ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Monday, January 14, 2019
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Program record
With 80-60 win over Northwestern on Sunday, Michigan moved to 17-0, setting a new program record for wins to open the season.
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GYMNASTICS
Faehn fired after athletic department called out DESIGN BY JACK SILBERMAN
First-generation students navigate University financial aid system
Students ref lect on experiences with tuition packages, unclear guidelines LIAT WEINSTEIN Daily Staff Reporter
Many first-generation students at the University of Michigan say they find the financial aid process difficult to navigate, despite the resources available at U-M. Social Work student Mallory Sprague said the financial resources
for first-generation students are not heavily advertised, but they ultimately allowed her to participate in five study abroad programs during her time at the University. “As a student and later as an adviser, I found that a lot of people didn’t know the extent of the resources we have access to,” Sprague said.
ACADEMICS
DAP takes control of contested new panel Coalition criticizes Blue Ribbon discussion after Cheney-Lippold scandal CLAIRE HAO
Daily Staff Reporter
Direct Action for Palestine (DAP), a coalition of students formed “to organize for Palestinian liberation” in response to the CheneyLippold and Peterson letter of recommendation controversy, took control of the Blue Ribbon Panel Friday morning in protest of the panel and the University’s sanctions addressing the controversy. The event, held at Pierpont Commons and attended by about 40 students and faculty members, was meant to be a continuation in a series of panels on the intersection between faculty responsibility and political thought. After the panel’s opening comments explaining it was a recommending body charged with listening to community input, the floor was open to any speaker who wished to address the panel. The DAP leader, who asked to be referred to by the pseudonym Rami Abdullah, took the microphone and turned his back on the panel, announcing to the audience that DAP was taking over the event.
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Sprague explained she wished the aid was more accessible to students. “I expected the financial aid system to be tricky and resistant, but it has been surprisingly easy to navigate,” Sprague said. “I only wish that some of the funding opportunities were more widely advertised.
From Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, 2018, the University hosted First Gen Week to educate the community about obstacles first-generation students face and foster a sense of community among first-generation students.
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Athletic Director Warde Manuel: “It was the wrong decision, and I apologize.” ANNA MARCUS Daily Sports Editor
‘The University of Michigan Athletics Department announced Sunday night it was ending its “consulting relationship” between Rhonda Faehn and the Michigan women’s gymnastics team. Faehn, a former senior vice president of USA Gymnastics who left amid the fallout of the Larry Nassar scandal, joined the coaching staff on Thursday, Jan 10. In the Department’s public statement disclosing the termination of Faehn’s contract, the University’s Director of Athletics Warde Manuel provided the following remarks:
“I have come to the conclusion that it is not in the best interest of the University of Michigan and our athletic program to continue the consulting contract with Rhonda Faehn. It was the wrong decision, and I apologize. Our student-athletes are our highest priority and I want to do everything in my power to support them fully and put the focus back on their athletic performance.” The announcement came hours after Michigan’s Board of Regents expressed disappointment and concern regarding the new hire to the Detroit Free Press. “I do not support the hiring of Rhonda Faehn, and believe See FIRED, Page 2A
Prison Creative Arts Project tells Frats hold stories of the formerly incarcerated positions CAMPUS LIFE
Student-run podcast “While We Were Away” aims to reduce stigma for ex-convicts EMMA STEIN
Daily Staff Reporter
While We Were Away is a new University of Michigan studentrun podcast and part of the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), tells the stories of formerly incarcerated people and their experiences coming home. LSA senior Hannah French, producer and co-founder of the podcast, said While We Were Away began when she and classmates noticed a lack of resources and support for those re-entering society. She said the podcast aims to give a voice to former prisoners. “When we learned how many few resources there were for people coming home, we realized that could be our area,” French said. “Inside prison is an oral culture, but outside, once you come home, there really aren’t people to tell your stories to anymore because it is such a difficult decision whether to even tell someone that kind of past.” Kathryn Condon, University alum and co-founder of While We Were Away, said in an email she hopes the podcast will open people’s minds and create empathy for ex-convicts. “I hope that others can listen to this and relate on some level,” Condon said . “Whether they have been to prison or not, and feel empathy for a really tough transition that men and women sort of silently face on their own most of the time.” A woman interviewed for the podcast, who wished to remain
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anonymous due to privacy and safety concerns, was arrested at age 23 after falling in love with a Sicilian gangster. She spent 18 years in prison after being convicted of multiple crimes, including murder. In this article, she will be referred to as Billy. When Billy was released from prison, much of her life had passed by. She was unsure what her next steps should be. “Coming out in my 40s and in
menopause, I was feeling like I was washed up,” Billy said. “What do you do at that age to start from the beginning?” According to a study done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that began in 2005 and followed 404,638 former prisoners from 30 states, within 5 years of release 76.6 percent of the ex-prisoners were rearrested. Billy said she did not want to be another number. She wanted to
start living a different life rather than resorting to old habits and, ultimately, winding back up in prison. “I was really trying to get inside my inner self to find out who I was, and I didn’t want to turn around and be a statistic and be a revolving door,” Billy said.
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Billy at her house during an interview with The Michigan Daily.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVIII, No. 52 ©2019 The Michigan Daily
in both IFC & AAIFC
Organizations join multiple councils after local rule changes begin ALEX HARRING Daily Staff Reporter
With the beginning of the 2019 winter semester, the Interfraternity Council and the newly formed Ann Arbor Interfraternity Council are gearing up for 2019 Winter Rush alongside their member fraternities. Four fraternities at the University of Michigan— Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Upsilon and Psi Upsilon — hold membership in both bodies. In September, six fraternities disaffiliated from the IFC, creating the AAIFC. The fraternities cited a new housing code from the Ann Arbor City Council and the University’s decision to implement formal winter rush beginning January 2020 as part of a plan to strengthen their First Year Experience plan. Jean Lloyd, Delta Tau Delta brand communications manager, said in an email the chapter’s membership in both the IFC and AAIFC does not create conflicts, because both councils have similar policy expectations.
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to see even a shred of change and was with us tonight in of her departure from USA FIRED on that campus, so such a quick Tuscaloosa for the meet,” the Gymnastics, which occurred in From Page 1A turnaround as to this situation spokesperson said in a statement May 2018. “I was extremely disturbed to has been unexpected and well- Friday evening. Saturday afternoon, the find out that she had been hired, the university should end its received by myself and many University of Michigan Athletics because I think it sends a message relationship with her,” Regent other women I know.” Since the moment the hire was Department issued a press not just to survivors of Nassar’s Mark Bernstein told the Free Press earlier in the day. announced, the decision spurred release formally announcing and abuse on campus, but it sends a Regent Jordan Acker, who controversy, drawing both wide defending the hiring decision. message to all survivors on the was elected to the board criticism on Twitter — including The statement described Faehn’s campus that proven enablers this November, provided the from Nassar survivors — as well role on staff as a “consultant in a would have been tolerated and following statement on Twitter as defense of the hiring decision coaching capacity”, though the would have been allowed to be expressing his criticism of the from others, including current Department website officially hired and honestly be defended and former members of the listed her title as an “assistant by the university,” McCaul said. selection of Faehn: Early on in her position with coach.” Faehn’s name has since Morgan McCaul, an LSA gymnastics team. USA Gymnastics, Faehn was Faehn was first spotted at been removed from the website. sophomore and survivor of In Saturday’s release, notified about potential abuse Nassar’s abuse, spoke to The the women’s gymnastics team’s Daily on Sunday evening about second meet of the season, hosted the University’s Director of concerns relating to then-team the importance of the message at the University of Alabama, Athletics Warde Manuel noted physician Larry Nassar. Faehn sent by the Athletic Department by Terrin Waack, a sports that “a thorough review of informed then-USA Gymnastics when it acted swiftly in reversing reporter for The Tuscaloosa Faehn’s coaching career and President Steve Penny of these News and TideSports.com, her involvement with USA concerns, and the organization its decision on Faehn. “Honestly, it’s been relieving who was present at the meet Gymnastics” was conducted went on to conduct an internal and it’s been kind of whiplash,” in Tuscaloosa, Ala. On Friday before he decided to support the investigation before removing Nassar from his position or McCaul said. “My experience evening, a spokesperson for the selection of Faehn. “The well-being and safety going to federal authorities, as with MSU has been that they team confirmed to The Daily that dig their heels in and they refuse Faehn had been hired on Jan 10. of our student-athletes is was reported by the Associated to Syndication admit when they’re wrong, “I can confirm that Rhonda always our highest priority,” Press in May. Sudoku http://www.sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ USA Gymnastics failed to and it’s taken a year and a half Faehn did join us recently Manuel stated Saturday. “Our current student-athletes notify Michigan State University had a prominent voice — where Nassar was a faculty throughout this search member — of these concerns process to provide their during this time frame. In the perspective. This included aftermath of Nassar pleading a meeting between me and guilty to child pornography the captains before a final charges in the summer of 2017 and to multiple counts of sexual decision was made. “After our exhaustive assault of minors in the winter due diligence, we felt of 2018, the organization faced comfortable that coach multiple lawsuits from victims. Faehn was not specifically Faehn reported all information available to named in the lawsuits, but her regarding Larry Nassar faced criticism from numerous and that she cooperated Nassar survivors who called for fully, including voluntarily her removal. This included U.S. participating in all Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, investigations and offering who told the Indianapolis testimony before Congress. Star that she had reported Neither an internal Nassar’s abuse to Faehn in investigation by USA “graphic detail,” but Faehn Gymnastics or a criminal and other officials waited a investigation by the FBI week before going to the FBI. A have assigned culpability week after that interview, USA or resulted in any charges Gymnastics decided to part with Faehn. against her.” Her departure was met A day later, Manuel determined it was with mixed opinions from the gymnastics community. the “wrong decision.” The addition of Faehn BACK TO WORK. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com to the coaching staff was Read more at received as a controversial MichiganDaily.com decision due to the nature
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The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University OF Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for September-April are $250 and year long subscriptions are $275. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid.
