Thursday, May 9, 2019
inside NEWS
2020
Democratic presidential candidates make campaign stops in Detroit >> SEE PAGE 3
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Commencement speakers reflect on time at ‘U’, future ambitions
OPINION
Community Affairs
Local school grapples with accusations of sexual assault Community High students talk complaints of mishandled cases, Title IX investigation
Addressing housing Anik Joshi examines the lack of affordable housing in Ann Arbor >> SEE PAGE 4
CLAIRE HAO & SAMANTHA SMALL Summer News Editors
ARTS
Rico Nasty is in the kitchen Cooking up craziness with Kenny Beats on new mixtape >> SEE PAGE 7
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
My commencement speech “I want to reiterate how resillient our community and each one of you are.”
michigandaily.com
>> SEE PAGE 9
SPORTS
Big 10 tournament Softball team kicks of play as top seed in bracket on Friday >> SEE PAGE 11
INDEX Vol. CXXIX, No. 108 © 2019 The Michigan Daily
NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ............................... 4 ARTS/NEWS..........................6 MiC......................................... 9 SPORTS................................ 10
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
Governor Gretchen Whitmer deliver the commecement address at Michigan Stadium Saturday morning.
Community, guests celebrate at Michigan Stadium on Saturday BARBARA COLLINS & ALEX HARRING
Summer Managing News Editors
Students, parents, faculty and guests filled Michigan Stadium Saturday morning for the annual University of Michigan Commencement ceremony. The event celebrated graduating students and featured Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as the commencement speaker. LSA Interim Dean Elizabeth Cole said in her speech that graduates have abilities which are not yet known to them but should not be afraid to utilize them when the time comes. As an alum herself, Cole said she understands how attending the University prepares students for the world and is inspired by its history of student
activism. “My wish for you, the class of 2019, is to recognize your power,” Cole said. “You have everything you need to face the challenges of your time.” LSA senior Avi Sholkoff, one of four student speakers, said he first came to campus unsure if he would fit in and if Ann Arbor was right for him. However, he found communities, and said he leaves the University knowing it was for him. Sholkoff focused his speech around destigmatizing the mental health problems that can come with college life. He said these issues are often not talked about, but he wanted attendees to know it is a real issue and to recognize the importance of mental health awareness. “Michigan became the first place where I realized feelings of anxiety and loneliness are truly OK,” Sholkoff said. “To anyone hearing this: know that you are not alone and you matter.” Engineering senior Bassal Salka shared his experience at the University as a Muslim. He
discussed the people he met as well as his own involvement at the University. “When we reflect on our time at U-M, we think of skills learned or goals achieved,” Salka said. “These successes tell only half the story. Equally important are the variety of experiences and resulting emotions that have built our character, shaped our ambitions and produced lifelong friendships.” Public Policy senior Yvonne Navarrete said the lessons she has learned through her parents, her Detroit community and her time at the University have helped her confront fear with courage. Navarrete founded La Casa, a Latinx student organization, at the University with other student leaders. “I was uncertain and afraid when I first applied to this prestigious University as an undocumented student,” Navarrete said. “I didn’t know if I would be accepted, wanted or able to afford the ‘Michigan Difference.’”
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On the morning of April 25, Jenny Hannibal, parent of a Community High School student, filed a Title IX complaint to the Office of Civil Rights, alleging Ann Arbor Public Schools mishandled at least a dozen cases of sexual misconduct, including a rape on campus by an expelled student. Hannibal later withdrew her statement due to factual inaccuracies but plans to re-file a revised version. A previously scheduled parent meeting at Community High School conducted by AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift commenced just 20 minutes after the withdrawl of the statement. In the initial complaint, Hannibal claimed Community High School regularly failed to properly file Title IX documentation forms. The complaint also accused the school of neglecting to notify the police in multiple cases of sexual assault and the victim’s parents in at least one incident of sexual assault. Hannibal mentioned Michigan’s mandated reporting laws, which require mandatory reporters, such as school administrators and teachers, to disclose suspected child abuse and neglect to the police. In addition, the complaint alleged that Community High School Dean, Marci Tuzinsky, discouraged staff members from reporting alleged assaults and even threatened to transfer a teacher who attempted to notify Paul DeAngelis, AAPS executive director of high school education and Title IX coordinator.
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2 NEWS
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
City Council talks oversight, Superfund Council reviews commission makeup, EPA collaboration LEAH GRAHAM Daily News Editor
The Ann Arbor City Council discussed involving the Environmental Protection Agency in cleaning up the Gelman dioxane plume as well as altering the makeup of the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission at a meeting on Monday. City Council moved to replace Councilmember Zachary Ackerman, D-Ward 3, with Councilmember Ali Ramlawi, D-Ward 5, as one of the body’s two liaisons to the ICPOC. Calls for a police oversight commission became more prominent following the 2014 shooting death of resident Aura Rosser at the hands of Ann Arbor police officers, and City Council adopted an ordinance in October establishing the ICPOC after months of debate and Sudoku Syndication controversy.
Ramlawi, who is one of City Council’s liaisons to the Human Rights Commission, said the success of the commission was important to him. “I felt that in the current state of affairs, it would strengthen the commission and also would tie the two commissions in our city — the Human Rights Commission and the Police Oversight Commission — in a way that would allow for more communication between the transition and for the newly formed body to do its work,” Ramlawi said. Ramlawi noted an argument made by a resident during public comment that he would be better suited to sit on the ICPOC than Ackerman, who is white. “This is a great personal interest of mine,” Ramlawi said. “I was referred to as a person of color earlier. It is true, I identify with being a minority, being Palestinian, but born and raised in this country, I do have a great empathy for people who get the raw end of the stick.”
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ALEC COHEN / Daily
University president Mark Schlissel discusses various events and issues on campus with The Michigan Daily in the Fleming Administration Building Monday.
Schlissel: Advocacy “important” to ‘U’ ‘U’ president reflects on school year, looks ahead
advocacy by student groups like BBUM, like La Casa is really important for the University. It helps us understand better how all different types of students are experiencing the campus. It helps us identify students that we can try to work together with to figure out BARBARA COLLINS & ALEX HARRING the best way forward, and I think Summer Managing News Editors the new Trotter is a great example http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ of that. So, students from BBUM, Each month, The Michigan Daily but also from many other groups, sits down with University President were part of discussions that led Mark Schlissel to discuss events to the design of what turned out and issues on campus. During this to be an absolutely spectacular month’s interview, Schlissel touched project …. The BBUM demands on topics related to minority inclusion preceded my arrival on campus on campus, emergency preparedness, but provoked what continue to One University, carbon neutrality be ongoing discussions between representatives of my office, the efforts and future goals. The Michigan Daily: The Vice President for Student Life development of the new Trotter Royster Harper, the Dean of the Center on State Street was one of college Laura Blake Jones and seven demands listed by #BBUM others about how best to serve all in 2013. While many students different types of students on the voiced their appreciation for the campus. Demands are particularly center, there was also criticism for the lack of fulfillment in regards difficult; it’s not really an opening to the other demands. In addition for discussion, it’s a demand. I to BSU’s requests, La Casa also think where things work the best released a list of demands for is where students who feel strongly the University in terms of hiring about things express their strength practices, spaces and more. What of feelings, then — as in the case does the fact that certain student of Trotter — are willing to work groups need to release demands together to actualize a solution. to the University say about the We don’t have the capacity to overall campus climate? How does do everything that every group the University plan to continue demands of us, but we do have the meeting the needs of marginalized capacity to meet with every group communities? Are any of the other on an ongoing basis. demands from either BSU or La Casa being addressed? If so, how? Read more at MichiganDaily.com Mark Schlissel: I think the
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Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS 3
Presidential candidates stump in Detroit Kamala Harris highlights need for systematic reform, speaking ‘truth’ to 10,000 at NAACP fundraiser ALEX HARRING
Summer Managing News Editor
RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Daily News Editor
Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., gave the keynote address to a crowd of 10,000 people at the 64th annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Dinner at the Cobo Conference Center in Detroit Sunday evening. The Detroit branch of the NAACP is the largest in the nation. Harris is one of over 20 people running for the Democratic nomination. According to CNN, Former Vice President Joe Biden is currently leading election opinion polls, while Harris is polling at 5 percent. Before being elected to the U.S. Congress, Harris served as the Attorney General of California and the District Attorney of San Francisco. The NAACP hosted a press conference before the dinner began. At the press conference, President of the Detroit NAACP Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony said the stakes are too high in the upcoming election to not participate. “We must be counted … the stakes are too great to sit this out,” Anthony said. “What’s riding on the election is our lives, our freedom.” Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., echoed these sentiments later in the evening. He also emphasized the importance of the Census as well as the 2020 election, in which he will be running for re-election. “I will tell you there are some people in this country who don’t want you counted,” Peters said. “They don’t want your voice heard.” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she will serve as a partner to Michigan in providing more opportunities for college and work advancement. She said the NAACP is a bedrock in the state. “The true infrastructure in our state that we need to
address is the lack of opportunity,” Whitmer said. “You not only have a seat at the table, but you have a partner in me.” After the press conference, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said the NAACP has played a major role in fighting for equal rights in America.
tice Award. Amanda Alexander, executive director of the Detroit Justice Center, and Darryl Woods Sr., former prison branch president at Ryan Correctional Facility, were both given the Great Expectations Award. Akon said African Americans should attempt to adjust the way they view their own
Andrew Yang discusses Universal Basic Income, beating Trump to crowd of 300 at Detroit Shipping Company RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Daily News Editor
Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and 2020 presidential candidate, hosted a campaign rally Saturday evening at the Detroit Shipping Company food hall in the Cass Corridor neighborhood of Detroit. About 300 people attended
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Scott said climate change is always his primary concern, but Yang’s policy proposal of Universal Basic Income, which would give Americans over the age of 18 years old $1,000 per month, has become an important policy idea for him. “Climate change is number one, always,” Scott said.
