supposedly unlikable characters, like her co-workers, were engaging enough to make me sit up during their scenes. I could not say the same for Sally. Unlike other “normal person bored with drab life” comedies, the character of Sally did not make me believe that she deserved better than what she already has. The most intriguing character on the show
proved to be Emma, not simply because she is a hilariously untalented multi-hyphenate (actor, singer, dancer, artist), but also because of the clear manipulation she uses to lure in
Unlike other “normal person bored with drab life” comedies, the character of Sally did not make me believe that she deserved better than what she already has
Sally that leaves the audiences wondering if she actually gives two shits about Sally or, if she is just using the poor girl as a form of entertainment. “Sally4Ever” clearly has a lot of ground to cover; I am excited to see where the show will take its audience over the course of its eight-episode order. Hopefully, on a show with such an exciting and daring premise, the character at the center will be able to experience more development that elevates her from solely being defined by her sadness and boredom into a character who has multiple facets to her being.
WORLD MUSIC COLUMN
‘Pop Negro’ by El Guincho SAYAN GHOSH
World Music Columnist
Sixty miles across the coast of Africa lie the Canary Islands, collectively an autonomous community of Spain built by the commerce flowing through it onward to the New World. Its influence on the music of Pablo Díaz-Reixa (better known as El Guincho) is palpable, leading to some of the most unique, daring pop music of recent years. El Guincho, a resident of Las Palmas (the largest city of the island Gran Canaria), describes his music as “space-age exotica,” and whatever that means, it makes a lot of sense. Starting with Alegranza! and Pop Negro in 2010, he has released music centered on a diverse set of samples and offkilter rhythms. The highlights of the two albums are loud, brash and eclectic, showcasing El Guincho’s wide knowledge of the world’s music combined with an intuitive sense for good pop. El Guincho’s samples range from Brazil to Ghana, and like the masters of the art in the hiphop and electronic realm, he is extremely skilled at making his chops and loops organic and lively. He does certainly have a
penchant for specific types of samples, be it West African high life or Brazilian Tropicalia, but it lends a cohesive atmosphere to all of his work. Arguably his most popular song, “Bombay” is the best example of his pop sensibilities mixed with his experimental
El Guincho’s music is restless and colorful in a manner which pop music rarely operates in streak. A hypnotic steel drum pattern anchors the track, with El Guincho’s thin vocals (Spanish is particularly perfect for this kind of music) barely registering in the mix and blending in with the constant, busy instrumentation. The track’s memorable music video
(disclaimer: It is rather explicit) is a wonderful companion to the track and is a perfect translation of El Guincho’s musical style into video. Most of his tracks put rhythm at the forefront, as the main source of activity and variation rather than the melodies. Steel drums are a common feature, as well as percussion used commonly in South American and African folk. El Guincho’s tendency to clutter and layer to the extreme aren’t always successful, and he can get slightly too carried away, detracting from the groove he gets into himself over the course of the first half of a track. Nonetheless, the hits that accompany the misses more than make up for them. His work borrows from Panda Bear and The Avalanches but is more forceful and buoyant, rather than the often hazy, dreamlike quality of the former. El Guincho’s music is restless and colorful in a manner which pop music rarely operates in. While making music electronically, he infuses a sense of messiness and vibrancy that enhances the diverse set of sources he works with, resulting in music with a childlike sense of wonder.
Arts
6A — Monday, November 19, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALBUM REVIEW
Mumford and Sons’ ‘Delta’ falls flat, away from folk MADELEINE GANNON Daily Arts Writer
After almost three years, the British folk band Mumford and Sons steps back into the spotlight with their new album Delta. However, after eagerly awaiting the band’s return since their 2015 release Wilder Mind, which featured a stronger pop-vibe to the band’s trademark folk, Delta is lackluster and disappointing. Mumford and Sons seem to be in the midst of an identity crisis, almost completely losing
Delta Mumford and Sons Glassnote Entertainment Group LLC touch with the folksy, grassroots authenticity of their earlier albums, which included hits like “I Will Wait,” “The Cave” and “Little Lion Man.” The band’s more recent releases have taken baby-steps away from the traditional folk instrumentation — banjo, guitar, drums and horns — to add a modern touch with busier instrumentation and an ebb-and-flow in the surreal ambiance of the music. Delta takes it a step too far, abandoning almost all of Mumford and Sons unique trademarks — imaginative, honest, rustic lyrics and a home-made, native folk feel — in danger of becoming yet another, unoriginal alternativerock band threatened by looming obscurity. The album consists of 14 songs, opening with mediocre “42,” which comes off as loud, busy and underwhelming. The harmonizing of the vocals is vaguely reminiscent of gospel and hymnal songs which is further emphasized in the lyrics, “We wanna see a sign / Give us some guiding light.” However, while the spiritual undertones and harmonies recall the antiquity of more traditional music, the song comes off as passing, but ultimately forgettable. After name-dropping the song in “42,” the album continues on with “Guiding Light.” “Guiding Light” is by no means a bad song, and follows familiar Mumford and Sons themes of heartbreak and emotional confessions of love. However, the song builds into a wave of sound that drowns out some good lyrics and the comforting country twang of the vocals. “Beloved” tries to
recover some ground, bringing in a shadow of the familiar folk tunes to the echoing technostyle sounds which dominate the album. “Darkness Visible” is one of the few songs worth listening to, if only because it’s so very strange. The song is dramatic, dark and ominous, and feels more suitable for the surreal dream-sequences of the movie “Inception” than a folk-alt rock band. On the other hand, “October Skies” is the most faithful to what might be considered Mumford and Sons original style (which they seem all too eager to throw out the window), and contains some surprisingly great lyrics for such an underwhelming album: “These postcard memories / evade my eyes / In the valley I’m free / but in the hills I soar.” The stylistic shift from Mumford and Sons’s original (and beloved) Sigh No More (2009) and Babel (2012), to Wilder Mind (2015) and finally Delta (2018) has been a gradual move away from their folk to a more confident commitment to the alternative-rock genre. Yet, in this transition the band seems to lose touch with what makes them unique. Their earlier music had a strong down-to-earth vibe, and songs like “I Will Wait” and “Little Lion Man” captured a sense of sincerity, which made the band’s music so poignant. They captured the pride, dignity and antiquity of the British folk and bluegrass music, and even the name “Mumford and Sons” is an obvious play off of the traditional business and company names of the 20th century. This attempted reinvention to gain a stronger, more prominent presence in the modern alt rock genre clashes with the folksy, oldfashioned vibe that the band’s image caters to. It’s almost as if the band is making a painful effort to be more appealing in the modern market by sacrificing what may be deemed too “oldfashioned” for a global audience dominated by the loud, dramatic thunderstorms of sound we know as pop and rock. But whether it’s from a lack of originality, or the contrast between Mumford and Sons’s image with the starkly different Delta, something feels missing in this latest album. It’s not that any of the album is “bad” (although “Darkness Visible” toes the line), but the familiar twang of the banjo and the heavier folk influence is sorely missed in Delta. Change and artistic development is good and important, but Mumford and Sons may be taking a step in the
wrong direction. In the end, casual listeners will enjoy Mumford and Sons latest album as a new addition to a probably overplayed alt rockfolk playlist. However, more dedicated fans, especially those who regularly foray into classic country and more traditional,
It’s almost as if the band is making a painful effort to be more appealing in the modern market by sacrificing what may be deemed too “old-fashioned” for a global audience dominated by the loud, dramatic thunderstorms of sound we know as pop
pure folk will be disappointed by this album. Part of what makes folk and alternative bands great is their unashamed, undaunted pride in their acknowledgment of antiquity and of their roots — Mumford and Sons turn away from their beginning, and it feels almost like a personal rejection at times. They seemingly bow to the pressure of business, industry and the tastes of uniform the majority, rather than standing by their roots.