Michigan in Color
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Monday, January 14, 2019— 3A
Spotlight: Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. NA’KIA CHANNEY, EFE OSAGIE & LORNA BROWN
Managing MiC Editor and Senior MiC Editors
December 4th, 1906: Founder’s Day for the first Black Greek Organization in the world at Cornell University, which began as a result of seven men rallying against racism and segregation in academic institutions and beyond. Established during a time where very few outlets for Black upliftment existed, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated focuses on social and academic achievement with an emphasis on brotherhood at the core of its founding. In addition to being the oldest Black organization and the University of Michigan, Alpha Phi Alpha has developed numerous renowned members that have spearheaded changes in society for generations. Notable brothers include Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood
Marshall and W.E.B. Du Bois, all of which are examples that showcase the prestige and honor of carrying the Alpha title. The Epsilon chapter at the University of Michigan has been around since 1909, making it one of the oldest chapters in the organization’s history. To open their Founder’s Day this year, each one of the members welcomed attendees and emphasized their focus on community through a social hour. Displaying their national recognitions and awards, their hard work shows they have pioneered for over more than 100 years of service and leadership. All nine members openly invited the community for a time of socialization, with food and dance –– creating a day that not only celebrated the founding of their organization but also to uniting the Black community is always a welcome sight on campus. “To me, Alpha Phi Alpha is more than just a fraternity,”
D’Andre Simpson, Alpha Phi Alpha Epsilon chapter President said. “It’s an everlasting brotherhood that has allowed me to grow as a leader, serve my community, and most importantly meet the uncles of my future children. The brotherhood and service of my fraternity goes beyond college and I will forever have an impact on the world through my organization.” The social hour was followed by a step reception. Through the cold and windy air, all Alpha brothers stood on the steps of Rackham graduate school, proudly showcasing their black and gold colors with heads held high. Brothers performed their difficult, sharp and powerful stroll routine, reciting the fraternity’s critical moments in Alpha history. In honor of Founder’s Day, the Alphas paid homage to its 1907 founding at Cornell University. From Founder’s Day and beyond, Alpha Phi Alpha
NA’KIA CHANNEY/Daily
continues to be a localizing agent for cultivating fellowship in the Black community. Multiple Black students came
to show their support for the group, including their sister sorority, the newly initiated Beta Eta chapter of Alpha Kappa
Alpha sorority, making the Founders Day a memorable and historic night for all.
Why I joined Michigan in Color Na’kia Channey
Carly Ryan
CARLY RYAN/Daily
Making a newspaper every night is really hard. Coupled with the pressure of upholding “128 years of editorial freedom” and a full load of classes, many nights making a newspaper seems like a miracle. But what’s made it manageable have been the thoughtful, resilient advocates I work beside. What’s made it fun is the ability of Daily staff to take their work very seriously without taking themselves seriously. What’s made it feel crucial are the times when I get to help put a woman of color on the front page, the times when a story moves me to tears or laughter or both, and knowing that maybe one more person feels affirmed in their ability to tell stories and maybe one more person listened to a story they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. It’s that last feeling, the idea that any one published story could change someone’s worldview or make someone’s day, that brings me to the Michigan in Color desk.
discriminatory system cannot be placed entirely on journalists of color, and I hope that in my tenure, The Michigan Daily as a whole can help dismantle journalism’s cycle of inequity. I am so grateful to Ashley and Jason for believing in my ability to help lead this section, and I am so humbled by the Michigan in Color staff I will be working beside –– you guys are reason enough to join. Notably, I would not be here if not for Christian, whose unending initiative and creativity modeled the similarly unending opportunities this space provides, if not for Nisa, whose journalism journey gave me somefear that people of color are thing to aspire to, and if not too biased by their own iden- for Maya, who is certainly the tity to write objectively or in best boss I’ll ever have. fear that people of color are It is an extreme privilege to too “risky” and will alienate have access to this space, and racist readers. I am confident I hope to do right by its beauin the ability of Michigan in ty and history. This is going Color to help combat journal- to be a year of being loud and ism’s systemically discrimina- brave and energetic and vultory structures. However, the nerable –– I can’t wait for you onus of fixing a systematically to hear what we have to say. I’m here because right now, nothing feels more important than giving a platform to those who are quieted, ignored or misconstrued. Too often, journalism’s gatekeepers prevent journalists of color from entering the field in
Nothing feels more important than giving a platform to those who are quieted
NA’KIA CHANNEY/Daily
When I joined Michigan in Color as a Senior Editor, I didn’t know that I would find a home. I have found some of my closest friends, change agents, and accountability partners in this platform. Over time, I have learned that we are more than a newspaper. We are a catalyst, a moment, to both uplift and preserve the truths of students of color. I feel immense pride in being a part of an organization that has contributed to over one hundred years of generational knowledge, and I feel even more proud as Michigan in Color goes into its fifth year of preserving the voices and experiences of people of color on campus. It is evident that our impact has exceeded the boundaries of our campus and has inspired other universities, such as UC Berkeley, to establish their own sections for students of color. It is with great honor and elation that I present my voice as an empowered, happy, confident Black Woman, shredded of the insecurity that made my voice tremble years ago. I have found great solace and spiritual healing
through the power of words and truth telling. In a world where women of color, and Black women especially, are subject to extreme levels of hypervisibility and systemic silencing, Michigan in Color has been a space for me to reclaim my visibility and agency and to define who I am and what I stand for. It’s been a platform that is unique in its simultaneous embrace of PoC intellectuality and authenticity. Just as I have developed my confidence as a Black female scholar, I have gained so much from being privileged to the insights and lessons that other students have shared through our platform. I am unsure if I think of myself as a writer, nor am I sure if I think of myself as a journalist. However, in a time period where journalism is showded in falsehood and malice and when PoC voices are systemically silenced and sidelined, I know that a platform such as ours is critical. I give credit to MiC for so much of my growth and abundance of opportunity. I have traveled to
Washington, D.C. and explored the roots of my African-American heritage. I have critically analyzed film representation, and I have joined other student organizations in community and fellowship. Most importantly, MiC has given me new friends and a closeknit community of activists and change-agents who have held me accountable to expanding my capacity for empathy across identity intersections. I will forever be grateful for this experience, and I look forward to furthering the mission and potential of our publication. It is within the pages of a campus newspaper that I offer a platform of refuge — a platform to tell your story amongst the countless pages and think-pieces that are trying to tell it for you. I offer a space grounded in radical self-love and belief in the power of storytelling and words, a place to unlearn and unpack generations worth of taught self-hate and identity dissonance. I welcome you to write your truth, one word at a time.
An Open Letter Regarding the Blue Ribbon Panel DIRECT ACTION FOR PALESTINE MiC Contributer
To the Regents, President, and Provost of the University of Michigan and the Provost’s Blue Ribbon Panel (or anyone who is actually listening): It is painfully clear that you are neither prepared to protect academic freedom nor the rights of marginalized students. As the University is under pressure from media, donors, and community members to justify punishing a professor and graduate student instructor for refusing to write letters of recommendation –– a task they are not required to do –– the creation of the Blue Ribbon Panel has served to buy the University some time. This Panel is tasked with “recommend[ing] appropriate considerations and principles” regarding faculty members’ political expressions and their responsibilities to students.
However, the panel’s vague charge to recommend considerations and principles, and the limit to its power as a mere recommending body that may be dismissed if found to be of the wrong political bent, demonstrate that the panel’s purpose is to serve as a shallow public relations ploy; a mere facade of serious engagement with the topic at hand. The behavior of the panelists has reinforced this notion. In the almost three months since the Blue Ribbon Panel’s announcement, there have been no public statements about the Panel’s process, how it will operate, or what its research priorities even are. Provost Philbert and the panelists have abdicated their responsibility to the public, opting against transparency and community engagement at every turn. Meanwhile, the “Opportunities for Input” survey put out by the panel was both leading and out of line with qualitative research norms. The first survey question, for
example, proposes a set of faculty responsibilities to students, then proceeds to ask survey respondents whether or not they agree with them. This reduces the parameters of subject responses to an agreedisagree binary, a pitfall any novice researcher trained in qualitative research is taught to avoid. In so doing, the Panel’s survey limits the issue to being a simple conflict between student and faculty interests, thereby precluding any considerations that fall outside of that framing. The first “listening session” held on campus in Ann Arbor was just as telling, as it made certain that the panel would not even attempt meaningful engagement with the campus community. Facing a room of faculty, students, and community members, many of whom challenged the very legitimacy of the panel, the panelists refused to respond. When President Emeritus Duderstadt was asked direct procedural questions about the panel’s timeline, or how information collected by the panel
would be analyzed, he plainly acknowledged that there was no plan. All other questions were met with silence and disdain, while Martin Philbert and Deborah Goldberg didn’t even bother to show up. Given the climate of fear and fragile calm holding over campus in the wake of threats made against Professor Cheney-Lippold’s job, it is appalling that the panel could not even affirm that survey responses would be anonymous. And while the panel sets out to address political bias among professors, it ironically fails to account for its own problematic makeup. Out of the six faculty members on the panel, none come from humanities departments, and none have professional research experience addressing the racialcolonial dynamics central to the issue at hand. Despite being formed in the wake of controversy over the University’s relationship to institutions in occupied Palestine, there are no Palestinian voices on the panel.