Courtesy of Rachel Cunningham
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., talks about fighting for justice as part of her keynote address at the Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner Sunday.
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang speaks at a campaign rally at the Detroit Shiping Company food hall Saturday.
“I’ve been coming to this dinner for a long time, and the NAACP has played a critical role for decades in fighting for civil rights and equal opportunity for all,” Dingell said. “I was really in the trenches when we fought for affirmative action at the University of Michigan. The people who are a part of this organization are good people that I am proud to work with.” Additional Michigan politicians in attendance included Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Sen. Debbie Stabenow. After the press conference, guests came together for dinner and remarks from winners of various awards. Dr. Charles Adams, pastor of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, was given the James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award. Musician and philanthropist Akon received the Freedom & Jus-
the rally to hear Yang’s policy ideas and strategy for winning the Democratic nomination. Yang is one of more than 20 democrats running for the nomination, which includes Former Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.; Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt. and many more. Detroit resident Nicholas Scott told The Daily prior to the event Yang is his first choice in this election cycle. “He’s the only candidate with a lot of policy positions I absolutely agree with and even some policy positions I don’t even know about, and I hear him talk about (them) and I think ‘Of course,’” Scott said. “The other day, I saw his appearance on something and they asked him about pennies and how he wants to get rid of the penny because it’s bad for the environment and worthless. I never thought about the penny and I thought ‘Jesus, we need to make this man president.’”
identities. “There’s no reason to have an African American,” Akon said. “You’re just an African in America.” Harris then began her keynote address to the crowd. She began by saying America’s political system needs to be reformed to better represent the everyday citizen. “The system is in need of reform, so let’s have people on the inside prepared to use their power to open doors and prepared to implement the agenda to make the system more fair and just,” Harris said. “That is what I have done from the first day I walked into the San Francisco (District Attorney’s) office, from the first day I walked into the California (Attorney General’s) office, from the first day I walked into the U.S. Senate, and that is what I will do the first day I walk into the Oval Office.”
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“After that, maybe UBI. UBI fixes so much about welfare, and it’s politically popular on both sides of the aisle which is incredible for a welfare safety net program.” Paul Bartlett, founder of Yang’s Metro Detroit campaign office, introduced Yang to the crowd. He got involved with Yang’s campaign after listening to a podcast Yang was featured on. He said he was amazed by the number of policy ideas he found on Yang’s website. “When I first saw him, he had 70 policies on his campaign page,” Bartlett said. “By the time I looked around, he had 75. He now has over 100 policies on that page.” Yang was then introduced onto the stage. Yang said he has been visiting Detroit each year for the past eight years and is astonished with the revitalization Detroit is experiencing. “I came here in 2010 or 2011 when the bankruptcy was just on, and the city has just got-
ten better and better and more and more vibrant thanks to people exactly like you,” Yang said. Yang began by stating he is not a career politician, but an entrepreneur and a problem solver. He said he wants to solve what he thinks the problem is regarding the election of President Donald Trump. “The real answer is Donald Trump is our president today because we automated away four million manufacturing jobs in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa,” Yang said. “If all of those states sound familiar, those are all the states that Donald Trump needed to win and did win.” Yang said he believes Trump’s message was particularly resonant with people who lost their jobs due to automation, and that’s why Trump was successful in those states. Trump said automation hit Detroit especially hard because of its heavy manufacturing industry. “This town is very much the ground zero for the automation of jobs,” Yang said. Yang credited some of this job loss to the expansion of Amazon and, he believes, for not paying their fair share in income tax. “Amazon somehow paid less in taxes than each of you,” Yang said. Yang went on to explain his idea of the Freedom Dividend, which is Universal Basic Income of $1,000 per month to every American adult. “The first time you heard that, I know what you thought,” Yang said. “I know you thought ‘Haha, that’s a bit of a gimmick. There’s an Asian man running for president who wants to give everyone $1,000 a month.’ But if you dig into our history, you find that this Universal Basic Income has actually been a part of our country’s DNA from the very beginning.”
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4 OPINION
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ANNE ELSE | COLUMN
Community voices inspire action
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ANIK JOSHI | COLUMN
T
Addressing the housing crisis
oday, a number of places suffer from a lack of housing being built. My home, the Bay Area, and my adopted home, Ann Arbor, have seen increases in the demand for affordable housing without a corresponding increase in the supply. What has happened as a result is unsustainable. MLive reports that from 2015 to July 2018, “Ann Arbor has added 50 new affordable housing units. The goal was to have 420 new units by the end of the year.” The lack of housing in Ann Arbor also has another effect, which is that Ypsilanti ends up being the de facto housing bank. This will not work in the long-term, as Ypsilanti will eventually run out of housing as well, and then what? Policy that could be utilized to address this issue is building more housing while radically “up-zoning” much of Washtenaw County. Most students have enrolled in some kind of introductory economics course and/or understand that the downward sloping demand line will meet the upward sloping supply line at a certain point, what we in the biz call “equilibrium.” This specific case of disequilibrium represents an excess demand, and the easiest way to rectify this would be to simply build more housing — especially affordable housing. However, there is a bit of a catch-22. While this would be an easy way to address the problem in theory, in practice it gets much harder. Building housing does not tend to be terrifically popular with those who already own property in the area, because
they assume that more housing would drop their property values. A fundamental issue is that everyone feels they must have a backyard and picket fence, and this only happens via exclusionary zoning that favors single-family homes.
There needs to be federal policies put into place to ease the pressure of housing. When cities had less people, that idea worked because fewer people needed housing; today, that is not the case. Ann Arbor’s choice to downzone neighborhoods while suffering from a lack of affordable housing represents a rare policy that both looks bad now and will age poorly — truly a parable for our times. In fact, the exact opposite of this should and needs to be done. People cannot all live in single-family homes. However, there is nothing wrong with much more liberalized regulations on housing. Japan did it and ended up with incredibly affordable cities. As a result, Tokyo is a great place to live. Japan’s policies also offer a bit of a cautionary tale about how much local government can really do. According to Market Urbanism, there are three main reasons that Japan was able to
create the housing market they have today. First, housing was less of an investment in Japan. Second, public services are not administered at the local level in Japan. And third, the review process to build housing in the U.S. is different than it is in Japan, as deference is given to local special interests. All of these explanations point in one direction, and it is not a positive one for fans of incredibly localized government. It demonstrates that cities will not be able to act alone to address this crisis and there needs to be federal policies put into place to ease the pressure of housing. In the U.S., a house is the biggest asset many people own. From this point of view, it makes sense they would fight attempts to lower that value, but that does not mean it is sound policy. In addition to this, where students live determines what school they can go to from kindergarten through 12th grade, and this is usually funded by property taxes. By building more housing, it is likely that there would be more students, something that should generate more support than it has. This illustrates that there is a limit to local control. If there is continued demonstration of an inability to solve this problem by slashing more zoning regulations or using tax credits, then there is no choice but for higher levels of government to step in and take a more active role. This should not be a first choice, but at a certain point if the local government is unable to address the problem, something Anik Joshi can be reached at anikj@umich.edu.