FOCUS FEATURES
Flawed ‘Boy Erased’ still delivers poignant message ANISH TAMHANEY Daily Arts Writer
“Boy Erased” follows the story of Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges, “Lady Bird”), the son of a Baptist preacher who, upon coming out to his family, must join a gay conversion therapy program or risk ostracism from everyone he
“Boy Erased” Focus Features The Michigan Theater knows. The film was adapted from Garrard Conley’s memoir of the same name and directed by Joel Edgerton (“The Gift”), who plays a supporting role himself. While Edgerton approaches the heavy subject material with appropriate weight and nuance, the film suffers from its excessively narrow focus on events rather than characters. The movie’s first hour is nearly flawless. Edgerton’s ability to immerse viewers in the gravity of Jared’s experiences without breathless exposition is remarkable. The audience gets a clear sense of the pressure he is facing without an explicit understanding of the reason he is there. Hedges’s performance is suffused with a quiet, uneasy intensity that unleashes itself rarely but memorably throughout the movie. He effortlessly conveys through the timidness of his gait and the restraint of his smile that there is something deeply uncomfortable about the program. That queasiness is bitingly palpable and sustains for most of the runtime. Other performances in the
dramatic climax also lacks nuance, seeming to arrive out of thin air and neatly wrapping the central conflict in a box. We are left with the story that approximates a blunt and sanctimonious catalog of tribulations more than a memoir. Jared’s agency, while key to crafting the film’s ending and real-life resolution, is nonexistent until the story conjures it into existence. In a word, the film is overdramatic. Edgerton doesn’t implore us to consider his message. He waves it in front of our noses until we have no choice but to accept it. This is accurately exemplified by the movie’s perplexing score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans (“Barry”). While agreeably light and mellifluous in more intimate moments, the score occasionally transforms into a ridiculous ticking heartbeat that sounds like a Nine Inch Nails song recreated on GarageBand and more fitting for a B-movie horror flick. That being said, “Boy Erased” is a story that is overdue and needs to be shared. Despite the film’s faults, it exposes the lasting harm of conversion therapy in a more visceral and visual way than has been shown before. What could have been an intensely moving story about an individual facing a collective struggle, it lacked the nuance of a single boy’s story or the depth of a nationwide issue. And yet, conversion therapy being depicted on a large screen is a notable step towards educating viewers about its harm. As the film tells us before the credits, 700,000 people have gone through gay conversion therapy at some point in their lives. Hopefully, this movie will alert its viewers — and politicians — to the destructive nature of such programs in the 36 states that still allow them.