There are, however, at least two members with significant relationships or engagements with Israeli academic institutions. Deborah Loewenberg Ball has given presentations or lectures at six different Israeli institutions. Deborah Goldberg has held appointments at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at Ben-Gurion University. It becomes difficult, then, to imagine this panel building room for dissenting views or serving any purpose other than to uphold established norms and silencing conscientious objection. In contrast, when U-M student governments on three campuses democratically passed resolutions calling for Divestment, University Regents Denise Ilitch and Mark Bernstein made loaded charges of anti-Semitism against them, the latter calling the resolutions “intellectually bankrupt and morally repugnant.” Clearly, the panel is uninterested in
systematically addressing political bias; it serves only to reaffirm the Palestine exception to free speech. For these reasons, the Blue Ribbon Panel should be dissolved. Instead, University leadership should follow the recommendations of letters signed by hundreds of faculty, graduate student instructors, students, professional and academic organizations, and Jewish and Palestinian communities advocating for the right of faculty and staff to engage in conscientious dissent without fear of repercussions. We also call on the University to end its fiscal ties to Israeli institutions and corporations by honoring democratically passed Divestment resolutions on all three University campuses. In doing so, the University can begin to build an environment of academic freedom for the entire campus community. In Protest, Direct Action for Palestine
Opinion
4A — Monday, January 14, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
KRYSTAL HUR | COLUMN
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AARON BAKER | COLUMN
What conservatives get wrong about identity politics
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othing evokes a more visceral reaction from modern conservatives than political correctness and identity politics. Conservatives often point to the annoyance of identity politics and political correctness as the reason for President Donald Trump’s election. Jonah Goldberg, fellow and Asness Chair in Applied Liberty at American Enterprise Institute, explained how identity politics are destroying Western civilization as we know it in his book “Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy.” Similarly, the popular intellectual Jordan Peterson decries political correctness and identity politics as “Marxist,” “totalitarian” and “postmodern.” Peterson is only right that political correctness and identity politics are postmodern, however, that shouldn’t scare conservatives. Most opposition to political correctness and so-called identity politics is rooted in misperceptions. Conservatives and critics of political correctness and identity politics argue the two movements are symptoms of cultural collectivism. Political correctness and identity politics supporters, according to many conservatives, view life through the reductive lens of race, gender and sexuality in which everything is a power struggle, creating only the oppressors and the oppressed. To conservatives, those who talk about racism or sexism are only thinking about their membership in a group — a modern form of tribalism. It is this tribalism that challenges the pillars of Western civilization, specifically the Enlightenment values of individual rights and rationality. When conservatives deride identity politics, they eschew any political discourse that touches on prejudice. All democratic politics are coalition-based in some way, requiring appeals to voting coalitions that are often, in some way, identity-based. What conservatives deem identity politics is simply politics that discuss racism, sexism, xenophobia or any issues created by prejudicial thinking in some way, and political correctness is simply an effort to use language and concepts that are more inclusive and fairer. The goals and effects of identity politics and political correctness are primarily about individualism, which conservatives rightly support. Of course, identity politics and political correctness can go too far, but the core ideas of political correctness and identity politics are valid and necessary. The Enlightenment was a multifaceted intellectual movement that produced a wide array of ideas. I would say conservatives are right when they talk about Enlightenment values of individualism and rationality and the benefits they provide
democracies around the world. The only problem is the idea of the rational individual that comes from the Enlightenment has historically been qualified and limited. White men were considered as rational, autonomous agents, but everyone else was perceived as inferior, less rational and less autonomous. The fact that the Enlightenment championed empiricism and scientific discovery is something to be celebrated, as the human condition has improved immensely since the Scientific Revolution. But there were two problems. The first was that scientific knowledge in the 1700s was limited and flawed. Second was that the Enlightenment
There’s room for a middle ground in the polarized debate over political correctness created scientism, in which scientific truths discovered and verified about the natural world are applied to social realities. The result was shoddy science used to justify oppressive ideologies that categorized humans and dictated how they should live and interact with others. This thinking ultimately produced Social Darwinism, scientific racism and biologically-justified sexism in the 19th and 20th century, the remnants of which are still alive in our society today. Postmodernism says there are no absolute truths in social realities, only constructs and human inventions. There are truths in the scientific world, but they are irrelevant for how humans should live their lives. Biological differences between individual humans or groups of humans are largely irrelevant in a social or political setting. As Yuval Noah Harari writes in his book “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” humans have used their cognition to imagine social realities, stories and structures since the so-called cognitive revolution some 30,000 years ago. These social realities allowed Homo sapiens to organize themselves in ways other animals were unable to, advantaging humans and allowing them to climb the food chain. According to Harari, this is the primary difference between humans and other animals: We can invent social realities that override our underlying biological impulses in determining human action and organization. Postmodernism is cognizant of the construction of social realities — a process wherein language plays an important role. Therefore, political correctness and identity politics seek to use language to
challenge historic schemas. These dictate human behavior based on group identities — race, gender or others — that were bequeathed to us from the scientism of the past. Postmodernism tells us one’s phenotype, reproductive organs, sexuality or other traits are irrelevant to an individual’s capabilities or personalities, leaving them to carve their own fates. The individualism so many conservatives champion is thus an incomplete idea of what it means to be an individual. It is only concerned with individualism between citizen and government, as envisioned by the vertical social contract of John Locke. This is totally legitimate as the worst crimes against humanity have been committed by tyrannical governments. Liberty and individualism require examining the lateral relationships between people, especially where majorities can oppress minorities by creating social realities that limit, categorize and essentialize them. Conservatives can do a good job in acknowledging the former, but fail to do so in the latter. Likewise, liberals can be guilty of the opposite: succeeding in challenging oppressive social norms and language, but remaining unconcerned with unchecked government power and coercion. There’s room for a middle ground in the polarized debate over political correctness. Conservatives who care about individual liberty should consider the possibilities of adopting postmodern ideas prevalent on college campuses. For social conservatives, postmodernism is likely a hard pill to swallow. But for conservatives who prioritize low taxes or an active foreign policy, political correctness and postmodernism don’t have to be strongly opposed. By ceding all postmodern ideas to liberals and progressives, conservatives are losing potential allies. Likewise, liberals who engage in censorship and social media shaming are also losing potential allies. Harmful speech should be countered by better speech. Protesters who stopped Charles Murray’s speech on campus probably didn’t convince anyone who agreed with his pseudoscientific, prejudice-enabling ideas. Forcing people to use the right language won’t convince them the ideas behind the changes in language are valid, and the oppressive concepts will persist. Changing language and social norms can help alter unconscious bias, according to research suggesting language shapes the way we think. But if people don’t believe the change in norms or language is necessary or even valid, then different language will be adopted to produce the same oppressive effects. Aaron Baker can be reached at aaronbak@umich.edu.
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Trigger warning: Column discusses attractiveness of Justin Foley, another one of the protagonists. graphic scenes of sexual assault. There were a few miscellaneous witter has become tweets about how male rape is a platform for social more common than people think, and political activism. and how people need to discuss While scrolling through tweets, it, but they got lost among the I sometimes come across cute photo edits of Zach and Hannah, photos of dogs and the occasional as well as tweet threads about the heartwarming video, but I mostly controversial scene. Nothing was see tweets aimed at controversial factual, in-depth or executed with media and news. One television care. It seems as though “starting show that has sparked a large amount of these tweets is the the conversation” has become an Netflix series “Thirteen Reasons excuse, rather than the reason, for sharing shocking and often Why.” One scene, in particular, graphic content about sensitive fueled contentious debate. In topics. However, the response to season 2 of “Thirteen Reasons the scene in “Thirteen Reasons Why,” there’s a scene in which Why” serves as a prime example as one of the characters, Tyler, is to why creating and then releasing confronted by the much stronger, graphic content that relates to more aggressive Monty. In the prevalent societal issues doesn’t shocking scene, Monty smashes really do anything. Doing something to simply Tyler’s head against the bathroom sinks repeatedly before dragging “start the conversation” is a him to the toilets and sodomizing lazy, problematic approach to him with a mop as Tyler screams tackling issues. It’s a cop-out that absolves the person starting out in pain. Many people took to Twitter the conversation of any event to voice their thoughts about the that ensues, and showing people necessity of the scene. Many who horrifying scenes to “start the about societal opposed the inclusion of the scene conversation” argued that such graphic scenes issues is the equivalent of are unnecessary and that the showing children porn to “start trigger warning at the beginning the conversation” about safe of the episode was insufficient. sex. Starting a conversation is Those in favor of the scene argued important, but so is facilitating it that the scene was supposed to and making sure that something be uncomfortable for viewers comes out of it. Content like the to watch and was crucial for scene in “Thirteen Reasons Why” “starting the conversation” about might have encouraged some people to learn more and engage in male victim sexual assault. As someone who watched both meaningful dialogue, but for most seasons of “Thirteen Reasons people, it just becomes something Why” I became physically shocking to tweet about before sickened by that scene, so I went losing interest. It is naive to assume on Twitter to read the debates that after watching a graphic scene about the series, and there was in a television show, viewers will one part of the argument in favor engage in meaningful dialogue of the scene that baffled me: There about the scene and then go on to was no depth in the conversation. become some kind of activist for The only conversation about whatever issue or topic the scene male rape centered on whether covered. More often than not, the scene with Tyler and Monty viewers become traumatized by should have been put in the show what they watch and discuss the or not. The main conversations scene rather than the trauma itself were about how Hannah and Zach and then forget about it. This is clear even when (two of the protagonists who were briefly involved in a relationship) examining how people react to “deserved better” and the the news: People have become
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so desensitized to horrific events such as mass shootings that while they might initially feel awful when hearing about such an event and discuss it, many people tend to forget about the event and move on with their lives. This isn’t to say that the news shouldn’t report about such events. However, the news has shown us that simply showing people horrible things that happen to others does not result in real change. While media depicting graphic scenes might have more shock value and more potential to become viral and, thus, reach more people, it doesn’t do anything but shock people before being forgotten. In order to encourage people to discuss issues in an impactful way, we must direct them so that know even where to start considering, conversing and changing. For example, if “Thirteen Reasons Why” hadn’t shown that scene, and had instead perhaps only alluded to such an event happening (after inserting a hefty trigger warning) and had followed it up with an unavoidable discussion between the cast member and experts or statistics about sexual assault, the show might have succeeded in creating and facilitating an actual, meaningful conversation about sexual assault. People need to be given direction when asked to deal with complex problems. It’s lazy to drop a bombshell on unsuspecting viewers and then essentially leave them to figure everything out by themselves. Instead, we must educate people about certain topics without traumatizing or triggering them and then offer ways in which they can help, such as by providing the names of certain organizations that work towards change or the names of proposed pieces of legislature people can help support. Starting a conversation is important, but it only helps if there are people willing to act following it. Krystal Hur can be reached at kryshur@umich.edu.