S
ustainability has become an important topic on every level. There are large-scale patterns of pollution and damage to the Earth that will have lasting effects on generations to come unless adjustments are made. With these looming causes of climate change that are often created by powerful corporations or governmental policies, the sentiment that individuals have little power in what is happening to our planet can arise. I have heard people state that there first needs to be big systematic alterations to help the issue before they need to worry about their own carbon footprint. While it is definitely true that systematic dynamics need to be changed at wide-reaching levels, it is also important to include the individual’s journey towards being eco-friendly and conscious about what we put into the world. Increased awareness of and education about sustainabile options in daily life can hopefully expand the demographics of eco-conscious people. At a local level, students at the University of Michigan have a wide array of resources for environmental education and action. Through Planet Blue, students can become ambassadors through a simple process of watching informative videos about distinguished categories such as energy, food, water and community. If students utilized this opportunity, the amount of environmentally aware people would rise substantially. As described in Planet Blue’s community training portion, it is beneficial to raise the enthusiasm and accessibility of sustainable practices and events in order to get people involved. Many people, whether they be students or not, struggle with consistent engagement in eco-friendly actions in the community due to busy schedules or inaccessibility. With the University, we must work to make it easier for the community to join eco-friendly programs and educate others on how to care for the environment. These types of programs and access to education will allow for open conversations about sustainability in personal and academic life. Through raising our own voices to the leaders
of our school, we can hopefully enact some change in the way the University deals with environmental policies and decisions. On March 15, our campus participated in the Global Climate Strike. A multitude of ages and voices came to support the cause. Open protests such as this are a way for any individual to express their support for what they believe is right for the future of our planet. Without sharing personal viewpoints, the passion for action will never be heard by mega-corporations or elected officials. After the strike, several protesters turned this passion into a legitimate call for change and went to strike at the Fleming Administration Building on campus. They tried to create an open dialogue with President Mark Schlissel and expose the University’s stance on climate change policies and carbon neutrality. Currently, the University has not established clear efforts in the way of environmental procedures. Other Big Ten schools are surpassing our less than successful commitment to cleaner energy and awareness. Engineering junior Dhruv Tatke explained the necessary action the University must take in the face of clear environmental changes and dangers. “We need the University to commit to a true and just transition to carbon neutrality by 2030, including immediate divestment from fossil fuels. This goal, that has been chosen by a group of students who have been helping to coordinate the Climate Action Movement on and off campus, keeps with the IPCC Report which requires that the world needs to cut its emissions by 40 percent by 2030 if we are to keep the planet from warming 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures. As a center of wealth and privilege, it is imperative that the University is a leader in this effort.” This protest resulted in student sit-ins, which Tatke helped organize, to make these ideas reality.
Read more at MichiganDaily.com Anne Else can be reached at aelse@umich.edu.
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SAMANTHA DELLA FERA | COLUMN
OLIVIA TURANO | COLUMN
Another shooting. I can’t say I’m surprised
I
n America, shootings have become part of the news cycle. There is a breaking news alert, followed by an outpouring of support, condolences and appeals for stricter gun policy. We continue to hear about it as the media gains more information on the event — the victims, the shooter, the town where it happened. We sometimes hear from the victims directly. But then, like all things, it eventually dwindles. And with each gutwrenching, breaking news alert, we slowly adjust to a world in which this is normal. Today is the 129th day of 2019 and, already, 132 mass shootings where four or more people were shot have occurred in America this year. Despite the value of each unique human life and each unique circumstance, shootings occur in America so often that, with every bullet and every life lost, we become increasingly desensitized to the appalling acts of hate that plague our nation with increasing frequency. On April 27, 2019, a shooting occurred at a synagogue in Poway, California, where worshippers gathered on the last day of Passover. Three people were injured and one woman was killed — Lori Gilbert Kaye, who was shot as she prepared to say the traditional prayer for her late mother. Any loss of life or intentionally inflicted harm is tragic, but even more so when motivated by intolerance and hate. As I have observed the ebb and flow of gun terror and hate crimes in America, I’ve noticed a pattern in how people react. More often than not, when people post on social media or speak out about one of these events, it is when their identity is the one that is attacked. While I have never been religious, the Jewish identity I inherited from my mother’s family is something that will always be a part of me. The history of anti-Semitism is long and violent with Jews being discriminated against, displaced, targeted and even killed. Even though I am not religious, even though my father is not Jewish, it would not make a difference in the eyes an anti-Semite. For the shooter of the Chabad of Poway synagogue, it would not have mattered. This is not the only reason why I am driven to speak about the shooting. I speak about the shooting not just because I am a Jewish person, not just because I am an American, but because I am a human being. I may be more directly impacted by
OPINION 5
the hate perpetuated against those in this synagogue than those shot in two of New Zealand’s mosques, but both are tragic, and both deserve condemnation. All shootings, especially those motivated by hatred towards certain groups, are tragic, despite the seemingly endless slew of them in America. The importance of diversity and the influence of different identities such as religion, ethnicity and nationality are essential. They are what make America such a special country. American culture is defined not by a singular legacy, but rather by the mixing of many different ones. Our differences enable us to learn from and grow closer to each other. But, in a world where marginalized identities are constantly on the defense, we are losing one of the most beautiful aspects of what makes us human: empathy. By emphasizing the cultural, racial, ethnic and religious differences that distinguish us in response to the hostilities that permeate society, we are losing the ability to empathize and identify with other humans. But we can do amazing things when we come together, defending the freedom so fundamental to our country not just for our own communities, but for those of all groups. After the Tree of Life shooting, Muslim groups raised $150,000 for the victims. And when two mosques in New Zealand were targeted, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh raised money for New Zealand’s Muslim community. Not only are we at our strongest when we are able to look beyond our own identities, but it is imperative that we help and defend each other in order to truly work towards equality. The other day, I was talking about politics with my grandmother, who is Republican, on the phone and she said something that struck me. As we discussed the inequality and violence in today’s America, she said, “We’re all American. It doesn’t matter where you go to pray.” We’re all American, but even more fundamentally, we’re all human. We need better gun control laws, but that’s not all; America needs to address the thriving intolerance, hate and violence. We must realize that, while America’s strength is in our diversity, our greatest weakness is when we allow our individual identities to separate us. Olivia Turano can be reached at turanoo@umich.edu.
Britney Spears, Breitbart and America’s risky conspiratorial nature
B
enjamin Franklin once said there are two things that are certain in life: death and conspiracy theories. OK, that may be paraphrasing but, when it comes to American society, it’s true. Conspiracy theories have become so deeply ingrained in the history of the United States that the majority of Americans don’t know what to believe. Was JFK’s assassination more than a one-man job? More than half of Americans think so. Did the real Paul McCartney die and get replaced by a fake Paul or “Faul”? Even I believe that one (a little bit). Conspiracy theories are as American as deep-fried Oreos and NASCAR, but, as fun as they are to joke about, they can have dangerous consequences on the American psyche and the people being conspired about. The talk of conspiracy theories was recently revived with the #FreeBritney trend blowing up on Twitter. If you haven’t been following this roller coaster of information, the story goes that, after the 37-year-old singer checked herself into a mental health facility following the declining health of her father, someone claiming to be a former member of her team went on a fan contest to say Spears’s hospital check-in wasn’t by her own doing. Apparently, all of Spears’s choices were orchestrated by her family and her management team, following a legal device called conservatorship. This led to an outcry among fans, protesting in Los Angeles and sharing stories on Twitter about strange behavior they witnessed from Spears’s team. Spears, of course, has denied that she has no control over her life, but this just ignited the #FreeBritney movement even more. And that is the exact problem with conspiracy theories — they can never be stopped. Once the
idea gains ground, anyone trying to reject the theory is just another part of the conspiracy. Spears went on Instagram to address the rumors, but fans and followers alike claimed this was just another example of her not being in control of her life. Conspiracy theories feed off of their deniers and, when they fester, they can cause real-life consequences. When Hillary Clinton was running for president, a theory went viral that she was involved in some sort of child sex ring/ human-trafficking ordeal that involved a pizzeria in the Washington D.C. area. To most of us, that sounds absolutely absurd. However, right-wing media outlets, including former Trump White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon’s passion project Breitbart News, spread the theory and many far-rightwingers believed it. The theory went so far, in fact, that a young man armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire in the pizza shop to “investigate” the claims. Fortunately, no one was injured. So why do these conspiracy theories exist? Studies show that trust in the government has been on a decline since the Nixon Administration. With this lack of trust comes skepticism and cynicism, and with skepticism and cynicism comes the belief that the government or other public officials are hiding something. It’s only natural to want to fill in the blanks. Conspiracy theories can be fun sometimes. Did The Beatles leave clues about Paul’s death in their music? I don’t know, but it’s entertaining to look for them. Is Madonna a lizard overlord sent to control humankind from the inside? Probably. These theories may be ridiculous but they’re fun — they cause no harm. The danger is when we allow our theorizing nature to seep into our politics, to treat politics as
if it comes with the same drama and absurdity that pop culture does. Trust in our pop culture figures is not vital to the structural foundation of this country. Roseanne Barr is not the one deciding what I can and cannot do with my body — and thank god for that. I don’t need to have faith that Jennifer Aniston won’t start a war in Iraq or that Alec Baldwin won’t cut social security. However, losing trust in the government and living under the notion that the government is constantly hiding something from you damages civic efficacy and in turn damages our democracy. Why would I vote if I think that, no matter who I want in office, there is a mysterious board of people really running the scene? Why even bother to cast a ballot in the primary if all candidates are lizard-people anyway? These sound like silly examples, but up until these past midterms, voter turnout followed the same downwards trend as trust in the government. I don’t want conspiracy theories to end — I find them fascinating, and what else could I find over 700 words to write about? But we must get to a place where we can separate our friendly, funny theories of quirky celebrities with harmful, chaotic ideas. Politics is not pop culture and vice versa, but the way we treat one has dire effects on the way we see the other. When the CNN website looks like a screenshot from The Onion, it is easy to lose trust in your government, to theorize why things are the way they are. It is important not to get caught up in that, to know that the people who can change the country and control the things that happen aren’t a board of mysterious figures in a back room, but in fact all of us. Samantha Della Fera can be reached at samdf@umich.edu.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for an Opinion column for Spring and Summer term. Email the Summer Editorial Page Editor (ekwhite@umich.edu) for more information about writing.