BOOK REVIEW
In ‘Nine Perfect Strangers,’ Moriarty showcases talent SOPHIE WAZLOWSKI Daily Arts Writer
There are many ways to mess up a thriller that begins with a slew of characters thrown together under unusual circumstances. Introduce too many characters at once and readers will have no
“Nine Perfect Strangers” Liane Moriarty ISLAND RECORDS
film, while generally strong, are somewhat underused. Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”) plays Jared’s mother Nancy, and her genuine sympathy for him lends the film a much-needed source of levity. Russell Crowe (“The Nice Guys”), who plays Jared’s father, skillfully shows his character’s internal conflict in accepting his son. Edgerton’s control over the visual palette of the therapy center is masterful. He recalls Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket” in the way that that slow tracking shots across rows of boys turn individuals into monotonous uniforms. This comparison, whether intentional or not, is striking because the conversion program descends into gradual brutality as the film goes on. The film’s most distracting flaw is the way it uses minor characters, mostly the other participants in the program, as mere vehicles to develop and alter Jared’s perspective. They rarely feel like actual people, only lines of dialogue that push the narrative forward. This is a painful misstep for a movie whose emotional impact rests on the devastation of conversion therapy. The connection we form to these minor characters feels so forced and artificial that it has the tendency to take one out of an otherwise engrossing experience. Another issue of “Boy Erased” is that Edgerton frequently loses his sense of subtlety. One of Jared’s flashbacks reveals his first few months at college and involves one of the film’s most intense, haunting moments. The duration that this moment holds turns from excessive to insensitive because Edgerton’s camera stays stubbornly fixed in place where it could have — and should have — cut away. The film’s
Flatiron Books Nov. 6, 2018 way to remember who is who. Introduce them in the same way, and a formulaic, predictable pattern will develop that bores readers and make them want to find something else to do with their time. In her latest novel, “Nine Perfect Strangers,” Liane Moriarty (the author of the 2014 bestseller “Big Little Lies”) paces the introduction of her characters perfectly and finds amusing ways to gently remind readers who is who and exactly why they are important, proving she has mastered the art of such a story. It all starts with a heart attack. Masha Dmitrichenko is
a charismatic, alluring woman familiar with the stress and bad habits that come along with the fast-paced world of business. After she undergoes cardiac arrest and almost dies, she is inspired to change her life by opening a wellness resort, which she dubs “Tranquillum House.” The novel tells the tale of nine individuals who sign up for the Tranquillum House’s 10-day wellness retreat in Australia. The story focuses on Frances Welty, an established romance writer who is struggling to adapt to the changing publishing industry and other trials that come along with aging. Frances is soon joined at the resort by a cast of other characters all grappling with their own problems: a has-been football player, a couple struggling to salvage their marriage, an insecure mother of four abandoned by her husband for a younger woman and a family trying to repair their lives after a suicide tears them apart. Each chapter is told from the point of view of a rotating cast of characters. Through a combination of flashbacks and present day events, readers begin to piece the lives of each character together and gain a deep understanding of who they are as a person. Each person is relatable, intriguing and painstakingly
human and their stories are woven together in a way that makes readers hungry to know more about them. Most of the novel is focused on the events that take place at the Tranquillum House. The guests endure fasting, extended periods of silence and other lifestyle changes promised to transform the guests. Moriarty is able to make seemingly small interactions and commonplace moments entertaining and riveting, as if they are not commonplace, but crucial. Even as the story goes on and it becomes clear the Tranquillum House and the ethereal Masha are not all they seem to be, the focus remains on the humanity of the guests. Such a focus allows readers to connect with the characters and know them on a level that would not otherwise be possible. “Nine Perfect Strangers” is a well-developed, detailed novel about recovery and the transformative power of human connection. It raises questions of whether or not a person can truly move on from despair and loss, or if they even should. It tackles issues of body image, material possession and mental health. More than that, it presents readers with realistic and vulnerable characters, which makes for an intimate and moving story.
The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | November 19, 2018
SPORTSMONDAY
thank IU, next Michigan slips past Indiana, and Ohio State looms
Alexis Rankin & Carter Fox/ Daily
One more to go
Michigan heads to Columbus next weekend for the biggest game of the year. The reality is stark: The Wolverines cannot afford to lose.
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Design by Jack Silberman
Sky is the limit
The Wolverines ran through the Hall of Fame Tip-Off this weekend with two blowout wins, displaying their potential for this season.
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SportsMonday
2B — November 19, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
For better or worse, this is it
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ou’ll read this sentiment several times this week: The Michigan football team will play Ohio State — its biggest rival — Saturday, with a chance to keep its dreams alive. The WolverMIKE ines can exorPERSAK cise their Big Ten Championship demons, their can’tbeat-the-Buckeyes demons and continue their trek toward rising to the College Football Playoff. Put another way, they control their own destiny. Those will be tired tropes by the time kickoff comes around, but that isn’t without good reason. Michigan is staying mum on the topic. The Wolverines have avoided any dream-killing loss for 10 straight games, doing what they must to get to this position by beating any and every team in their path. And they claim they’ll maintain the same mindset this week. “It’s just another game,” said junior quarterback Shea Patterson. “We understand the tradition and meaning behind it, and we’re gonna attack it the same way we have the past 10 or 11 weeks. We know that they’re a good ball club, and at their place, but we’re just gonna prepare.” The Wolverines have to say that, of course. But this isn’t another game, for all the reasons listed above. It is a game to prove this season has been for something. The last 14 seasons — the time since Michigan last won a share of the Big Ten — have been leading up to this. Realistically, it’s been longer than that, considering the Wolverines lost to the Buckeyes that season. The Wolverines haven’t beaten
EVAN AARON/Daily
The Michigan football team will travel to Columbus on Saturday for the Wolverines’ annual rivalry game with Ohio State holding a 10-1 record for the season.
Ohio State and won the Big Ten in the same season since 2003. “It is different,” said senior running back Karan Higdon. “It’s been awhile since this has been a game to determine our fate in the national championship, for a Big Ten Championship. It definitely is different year.” That isn’t exactly true. Michigan was in this same position in 2016, when it came into The Game ranked No. 2, while the Buckeyes were No. 3. We remember how that went.
The Wolverines played about as well as they could, except they couldn’t tackle Ohio State running back Curtis Samuel on a 3rd-and-long. Then JT Barrett squeezed out a first down, and then Michigan ultimately wilted, losing in overtime. If you think back further, the Wolverines were here in 2006, too, when the teams were ranked first and second, respectively, and once again, the Buckeyes won. What Higdon said is true in that this feels like Michigan’s
“We know what weekend it is. So we’re gonna attack it.”
best chance to actually go into Columbus and win the game in quite a while. The 2016 Wolverines had just lost to Iowa, and they were probably at a talent disadvantage with how the Buckeyes’ offense was clicking. If it weren’t for Ohio State’s kicker that afternoon, The Game wouldn’t have even reached overtime — let alone double overtime — that year. In 2006, it was a knockdown, dragout fight, but Troy Smith was Troy Smith, and the Michi-
gan defense really struggled against the Buckeyes’ spread offense. This season, though, the Wolverines have blown through every challenge that has come their way. They killed Wisconsin and Penn State, and they physically dominated Michigan State, even if the score didn’t reflect the bludgeoning that the yardage totals did. Those games began the “Revenge Tour” that has shaped how this season has felt for Michigan. All the wrongs that have been
“It’s been a whole year having a bad taste in our mouths.”
done to the Wolverines over coach Jim Harbaugh’s tenure have been righted. There is one more regularseason score to settle. “Everybody in the entire country knows what this weekend is,” said junior defensive end Rashan Gary. “We know what this weekend is. So we’re gonna attack it. It’s been a whole year having a bad taste in our mouths. We’ve just gotta go out, prepare the right way and, you know, go out there on Saturday and see what happens.” Additionally, the Wolverines are nearly at full strength. Even with the injury to fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich, who hurt his shoulder Saturday against Indiana, Michigan has had very good luck with injuries. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Tarik Black came back this season. Junior defensive end Rashan Gary came back too. And Winovich’s backups, sophomore Kwity Paye and freshman Aidan Hutchinson, have proven capable. So there are no excuses to be had. It has all been leading up to this game for Michigan. Forget the past, forget what has already happened this season and forget the future for now. If the Wolverines want to reach that future, they need to win Saturday. It’s as simple as that. You know it. I know it. They know it. Now it’s time to see if this whole season — the 10-game win streak, the talk of a new attitude in the program, the Revenge Tour — is for real, or if it’s just another opportunity in Columbus gone to waste. Persak can be reached at mdpers@umich.edu, on Twitter at @MikeDPersak or on venmo at @Mike-Persak.