SAM SUGERMAN | COLUMN
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A bad solution to pollution
hroughout history, society has frequently utilized the band-aid method – we love a quick fix. In 1863, William Banting wrote the “Letter on Corpulence,” popularizing fad diets for the first time. Instead of promoting a reduction in sugar intake or encouraging exercise, Banting believed the cure to corpulence, or obesity, was a low-carbohydrate diet. Banting’s work precipitated the rise of the dieting industry, now worth $66.3 billion per year; however, even today global obesity is on the rise. For centuries, society has sought a single quick-fix to multiplex issues, like obesity, by creating oversimplified solutions that erroneously promise easy results instead of focusing on the situation as a whole. Today, the complex issue we confront is plastic pollution in our oceans and the need to preserve these vital bodies of water for the future of our planet. Plastic in the oceans has begun to infiltrate our food system and kill sea life with no end in sight. Over the last 65 years, plastic use has increased 200-fold. Instead of addressing the crisis as a whole, we have fragmented the issue. Following the 2015 video “‘No’ to Plastic Straws,” society has shifted its attention to the elimination of plastic straws, the biggest trend of 2018. In doing so, we have ignored other more significant perpetrators of pollution that are killing the oceans. The eradication of plastic straws intends to prevent the pervasive issue of plastic pollution in our oceans, but there is no such thing as a simple solution to a complex issue. Multifold problems cannot be fragmented. The oceans cannot be salvaged strictly by getting rid of all plastic straws, a small part of the problem. As a society, we have to fully evaluate the causes of plastic pollution and take responsive actions targeted toward attaining the most efficacious and positive outcomes while mitigating the effects, no matter how arduous the process may be. The complete eradication of plastic straws is unlikely because people living with disabilities rely on plastic straws to assist in their dietary intake. However, even if activists
succeed, plastic straws only make up a lowly 0.025 percent of the estimated 8 million tons of plastic that pollute the oceans annually. According to USA Today, straws were seventh on the list of items collected on 2017’s International Coastal Cleanup Day, far behind wrappers, bottles with caps, and bags. It is not plastic straws that are the issue, it’s plastic in general. Society is magnifying the issue of straws and, in doing so, distracting attention and remediation efforts from more significant polluters. In fact, the abatement of plastic straws will not lead to a concurrent decline in pollution as total plastic pollution is projected to triple by 2025. Supporters of “The Last Practice Straw” movement, however, assert plastic straws are a gateway to the larger issue of global plastic consumption and pollution, an issue so grave that by 2050 plastic is projected to outweigh fish in the ocean. Except it is just not working. People are evidently rationalizing their use of other plastics because they no longer use plastic straws. Travis Bradberry, author of “Emotional Intelligence 2.0,” recognizes this human tendency as the compensation effect. “Humans use good deeds to balance out bad deeds, or alternately, we give ourselves breaks from goodness,” Bradberry writes. Therefore, when a person stops using plastic straws, they accumulate an assumed moral capital that they then use to justify other environmentally-damaging actions. I myself have fallen victim to this effect. Earlier this year, a friend noticed my metal straws leaning against my box of granola bars, each individually covered in a plastic wrapper. He commented on the irony of this display. I irrationally justified the excess use of plastic, touting my refusal to use plastic straws. I had assembled so much moral capital that I blinded myself to how my other choices detrimentally affected the environment. This mindset begets disaster for our oceans. We are fighting a losing and distracting battle. Even if we eradicate plastic straws, total pollution in the oceans will become
only a scintilla less. It is time we create a strategy to actually curtail total plastic pollution. The elimination of plastic straws is a simple solution that, while positive in its minor impact on the environment, merely focuses on a single and small aspect of all oceanic plastic pollution. Regrettably, this focus on just a facet of the problem detrimentally increases an individual’s assumed moral capital and prevents a more comprehensive solution. It is estimated there are 15 to 51 trillion pieces of microplastics in the ocean and an additional 5.25 trillion visible pieces of other plastic. The Pacific Ocean has an “island” of plastic that is three times the size of France. For real change, it is critical that we confront the plastic epidemic head-on, instead of fighting a minimally-impactful battle on the side. I recognize plastic straws are unique in the fact they are lightweight and can slide through mechanical recycling sorters. I acknowledge they are a contributing factor to plastic pollution and I applaud every person and company that has phased plastic straws out, but we must consider this only a first step, not a finish line. To establish real change, we cannot just focus on straws. Since the first recorded fad diet in 1863, we have focused on creating simple solutions to complex societal problems and it has not worked. Society must learn from its failures and focus not on the easy fad response, but rather the often more difficult, comprehensive solution. The campaign to #StopSucking is not entirely cutting it, instead, we must #StopUsing. Decreasing our plastic footprint will take diligence, from refusing a plastic-wrapped snack to carrying a reusable bag and bottle. It is vital to the longevity of our oceans and humanity that we change the norms of our everyday lives and challenge those of others. Eliminating plastic straws is not enough, because there is no such thing as a simple solution or magical elixir to resolve the issue of plastic pollution. Sam Sugerman can be reached at samsug@umich.edu.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Monday, January 14, 2019 — 5A
FILM REVIEW
COMMUNITY CULTURE NOTEBOOK
STX ENTERTAINMENT
‘The Upside’ proves to be absolutely milquetoast New ‘Wicked’ is a triumph for race representation
BROADWAY BLACK
and re-slated it for release. life assisstant. Phillip is struck I open by recounting the story by Dell’s cavalier attitude during Daily Arts Writer of “The Upside” not just because the interview and hires him, and it provides a look into how even the two men form a friendship There was a time when it a movie with so much that will not seemed possible that “The going for it can still only change Upside,” a drama based on a 2011 nearly fall through the their lives for French cultural phenomenon cracks and how other the better, and starring one of the most movies that have fallen but maybe, acclaimed actors of the last through the cracks can just maybe, decade and one of the most come to be “rescued,” will teach STX Entertainment popular comedians on planet but because the story themselves and Lantern Earth, wouldn’t get a release. behind “The Upside” is a little Entertainment The film premiered at the 2017 much more interesting something Toronto International Film than anything about about Ann Arbor IMAX Festival, about a year and a “The Upside” itself. themselves. 20+ and Goodrich half ago. It was picked up for Like “Green Book” For all Quality 16 distribution before it, the welland set for a it seems to deserved March 2018 strive to be controversy release date, the most currently but a month milquetoast, surrounding later its inoffensive race him, it’s hard to see Hart’s distributor, relations story performance in “The Upside” The possible, but where as anything other than his best Weinstein “Green Book” at yet. What he needs is a director Company, least had the comfort who can rein in his boundless found itself of stylish period energy and channel it towards facing trappings to propel something productive rather the legal it into something an than the same types of egofirestorm iota above average, stroking riffs that serve only that “The Upside” has to pad the runtime. Here, Hart jumpstarted only its underserved seems to find that in Neil Burger the #MeToo leads. (“Divergent”), who gives him his movement The story follows fair share of comedic moments and Dell Scott (Kevin but also forces him to, you continues Hart, The 91st know, act. His chemistry with to shift the power structure Academy A—I mean, “Night Cranston is particularly strong, of Hollywood today. It sat on School”), a down-on-his-luck and their odd couple dynamic a shelf for nearly a year before ex-con looking for a job who provides the movie with its best STX Entertainment and Lantern eventually finds it with Phillip moments. Entertainment, the successor to Lacasse (Bryan Cranston, The problem is that those The Weinstein Company, bought “Sneaky Pete”), a quadriplegic moments are few and far it, retooled it for a PG-13 rating billionaire in need of a live-in between. For all the restraint he shows with his use of Release Date: Monday, January 14, 2019 Hart, Burger’s direction the rest of the film Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle of results in little more than Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis a shot-for-shot remake of ACROSS 5 GoPro product 41 Trumpet 56 Air quality the original French film 1 Parks who 6 “Judge __”: mufflers concern wouldn’t give up Stallone film 44 Veggie in a pod 57 Frosty’s corncob “The Intouchables,” warts her bus seat 7 Sleep acronym 47 Sheer joy accessory and all. The stilted social 5 Jewel box item 8 Lennon’s love 48 Jeremy of “The 58 Autocorrect target 10 Colored eye part 9 Red planet Avengers” 61 Budgetary commentary is there. The 14 Cartel acronym 10 “Who’s there?” 50 Often-twisted excess predictable story is there. 15 Prizefight venue reply joint 62 “Give or take” 16 Brit’s “Later!” 11 In quick 52 Washer cycle suffix ... that Even the opening scene is 17 Version to debug succession 53 Whirl on one foot can be added to 18 Recall ability 12 Emphatic type: 54 Hunter the end of 18-, virtually an exact copy of the 20 Blew like Etna Abbr. constellation 23-, 51- and original film. The only thing 22 Black as night, 13 Fit to be tried 55 Plumbers’ 60-Across to form e.g. 19 Puppy’s barks problems a sort of set of note added is a romantic 23 Well-groomed 21 Succinct subplot between Phillip and guy 24 Orangutan, e.g. ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 26 __ XING: 25 Swedes’ his executive Yvonne (Nicole neighbors crosswalk sign Kidman, “Boy Erased”), 29 Kissing at the 27 Noteworthy mall, for short period a story so familiar that it 31 Actor Cumming 28 Removes, as a only serves to further the 32 __ rage: cork bodybuilder’s 30 Nowhere close feeling that this script was concern 33 Places to swim 33 H.S. junior’s 36 Geek’s cousin assembled from the pages of exam 37 Fodder storage other films. 34 Numerical prefix site with -pus 38 Hauls with effort That’s what “The Upside” 40 Japanese warrior 35 Self-affirming feels like more often than retort 42 “Right back __!”: 36 “Bye Bye Bye” “Me, too!” not. It’s not a bad movie. It’s band 43 Flashy promotion not a good movie. It’s a well37 Large political 45 Turn topsy-turvy spending gps. 46 Water-testing acted but deeply uninspired 39 Rice noodle digit soup 47 “__ With the 01/14/19 movie which tries for social Wind” relevance and falls flat on 48 Map app path: Abbr. its face. I’m not arguing 49 Cantina that every story has to be condiment 51 One making completely original, but a living in there are no surprises here. government, briefly We’ve seen it with “The 56 Small piano 59 Motivate Blind Side.” We’ve seen it 60 Knockout drink, with “Green Book.” Now we in old gangster movies see it with “The Upside.” If 63 Puma rival you can read the synopsis 64 Australian gem 65 So last year above and honestly say that 66 Cafeteria staffer you can’t predict beat-by67 Heredity carrier 68 “Some __ time”: beat where that story will go “Not now” and how it will eventually 69 RR stops: Abbr. end, then maybe you’ll find DOWN 1 Dressed like a some enjoyment here. But if judge you’ve seen any inspirational 2 Mozart work 3 Arrange in drama in the last twenty advance years, this will likely do very 4 Like singing sans By C.C. Burnikel 01/14/19 ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC instruments little for you. JEREMIAH VANDERHELM
‘The Upside’
Even the opening scene is virtually an exact copy of the original film.