6 ARTS
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALBUM REVIEW
FILM REVIEW
Rico Nasty starts shit with new EP
producer/“Harlem Shake” creator Baauer at their most kinetic. Kenny Daily Arts Writer Beats and Baauer lay down a ridiculous beat accented by wacky vocal After releasing her ruthless, samples, wolf-whistles and clanging heavy-hitting 2018 album Nasty, cowbells, not to mention absolutely Rico Nasty seemed ready to burst pummelling 808s. Rico Nasty and from the underground and dominate Earthgang both deliver acrobatic the mainstream. Her collaborations verses, but Rico Nasty is especially with Kenny Beats, the underground elastic, bending words and syllables producer du jour, have been nothing at whim. She throws down some shy of sensational, particularly when complex bars, some funny ones too, they involved flipping a classic sam- and she even spits a bar in which ple or reworking a legendary beat. she claims she’s so “supercalifraTake her song “Countin’ Up,” for gilisticexpialidocious.” It’s fun, and it’s definitely a example. Kenny welcome change Beats cooked of pace in today’s up a bassrap climate. dominated, “Hatin” finds smile-inducing Rico Nasty spitretooling of The ting over a Kenny Neptunes’s beat Beats remake of for Noreaga’s Jay-Z and Tim“Superthug,” Anger Management baland’s hit “Dirt and Rico Nasty Rico Nasty and Kenny Off Your Shoulproceeded to rip Beats der,” similar to it to shreds. Rico Nasty’s remake Nasty’s tenacSugar Trap of “Superthug.” ity and ferocity Where Jay-Z was are what made reserved, Rico Nasty one of the Nasty is vicious. best rap releases She goes hard, of 2018, so when and she knows it. she announced She talks smack Anger Managewith the best of ment, all the them. To that end, she kicks the song eyes in the rap world were on her. From the get-go, Anger Man- off by exclaiming, “I got bitches on agement finds Rico Nasty with the my dick and I ain’t even got a dick.” pedal on the floor. After all, the “Hatin” is a perfect modern remake album promises the energy of a of a classic song, and Rico Nasty certemper tantrum. She’s pure gas on tainly does it justice. Surprisingly, outside these songs, album opener “Cold.” She does it all on this song: She talks shit over the album begins to drag, and, at yet another face-melting beat from 19 minutes in length, that is not a Kenny Beats, she raps aggressively good thing. As Rico Nasty begins to and she screams. A lot. It’s refresh- cool off, the album’s quality begins ing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a to diminish. Songs like “Mood” rap album with a sound quite like and “Relative” are decent at best. this, and I especially don’t think I’ve The closing half of the album feels heard one poised to sustain this type rushed. It’s good, no doubt, but it of energy over the full runtime. Rico seems unfinished. Even with the Nasty attempts to do just that on tonal shifts, the album still begins to this album, but that may be because feel a bit samey. Anger Management, it barely clocks in at 19 minutes in while certainly good in its own right, length. It’s short, sweet and to the does not call for many repeat listens point, but that might turn out to be outside of a few sensational and truly different tracks like “Hatin” too good to be true. Other high points include the and “Cold.” It does, however, call Earthgang-assisted “Big Titties” and for more attention to be paid to both the Jay-Z/Timbaland- interpolating Rico Nasty and Kenny Beats in the “Hatin.” “Big Titties” finds Rico, future because, clearly, they are on Earthgang, Kenny Beats and dance the verge of a breakthrough. JIM WILSON
LIONSGATE
‘Long Shot’ pulls off more than your typical rom-com ANISH TAMHANEY Daily Arts Writer
“Long Shot” is certainly titled around its premise: The political rom-com stars Charlize Theron (“Tully”) as the U.S. Secretary of State and Seth Rogen (“The Interview”) as her speechwriter and eventual love interest. Theron’s incandescent, piercing beauty contrasts so starkly with the guffawing teddy-bearish charm of Rogen, but the movie’s core irony is that they successfully conjure a believable chemistry with each other. For me, the most difficult litmus test for any comedy is simply how frequently its jokes land. “Long Shot” definitely passed. I often found myself laughing at both the cheap and the nuanced gags. The film achieves an effective balance between the two, featuring moments like Rogen crashing down a sleek glass staircase as well as snarky, intelligent one-liners about global politics. While the pacing of the story had its f laws, slogging through scenes that felt inessential, the film itself never paused to become totally serious. Even when hostage crises and bomb threats erupt, Rogen’s awkward, hyperventilating Fred Flarsky is always there to remind us that we are still inside a comedy. But perhaps what’s worth discussing more than the two stars’ ability to carry the entire movie on the hilarity of their
romance is the potent political ideas the film suggests. The world of “Long Shot” is a politically sardonic ref lection of our own, built around both harsh realities and amusing hyperbole. Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), for example, plays Presi-
Long Shot Lionsgate Ann Arbor 20 + IMAX, Goodrich Quality 16
dent Chambers, who spends his Oval Office scenes not signing bills and planning policy, but watching old episodes of himself in his heyday as a TV star. Another fascinating character is media mogul Parker Wembley (Andy Serkis, “Black Panther”), some toadish combination of Rupert Murdoch, Steve Bannon, Harvey Weinstein and Exxonmobil. He and Chambers, the amalgamations of evil that per-
meate all politics in the world of “Long Shot,” are unambiguously wicked, compelling vehicles for commentary on how citizens and politicians should respond to their brand of malice. One of the more questionable ideas the film suggested was that of centrism and compromise as long-term paths to victory. Charlotte’s ambitious environmental reform policy, while resonating with her diplomatic audience, faces the recurring dilemma between integrity and widespread support. With more democratic presidential primary candidates seeming to appear everyday, this particular notion of centrism as a tool seemed the most foreboding about current American politics. And yet, whether this message is appealing or not, the film itself could not clearly communicate the logic of its theory. The result was an ultimately idealistic, potentially problematic portrait of the 2020 presidential race. And yet, for all of the parables it offers, “Long Shot” does not have to be an artifact of intense political scrutiny to enjoy it. The fact that it manages to carry any nuance at all is impressive in and of itself. As a pleasant and satisfying crowd-pleaser, it more than works. Maybe the title encompasses more than a relationship between Fields and Flarsky, also taking up the hopes of remedying rampant corruption in our political system. And if that’s an idea too alarming to swallow, don’t fret — it’s just a rom-com.