FOOTBALL Michigan slips past Indiana, 31-20, Ohio State looms Wolverines suffer emotional MAX MARCOVITCH Daily Sports Editor
Oh, you thought this would be easy, didn’t you? With just a week before a clash in Columbus, conventional wisdom assumed the No. 4 Michigan football team would cruise past Indiana (2-6 Big Ten, 5-6 overall) on Saturday. There was nothing easy about it, though. Between costly offensive miscues and defensive lapses, injuries and turnovers, and plenty in between, the Wolverines’ performance will leave much to be desired. But as the saying goes: a win is a win Against a Big Ten foe in late November, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will take it. “When you’re in playoff mode — that’s our mindset right — playoff wins are big,” Harbaugh said. After a 31-20 comeback victory over the Hoosiers, the Wolverines (8-0, 10-1) will square off against Ohio State next Saturday with the Big Ten East on the line and College Football Playoff hopes still squarely in the balance. “Proud of our guys the way they played today,” Harbaugh said. “Onto the next game, onto the big game, onto the championship game. Onward.” It was evident from the outset Saturday would yield no rout. Running back Stevie Scott scored from 13 yards out to give Indiana a 7-3 lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter. Newly-minted starting kicker, freshman Jake Moody, cut that lead to 7-6 on the next drive — but only after junior quarterback Shea Patterson and redshirt junior tight end Zach Gentry failed to connect on a seemingly easy touchdown. Michigan added another field goal on the next drive to take a 9-7 lead, but, again, wasted a precious red zone opportunity. In the half, the Wolverines came away with just nine points in four first half red zone trips. “I couldn’t put my finger on it,” said junior running back Karan Higdon said of the struggles. “I
think it was us just not executing and being efficient the way you needed to be.” With miscues piling up, responsibility fell on Moody, who answered the call dutifully. He finished 6-for-6 on field goals, a school record for made field goals in a game. Even when Michigan’s offense seemed to break, though — like on a 41-yard touchdown catch by junior tight end Nick Eubanks in the second quarter — Indiana had an answer, marching down the field in three mintues to take back the lead. The most boneheaded mistake of the game came at the end of the first half. With the clock winding down, Patterson found junior tight end Sean McKeon near the end zone. McKeon was tackled short of the goal line, allowing the half to expire without adding points and the attempt to spike the ball in time failed. Video later surfaced of an Indiana defensive lineman kicking the ball in an attempt to delay the snap. “They made a great play on it,
a great tackle in the field of play,” Harbaugh said. “… There seemed to be some problems getting the ball back in. Whether that was us not getting the ball to the official quick enough or seeing that they kicked the ball, I don’t know.” The Wolverines came out of the half clearly re-energized and re-focused, particularly defensively. They forced a three-and-out on their first defensive drive and drove 67 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown immediately after to lead 22-17. Despite an uneven performance throughout, Michigan held onto that lead the rest of the night. “That kind of just tested our resiliency. It kind of felt like the Northwestern game a little bit, just a gritty game, they’re a good team,” said junior quarterback Shea Patterson. “I think there’s a lot of positives to take out of this. When you’re tested, you either give in to whatever or come out resilient.” Despite the result, Saturday’s game will be clouded with unease. Fifth-year senior
defensive end Chase Winovich left in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury. Fifth-year senior running back Berkley Edwards left the game in the fourth quarter after getting hit on a special teams play. After the game, Harbaugh said Winovich’s x-rays were negative. Despite the grim nature of the injury, Harbaugh was also optimistic Edwards would be OK. For Michigan it was one of those games — ugly injuries, inefficient red zone play, mental and physical errors aplenty. But, in the end, a win. And a win that secures a date with Ohio State next Saturday with everything on the line. “We’re proving stuff to ourselves,” Higdon said. “That we can definitely be the best team in the country. That we’re definitely a top-four team. And that we’re a playoff contender and we deserve to be in the playoffs. That only happens if we continue to dominate each and every week.”
ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily
Junior tight end Nick Eubanks notched a 41-yard touchdown for the Wolverines in the second quarter of Saturday’s game.