ELI RALLO
Daily Arts Writer
After fifteen years on Broadway, “Wicked” has set out to make a change. Britney Johnson was recently cast as the first black Glinda in a Broadway production of “Wicked,” making history for the worldfamous musical. Despite the fact that the musical has had many people of color playing principal roles like Elphaba, Madame Morrible, Fiyero and Nessarose, the role of the Good Witch of the North has traditionally been held by a white actress. The beloved story took on an entirely different meaning with Johnson as the sparkly, ditzy and “popular” character, allowing the audience to see new rays of light in the story that previously went unnoticed. With Glinda as a person of color, there is a level of empathy between green Elphaba and the good witch that creates a greater semblance of similarity between the characters’ journeys. The musical follows themes of love, connection and kindness, preaching the message that strong female friendships are able to withstand divisions, animosity and feelings of otherness. Additionally, the span of Glinda’s character arc is greatly widened when we see her through this new lens, allowing her growth as a character to resonate more soundly with the audience. The audience certainly resonated with the newfound complexity of the character, with videos circulating on the internet showing audience members roaring with applause during Johnson’s first scene on stage where Glinda utters the perfectly fitting opening line: “It’s good to see me, isn’t it?” This reaction was born of excitement because Johnson made history as she f loated down from the blue skies of Oz in her glittery bubble, but from something deeper as well. The seeds for change and for a more diverse Broadway were planted on that celebrated Gershwin
stage this past weekend. Now those seeds must be nurtured by audiences, privileged actors, minority actors and creators alike to help them to grow. While musicals like “Hamilton” and “On Your Feet” created many roles for Latinx, Black and minority actors, it is still very rare to see minorities cast in traditionally white held roles on Broadway. Musical theatre seems to be on the trajectory towards a more inclusive reality and progress is being made on major stages, but it is by no means equal in any sense of the word. According to an Asian American Performers Action Coalition Ethnic Representation in New York Stages Report, in the 2015-2016 season 23 percent of Broadway roles were held by Black actors, 7 percent by Latinx actors, 4 percent by Asian American actors and all other minorities held 2 percent of roles. These statistics prove that while progress has been made in terms of more representation on the Broadway stage, there is still much to be done. The same report states 15.4 percent of all available roles were nontraditionally cast, a spike up from previous years but still a low figure. Every day, when minorities are cast into traditional, previously white cast roles, we take one step closer to finding a semblance of equality. But in order to continue this progress, all theatres, casting directors and producers need to be cognizant of the changes that are required to bring momentous stories like Johnson’s further away from anomaly and closer to the norm. Many recent Broadway
The musical follows themes of love, connection and kindness, preaching the message that strong female friendships are able to withstand divisions, animosity and feelings of otherness.
shows are working tirelessly on improving representation, which was seen in 2016 through the casting of African actress Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger in the stage adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Upon the casting announcement, many longtime Harry Potter fans expressed their disapproval of the decision. However, J. K. Rowling, author of the novel and play, made a statement on Twitter almost immediately, saying she never specified skin tone in her writing and “loves black Hermione.” Changing Hermione’s face for the stage adaptation provided a muchneeded layer of diversity to the whitewashed world presented in the “Harry Potter” films and adds a fascinating perspective that was previously not present in the story. Storytelling on the Broadway stage is evolving. However, we cannot simply call it quits and feel satisfied with the work put in to increase representation when we make marginal improvements. There is still work to be done. There are still widespread discrepancies in opportunities. When one Black Glinda breaks through the formerly padlocked door, we must honor her commitment, talent and perseverance. We must help hold the door open so that more minority actors can have the opportunity to hold non-traditional roles on commercial stages. We must help hold the door open so that the statistics can be raised to a more equal standard. Changing the narrative and the perspective of commonly known, traditional stories by way of increasing theatrical representation provides musicals and plays with the ability to transform beautifully without altering the script or scenario at all. Not only should we be casting minorities in non-traditional roles to increase representation, we should be giving minorities these opportunities because it makes the stories more beautiful, intricate and colorful. Providing depth to these roles and color to these characters transforms stories into a wider, more complete and more inclusive dimension. These actors are the beginning of a new Broadway: one where color is celebrated, triumphed and most of all, the standard.
These actors are the beginning of a new Broadway: one where color is celebrated, triumphed and most of all, the standard.
Arts
6A — Monday, January 14, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
DAILY LITERATURE COLUMN
MUSIC REVIEW
A playlist for every in between, finicky season LAURA DZUBAY
Daily Literature Columnist
HARD LUCK RECORDING COMPANY
‘After All’ is a thoughtful exploration of a breakup LAURA DZUBAY Daily Arts Writer
Country has a distinct sensibility, one capable of evoking specific landscapes and brands of sorrow, joy and attraction. In After All, Rob Baird directs this sensibility toward the emotional journey of a breakup. He follows the classic trajectory of other breakup albums of this ilk, tracing the stages from denial to despair to anger and betrayal to eventual resolve and acceptance. It’s a familiar path, so it’s saying something for Baird that After All still sounds completely fresh, original and genuinely heartfelt. A notable component of the album’s effectiveness is Baird’s skill as a lyricist, which is evident from the very beginning of the album. On the opening title track, Baird sings about the feeling that a relationship isn’t going to work out. He illustrates a sense of directionlessness and waning hope with lines about “All these long nights, all these street lights / [Bleeding] into the fog.” This sure-handed poeticism keeps up throughout the album, from contemplative songs like “I Tried” (“Everywhere I go it’s pouring rain / Shouldn’t have to
hold on to try to stay sane”) to help but relate to the notion of despairing tracks like “Burning love itself as one’s own happiness Blue” (“Like the desert rain / and contentedness, whatever Sunday silence / And the choices this might demand from another I’ve made”) and the eventual person. A large part of what makes resolution of “Best That I Was” (“Silver lake skies / Make no After All a skillful album is the way in which reason why”). Baird uses raw After All brims emotion as a with unbridled starting point, emotion, from the Rob Baird rather than guitar-riddled, imagery or classic electric streetHard Luck lyrical traditions. lamp alertness of Recording Country music “Losing Hands” Company — which, when and “Ain’t Going measured by its Back to You” to the masters, is truly hurt mingled with resignation in “Devil Woman a vast collection of variety, Blues.” Each song feels like its creativity and heart — is so often own pocket of a superficially pigeonholed as a story, totaling a genre defined by dusty roads, whole that looks dimly lit bars and pickup trucks. like a dream- Specific images and phrases, fueled road trip in other words, that are all too around America. easy to toss into a song under the The effect of thinly veiled guise of thoughtful the songs is that songwriting. But there is very little of this of driving past familiar scenery affectation in After All, as Baird and feeling like sets himself apart from some of something about these pitfalls using a masterful your relationship command of poetic devices as with it is shifting he himself defines them. He still before your eyes. orients his stories — because, This changing again, that is what each of the vision is the songs on After All is, a unified, crux of After All, emotional little story within exemplified in itself — around traveling open songs like “Give roads and wandering empty Me Back My streets. One gets the sense that Love,” which this journey for which he has lands somewhere invited us along is only one of between a plea many he’ll take, each of which from the former has its own kind of wisdom to lover and a impart. Amid these familiar desperate longing for a sense landscapes, Baird writes from his of love in general. When Baird experiences first, unconcerned sings, “Gonna pick me up some with figures outside of the unique silver lining / Gonna turn these relationship he is personally nickels into dimes,” and later, navigating, wandering those “Give me back my love,” one can’t empty streets as only he can.
‘After All’
Everywhere I have lived in my life, people have told me their state’s weather is uniquely unpredictable. As a result, I have come to think that weather is weird in general, and this principle doesn’t vary too much from state to state. But as a senior, I have now spent nearly four years in Ann Arbor, meaning four consecutive winters, which is the longest amount of consecutive winters I’ve really spent somewhere (excluding smaller visits) since I was very young. And of those four, this has to be honestly the strangest one yet. When I make poetry playlists, I often try to make them seasonal and relatable. I’ve done a Halloween one, a Valentine’s Day one, one for the end of the semester. I thought about doing something along those lines for this, the first poetry playlist of this winter semester, but the weather has been so strange lately that it’s been hard to land on a unified theme. It was unseasonably warm for unseasonably long, and now it’s cold again. It’s January, and yet it feels and looks like late fall (or early spring?). If I share a bunch of poems focused on the cold, I’m almost sure it will become warm again instantly, and vice
versa. In a way, maybe this is appropriate. It’s a new year — 2019! A new year is a time for changes, even really sudden ones or ones that we don’t immediately understand. As a result, I’ve decided to share three of my favorite poems that celebrate nature in all its seasons, and most of all that celebrate change. Seasonal changes are my favorite kind because they’re quiet, unsuspected and unassuming, very reliable (whatever we say about them) and often beautiful. This might sound cheesy, but it’s my final semester here, so I’m allowing myself to lean into the sentiment. Here’s to a new year; may we all be in the mindset to welcome whatever strangeness it brings. “Two Seasons” by Galway Kinnell Expertly straddling the line between fond reflection and self-aware, wistful presence, “Two Seasons” demonstrates Galway Kinnell’s talent for precision in language. His choices of words are not only meticulous, but also sonorous, with lines like “As on the low lake shore stood you and I” and “Saying you felt afraid but that you were / Weary of being mute and undefiled” contributing to a seamless overall portrait of love and mutual appreciation.
“Love’s Seasons” by Paul Laurence Dunbar Paul Laurence Dunbar is a master of rendering the natural world through language, and in “Love’s Seasons,” he maneuvers through the seasons of the year with an interesting choice of order (spring, winter, summer and then fall), devoting a stanza to each. The enduring sentiment of the poem is one of sure serenity in the face of change, as contentedness at its core is deep and true in every season. “Changing Of The Seasons” by Shel Silverstein “Changing Of The Seasons” is peculiar among these selections in that it is actually a song. I’m including it here nonetheless because it is still a poem and beautifully written, and because few people can dig straight to the heart of a feeling, especially a specific feeling, like serenity in the face of seasonal change, in quite the same way as Shel Silverstein. Between a few repetitions of the line, “It’s blowin’ in Chicago,” Silverstein remarks upon the peace that this natural phenomenon can bring: “There’s some men need the winter and there’s some men need the sun / And there’s some men need the changing of the seasons.”
TV NOTEBOOK
Baird sets himself apart from some of these pitfalls using a masterful command of poetic devices as he himself defines them.