Thursday, May 9, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
COMMUNITY CULTURE INTERVIEW
ARIEL FRIEDLANDER
Drag mother-daughter duo on choosing our own family SAM KREMKE Daily Arts Writer
Equal parts carefree and captivating, drag mother-daughter duo Ariana Grindr and Daya Bee-Dee have become something of a fixture in the Ann Arbor queer community. Ariana, given name Will Beischel, and Daya Bee-Dee, given name Ariel Friedlander, sat down with me to talk about themselves, their relationship, the local drag scene and the all-encompassing presence of Lady Gaga. The Michigan Daily: Thank you both so much for being here, you’re both amazing queens and I’m very excited to speak with you today. How long have each of you been performing, and what made you decide to participate in the art of drag? Ariana Grindr: I started performing about two-and-a-half to three years ago in Chicago, before I moved here, but even before that — I was going to gay bars in Cincinnati, where I’m from, since I was 18 and (that was) before I came out. I was going to see these performances with my best friends and becoming enthralled with the queens. I think that being there and seeing people celebrate their femininity and their queerness in such a loud, sort of in-your-face way was really refreshing and inspiring, so I’ve always had a special place in my heart for drag. I toyed with the idea of doing it for a while, but I never was able to go through with it until one of my friends in Chicago, Alex Kay, started
doing drag and I saw him become really good at it. There was a new space in Chicago at the time called Crash Landing, which was a competition show that allowed new queens a space to try it out for the first time and get their name out there in a supportive environment. After I saw Alex perform for a while, I was like “Alright, I’m signed up for it so I better do this … ” Alex helped me get into drag for my first time and, yeah, the rest is herstory. TMD: That’s beautiful, what about you (Daya)? Daya Bee-Dee: So I’m what the kids call a baby queen, because I only started about 10 months ago. The first time I ever did drag, in public, was for
I love that I can express my gender, my sexuality, my everything a protest/guerilla fashion show with a radical leftist group called RadFun. TMD: I’ve heard of RadFun. DB: I invited a couple local queens to join, which was where I first met Ariana Grindr in person, so it’s very near and dear to my heart. From there … I was posting stories on Instagram when another queen found me and said I had to start performing, so I did a couple shows, and then I went to New York for the summer. When I came back, I started taking
my drag really seriously, and for the past few months I’ve been trying to do shows more consistently to try and step up my game in terms of makeup, performance, etc. But I’ve just really loved (drag) from a really young age, I got pretty into “RuPaul’s Drag Race” soon after because my mom was pretty into it. I always loved “Drag Race,” but I never really thought that drag was necessarily for me because the presentation that I saw of drag was something that was for cis men. It just wasn’t something I felt like I could do until I found out that my absolute favorite drag queen, Creme Fatale, is actually a woman! And that really opened up a world of possibilities, and I’m honored to be a part of such an incredible community. I love that I can express my gender, my sexuality, my everything, and I truly believe that drag is for everyone. TMD: You were talking about “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the modern conception of what drag is. While what the show has done and what it means in the larger framework of popular culture is undoubtedly a net positive, it has also created a model for what drag should be and commodified it in the process. Do you want to talk a little bit about what your experiences have been as a woman participating in drag and existing in a space that might be outside of that conception? DB: I’m really lucky because, here in Ann Arbor, the scene is really supportive. Online, you do see a lot of hatred, a lot of misunderstandings
that can be hard to look at. Even here, I’ve heard people say things that are just complete misconceptions about what drag is, who it’s for and what it represents. I’m not laughing at women by being a drag queen. I am a fucking woman, and I love being a woman. I almost see drag as an extension of my gender identity, expressing something that’s as hyper-feminine as you can get, and it’s a way for me to celebrate being a high-femme, bisexual woman. People love to say that I’m appropriating drag, which is funny to me because the modern drag movement in the U.S. was pioneered by trans women of color. Trans women are women, so for someone to say that women can’t do drag invalidates the work that those people have done. If it weren’t for those women, we literally would not have drag in this country, so I’m not appropriating anything. I know the space I occupy and I know my place as a woman. I also see a lot of misogyny within the queer community and I experience it firsthand, which is something I don’t think a lot of other drag queens necessarily see, so I like to use my platform to call in the queer community and say, “Hey, we have some things to work on in terms of respecting women, in terms of respecting gender diversity, in terms of respecting people of different religions, in terms of respecting everyone.” TMD: Thank you so much for sharing that. There are a lot of issues within the community that need to be addressed and that can get glossed over due to a sort of male-centric unitarianism, so I really appreciate that you incorporate that into your work. DB: Thank you! TMD: You touched on this a little bit already, but could you elaborate a little bit on the circumstances under which you two met? DB: So I actually first saw Ariana perform at a feminist magazine’s Halloween drag show and she had no idea who I was at that point. At some point we became Facebook friends … don’t know exactly when that happened, but when I was helping put together this guerrilla fashion show with RadFun, we were looking for other people and organizations to
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reach out to. I was starting to get a little bit more into drag at that point even though I hadn’t performed very much myself. I knew that Ariana had the reputation of being a very political queen, so I reached out to her on Facebook and I was so nervous messaging her. AG: (laughs) DB: I actually looked back at our first exchange and I can tell just how nervous I was and how I was trying so hard to make her happy. But it was the day of the fashion show and we were in Graffiti Alley, I basically had my whole closet with me dressing people up in my clothes and preparing to walk through the Diag a little bit later, and there was Ariana. She was wearing all black, in her natural, short boy hair, face full of gold makeup and these massive 12-inch heels, TMD: I’ve seen those heels! DB: We strutted all the way down the Diag together, we even infiltrated an ROTC ceremony and screamed about Syria and Palestine — it was a very confrontational demonstration. Anyway, that was where I met my drag mother. At the time I didn’t know what our relationship would turn out to be. I had just spent the summer in New York and I was really hard on myself during that time. I was surrounded by this really beautiful drag and I was flooded on social media by people who were so good at makeup and so good at performing and it was so overwhelming — the person who won (RuPaul’s) Drag Race at the time (Aquaria) was like 22 years old and stunning and I was like, “Fuck, I am so behind on my art.” I remember having a conversation with Ariana on Instagram, she ended up inviting me over to her apartment to get ready and work on our makeup together and I remember just feeling so honored and my heart was so full with gratefulness and joy. At the time I really looked up to her because she was just this really political, puttogether, well-respected queen in Ann Arbor. So I went over there, we shared our woes and I laid all of my insecurities out on the line, and after that conversation it pretty much was mother-daughter.
I’m not laughing at women by being a drag queen. I am a fucking woman, and I love being a woman.
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8 NEWS
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
LEO pickets in opposition of pay, course load cuts Lecturers’ Employee Organization holds informational event outside of Hill Auditorium during SMTD graduation CLAIRE HAO
Summer News Editor
Students, parents, faculty and guOn Friday afternoon, about 15 members and supporters of the University of Michigan Lecturers’ Employee Organization gathered at Hill Auditorium for an informational picket. They claimed
the University’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance administration was trying to drastically cut the course loads and salaries of two SMTD lecturers in violation of their union contracts. LEO picketers, carrying signs stating “#RespectTheLecs,” handed out informational flyers to graduates and families arriving for SMTD
Classifieds Release Date: Thursday, May 9, 2019
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Award named for a goddess 5 Put down 10 First choice 14 “You’re __ luck” 15 __ shorts 16 Truth stretcher 17 *Finds flaws (in) 19 “Star Wars” sentence inverter 20 Baseball bat wood 21 *Casino fixtures where blinds might be used 23 Sign-off word 25 River through Tours 26 Shot water? 28 Rash 31 Citation ender, briefly 32 Usually multilayered dessert 33 Place to unwind 36 *They make nuts healthy 40 __ card: common phone component 41 Closes in on 42 Half of sechs 43 Alaskan cruise sight 44 Iris ring 46 Milan’s La __ 49 The Huskies of the NCAA’s Big East 50 *Skilled debaters 54 Tank contents 57 Tip 58 In complete opposition ... and a feature of the four other longest answers 60 Wild, all-night party 61 Tiny swimmer 62 Marine threat 63 Kept in one’s sights 64 Fixes 65 Urban bane DOWN 1 Historic NYC club, with “The” 2 ’60s-’70s All-Star pitcher Tiant
3 Sensory omen regarding money 4 Wine barrel wood 5 Can’t stand 6 Financial records 7 Roadster rod 8 Oracle 9 Formerly, formerly 10 Airman, slangily 11 Pungent mayo 12 “Star Wars” heavy breather 13 Wipe out 18 Source of fries 22 Let out, e.g. 24 Like some fried food 26 Gym iterations 27 French possessive 28 Squirrel away 29 Fine __ 30 “The Simpsons” disco guy 32 Old Russian ruler 33 Coerce 34 Thurman’s role in “The Avengers” (1998) 35 Home to K2
37 Clear, as a copier 38 Prefix with natal 39 Yemeni port 43 Showed off a muscle 44 Fills in for 45 Soprano Ponselle who debuted at the Met opposite Caruso 46 Slash on a score sheet
47 Insured patient’s obligation 48 Advil alternative 49 “Best before” cousin 51 Hoppy brews 52 Freebie 53 Intestinal sections 55 Violin music instruction 56 Unaccompanied 59 Bldgs. with many boxes
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Roland Huget ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
graduation. According to LEO, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance is giving classes taught by lecturers Missy Beck and Jean-Claude Biza to tenure-track faculty in order to avoid paying Beck and Biza higher wages won under the contract LEO ratified last year. Beck and Biza are “two of the longest-serving Lecturer faculty members in the Dance Department,” LEO explained. Beck, a Lecturer II who has taught in SMTD for 18 years and full-time for the last 15, will have her annual salary cut almost in half, from $57,500 to $29,468, according to LEO. Biza, who has taught in SMTD for 32 years, will lose almost twothirds of his annual salary, from $23,025 to $7,866. In July 2018, after months of collective bargaining, LEO and the University ratified a new contract, which enacted salary increases and bolstered health benefits and job security for non-tenure track faculty at all three University campuses. Per the new contract’s terms, by September 2020, starting salaries for lecturers in Ann Arbor are to receive a 47.8 percent increase, while Flint and Dearborn faculty should see 50.2 percent and 44.9 percent increases respectively. In an interview with The Daily, Beck said she has an email from
Interim Chair of Dance Anita Gonzalez stating decisions to cut Beck’s and Biza’s course loads and pay were made following LEO bargaining for wage increases. “Biza and I got the largest raises in that contract agreement, and we’ve been the only two that’ve been targeted,” Beck said. “So, that speaks for itself in my mind.” In an email to The Daily, Gonzalez said there is not an email from her attributing SMTD cuts to LEO’s bargaining success. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald provided an email statement on behalf of SMTD Dean David Gier, emphasizing that Gier has expressed “SMTD will not make personnel decisions based on LEO’s success at the bargaining table.” “This review will include an examination of teaching loads and course enrollment,” Fitzgerald wrote. “It is a normal part of what any school and college on our campus does on a regular basis, particularly as new deans are selected. SMTD and the university will carefully follow the process outlined in the LEO contract, should there be any workload changes that affect lecturers.” Beck defended her qualifications and discussed the success of her students, some of whom have sent letters and video testimonials to
Beck’s teaching. “I’m the one who’s actually in the classroom,” Beck said. “I’m the one who has working alum in the top of the field saying, ‘She taught us this.’ I have dozens of alum writing letters and sending videos — many of them working in Broadway, the first Black Elsa in ‘Frozen,’ a casting agent, people who are now professors of dance in universities, people who’ve won Oscars, Tony’s — saying it was my influence that helped them. Administration doesn’t listen to its alum, and that’s worrisome. (To the administration), it’s not about education, it’s about money.” LEO President Ian Robinson, a lecturer in the Residential College, expressed he feels Beck and Biza’s pay shouldn’t be cut to save money within SMTD. “They’re not hurting for that money,” Robinson said. “I don’t believe that amount of money means a damn to a school the size of this one. Furthermore, if this really did matter … impose it on the administrators ... (who are) getting paid what is probably too much to begin with, if I’m frank. But (SMTD administration) get raises and claw back money from lecturers by taking away their livelihood after they’ve been excellent teachers. How can that possibly be right?”