injuries in win over Indiana MIKE PERSAK
Managing Sports Editor
The Michigan football team has gone relatively unscathed this season in terms of injuries. Really, the only notable ones were redshirt freshman wide receiver Tarik Black, who missed a majority of the season with a broken foot, and junior defensive end Rashan Gary, who sat out four games with a shoulder issue. That has pretty much been the extent of it for the Wolverines. On Saturday night, despite defeating Indiana, 31-20, Michigan’s injury luck turned on its head. It began, in earnest, in the third quarter. Fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich was rushing the passer, matched up with the Hoosiers’ right tackle. Right guard Simon Stepaniak came over to help on Winovich, dumped him to the ground hard on Winovich’s left shoulder and dove on top of him to keep him down. As it turns out, he kept Winovich down for quite a while. Winovich lay motionless on the field for a few moments before being tended to by trainers, as his teammates milled around on the sideline, hoping for the best. Junior quarterback Shea Patterson — Winovich’s roommate — even walked onto the field to give Winovich some words of encouragement. “I don’t know the severity of his injury,” Patterson said after the game. “I know him really well. I just told him I love him, and we’re behind him no matter what happens. That’s basically all you can do. Just him, with his work ethic and as a senior in his last game … I just wanted to let him know I was there and the whole team was there for him.” Reports later surfaced that Winovich’s parents joined him in the locker room, raising the level of concern among Wolverine fans. However, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Winovich’s x-rays and CT scans were negative after the game. From there, the Wolverines had
no choice but to rally together. “It’s a brotherhood,” Gary said. “So when you see one of your brothers go down, of course you’re gonna feel attacked and feel let down and hurt. But, you know, football is football, and when they went out, now the game is for them and us. So I tried to play any snaps with Chase just how he would when I wasn’t playing. That’s my brother, and we just had to play like that.” That wasn’t the end of the jarring injuries for Michigan. In the fourth quarter, on a kickoff return, fifth-year senior backup running back Berkley Edwards got blown up while trying to block. The offender, Indiana’s Cam Jones, was ejected for targeting, while Edwards was eventually carted off the field on a stretcher and brought to the hospital. Edwards’ brother, Braylon — the legendary former-Wolverines receiver — updated the situation later via Twitter. “Berkley, everything looked good when he left the stadium,” Harbaugh said. “He did have a concussion — he had a pretty good-sized concussion. He looked good when he left here, but he was taken to the hospital as a precaution, so we’ll have later updates there.” These two injuries, in particular, gave Michigan a sour taste in its mouth. After Edwards went down, several players were jawing at the Hoosiers’ sideline. “It did get chippy,” said senior running back Karan Higdon. “… Obviously, the situation with my brother Berkley Edwards didn’t sit well with anybody, and that was a situation that was unfortunate, and it kind of shook the team up a little bit.” In both Winovich and Edwards’ cases, the prognoses were better than originally expected. Still, as Gary and Higdon said, the pauses were long and clearly emotional. But the Wolverines simply had to rebound. If the final score is any indication, they did.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SportsMonday
Michigan wins Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament ARIA GERSON
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Wolverines set to face Detroit Mercy
Daily Sports Writer
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The first half of Sunday’s game started and ended the same way: junior center Jon Teske catching Providence’s defense napping and throwing down an easy dunk. That set the tone for the rest of the game. Though it was close at the beginning, the No. 18 Michigan men’s basketball team (5-0 overall) took control and never relented in a 66-47 win over the Friars (3-2) in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament. The Wolverines got out to an early lead after Teske’s dunk. Twice, freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis received long passes from junior guard Zavier Simpson and dunked them in on the fast break. The second time, he hung on the rim for a few seconds, savoring the moment as he let the ball roll down his body. Providence temporarily grabbed the momentum with a 6-0 run, punctuated by a deep 3-pointer from Maliek White, to cut the Wolverines’ lead to 21-20. But that was the closest the Friars got. On the following possession, Teske hit a pickand-pop three — the first of his career — to keep Michigan in the lead with 3:49 remaining in the half. From there, the Wolverines capped off a 14-2 run with Teske’s second dunk to extend the lead to 35-22 at halftime. “At the end of the first half, we just wanted to come to the locker room excited and ready for the second half,” Brazdeikis said. “They went on their run, I feel like
November 19, 2018 — 3B
ROHAN KUMAR Daily Sports Writer
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Junior center Jon Teske hit his first pick-and-pop three on Sunday and finished with 17 points against Providence.
towards the end of that first half, so then we just bounced back.” Both teams played chippy — combining for four fouls in the first two minutes of the second half. Providence was able to take advantage early in the second half by grabbing extra possession, but sophomore forward Isaiah Livers made back-to-back 3-pointers to keep Michigan’s lead comfortable. And the Wolverines’ stif ling defense helped extinguish any hope of a comeback. The Friars shot just 28.1 percent on field goals, while Michigan grabbed 28 defensive rebounds.
“That’s always gonna be our mindset going in.”
The Michigan Daily Top 10 Poll Each week, Daily sports staffers fill out ballots, with first-place votes receiving 10 points, second-place votes receiving nine and so on. 1. Alabama: If Auburn or Georgia are any better than The Citadel, these guys might be in trouble. 2. Clemson: Can’t wait for Clemson to get tested in the ACC Championship against *looks at ACC Coastal standings* Pittsburgh…? 3. Notre Dame: Ian Book has earned his pinstripes far more than Giancarlo Stanton. 4. Michigan: Maybe the real Revenge Tour is the friends we made along the way. 5. Georgia: This just in: CFP committee chairman Rob Mullens has received the maximum Venmo payment from User: @$irby_Kmart 6. Oklahoma: Oklahomer? I hardly know her! 7. Washington State: Mike Leach took this joke and made it into a five-minute press conference answer. 8. LSU: It’s actually Fewer Miles. 9. Ohio State: Xore like Xaryland! 10. UCF: Yeah, they’re undefeated, but they also live in Orlando.
Michigan ran its offense through Brazdeikis and Teske — who finished with 20 and 17 points, respectively. The rest of the team struggled to score, which ultimately kept the game from being a blowout. Simpson and redshirt junior Charles Matthews — both of whom scored in double digits Saturday — failed to get anything going offensively, combining for just 11 points. But even when that happened, Teske and Brazdeikis were there to grab a board or tip the ball in off the glass — and that was when they weren’t dunking. Teske had three dunks and Brazdeikis, two. With their f lashy moves and
an assist from the defense, the outcome was never in doubt. “Everyone can play on our team. It’s not gonna be one person that’s gonna be the best player on the court every day,” Brazdeikis said. “It’s gonna be, one day (Simpson), one day Jon, one day Charles and it always switches cause we all split the ball, so it’s just about being effective in other ways, and our team is just so talented that we all just click.” Added Michigan coach John Beilein: “That’s always gonna be our mindset going in. We’re gonna take what people give us.”
“We’re gonna take what people give us.”