FOX
‘That ’70s Show’ and the experience of the Midwest MAXWELL SCHWARZ For The Daily
To be from the upper Midwest is to be in a kind of bemused purgatory. Everything you say sounds like a question. People wonder if you’re Canadian, unless of course you’re also from up north, because then you know how real Canadians sound. Boredom is a state of mind you’ve never left. “That ’70s Show” is one of the best representations of Midwestern life ever aired on primetime television. Even the title operates a joke wherein, like the Midwest, it is not specific enough to convey something of significance, capturing the dismissive mirth that peppers our sense of humor. And out of its eight seasons, no episode captures our region’s sentiments, legends and troubled relationship with our northern neighbor as well as the 23rd episode of the third season, “Canadian Road Trip.” Firstly, a brief apology to all Canadians — the Midwest only jests. Contrary to the numerous jokes made at your expense, we find you Canadians quaint and charming. We are sorry though, and we want you to know that if
we were not already the laughing stock of the continental United States, we would probably go much easier on you. We simply adore you — your beavers, your maple syrup, your Inukshuks and Tim Hortons. We wouldn’t have you any other way, Canada. But I digress. In the infamous episode, Eric (Topher Grace, “BlacKkKlansman”) and the rest of his gaggle of guys head to Canada for beer. A seemingly simple task until Fez (Wilmer Valderrama, “NCIS”), a foreign exchange student, misplaces his green card. The guys attempt to smuggle him back across the border, to no avail. Before they know it, they have been turned over to the Mounties. As an upper Midwesterner, a trip to Canada is commonplace. I’ve crossed the St. Clair and Detroit, I’ve seen the hinterlands, yet everytime I’m faced with the same nasally clipped question: “What’s your business in Canada, eh?” Each of my experiences at the border have mirrored the experiences of Eric Forman and his friends — Mounties, drunk with power and holding baseless suspicions against Americans, making even the simplest checkpoint a production.
In fact the episode would be incomplete without the Mounties, who just as sternly in their encounters with me, grill Eric, Michael and Hyde on their attempt to smuggle Fez back into America. The entire exchange the guys have with the Mountie is accurate, the boys treating him as indifferently as someone your age attempting to assert an elder’s dominance over you. It’s the dumb tension of the Canadian border — in turn for our uniquely Midwestern impertinence towards everything Canadian, the Canadians only double down on their protections of their country. It is the perfect recreation of this tension that makes the episode so enjoyable to watch time and time again. Which brings attention to why these young rapscallions were in Canada to begin with. It can be summarized in the three profound words shouted by Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher, “The Ranch”): “Wooh! Canada! Beer!” If you are from the upper Midwest, since turning 19 you have likely been on at least one trip to Canada with the explicit purpose of attaining Canadian beer.
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SPORTSMONDAY
B
Annie Klus / Daily
MICHIGAN REACHES BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY BEHIND SIMPSON’S 24-5-4 PERFORMANCE
“I LOOK AT ZAVIER, AND I GOT AS GOOD A POINT GUARD AS THERE IS IN THE COUNTRY RUNNING OUR TEAM.” -JOHN BEILEIN See Gamer Page 4B
INSIDE SPORTSMONDAY
IN WAKE OF FAEHN HIRING AND FIRING, A DISCUSSION ON A BROADER ISSUE SportsMonday Column Page 2B
Design by Jack Silberman
U-M 80, NU 60: MICHIGAN MOVES TO 17-0
SportsMonday
2B — January 14, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Women’s athletics, and the attention we pay
I
had 345 words of an empowering column about the Michigan women’s gymnastics team written on Saturday morning. It all started when my roommates and I went to the Michigan LANEY Theatre FriBYLER day night to see “On the Basis of Sex.” About 20 minutes before the movie started, an older-looking woman and man walked in, with the man wearing a Michigan varsity jacket — so, naturally, I pried. “Did you play a sport at Michigan?” I asked. “About a million years ago,” he chuckled. “Men’s gymnastics.” Turns out his name is Christian Vanden Broek and he competed from 1965-67 — seasons that, he’ll tell you with a smile, included exhibition meets with international Russian teams that packed Crisler Center. I told him I’d only covered the men’s team once for The Daily but wrote about the women’s team pretty consistently my freshman year. He nodded his head. The popularity of the women’s team wasn’t news to him, and he didn’t seem to mind that. “Used to be the men would fill up Crisler — now they’re drawing 200 or 300 people at Cliff Keen while the women fill up Crisler.” As I watched Ruth Bader Ginsburg give a flooring speech to a trio of judges who tried to mansplain the three branches of government to her, memories from The Daily’s Women’s History Month series from last year kept popping up. At that time, so many coaches and athletes were excited to talk about how far the women’s teams at Michigan had
progressed, with gymnastics being one of them. I wanted to write a feature on that throughout the whole series. The women’s gymnastics team is not one of the best female teams at Michigan — it’s one of the best teams at Michigan, period. After talking to Vanden Broek, I felt like I finally had the perfect anecdote to write that. Then I opened Twitter. Rhonda Faehn had been hired as an assistant coach to replace Scott Vetere, who left Michigan after having an inappropriate relationship with a studentathlete. As can be expected, Faehn’s position with USA Gymnastics over the course of the last three years — particularly during the Larry Nassar scandal — spurred a significant amount of Twitter replies criticizing the program for its hire after Vetere’s departure. As I switched between tabs of frustrated comments and my 345 words of national championship titles and All-American women and Big Ten records, it felt like my column about women that helped emphasize a trend of female success in sports didn’t matter anymore. Especially after the University’s announcement that the athletic department ended its contract with Faehn on Sunday night, barely four days after her hire, all I could think about were scandalous situations that seemed to mar a history of success. Right now, the conversation seems to be based around
whether hiring Faehn was right or wrong — for me, that discussion seems to miss a broader point. When you hear about scandals in major football programs like Ohio State or Penn State, you also hear about the years and years of storied success that accompany those programs. Even amid a domestic violence case he was suspended for mishandling, announcers praised Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer for battling through “adversity” throughout the scandal. That’s because these teams’ athletic successes, no matter how small or big, can make headlines for weeks, or even months on end, engraving a predisposed way of thinking that involves greatness and respect. It primes a lack of accountability, using on-field success as an excuse for offfield, bureaucratic and administrative errors. I’m definitely not making the argument that the team’s hiring of Faehn should be excused because of its history of success — that’s a part of the problem with college athletic scandals and schools’ lack of accountability. But for women’s teams, all you hear are the controversies; an assistant coach crosses boundaries and a hire was made, and suddenly a group of young women are forced to rebuild a historic reputation they had fight to get noticed for in the first place. Those controversies stick. When you Google “Ohio State
I didn’t want this column to be about (Rhonda) Faehn
The women’s gymnastics team has done so much good.
football,” there isn’t a single word about domestic violence or Meyer mentioned anywhere on the first page of results just a few months out of the scandal. When you search “Michigan State gymnastics,” the entire front page, save for roster and schedule links, is centered around Nassar — completely scratching the program entirely. For Michigan, the past two major headlines have been the hiring of Faehn and the firing of Vetere — both very important topics for discussion, but not to the point that they need to completely dominate the image of the program. Accomplishments of these teams are so easily replaced with scandals, and unlike football programs, they suffer longer and harder for it. But the women’s gymnastics team has done so much good in relation to the reputation of women’s sports at Michigan, and whether Faehn is on staff or not, that shouldn’t be written off. You’ve got coach Bev Plocki redeveloping an almost nonexistent team from the ground up. You’ve got 14 women who somehow manage to flip through the air so well that they went into this weekend ranked sixth in the nation. You’ve got an alum of the men’s team who has absolutely no problem telling you that women fill up his team’s old stomping ground and not sounding even remotely contempt about it, all while waiting to watch a movie that chronicles a badass woman and her fight against laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. I didn’t want this column to be about Faehn, because I wanted it to be about a strong team of women who are advancing the culture of athletics at Michigan. If a guy in a movie theater can see that clearly, so can we. Byler can be reached at dbyler@umich.edu or on Twitter @laneybyler.
Rhonda Faehn’s
TENURE with Michigan January 10-13 Thursday, January 10 Michigan brings Rhonda Faehn onto its gymnastics staff, but does not issue an announcement.
Friday, January 11 Faehn is spotted coaching in Michigan’s meet in Tuscaloosa, Al. The program confirms to The Daily that Faehn has been hired by the gymnastics team.
Saturday, January 12 The Athletic Department announces it brought Faehn on as a “consultant in a coaching capacity.” The team website lists her as an assistant coach.
Sunday, January 13 Michigan regents call for termination of Faehn’c contract. Hours later, the Athletic Department announces an end to its “consulting relationship” with Faehn.
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
The Michigan women’s gymnastics team hired Rhonda Faehn as a consultant before firing Faehn four days later when U-M regents called for her termination.
