ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Ann Arbor, Michigan
michigandaily.com
statement
CSG passes
resolution to support Iraqi refugees in MI
Assembly holds tie-breaker election, examines finances at final fall meeting ANGELINA LITTLE Daily Staff Reporter
DESIGN BY SHERRY CHEN
Computer Science community talks long waitlists for upper-level classes
Program struggles to expand as quickly as enrollment in major grows CLAIRE HAO
Daily Staff Reporter
Engineering sophomore Conner Hein, who studies Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, went into backpacking for next semester’s classes with a plan. When his registration period rolled around, however, Hein realized the classes he wanted had already been filled
to capacity. He found himself number 40 and number 60 on two waitlists, which as of Tuesday night are both around a hundred students long. Because of lengthy waitlists for most of the upper-level computer science classes he is interested in taking, Hein said his experience registering for classes has been a “battle of lowering expectations.” Though upper-level classes
are important for students to find an area to specialize in, Hein explained he has instead had to settle for whatever classes he can get into. “I’m in a situation where I’m taking absolutely minimum credit trying to get by, and even if you do get into upperlevel CS classes, they’re not the ones you want,” Hein said. “It feels like you’re not coming here for the reason you came
here for.” The University of Michigan’s computer science program is consistently ranked among the best programs across the country. Over the last five to 10 years, the University’s EECS department, particularly the Computer Science Engineering sub-department, has seen immense growth. See WAITLIST, Page 3A
At this week’s University of Michigan Central Student Government meeting, Assembly members discussed supporting Iraqi refugees and CSG finances. Tuesday’s meeting was the last scheduled for the fall 2019 semester. The meeting began with community member Kate Stenvig, a representative from fhe Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, urging the Assembly to bring attention to the upcoming trial of Ali Al-Sadoon and Wisam Hamana. Stenvig was joined by two of Al-Sadoon’s children, who also addressed the Assembly. Stenvig told the story of Al-Sadoon and Hamana, two Iraqi refugees who were arrested in July after cutting off their
Latinidad Panel discusses influence of business launches on creating a carbon-neutral campus edition of Net Impact hosts members of administration to address sustainability magazine CAMPUS LIFE
MEGHANA LODHAVIA
Attendees celebrate Nuestra Musica issue at Trotter on Tuesday JASMIN LEE
Daily Staff Reporter
Latinidad Magazine launched its seventh edition, Nuestra Música, at Trotter Multicultural Center Tuesday. More than 50 people attended the event, sponsored by Arts at Michigan, the Department of American Culture and the Residential College. Issues are published every month of the fall and winter semesters. Editor in Chief Emmanuel Solis and Co-Editor Maria Sobrino, who writes for The Michigan Daily’s News section, moderated the event. In Latinidad Magazine’s second year of production, Nuestra Música explored the theme of music and how it fits into the Latinx community. The literary magazine consists of a playlist, poems and illustrations submitted by University students. Their mission is to be a platform for Latinx students at the University to reclaim their voice and foster representation within their community. Solis said the concept of music and identity was not the intended theme, but it ended up being a great idea.
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About 40 University of Michigan students gathered in the Ross School of Business Tuesday night to hear about the ways in which businesses can achieve carbon neutrality on campus. Before the start of the event, Business senior Jennifer Maiorana described how she and fellow students from Net Impact, an organization focused on social and environmental change, were determined to organize
this event. She said she was thrilled to have panelists speak to students who represented different disciplines. The panel of four began by answering a series of questions about carbon neutrality from student moderators of Net Impact. Stephen Forrest, one of the co-chairs of the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality, said if even a small number of individuals adjusted their everyday activities to reduce their carbon footprint, society could potentially begin to take steps toward carbon neutrality.
Forrest told the audience he walks four miles round-trip to work every day in an effort to reduce his own carbon footprint. “It’s all about the culture,” Forrest said. “We have to come up with an economically justifiable and equitable plan to get us to carbon neutrality.” Joe Trumpey, Art & Design associate professor, said his primary concern regarding carbon neutrality is urgency, specifically the speed at which society takes care of the issue of carbon footprint effects. He said reducing one’s
meat consumption is a key way to work toward carbon neutrality. “The number one thing you can do for carbon (neutrality) is to reduce your meat consumption,” Trumpey said. In a section of student questions, Jennifer Haverkamp, the other co-chair of the PCCN, said the city of Ann Arbor is developing an independent plan to achieve carbon neutrality, and the University is partnering with them to find a solution.
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See CARBON, Page 3A
restraints and refusing to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s orders to arrive at the airport for deportation to Iraq. Al-Sadoon and Hamana were charged with hampering a deportation but plead not guilty. Stenvig explained how those who are deported to Iraq are not provided with any identification or assistance finding housing or other resources. Stenvig said this can create a dangerous situation for those deported. “There is a lot of suspicion,” Stenvig said. “There’s 1,500 checkpoints in Baghdad alone, and if you’re going to a checkpoint and you’re an American... it’s kind of common knowledge you’re going to be under a lot of suspicion by the police, by different militias, and so to not have identification is really really dangerous.”