Just two weeks into the season, the Michigan women’s basketball team (2-0) already has two dominant performances under its belt. First, the Wolverines dismantled Mount St. Mary’s, 88-40, in the season opener. And last Thursday, they cruised past Western Michigan, 79-42. There’s no reason to expect anything different to happen Monday night, when Michigan faces Detroit Mercy (1-3) at Crisler Center. Last season, the Titans finished with an abysmal 2-28 record. They are currently on a threegame losing streak, and on paper, they don’t match up well against the Wolverines. Detroit Mercy has just two players at or over six-feet tall, and only one of them — six-foot forward Paige Bellman — gets meaningful playing time. On the other hand, Michigan has 11 players in the six-foot club — including 6-foot-5 senior center Hallie Thome. She has been the Wolverines go-to player so far, leading the team with 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. Both of Michigan’s opponents so far have lacked comparable height, thus allowing Thome to control the paint. Because of her height advantage, Thome often draws double teams. But so far, she has used solid footwork to weave around this. She should have no trouble finding the basket come Monday, as the Titans don’t seem to have a logical answer for her. With their length, the Wolverines have been successful under the glass. They’ve outrebounded opposing teams 106 to 46 and could widen the gap against Detroit Mercy. “I think that’s been a difference-
maker kind of our last couple games,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico to WTKA on Thursday. “And we talked about that a lot coming into tonight.” When these two schools met last season, the Titans initially kept it interesting. Early in the opening quarter, they drained four three-pointers in a row to get a head start. And a few possessions later, they converted another triple to take a 10-point lead. The Wolverines fought back, though, tying the game at 20 by the end of the first frame. Michigan then pulled away quickly, notching an 86-50 victory. Detroit Mercy no longer has forward Brianne Cohen or guards Anja Marinkovic and Nicole Urbanick — its three leading scorers from last year. Cohen and Urbanick were both seniors last season, and Marinkovic transferred to play at Florida Gulf Coast. Now, forward Lexey Tobel leads the Titans with 13 points a game. In last year’s meeting, she scored a team-high 14 points. Bellman is their best rebounder, grabbing 7.8 boards per game. She also has the most steals and is tied for the most blocks, with a total of 11 and six, respectively. This will be the Wolverines’ sixth time facing Detroit Mercy under Barnes Arico. She won the last five and will likely win again on Monday. Regardless of the probable mismatch, the contest should allow Michigan to fine-tune its play and work out any remaining kinks before the season picks up pace. The weekend after Thanksgiving, the Wolverines will head to Estero, Fla. for the Gulf Coast Showcase. It will also give Michigan a chance to further implement its depth, which has been a focal point this season.
Wolverines lose to Penn State in overtime, 7-6 JORGE CAZARES Daily Sports Writer
STATE COLLEGE — A thrilling comeback on back-to-back nights seemed too good to be true for the Michigan hockey team. But what ensued on Saturday was thrilling nonetheless. After roaring back from a deficit in the third period for the second night in a row, the 16th-ranked Wolverines could not finish the job, falling to No. 5 Penn State in overtime, 7-6. The scoring got off to a quick start on the second night of the series between the teams. Sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes was penalized for hooking just 0:38 into the game, sending the Nittany Lions to an early power RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily play. And less than one minute into the Junior forward Will Lockwood scored two goals in the Wolverines’ 7-6 loss on Saturday for a series split with Penn State. one-man advantage, forward Evan Pastujov corralled the puck after gave Penn State a 4-2 lead heading come out and score the first goal to Barratt got Penn State out to an Penn State’s defense was unable to into the second intermission. It was make it 4-3, and here we go again.” Then, with 1:05 remaining in the the same deficit Michigan faced on early 1-0 lead. Forward Liam Folkes clear it, making it 2-1. period, Norris fired a shot towards After Michigan’s initial goal, the Friday night. skated up the left wing and passed Early in the third period, the the net, and the puck snuck under across to Barratt who was set up defense seemed to pick up steam in the slot just outside of the right and began to win more pucks in Wolverines pulled within one as the crossbar on a deflection off the faceoff circle. The duo got freshman its own zone. As the defense found Hughes found sophomore forward stick of Lockwood to tie the game at goaltender Strauss Mann moving some temporary success, the offense Dakota Raabe from the left side of six and send the game to overtime. The comeback came was all for from right to left in the crease, and began controlling possession and the ice as he put the puck past Jones, making the score 4-3. naught, though. Barratt slotted the puck out of his getting more opportunities. But the Nittany Lions were reach to his left. And four minutes after Pastujov The Nittany Lions won the Just two minutes later, the cut the lead in half, junior forward stubborn, not wanting to replicate opening draw in overtime and Will Lockwood, tied it up at 2-2. the events of Friday. Just when it fired the puck on net. Mann was Nittany Lions struck again. Forward Aarne Talvitie streaked Junior forward Jake Slaker found appeared Michigan had regained unable to corral puck, and the down left wing, shot to the far side Lockwood in the left faceoff circle. momentum, Penn State answered rebound spewed out in front of the and into the top right corner of As Lockwood attempted to pass to again and jumped out to a two-goal crease. Forward Sam Sternschein the net past the glove of Mann to an open sophomore forward Josh lead once more. won the race to the net and scored, “(The defense was) just casual,” extinguishing the short-lived joy extend the lead to 2-0. With that Norris, the puck took a deflection goal, Penn State had struck twine off a defender’s stick and past junior said Michigan coach Mel Pearson. of the comeback for Michigan and “Not picking guys up, not playing winning the game for Penn State. on their first two shots of the night. goaltender Peyton Jones. The period ended 2-2 with a aggressive at times. We looked After coming up with several big “I’ve been in this game 37 years stops on Friday, Mann had earned combined 33 shots for the two confused in our zone, everybody in college hockey, and I don’t think trying to do somebody else’s job. I’ve ever seen an ending quite like his first back-to-back starts and was teams. In the second period, the Not trusting the communication, I that on an innocent play,” Pearason showing signs of struggle, while the Michigan defense failed pounce on defensive intensity continued for mean a number of things.” said. “They just pushed forward Then, once again, the Wolverines to the puck, they shoot it and it 50-50 pucks in its own defensive the Wolverines. With that came zone, leading to plenty of early some opportunities for offense, but scored to pull within a goal on a goes off Strauss, he can’t control deflection from Pastujov, only to be the rebound and they beat us to opportunities for the Nittany Lions. they failed to capitalize. However, Mann remained evenAfter a pair of minor penalties answered yet again to make it 6-4 the puck… so, a tough way to lose, keeled and came up with several big on freshman forward Garrett Van with eight minutes remaining. especially when you don’t get any But the opportunity was there points out of it –– points are so stops before the Wolverines cut into Wyhe and Penn State defenseman Kevin Kerr, four-on-four play once more for Michigan, and for the critical. We got a lot of work to do, the lead. Near the halfway mark of ensued, and the Nittany Lions third time in the period, they pulled but I did like the resiliency our team the period, junior forward Nick regained the lead as Barratt skated within one goal. The puck found showed tonight.” Pastujov scored on a loose puck out into the offensive zone towards the Van Wyhe with time and space in In a series where both sides in front of the crease. The initial shot right faceoff circle with the puck, the right slot, and he fired a wrister showcased their offensive came in from sophomore forward seemingly unmarked, and fired past to the top left corner into the net. firepower, the Wolverines’ defense “It’s crazy,” Pearson said. “Two was unable to replicate the thirdJosh Becker who streaked up the Mann. Four minutes later Barratt scored nights in a row we’re down 4-2 period performance that earned right wing on a pass from freshman defenseman Nick Blankenburg. again to complete the hat trick and going into the third period, and we them a victory on Friday.