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05/09/19
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ALEC COHEN/Daily
Thursday May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MICHIGAN IN COLOR 9
How ‘Old Town Road’ showed unity in the Black community KAYLA THOMAS MiC Blogger
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXANDRIA POMPEI
My commencement speech JACKY DELGADO MiC Contributor
Hello class of 2019 I come here today to not only speak about my story but to speak on our journey together and validate it. Although each of our journeys have been different, we all fought with the same resiliency. We have conquered so much and sitting here proves that whether it was going through tough classes, long nights, or lots of cramming. We got through it. We even thought our summer experience with ALMA, CSP, or Bridge was going to be our college experience, but we quickly came to find out it wasn’t. We sat in classes with people who did not look or talk like us. We engaged in difficult conversations where we were tokenized We experienced exclusion from this university, and with little knowledge on how to navigate it. And, let’s not talk about the food But, we rose together to create spaces for our community, to support one another. Through these spaces we danced, laughed, and created many memories together.
And most importantly it gave everyone a home away from home Because of your work, your efforts, and your time future Latinx students will no longer feel alone. You have gained the skills needed to make a change in your own professional careers. In this moment, I would like for you all to imagine in your head of who you want to become whether it is being an activist, a politician, or teacher (2 seconds) now imagine yourself in that position. I am standing here today to tell you, you can be that person and if you continue to live your life with the same resiliency you fought to create spaces for our community and achieve this degree you can achieve that image. As you go into your professional careers, the statistics will always be against you. But, those statistics don’t know what is en tu corazon (points at heart). In here lies your passion, determination, and drive. And most importantly you have the people here in this room to support you on your next journey. Both combined your unstoppable. I didn’t want to make this speech about me because I always strived
throughout my work with La Casa and Latinidad Magazine to provide a voice to the voiceless pero mi familia esta aqui y tengo que ablar de mi un ponquito. Les quiero dicer a mis padres que sin ellos no estaria aqui. Ellos han trabajado en fabricas desde que cruzaron la frontera mas de 20 anos y con mucho amor y esfuerzo me sacaron adelante. I am the girl from Hermosa community on the west side of Chicago, first generation Latina who made it. Y sin mi familia no estuviera aqui con ustedes. So quiero dicerles muchas gracias y los amos mucho. I know many of you feel the same about your families. So, let’s give them a huge applause At the end of this ceremony, I want you all to give them a huge hug I want to reiterate how resilient our community and each one of you are And make you understand how powerful your voice and actions are in creating change The world is not ready for you but it needs you You are the leaders of our generation and have paved the way for future generations. Always go with your head held up high and take on the world. Thank you
Every community has its lost of taboo topics. Some in the black community include mental health (sadly) and therapy. But one that is not often realized is country music. It’s ok if someone doesn’t like the stereotypical things like rap music or Kool-aid. But don’t let anyone find out that you liked Taylor Swift in her “You Belong With Me” days and you might get your revoked. Even in a community where they accomplishments of each one is widely celebrated, Darius Rucker, who won multiple Grammys in the country category got no such praise. This trend change when the remix to the country song “Old Town Road” by black country artist Lil Nas X came out. The popularity of this song didn’t at first come from the song itself, but
from the story behind it. When the original version of the song came out about a year ago, it reached #1 on the country charts. However, not too long after, it was taken down due to the fact that it was too “urban.” This was met with the anger of many, especially since “urban” is usually the polite way of saying “black.” So when the remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus came out, many people decided to support it for the culture. Even though this is how the popularity of Old Town Road started, this country song with a hip-hop beat quickly caught on in its own right. The fact that the song has a beat that is more similar to more mainstream songs is what reeled many people in. And for those who watched Hannah Montana growing up, the fact that Billy Ray Cyrus was on a verse added a bonus element of nostalgia. Since the
remix came on, I’ve seen multiple people advertise it on their Snapchat, I’ve had people that I’m hanging out with sing it while we’re at dinner, and I even heard it at a fraternity probate. Though there are many that are still just listening to the song for support, it still signals a shift in how we support those in our community that don’t fit exactly into this preconceived notion of blackness. Simply listening to a song shows the amount of solidarity that this community can hold. We are willing to put aside our generalizations about who we’re supposed to be, as well as our community taboos in order to uplift one our people that was wronged. No community is perfect, and this one is no exception. However, it is still a beautiful thing knowing that we can pull together when needed.
‘Us’: Reflecting on privilege dynamics in the US NADIA DAVIS MiC Blogger
On March 22, 2019, the highly anticipated movie “Us” directed by Jordan Peele was released. This movie was released with the intention and expectation of solely being a horror movie. This was a shocker to many, after Peele’s previous movie “Get Out” reflected on many racial tensions in the United States. Although “Us” had the intention of just being a horror movie, it turns out this was not the case. Many were confused, including me, about what happened in the movie. However, after doing some
research, and watching many analytical videos on YouTube, I found that these easter eggs meant much more than what appeared to the eye. Immediately after watching the movie, I was confused. I got the main plot of the story, the world of the shadows or the “tethered” came back to kill and take over the humans above ground. However, there were many easter eggs that I noticed, and knew were important, but did not know what exactly they meant. Everyone had a conspiracy theory after the movie, but it still didn’t make much sense to me and not all of my questions were answered. Finally, I
came across a video put out by Insider that objectively explained these easter eggs, and exposed the underlying theme of the movie ... privilege. Now, to dive into the theme of privilege, we can do some character evaluations, beginning with the tethered vs the “regular” people. The people/ families represented in the movie were those of upper middle/high-class people. Both families were traveling on vacation, had summer homes, and generally ideal family and home lives.
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10 SPORTS
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan pulls away late from Spartans to win midweek game KENT SCHWARTZ Daily Sports Writer
The seventh inning turned the tide for Michigan. After barely surviving the top of the inning with the bases loaded and only one out, the Wolverines’ offense came to life — capitalizing on a throwing error, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch. The game was put out of reach for in-state rival Michigan State (16-30 overall, 5-12 Big Ten) as it went down 5-0 to the hosts at Ray Fisher Stadium. In their third meeting on the season, the Michigan baseball team (35-11, 14-3) bested the Spartans 7-0 after pulling away late. For the Wolverines, every hit mattered. A leadoff fly ball from sophomore designated hitter Jordan Nwogu bounced off the top of the wall in right field, forcing the right fielder to scramble after the ball to limit Nwogu to a triple. Sophomore center fielder Jesse Franklin then hit a sacrifice fly to
bring in Nwogu for an early 1-0 lead. Two innings later, Franklin would strike again. This time with a 105-mile-per-hour bullet over the scoreboard in right field for a solo home run and a 2-0 lead for Michigan. “Guys getting on base,” said Franklin. “Those sac-flies, I wasn’t really trying to hit pop ups like that because if nobody’s on base those are just big old pop flies. So just guys getting on base.” Added Michigan coach Erik Bakich: “We took advantage of some opportunistic offense. We did a good job when we got runners to third base to get them in somehow, even if it wasn’t via a Franklin home run or sac fly, but just to find a way to knock those guys in.” All told, the Wolverines scored seven runs on eight hits, balancing
powerful batting with capitalizing on Michigan State’s mistakes. Both teams had managed to find a way to shut down the opposing team’s offense until the seventh inning, when senior lefthander Ben Keizer was in his third inning of relief. Zaid Walker managed a single, and pinch hitter Bailey Peterson reached base after a backhanded toss from sophomore shortstop Jack Blomgren drew senior second baseman Ako Thomas off the base. Keizer was pulled before the inning ended and sophomore lefthander Angelo Smith came in to get out of the jam. After giving up a four pitch walk to load the bases, Smith struck out the Spartan’s leadoff hitter. But the inning ended when a hard-hit ball to right field forced a diving catch from junior
All the momentum from then was on our side
right fielder Jordan Brewer. Michigan went on to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh and two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the game 7-0. “I walked the first guy,” Smith said. “From there I had to find it quick because the game’s getting close and if they score they’d only be down one so the next batter I threw three sliders and got him out
in three pitches.” Added Bakich: “All the momentum from then was on our side, we scored five runs in the next two innings after that. That was a huge moment in the game, if he dives and misses it, all three runs score. So, he took a chance and nailed it and got it. From that moment on you could just feel it was different.”