SportsMonday
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
January 14, 2019 — 3B
WRESTLING
Parris leads ‘M’ to victory DANIEL DASH
Daily Sports Writer
Mason Parris arrived in Ann Arbor with big shoes to fill. After watching 2018 graduate Adam Coon compile a 116-15 career record, Michigan fans had astronomical expectations for Parris, their freshman heavyweight wrestler. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds, Coon was more than just a massive physical presence — he served as the icon of the program. His graduation left first-year coach Sean Bormet scrambling to replace the three-time All-American. Enter Parris. Hailing from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Parris stood out as the gem of Bormet’s first recruiting class. As the top heavyweight in FloWrestling’s 2018 rankings, Parris headlined the fifth-best incoming class in the country, per The Open Mat. Parris’ storied high school career — one that included a trio of Indiana state championships and a 206-1 cumulative record on top of four honor roll appearances — drew the attention of powerhouse programs across the country. Bormet originally planned on redshirting Parris this season to stretch his highly-anticipated collegiate career to an eventual fifth year. Most wrestlers — especially heavyweights — opt for this path under the assumption they’ll be more polished and muscular as a fifth-year senior than as a true freshman. Not Parris. Bormet had no qualms about unleashing the beast. “It’s a process we went through in the fall,” Bormet said. “We wanted to make sure we had a good chance to evaluate (Parris) physically, competitively and technically. We also wanted to measure what kind of improvement he’d make with each competition. We feel like he’s capable of reaching his goals this year.” Parris has learned the jump from high school to college is massive, as are his new opponents. “I have to adjust to wrestling the bigger guys,” Parris said. “I’ve taught myself to set up my shots more because I can’t just power through guys like I used to. Now that I’m wrestling guys bigger than me, I have to use my technique.” When it came time to shed the redshirt during the team’s recent West Coast trip, Parris took the mat against the NCAA’s No. 1 heavyweight, Oregon State’s Amar Dhesi. The unfamiliar venue, the mounting pressure of a college debut and a daunting matchup against the nation’s top-ranked heavyweight all pointed towards the likelihood of a first match to forget. Rather than caving in under the pressure, Parris displayed poise and maturity beyond his years. He dominated the match, winning 11-4, behind four takedowns and a riding-time advantage of 1:31. “(Parris) is really confident in his abilities and he loves to compete,” Bormet said. “I can see he really absorbs (information) just from watching his mental adjustments from one practice to the next. He raises his bar pretty quickly.” Parris hasn’t just raised the bar — he has redefined it. In his second match, he secured crucial bonus points by pinning Arizona State’s Brady Daniel to ignite the Wolverines’ 12-point comeback against the 23rd-ranked Sun Devils. Saturday’s match against No. 19 Illinois’ Deuce Rachal followed a similar script. In his home debut, Parris — who entered ranked No. 8 among heavyweights despite just two prior competitions — brought Crisler Center’s roaring crowd of 4,026 to its feet by pinning Rachal with an emphatic takedown at the 5:57 mark in the final match of the night. The thud of Parris’ pin put an resounding exclamation point on No. 6 Michigan’s 28-10 victory over the Illini, moving the Wolverines to 6-0 on the year. “The thing that sticks out about Mason most to me is that he’s fearless,” said redshirt junior Jackson Striggow. “He’s not afraid to let it fly out there — he tore up the number one kid in the nation with absolutely no fear. It’s really cool to see a kid so young be able to do that.”
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
Junior center Hallie Thome scored 25 points, leading the Wolverines in scoring, as Michigan fell to the ninth-ranked Terrapins in College Park on Saturday, moving to 2-3 in Big Ten play
Wolverines fall to ninth-ranked Terrapins, 83-69 ROHAN KUMAR Daily Sports Writer
Saturday afternoon in College Park, Md., the Michigan women’s basketball team faced its toughest opponent so far this season. Despite putting up a fight, the Wolverines (11-6 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) ultimately fell, 83-69, to No. 9 Maryland (15-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten). “So Maryland is a great basketball team — and especially at home,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico told reporters after the game. “And I thought we matched up with them exceptionally well until late in the game.” The first three quarters were even, and Michigan only trailed by one, 53-52, heading into the
fourth. In the final frame, though, the Terrapins took full control. It started with a successful jumper from forward Stephanie Jones. Freshman guard Amy Dilk got called for a foul on the play and Jones capitalized with the ensuing free throw. On its next three offensive possessions, Maryland converted a layup followed by 3-pointers from guards Blair Watson and Taylor Mikesell. All the while, the Terrapins’ fullblown defensive press hindered the Wolverines, fueling an 11-4 run for Maryland. Michigan trailed, 66-58, after Mikesell’s triple from the left wing and called a timeout. But
“... We matched up with them exceptionally well until late.”
in that timeout, the Wolverines couldn’t find an answer. Soon it was too late. The Terrapins’ shooting success continued. They shot close to 77 percent from the field in the fourth quarter to finish the game 32-for-61 from the field. Mikesell and Watson led the way and finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively. “We got tight and I think that we couldn’t get shots to fall,” Barnes Arico said. “We got some good looks. We didn’t shoot the ball exceptionally well. I mean, I go through all the stats here and we’re pretty much balanced in everything except for shooting percentage.”
To start the contest, Michigan’s defense came out hot. The Wolverines troubled Maryland into 10 turnovers in the first stanza, and this fueled a 17-4 run to give them a 21-14 lead heading into the second. But the Terrapins returned with an adequate response: 3-pointers. They soon made three triples to tie the game at 25. Their ball-control improved too as they finished the game with just five additional turnovers. “Their shooters had some open looks,” Barnes Arico said. “They made some great extra passes to find their shooters.” Senior center Hallie Thome excelled for her team to keep the game close. Whenever she got the
“(The Terrapins’) size, their length, disrupted us.”
ball early on, multiple defenders would swarm around her to make things difficult. However, she adjusted by employing quicker footwork and using her strength to her advantage. Thome led Michigan in scoring (25 points) and rebounding (10 rebounds). “She did a tremendous job,” Barnes Arico said. “Her shot was blocked a number of times. … She’s special, and Maryland’s defense really disrupted her but didn’t stop her.” Altogether, the Wolverines showed their skills on the big stage. The defense showed a lot of promise and the team won the rebounding battle as well. Against a top-10 team, though, it wasn’t quite enough. “They’re a tough matchup. Their size, their length, disrupted us. The way they blocked shots early on really disrupted us,” Barnes Arico said. “… But I think overall it was really a great basketball game.”
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Freshman Mason Parris pinned Illinois’ Deuce Rachal as the Wolverines topped the Illini.
ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily
Redshirt junior Logan Massa beat Joey Gunther by a 15-point margin, creating a technical fall.
Michigan beats Illini for sixth-straight win to start season LILY FRIEDMAN Daily Sports Writer
Heavyweight Mason Parris stepped onto the mat Saturday with eyes on him. After upsetting topranked heavyweight Amar Dhesi in his first match since Parris shed his redshirt, the true freshman settled into the starting position with the expectations and intrigue of every person in the Crisler Center. But no pressure, weight deficit or age difference could stop Parris from pinning Illinois fifth-year senior Deuce Rachal in a decisive win. “There’s definitely a
huge difference between high school and college wrestling,” Parris said. “I was hungry to go out and compete and was excited to do it.” Capped by Parris’ standout pin with one minute left in the third period, the No. 6 Michigan wrestling (6-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated the No. 19 Illinois (2-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten), 28-10, in a meet of gritty, low-scoring losses and one-sided, high-scoring matches for both teams. Starting with a tough loss in the 125-pound division, sophomore Drew Mattin, ranked 12th in his weight class, fell to 16th-ranked
Travis Piotrowski, failing to deliver a single takedown for the Wolverines. In the 141-pound weight class, redshirt sophomore Kanen Storr also fell short, falling 3-2 in a ranked matchup. Even with redshirt junior Stevan Micic’s major decision win in the 133pound weight class, the two ranked losses left Michigan losing 4-6 with momentum favoring Illinois. “We weren’t getting enough attacks off in the first period and weren’t giving ourselves enough chances to score,” said Michigan coach Sean Bormet. “The pace just wasn’t in our favor.”
After a series of close losses, fifth-year senior Malik Amine changed the pace, winning 3-0 in a defensive struggle at 149 pounds despite no takedown. Amine’s win made way for 157-pound Alec Panteleo, also a fifth-year veteran, to decisively beat Illinois’ Eric Barone, ranked two places behind him. Panteleo attributed his success in Saturday’s match to his discipline and drive to accomplish his goals in the program. Adding to Panteleo’s success, redshirt junior Logan Massa, ranked seventh in his weight class, trounced 16th-ranked Joey Gunther by a margin
of 15 points, creating a technical fall and turning the tide toward the Wolverines. Massa and Panteleo’s wins, with a clean 12-3 performance in the 174-pound division by redshirt junior Myles Amine, ranked third, upped the team score to 19-10 and widened Michigan’s lead from only one point to 13, an almost-clear sign of a win, even with early losses and redshirt freshman J.T. Correll’s defeat at 184 pounds to Illinois’ second-ranked Emery Parker. Correll filled in for redshirt freshman Jelani Embree, a standout early in the season who has been
sidelined for weeks with an undisclosed injury. To continue the Wolverines’ success and solidify their undefeated record, redshirt junior Jackson Striggow handily won his 197pound match, leading up to Parris’ debut in Ann Arbor. Coming out strong with an onslaught of takedowns in the first two periods, the freshman ended the first minute of the third up 14-3 and eventually pinned his opponent, earning an automatic fall, increasing the team score by six points and proving his presence as a college heavyweight even after starting the year as a redshirt.
SportsMonday
4B — January 14, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
BASKETBALL Michigan tops Northwestern, setting program MEN’S Simpson shoots, scores record with 17th-straight win to start season ARIA GERSON
THEO MACKIE
Daily Sports Writer
Last month, the Michigan basketball team went to Northwestern and unexpectedly encountered its toughest challenge of the season, escaping with a twopoint victory. That night, the Wildcats found success forcing the Wolverines’ less-heralded shooters — namely junior guard Zavier Simpson — to hit 3-pointers. On Sunday, Northwestern tried to revive that strategy. This time, Michigan responded with an 80-60 victory — its 17th in a row to start the season, a new program record. After the game, both coaches were asked what went differently for Simpson — and both came up with the same response. “The ball went in.” That was the only explanation necessary on Sunday night, as Simpson and junior center Jon Teske — both sub-30 percent 3-point shooters on the season — went a combined 8-of-15 from deep. “When you play them, you gotta figure out, ‘What are some things that you’re gonna live with?’ Because they space you so well, they’re really good at every position,” said Wildcats coach Chris Collins. “And we were gonna live with some Simpson threes and some Teske threes. And give those guys credit.” The Wolverines (17-0 overall, 6-0 Big Ten) opened the evening in the same fashion as they have throughout the season, using five inside baskets to open a quick 10-0 lead. But when Northwestern (10-7, 1-5) clawed back within two, the game turned weird, with Simpson hitting a three to break the mini-run. Then, with four minutes left
in the first half and Michigan protecting a 10-point lead, it took a turn nobody could have seen coming. Teske collected a pass from Simpson just beyond the 3-point line and — despite his 20.8 career percentage from deep — let go. It found bottom. Two minutes later, he let loose again, with the same result. So when Teske entered his shooting motion on Michigan’s next possession, every corner of a sold-out Crisler Center rose to its feet in anticipation. Yet again, the junior center delivered, putting the Wolverines up 18 and blowing the roof off the building. Teske’s last three put the finishing touch on a threeminute span in which he singlehandedly outscored the listless
Wildcats 11-2, effectively ending any hopes they had at a comeback before half time. “It was awesome,” Teske said. “Got the crowd going. … When we get a little roll like that, it’s kinda hard to stop.” Teske’s 3-point barrage helped extend Michigan’s lead to 50-28 before a sluggish start to the second period allowed Northwestern to draw back within 13 with 10:47 to play. But each time the Wildcats threatened to make it a game, the Wolverines responded with ease. First, redshirt junior Charles Matthews drove along the baseline, emphatically dunking over Miller Kopp, and ending a nearly three-minute scoring drought. Then, it was Simpson’s turn, as he hit three deep balls
“When we get a little roll like that, it’s kinda hard to stop.”
in five minutes to stretch a 14-point lead into a 24-point rout with four minutes to play. “A 20-point lead can become a 13-point lead like that,” said Michigan coach John Beilein, snapping his fingers. “Even if you get good shots, it can become like that. And so, if you have good defense, and you learn from those mistakes — and we had some mistakes — and don’t do it again, eventually they’ll miss and you’ll be able to go out and make them. “And obviously, Zavier made all those plays. That’s where all our scoring was.” And just like that, the Wolverines have their best start in program history. Beilein doesn’t put much weight in such records — when he returned to the locker room after Sunday’s game, his first move was to update his team’s Big Ten record to 6-0. Eventually, though, the overall record followed suit. For the first time ever, it read, ‘17-0.’