SportsMonday
4B — November 19, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Why Michigan/Ohio State will win The Game
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Michigan will win
get it. You look at the recent history against Ohio State — losing 13 of that last 14 matchups — and you think a loss is inevitable. Then, you see the Michigan football ETHAN team has to WOLFE rewrite that history in Columbus, where it hasn’t won since 2000. And it’ll try to do it against one of the country’s best coaches, with one of the country’s best quarterbacks beside him. A lackluster 31-20 win over Indiana surely inspires more concern than confidence about beating the Buckeyes. I ask you to do one thing: forget all of it. “It’s a different game, and we’re going to make sure we’ll handle our business,” said senior running back Karan Higdon. “They still have to play us on Saturday. Nothing that happened in the past matters at this point.” The rivalry game will be different in more ways than one. The Wolverines will beat Ohio State. Michigan will claim sole ownership of the Big Ten East title. What’s at stake is very apparent. And the Wolverines are approaching it with measured responses. “Everybody in the whole entire country knows what this week is,” said junior defensive end Rashan Gary. “We know what this week is, so we’re gonna attack it. It’s been a whole year of having a bad taste in our mouths. We just gotta go out, prepare the right way and go out there Saturday and see what happens.” The first, and most obvious reason the tables will turn this year is quarterback Shea Patterson. John O’Korn was abysmal in “The Game” last season, sailing balls left and right and throwing a gamesealing interception facing marginal pressure. This season, the Buckeyes rank 77th in passing yards allowed per game (237.4), and
have struggled to contain quarterbacks that the Wolverines’ defense outright punished like Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez, Penn State’s Trace McSorley and Indiana’s Peyton Ramsey. Those three quarterbacks all threw for at least 260 yards and a touchdown against them. Patterson is the most accurate and mobile quarterback Michigan has had since Denard Robinson, the last quarterback to beat Ohio State back in 2011. Patterson is also playing behind an offensive line that is significantly better than last season’s, which allowed five sacks on O’Korn. Saturday’s game serves as a homecoming for offensive line coach Ed Warinner, who coached for the Buckeyes from 2012-16, and he will get to showcase his latest work to his former team. The loss of Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, the likely No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, further opens the door for an impactful O-line performance. The second reason, conversely, is Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins and his offensive line. The numbers don’t lie — Haskins is third in the country in passing yards per game, and 36 touchdowns. Haskins has also been sacked just 13 times. But the offensive line has been far below average for the Buckeyes in the run game — 54th in the country in yards per game — even with J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber in the backfield. In other words, facing Michigan’s top-ranked defense, Haskins will have to throw. Few quarterbacks have found success this season against the Wolverines. Immobile quarterbacks like Haskins haven’t fared any better. And the only aspect of the team worse than its offensive line is its run defense. Maryland’s Anthony McFarland ran rampant on the Buckeyes in a 52-51 shootout (Yes, the same Maryland that only dropped 10 points against Michigan), registering 298 yards and two touchdowns on just 21 carries. Senior running back Karan Higdon, who averages nearly
Ohio State will win
ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his team will head into Columbus on Saturday with a chance to clinch the Big Ten East.