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GOVERNMENT
Students challenge literacy legislation
Critics say retainment of third graders impacts development in class ALEX HARRING Daily Staff Reporter
University of Michigan students involved in the Don’t Leave Us Behind Campaign have taken action to advocate against a controversial state reading law. The legislation, dubbed the “Read by Grade Three Law,” requires Michigan schools to identify students who are struggling with reading and writing to provide additional support with the potential to be held back in third grade. This school year is the first with the retention mandate in effect, requiring students who score below a certain cutoff on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress to be held back. According to Rackham student Gabriel DellaVecchia, one of the founders of Don’t Leave Us Behind, the campaign has determined that about 5,000 third grade students who would be held back each year under the law. DellaVecchia, who taught with Denver Public Schools before coming to the University, said Colorado and other states have these policies in place, though the retention component is optional.
JULIA SCHACHINGER/Daily A panel of professors discuss the challenges of what it takes for the University to become carbon-neutral in Robertson Auditorim Tuesday night.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 44 ©2019 The Michigan Daily
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 CLASSIFIEDS................6
See LITERACY, Page 3A
SUDOKU.....................2 ARTS...................5 SPORTS.................7
News
2A — Wednesday, December 11, 2019
MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers
TUESDAY: By Design
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
WEDNESDAY: This Week in History
THURSDAY: Twitter Talk
FRIDAY: Behind the Story
Students numb from presidential election coverage Dec. 11, 2000 While the media, obsessed by post-presidential election coverage, continue to indulge political junkies with 24-hour election news updates, most students are now spending their time obsessing about f inal exams and term papers In most other years the presidential election would have ended more than a month ago, but this year’s historic counts, recounts – and then even more recounts – are driving some students batt y. Many students say they
don’t have time to pay attention, while others simply have lost interest. “I just want it to be decided. I don’t really care who gets it,” LSA sophomore Michelle Brown said while studying at Starbucks Coffee on South State Street. “I would kind of just like to see it end. It’s making a big debacle,” Business School senior Kirk Oldford said, adding that he has stopped paying as much attention to ever y new detail reported by the news. “It’s not that I don’t care. It;s just going to
be the same thing over and over again. I’m just waiting for the end to see what happens.” Proofreading a paper at Angell Hall was more important to Oldford that focusing on the events in Florida. He said he consistently pays attention to general news events, and for him the election has become just another stor y. But with f inals just around the corner, study mode has set in. While sitting at an Angell Hall computer f inishing one of his last assig nments for
the semester, Eng ineering senior K. Mannah Kallon said he does not believe the outcome of the election will affect his life. But Kallon doesn’t care what happens in Florida and the possibilit y that Vice President Al Gore could win the popular vote but lose the Electoral College has made him disillusioned with the system. “I don’t really care, I don’t particularly have strong feelings for either candidate,” Kallon said. Many students do not deny the importance of this
historic election but remain critical towards the media’s treatment of the election. “It;s a shame that it’s taken up so much of the media’s attention that we’ve forgotten there are lots of things going on in the world right now,” Social Work student Carrie Gorga said. Gorga said she is disappointed that news ser vices are neglecting to discuss possible voting problems in states other than Florida. “They’ve totally ig nored the rest of the countr y,” she
said, arg uing that there are disenfranchisement issues the media has neglected. Gorga described the events in Florida as “a circus,” saying that she believes while the election is important, she does not understand the need for 24-hour coverage. “ We’ve got a whole other month until somebody is sworn in, so I don’t see what’s the rush,’ Gorga said.