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Sophomore left-hander Angelo Smith escaped a seventh-inning jam Tuesday.
Men’s tennis bows out in second round of NCAA Tournament ARIA GERSON
Daily Sports Editor
For the seniors of the Michigan men’s tennis team, Saturday brought two endings. Though Myles Schalet and Gabe Tishman missed commencement while in Waco, Texas for the NCAA Tournament, they still posed in caps and gowns to celebrate the culmination of their time as students. A few hours later, their time as college athletes, too, came to an end. A day after beating Dartmouth (15-9), 4-2, on Friday, the 20th-ranked Wolverines (18-9) fell to No. 6 Baylor (24-5), 4-1, in the second round of the tournament. Michigan started slow against the Big Green, losing its two completed doubles matches to drop the doubles point. But sophomore Mattias Siimar won at No. 3 singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, to tie the score. “Mattias getting on the board for us was huge,” said Michigan coach Adam Steinberg. “He’s struggled a little bit as of late,
so I was happy for him. When you lose the doubles point, it’s so important to get to one-all and you feel like, OK, back in the match.” After Dartmouth regained the lead with a win at No. 4 singles, it seemed like the Wolverines were in trouble when freshman Patrick Maloney fell behind, 3-0, in his second set at the No. 5 slot. But Maloney battled back to win in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, knotting the match back up. That provided the spark Michigan needed, as it
took the matches at No. 2 and No. 6 singles to seal the win — and the all-important second-round berth. But if Friday’s matches started with a whimper and ended with a bang, Saturday’s were the opposite. Facing the Bears as a significant underdog in the round of 32, the Wolverines dropped their match at No. 1 doubles before roaring back to take the remaining two, both in tiebreakers. Schalet and freshman Andrew Fenty jumped
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Senior Myles Schalet recorded one of Michigan’s two singles victories Baylor.
up and down and whooped as they clinched the doubles point that had eluded Michigan the day before. “It was an exciting doubles point,” Steinberg said. “It was great. It doesn’t get much better than that for college tennis. We came through and we felt great about it going into the singles, so it’s a — against a team like Baylor, if you don’t win the doubles, you’re really in trouble.” As the Wolverines learned, sometimes, against a team like Baylor, you’re in trouble anyway. This time, the Bears were the team that got the score to one-all after losing the doubles point and simultaneously swung momentum in their favor. First, it was junior Connor Johnston who went down in straight sets, 2-6, 3-6. The carnage only piled up as Fenty, then Tishman, then Siimar dropped their matches — all in straight sets. Michigan won just two sets at singles — one each from Maloney and Schalet, both of whom were not afforded the chance to finish their matches with the result already decided.
“Our energy in the beginning of the singles needed to be much better,” Steinberg said. “For us, that’s who we are, our identity, and I don’t think we came out the way we should have and Baylor fed off that. They got confident quick and they have great players, so you give a little confidence to a team like that, with a lot of talent, they’re gonna take it and run with it. ... When you win the doubles, you gotta capitalize on it early, get some breaks, and we didn’t do that. And Baylor took control of the match.” Fenty, ranked No. 48 in the country at singles, qualified for the NCAA Individual Championships later this month, the lone Wolverine who will keep playing after the team’s elimination. Steinberg always tells his tournament teams that these are the moments they’ve worked for all year — the opportunity to play great teams like the Bears on the biggest stage in college tennis. But on Saturday, Michigan couldn’t take advantage of that opportunity, and its season unceremoniously came to a close.
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS 11
The Daily breaks down and predicts the Big Ten Tournament DAILY SOFTBALL BEAT Daily Sports Writers
After securing the outright Big Ten title Sunday, the Michigan softball team kicks off the Big Ten Tournament with its first game on Friday. The Wolverines picked up the top seed and earned a first-round bye for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. The Daily breaks down the tournament and gives its predictions. Daniel Dash, Daily Sports Writer Michigan’s most valuable tournament asset: With six players batting over .300 and two over .400, the Wolverines’ depth and consistency separates them from the rest of the pack. Michigan’s biggest tournament weakness: The Wolverines will have to play three games in two days if they advance to the finals, so having just two reliable pitchers — whereas most teams have three or four — could make fatigue an enemy. Champion prediction: Minnesota The Golden Gophers may have finished third in the conference’s regular season standings, but don’t let that fool you. Numbers don’t lie — Minnesota is arguably the Big Ten’s most talented team. Four Gophers are batting over .300, headlined by infielder MaKenna Partain’s .417 clip. In the circle, right-hander
Amber Fiser boasts a conference-best 1.25 ERA. Minnesota has won this tournament the last three years, so the roster knows what it takes. Dark horse candidate: Illinois Despite being the No. 9 seed, the Fighting Illini enter the Big Ten Tournament with the conference’s best offense. Illinois’ league-high .319 team batting average and .520 slugging percentage could spearhead a Cinderella run, but its pitching staff must avoid imploding. Lily Friedman, Daily Sports Writer Michigan’s most valuable tournament asset: With five seniors starting in the Wolverine lineup, experience will be the team’s biggest asset going into the tournament. Under players like senior second baseman Faith Canfield and senior catcher Katie Alexander, the entire Michigan lineup has experience with close games and has thrived under the leadership of its seniors in tough innings. Michigan’s biggest tournament weakness: A big problem for Michigan thus far this season has been inconsistency. While the Wolverines have won some matchups against highly-ranked opponents like No. 1 UCLA, the team’s struggles against subpar competition like South Dakota could pose an issue in a one-and-done tournament. Champion prediction: Minnesota
Watching its third game against Northwestern, Minnesota looked strong, especially defensively. With right-hander Amber Fiser pitching tight like she did against formerly undefeated Northwestern and the rest of the pitching staff combining for its season-ERA of .171, Minnesota could play well enough defensively to lock in a tournament win. Dark horse candidate: Ohio State Though seeded fourth, Ohio State fell below Michigan, Northwestern and Minnesota in the regular season as far as competing for a Big Ten title. But the Buckeyes are still a strong contender to make a tournament run. Handing the Wolverines their first and only Big Ten loss this season, Ohio State could be in position to get hot in the tournament and make a championship run. Lane Kizziah, Daily Sports Writer Michigan’s most valuable tournament asset: Even early in the season when their offense was lacking, the Wolverines could count on their fielding to keep them in most games. Michigan currently leads the Big Ten with the fewest errors and the highest fielding percentage. Michigan’s biggest tournament weakness: Pitching has frequently posed a problem for the Wolverines. While both freshman right-hander Alex Storako and sophomore lefthander Meghan Beaubien are among the top 10 pitchers in the
conference, Storako has struggled to remain consistent in later innings while Beaubien has already pitched 183.2 innings and has seen her own performance fluctuate as the season has progressed. Champion prediction: Northwestern Despite having a relatively young team, the second seeded Wildcats boast strong pitchers, including freshman Danielle Williams with an ERA of 1.46. Coupled with dependable fielding, Northwestern’s defense can hold most opponents to just a few runs. The Wildcats’ lack of command at the plate — a combined batting average of .273 — will likely be their biggest weakness. Dark horse candidate: Wisconsin The fifth seeded Badgers may be the most well-rounded team. Not only do they possess the best hitter in the conference — Kayla Konwent with a batting average of .479 — they can also hold their own on defense. They have decent fielding statistics and the depth of their pitching staff should not be underestimated. Coming in with wins against Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska, Wisconsin may have a shot this weekend. Akul Vijayvargiya, Daily Sports Writer Michigan’s most valuable tournament asset: With five seniors in the lineup and a conference-high 332 runs scored throughout this
season, the Wolverines possess leadership and a batting prowess they haven’t seen since the times of Sierra Romero. Michigan’s biggest tournament weakness: Though the Wolverines are lucky to have such a reliable No. 2 pitcher in freshman right hander Alex Storako behind sophomore AllAmerican Meghan Beaubien, both might be somewhat gassed by the end of the weekend which could hurt them in the championship game. Champion prediction: Michigan Coach Carol Hutchins has this team primed to win in the postseason. Not only will experience and consistency in the batting lineup bode well for the Wolverines, but the team has shown it can win against the likes of Minnesota and Northwestern with victories over No. 2 Washington and No. 3 UCLA. The first round bye will prove to be pivotal for the pitching staff as well since it might give Beaubien and Storako the last bits of energy they need to finish the weekend strong. Dark horse candidate: Illinois The Fighting Illini lost to the Wolverines by only one run in two of the three games they played against each other, so don’t count them out if they are to go against the top seed on Friday afternoon. If Illinois is able to clear that hurdle, it has the offensive firepower to spark another win or two on Saturday.