ANNIE KLUS/Daily
Junior guard Zavier Simpson scored a career-high 24 points as Michigan beat Northwestern 80-60 on Sunday.
Daily Sports Writer
Last month in Evanston and again Sunday night, Zavier Simpson watched from the bench as his team closed out the final minutes of a victory. Back in December, it was a condemnation, a weakness that had caught up to him. Northwestern left the junior guard open for three, knowing his shooting numbers were low and hoping to clog the lane to slow the offense. It worked. Simpson went 0-for5 from deep before being pulled with 6:24 remaining. Sophomore guard Eli Brooks ran the offense the rest of the way as the Michigan men’s basketball team pulled out a 62-60 nail-biter. Sunday was a completely different story. Simpson left triumphant, an affront avenged. He had just made his fifth trey of the game. The Wolverines were up 20 points. It was time for the freshmen and walk-ons to ice the 80-60 victory. His 3-pointer was a dagger, in more ways than one. “(The first Northwestern game) was the first time anybody played that way and it sort of shocked him a little bit,” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “ … He wasn’t as patient and he’s such a competitor. He saw that as a personal affront to his ability.” From the beginning, it was clear that the Wildcats were sticking with their strategy. Sixand-a-half minutes into the game, Northwestern left Simpson wide open from beyond the arc, leaving everyone else blocked. And even though it hadn’t worked last time, even though the whole team had shot terribly in Saturday’s practice, Simpson did the only thing there was to do: shoot the ball. Clank. Junior center Jon Teske was waiting under the basket for the rebound. The ball came right back to Simpson.
Clank. Beilein decided it was time to intervene. “Settle down, now,” Beilein prepared to say. “You’re gonna shoot it when you go back in. Just settle down.” Then, Simpson was open again. He shot again. Swish. The basket was called back due to a Wildcat foul, but it didn’t matter. In that moment, Beilein knew that Simpson was going to be just fine. Thirty seconds later, Simpson fired again from beyond the arc. Swish. This time, it counted. “I just had to keep shooting,” Simpson said. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t drop the right way. I felt like they was gonna do the strategy because it worked last time, so what team wouldn’t? Again, I just have to do the things I’ve been doing, which is stay confident.” Northwestern kept leaving him open. After all, what else was there to do? The Wildcats were down big — 22 points at halftime — and if they put a man on Simpson, it would be someone else who’d run up the score. It had worked before, and Northwestern had to bet on regression. For Simpson, it was a taunt. A dare. He added one more three before halftime, then went relatively quiet. But he wasn’t done. Twelve minutes into the second half, Simpson stole the ball off a bad pass and hit another three. Then, with four minutes left, the final blow. He finished with 24 points, a career high. His 5-for-10 from deep wasn’t just a personal record for makes — it was a record for attempts, too. After the game, Simpson was asked what he was thinking out there on the floor. He responded instantly. “Shoot another one, make it,” Simpson said. “Simple as that.”
Series Split
With their season on the line, Wolverines beat Buckeyes on Friday night, 2-1, before losing 4-2 in Saturday’s matchup BAILEY JOHNSON Daily Sports Writer
COLUMBUS — For a moment, it looked like the first goal of Jimmy Lambert’s Michigan hockey career might be a gamewinner. The freshman forward capitalized on an opportunity while goaltender Tommy Nappier was out of position. He fired a shot from the right circle that went through Nappier’s legs, and the Wolverines (8-9-6 overall, 4-5-42 Big Ten) took a 2-1 lead on No. 4 Ohio State in the third period. But just 28 seconds later, the Buckeyes (13-5-4, 6-3-3-2) tied it up at the other end of the ice when defenseman Wyatt Ege found twine for his first tally of the season. Ohio State would go on to win, 4-2. “Obviously, Lambert scoring his first goal was awesome for him and it comes at a critical period,” said freshman forward Garrett van Wyhe. “(Then) they came back and scored next shift. It kind of gets everyone down, but we had good leadership. (Senior defenseman) Nick Boka trying to cheer us all up and stuff like that, stay even-keeled. Obviously, hockey’s kind of a game of mistakes, and we ended up kind of letting them go there.” And just a few minutes after that, the Buckeyes put themselves in the lead on a goal from forward Quinn Preston that slipped through junior goaltender Hayden Lavigne’s pads. Michigan pulled Lavigne with just over two minutes to play and nearly tied the game on a shot from junior forward Will Lockwood that caught the left post of the net. “There’s a reason they’re one of the top teams in the country; they don’t let you get to the net very much,” said Michigan coach Mel Pearson. “I thought they did a good job of that all weekend. We really had to work hard to generate our scoring opportunities. Even tonight, with the goalie out, Will Lockwood has a wide-open net and hits the post. That’s how close it is.” The opening stanza of the
game came and went with little intrigue. Neither team truly threatened to score, and both Lavigne and Nappier held strong for their teams. But in the second period, for the second straight night, the Wolverines were at a two-man disadvantage. In Friday night’s game, Michigan got called for two penalties at the same time, giving the Buckeyes a two-man advantage. The Wolverines were able to kill off the entirety of both penalties and prevent Ohio State from scoring. On Saturday, Michigan once again were down five-on-three after Boka was whistled for hooking and sophomore forward Dakota Raabe was also whistled for hooking 41 seconds later. And this time, the Wolverines couldn’t stop the Buckeyes. Forward Tanner Laczynski fired a shot from just inside the left circle that Lavigne didn’t have a prayer of stopping. Just as it did Friday, Ohio State struck first. “I thought we played a really
solid game defensively,” Pearson said. “Had good goaltending. It came down to a couple breaks tonight a couple poor plays on our part, good plays on their part.” Just over four minutes later, Michigan tied the game with its first power play goal since Dec. 31 against Michigan State. Sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes slipped through the slot in front of Nappier and found Lockwood coming down the left wing out of the corner of his eye. One quick pass from Hughes and a one-timer from Lockwood later, the game was even at one goal apiece. The Wolverines didn’t lead the game until the third period, but it was a short-lived lead as the Buckeyes quickly pulled ahead and gained a lead they would not relinquish, despite how close Lockwood came to evening things up. “I feel a little bit bad for our guys,” Pearson said. “They deserve better this weekend, but that’s sports and that’s where we are.”
RIAN RATNAVALE Daily Sports Writer
COLUMBUS — With an outstretched skate and some faceoff grit, freshmen defenseman Nick Blankenburg and forward Garrett Van Wyhe proved in Michigan hockey’s series split at Ohio State that they’re here to stay. It’s not hyperbole to say that the Wolverines had their backs against the wall coming into this weekend’s series. They were missing sophomore forward Josh Norris due to an undisclosed injury, needed some kind of momentum after losing to 52nd-ranked Merrimack and faced a fourth-ranked Buckeyes team that had 14 active upperclassmen but no freshmen. Rather than folding to the pressure though, Michigan’s own freshmen were largely responsible for holding Ohio State to 16 fewer shots per game in the series than its season average, and putting pressure on an experienced blue line.
“We have a lot of growth,” said Wolverines coach Mel Pearson. “I mention that a lot, and I’m going to continue to talk about it. This team has a lot of room for growth, and I think you’re going to see it as the season progresses.” Early on in Friday’s game, Blankenburg found himself sandwiched in a 2-on-1 oddman rush deep in the defensive zone, with nothing but an empty zone between him and Michigan goaltender Hayden Lavigne. Just minutes before, the Wolverines allowed Ohio State forward Carson Meyer to score because they committed too much to one player in a passing lane, allowing Meyer to tip in a goal on the ensuing pass. As the two Ohio State players bounced the puck between each other, Blankenburg, unlike what
“(Van Wyhe is) coming into his own this second half.”
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Freshman forward Garrett Van Wyhe had seven shots on goal as Michigan’s freshmen helped the Wolverines split their series with No. 4 Ohio State.
Michigan did on the last goal, played the middle of the passing lane. Almost without thinking, the freshman intercepted the puck with an outstretched right skate. Making decisions like that naturally takes time for younger players, but perhaps that time has come for Blankenburg. And in the absence of Norris, that time might just be here for Van Wyhe too. Though he’s usually on the Wolverines’ fourth line, he’s found a niche as one of Michigan’s best players for faceoffs and hasn’t been someone that the Buckeyes and opposing teams can dismiss for his linemates. Van Wyhe’s seven shots on goal this series — many of which were inches from finding the back of the net — and his 16-28 line on faceoffs showcase his current ability. “How good is he?” Pearson said with a touch of excitement. “He’s really matured. I mean, he’s coming into his own this second half. He had a couple good scoring chances and he’s going to score some goals. We have the confidence as a staff to play him against anybody. Team’s top lines, no issue, he’s over the boards. That’s quite a feat for a young player.” For Michigan to return to last year’s form, relying on players like Van Wyhe and Blankenburg, not to mention freshman goaltender Strauss Mann, has become the norm as opposed to the exception. They don’t need to be Norris or sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes right away, but as Pearson said, it’s important that the team can trust the freshmen against any line in any arena. “When they’re juniors and seniors, they’ll be like some of their guys who are juniors and seniors. And that’s another thing. We came and played against a whole different stronger, experienced team, and I thought we held our own … that’s encouraging going forward.”