111 rushing yards per game, will have a field day in Columbus. So fire away with your takes: “Jim Harbaugh can’t win the big one.” “Michigan will just choke.” “They can’t win in Columbus.” And they would all be wrong. This isn’t about cliches or empty narratives. The Wolverines are unequivocally better than the Buckeyes, who have rarely looked impressive against the same competition. Michigan’s sole loss is a one touchdown heartbreaker at No. 3 Notre Dame in the season opener. Purdue romped Ohio State by four possessions, and the Boilermakers hope to become bowl eligible with a win next week. For Ohio State fans and Michigan skeptics, harping on the past is easy, but this time the past will not matter. “Just another game,” Patterson said. “We understand the tradition and the meaning behind it, but we’re going to attack it the same way we have the past 10, 11 weeks. We know they’re a good ball club at their place, but we’re just going to prepare and come out firing.” And with coming out firing, a win will follow. Wolfe can be reached at eewolfe@umich.edu or on Twitter @ethanewolfe
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aturday’s game will be the biggest Michigan football game in at least 12 years. For Ohio State, it won’t even approach the MAX top 10. MARCOVITCH That’s not to say the Buckeyes don’t care about Saturday’s game; obviously, they do. Instead, it is to say the pressure will be disproportionately slanted toward one side. The line opened at Michigan -4, and that’s properly indicative of which team has looked better all year. But what, in the recent history of Michigan football, leads you to believe this program is capable of handling that pressure? Take the 2016 game, for example. Forget the JT Barrett play for a moment. The Wolverines entered the fourth quarter up 17-14, then gained a total of five yards, neglecting every chance to put the game away. Take the 2012 game for another. Michigan entered halftime up 21-20. In the second half Michigan failed to cross midfield, turned the ball over
three times and didn’t score. How about 2007? The Wolverines came into the home game having a chance to claim the Big Ten East with a win, then scored just 3 points all afternoon. Let’s revisit 2004. Michigan was favored heading into a matchup against an Ohio State team that was 3-4 in conference play. The Wolverines led 14-7 after the first quarter then got their doors blown off — giving up 27 unanswered points in a blowout loss. The Wolverines haven’t won in Columbus since 2000 and have beaten Ohio State just three times since the turn of the century. There’s a foundational reason for that beyond “Ohio State is usually better.” This game has devolved into less of a rivalry and more of an annual event to breed self-loathing. Which brings us to this year, a game Michigan absolutely should win, but a game in which the alternative would be entirely unsurprising. There’s plenty of reason to believe this Michigan team is going to finally lay this twodecade-long nightmare to rest. It has the best quarterback in recent program history in Shea Patterson. It has an historically great defense anchoring the other side of the ball. It has a signature road win against
(a retrospectively average) Michigan State team under its belt. But be honest: any optimism is clouded with fear. Confidence is guarded with ample caution. Ohio State has owned Michigan for the better part of my lifetime, and 10 wins against inferior opponents doesn’t change that framework until the Wolverines overcome it. Not to mention this Buckeyes team — while in the midst of a “down” season by its lofty standards — is certainly no pushover. They have a shoo-in all-Big Ten quarterback and dynamic offensive weapons aplenty; Ohio State is still averaging nearly 42 points per game. They are still a top-10 team nationally, and you best believe they will be motivated to continue the reign of dominance — and, by the way, play for its third Big Ten championship in the last five years. Each side is coming in with predictable hymns of motivation. “Everybody in the whole entire country knows what this week is,” said junior defensive end Rashan Gary after Saturday’s win over Indiana. “We know what this week is. So we’re going to attack. It’s been a whole year of having a bad taste in our mouth, so we’ve just got to go out and prepare the right way.” Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins told reporters he has watched Michigan play every week. One is taken with measured confidence of a program that has dominated for 20 years. The other comes with a hint of desperation. One is the bully, the other is the downtrodden victim. Until I see those roles are reversed on the field, I won’t believe it. For the 16th time in the last 18 years, Ohio State is going to beat Michigan on Saturday, and the hopes and dreams of this Michigan football season will come crashing down in the most disappointing fashion possible. Marcovitch can be reached at maxmarco@umich.edu or on Twitter @max_marcovitch
From redzone struggles, Jake Moody has historic performance ETHAN WOLFE Daily Sports Writer
With the clock ticking, the Michigan football team thought it could score one last time before the half against Indiana. Trailing 17-15, the Wolverines were in the redzone following a 41-yard reception by redshirt junior tight end Zach Gentry. With only one timeout, Michigan ran three times. Then junior tight end Sean McKeon caught a pass at the two-yard line, getting tackled in bounds at the two-yard line. Time
was vanishing when it didn’t have to. As halftime approached following McKeon’s reception, Shea Patterson set the offense to spike the ball, stop the clock and kick a field goal. The referee carried the ball to position it, dropped it before he could give it to center Cesar Ruiz and an Indiana player kicked it away to lengthen the referee’s scramble. Halftime adjustments in the locker room were coming next. “We just didn’t execute well enough,” said redshirt sophomore
tight end Nick Eubanks. “… We’ve got a lot of work to do.” It’s as simple as that. Michigan made eight separate trips in the redzone during Saturday’s 31-20 win over the Hoosiers, and scored a touchdown only once — a two-yard run by Karan Higdon, assisted by a pass interference the previous play. Five of those trips ended with two short-yardage runs, and either an incomplete or short pass before the firstdown marker. On one of those instances, the Wolverines failed to find paydirt after a
dropped ball by Gentry. It was a mishmash of monotonous but sustained errors that raise red flags heading into the season finale at Ohio State. “They did a great job,” Higdon said. “We didn’t execute as well as we wanted to a couple times. We had some dropped balls, miscues and we can’t have that. I’d rather that happen now then next week.” But Michigan’s struggles came with a silver lining. Through the Wolverines’ failed redzone execution emerged much-needed consistency from the place kicking unit. Freshman kicker Jake Moody took over field goal duties for Quinn Nordin, who Moody said didn’t feel good enough to enter the game. Moody, who typically handles kickoffs, went 6-for-6 on the day — all within 33 yards — to break a Michigan football record last set by Nordin for most field goals in a game..
From a numbers and momentum standpoint, Moody was the difference maker. “You talk about 139 years of Michigan football, and set a record six field goals,” Harbaugh said. “Cool customer, good thing for a kicker. … Every single field goal was big today.” Added Moody: “The guys out there made it easy for me, the snaps and the holds. … I’ve been practicing all season. Quinn’s been a great role model for me. He taught me what to do when you get out there to get your mind right to kick.” Harbaugh noted that his historic performance wouldn’t guarantee a starting spot for next week. While the perfect day could offer peace of mind, the performance was rooted in the offense’s inability to score touchdowns. Recording 507 yards of offense is usually conducive to more than 31 points.
“Just playing in the Big Ten,” Patterson cited for the offense’s shortcomings. “… Not everything is gonna go your way. I thought they had a pretty good scheme, pretty good defense. We just took what they gave us. I thought our defense put us in a pretty good position.” The offense was not without its successes. Patterson rifled a 41-yard touchdown to a wideopen Eubanks. And if you’re really reaching, Higdon’s touchdown demonstrated that the red zone woes are fixable. The Wolverines will have a week to do just that. They repeat the phrase “one game at a time” like a greeting, and a short-term memory is more of a demand than a request with the Buckeyes looming. But if just for Saturday, the day rightfully belonged to Jake Moody. “This guy was a sniper,” Patterson said. “He did a hell of a job.”
CARTER FOX/Daily
Freshman kicker Jake Moody set a Michigan record with six made field goals in the Wolverines’ win over Indiana.