Leadership, selflessness keys to Big Ten Tournament title run AKUL VIJAYVARGIYA
Summer Managing Sports Editor
When the Michigan softball team entered the conference season, it had already suffered ten losses and struggled against the likes of South Dakota and Louisville. While the pitching staff gave the Wolverines a chance in most games, especially in wins over then-No. 2 UCLA and then-No. 5 Washington, the offense struggled to produce any sort of traction. Failing to find hits with runners on base became Michigan’s Achilles heel and a run at the Big Ten seamed bleak. But then the Wolverines caught their stride and they look like an entirely different team. Winning the Big Ten with a 22-1 conference record, Michigan has turned its most glaring weakness into one of its most reliable strengths in only two months — throughout Big Ten
play, the Wolverines boasted leaguehighs in batting average (.355) and RBIs (174). Winning its conference during the regular season isn’t out of the norm for Michigan, though. Since 2008, the Wolverines have won outright or grabbed a share of the Big Ten every year except for one. In that same time span, Michigan has won the Big Ten Tournament only once. And if the Wolverines want to prove that they deserve home field advantage for the NCAA regional, it could very well come down to the team’s performance on a weekend that has historically been their kryptonite. However, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins feels there is something different in the air this season compared to teams of the past when the Wolverines fell short of a postseason conference title. “This year’s team has been extremely player-driven and, I
would say, very much led by our senior class,” Hutchins said. “Our seniors have been outstanding all year from the moment they got back to campus in late August and made their statement that they wanted this team to be different than the last couple teams and they wrote out their own game plan for that.” The shift in culture from previous years to now not only has started with the leadership and experience this team brings. Perhaps the most important quality Michigan possesses is its selfless dynamic. “Honestly, from the minute we got back from our preseason travel, our team had kinda found its way through some really difficult early season games,” Hutchins said. “The seniors put the team on their back and said, we’re gonna get this done. And they’ve done it, of course, on the field. And when somebody isn’t getting it done, because inevitably
every game, some people are on and some aren’t, they pick each other up. They’ve stepped up for each other and they never quit. “This team has reminded me all season, especially in our last 28 games, that they’re just one big selfless amoeba.”
So if the Wolverines are able to combine this culture with their season-long trend of righting their wrongs, both past and present, they could very well find themselves holding that Big Ten Tournament trophy that has eluded them year after year.
ALEC COHEN/Daily
The Michigan softball team kicks off the Big Ten Tournament Friday.
12 SPORTS
Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
After waiting her turn, Canfield shines as a leader for ‘M’ Senior captain Faith Canfield has come into her own as a leader on and off the softball field. DANIEL DASH
Daily Sports Writer
On the brink of elimination, tensions ran high in the Michigan softball team’s dugout. In the on-deck circle, Faith Canfield was as relaxed as ever. Trailing by a pair of runs in the seventh inning of the deciding game in the 2017 NCAA Regional, the 20th-ranked Wolverines found themselves desperate for offense on the road against No. 6 seed Washington. Just three outs stood between Michigan and the demise of its season. Damp clumps of dirt broke free from junior right fielder Aidan Falk’s cleats as she trekked across the dugout to retrieve her bat. As Falk warmed up to lead off the Wolverines’ final chance to salvage the season, Canfield — a sophomore at that point — grabbed her by the arm. “I don’t care what you do, just go have one hell of an at-bat,” Falk recalled Canfield telling her, “because this is your last one and it’s the one you’re going to remember most.” Falk took the words to heart. Two pitches into her plate appearance, she laced a single up the middle to ignite Michigan’s comeback bid. “There was a lot on the line,” Falk told The Daily in a phone interview last month. “(Canfield) took it as her time to be like, ‘You should be proud of what you’ve done. Enjoy it.’ She’s not one to be overly emotional or cozy, but when she does show you that side of her, it’s very meaningful.” Some players stand up on a chair and berate a locker room of teammates. Canfield is not one of them — instead, she’s often a softspoken leader who emphasizes living in the moment. Her attitude epitomizes the fact that leadership comes in many forms. Canfield sees the game through a different lens, one which has fostered a unique college career brimming with memories such as Falk’s. Canfield naturally focuses on the human side of softball — a trait which has become increasingly rare in a game driven by analytics. Though the Wolverines fell short on that ill-fated Seattle afternoon, Canfield’s style of leadership is invaluable.
With top-seeded Michigan — this season’s outright conference champion — set to take the field in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, the final month of Canfield’s storied career has arrived. And with a solid showing in this week’s Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines could earn the right to host an NCAA Regional of their own. For Canfield, a much-anticipated climax has taken shape. In the next month, she could lead Michigan back to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since her freshman season. Or, as they’ve done the last two seasons, the Wolverines may fall in the conference tournament quarterfinals and fail to survive the NCAA Regional. Regardless of how May unfolds, Canfield is going to stay true to her own style of leadership. So far, it’s made all the difference in her memorable Michigan tenure. *** It might’ve been on the practice field. It could’ve been in the locker room afterwards. Abby Ramirez doesn’t remember the exact moment it hit her, but she’ll never forget her takeaway from the first practice of Canfield’s freshman season. “This girl is for real,” Ramirez remembered thinking. When Canfield got to campus in the fall of 2015, she began her career ahead of the curve. Ramirez — a two-time All-Big Ten shortstop who graduated in 2017 — recalled being impressed with her noticeable confidence and natural instincts from day one. As a college freshman, Canfield put her decorated high school and travel ball careers behind her. She watched her sister Jamie succeed as an All-Big 12 catcher at Nebraska from 2004-2007, but still admittedly felt the pressure of walking into a program that finished as the national runner-up a mere three months earlier. On top of the transition to a new level, Canfield found herself thrown for a loop by a slight position change. She claims to “love defense,” so her role as the team’s designated player in 2016 meant spending most of the season without her beloved glove. “Coming in freshman year, it was a different role that I totally wasn’t used to,” Canfield said. “But I was all for it. I did whatever the team needed.”
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Senior second baseman Faith Canfield has put up a career-best .406 batting average this season.
The college level brought about its own challenges, and Ramirez had the pleasure of watching Canfield improve firsthand. As middle infielders, their position groups often trained together. Only a few practices into the preseason, the Wolverines arranged a fall scrimmage in East Lansing. There, Canfield stepped into the batter’s box for her first college at-bat. As she walked up to the plate, she gazed at the field, the desolate bleachers and the clamoring dugouts. So, this was college softball — the daunting, preeminent world of its own to which she looked forward for so many years. Canfield wasted no time getting her feet wet. Just a few pitches into her plate appearance, she uncorked a powerful swing. When the ball landed on the other side of the outfield wall, she began her home run trot — the first of many to come. For Canfield, that trot took the world off her shoulders. It reminded her that she was still playing the same game she excelled at her whole life. According to Ramirez, it taught Canfield not to make too big a deal out of the new level. After her mindset fell into place, the rest of her game followed suit. “(Canfield’s) realization that she
had so much potential and that she is such a good player was huge,” Falk said. “Once she became aware of that, it allowed her to help her teammates rise up, too. As a player, making your teammates around you better is one of the best qualities you can have. She made the team better as a whole. “She’s very mature. I was very impressed with the way she played. She didn’t play like a freshman. She played like a seasoned player at the plate and on the field.” After shedding the misconception that the college level would be drastically different from high school or travel ball, Canfield came into her own. Everyone on the field took notice. So, this was college softball. *** Unlike most top recruits, Canfield’s name wasn’t initially on the starting lineup card in 2016. Little did she know, the role that awaited her would be just as beneficial in the long run. Now in her 35th season, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins knows a starter when she sees one. To this day, Hutchins believes Canfield could’ve cracked almost any starting lineup in the country as a freshman. But for the Wolverines,
there was no doubt that then-senior and eventual National Player of the Year Sierra Romero would be the starting second baseman during Canfield’s first season. “There’s no one better to play behind,” Canfield said. “Nobody’s going to beat out Sierra Romero, but I was working that hard everyday to try.” Even so, Canfield worked her way into the lineup. According to Ramirez, she began her career ahead of the curve. It was an open secret that she’d be the heir to Romero’s throne at second base the following season, but Canfield still started 33 of the team’s 59 games as a freshman — 22 as the designated player, eight at third base and three at second base. Canfield seized the chance to spend a year learning under Romero. Each day of practice provided a new opportunity to learn from the best, and, as a result, Romero took her under her wing. That season, Romero posted a .451 batting average and 79 RBI en route to 2016 National Player of the Year honors. Canfield diligently watched every moment of it.
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