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Gov. Whitmer announces challenge for increasing FAFSA application rates
State hopes to raise number of high school students who apply for federal financial aid MAEVE O’BRIEN Daily Staff Reporter
In early December, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the “Governor’s FAFSA Challenge” for high schools across the state to increase their Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion rate among graduating seniors. The challenge is supported by the College Cash Campaign initiative under Michigan College Access Network, which will provide the necessary resources, such as an implementation guide and toolbox of tips, to help participating high schools boost their FAFSA completion rate. MCAN is aiming for a 75 percent FAFSA completion rate in 2020, a significant jump from the 55.9 percent completion rate in 2019. “Every student deserves a path to a quality, affordable Sudoku Generator postsecondary education, and
CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA
high schools November through alleviate some of the financial March on completing the FAFSA barriers to college life, including and scholarship applications. housing, health, food security High schools will be able to and worker’s rights. Rall is from a small rural town track their FAFSA completion rate through the FAFSA tracker, in Van Buren County, Michigan, which shows the individual and believes the “Governor’s school’s completion data and FAFSA Challenge” is a great initiative for encouraging high trends over time. The “Governor’s FAFSA school students to complete the Challenge” includes incentives FAFSA. She recalled from her and awards for high schools own experience that her high that reach certain levels of school left students to navigate FAFSA completion. The three the FAFSA completion process by winning high schools will themselves. “Because there was no FAFSA have the opportunity to have Whitmer, Lieutenant Gov. day at school or anything, if U-M Garlin Gilchrist II or another hadn’t asked me to fill it out, I prominent Michigan celebrity to would never have thought to,” serve as their commencement, Rall said. or decision day, speaker. The top Rall said that living in a rural 10 geographic winners will win a trip to the Capitol and meet area presents other challenges to applying to college and Whitmer. FAFSA completion rates are completing the FAFSA, including lower in low-income districts internet access and parent than in http://sudokugenerator.com/sudoku/generator/print/ high-income districts, availability. “Especially coming from my according to College Cash Campaign. Low-income lens of a small community and high school seniors are 127 an under-resourced community percent more likely to enroll … Wi-Fi isn’t a widespread thing, in postsecondary education just because it’s hard to get Wi-Fi after high school if they in the country, just access to a complete the FAFSA than if computer to be able to fill out EASY that information,” Rall said. “And they do not complete it. In a statement to The then FAFSA is also relying on a Michigan Daily, Vickie parent being around and being Crupper, senior associate able to answer the questions for director of the Office you, which is hard with working of Financial Aid at the schedules.” Given its high FAFSA University of Michigan, said the University’s FAFSA completion rates, Rall said completion rates are already the University could increase extremely high among accessibility by recruiting from high schools in lower-income and incoming students. “Anything done to increase rural areas. “I know it would be hard for access to higher education, especially for those from U-M to go to all of the different low-income backgrounds, is a schools,” Rall said. “Even just in positive step, and we applaud Michigan there’s so many, and a the governor’s initiative,” lot are spread apart. But I think Crupper said. “At U-M we’re it means a lot, especially when lucky to have extremely high you’re a high school or teenage FAFSA completion rates student to have someone tell among our students and you face to face that this is a possibility for you.” families with need.” Rackham student Laura Read more at Rall is president of Affordable © sudokugenerator.com. For personal use only. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com Michigan, a student MichiganDaily.com organization that works to
filling out FAFSA forms can make an enormous difference for families across the state,” Whitmer said in a press release announcing the challenge. “I just finished helping my daughter fill out her FAFSA application while she applied to colleges. It’s simple and can help students everywhere get on a path to a quality postsecondary education.” Completing the FAFSA online form is the only way to secure Pell Grants and other federal financial aid, as well as most state and institutional financial aid. Last year, it is estimated that about 25,000 Michigan students who were eligible for the Pell Grant, a federal subsidy for college distributed to students based on need, did not file the FAFSA. That means nearly $100 million in Pell Grant funding went unused in the state of Michigan alone. MCAN will work with the estimated 500 participating
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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.
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WAITLIST From Page 1A Enticed by the potential of a six-figure salary out of college in a booming job market, more students nationally are interested in studying computer science, including the University. In under a decade, the number of students who have declared a CSE major has more than quadrupled, from 317 students in fall 2010 to 1,320 students in fall 2019. In that same time-frame, enrollment in the LSA computer science major has increased more than 16 times, from 43 students in fall 2010 to 719 students in fall 2019. The increase of students in the major has translated to an increase of students enrolled in various computer science courses. For instance, EECS 281, a prerequisite course to most upper-level EECS classes, has seen substantial growth. According to data shared with The Daily by Steven Crang, CSE Manager for Communications and Marketing, 386 students took the class in the 20102011 school-year, while 1,409 students were enrolled in the class in the 2018-2019 schoolyear. This data reflects an occupational landscape in which a computer science degree is more in demand than ever. Despite the fact that the number of U.S. undergraduates majoring in computer science has more than doubled from 2013 to 2017, research suggests the number of computer sciencerelated jobs still “far outpaces” the number of students with bachelor degrees in the subject. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is “much faster than the average for all occupations.” In trying to keep up with increasing demand for computer science education, the CSE department at the University has
LITERACY From Page 1A “Denver Public Schools, as a district, said they didn’t believe in retention, so they actually had a letter that we could share with families and say, it is the guidance of the district that retention is not the best option to help support your child in reading,” DellaVecchia said. “In my three years of teaching in Colorado, not a single family in my classroom, and as far as I know, not a single family and my school, selected retention for their child.” The law has drawn controversy since it was passed by former Gov. Rick Snyder and a Republicancontrolled state legislature in 2016. While proponents say it sets a standard to ensure students do not fall behind and receive the support they need, critics note research indicating negative psychological and social impacts of retention on children, in addition to the added costs to the government. Among the Michigan law’s critics are current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has advocated repealing it, and Detroit Community School District Superintendent Nicholai Vitti, as well as State Superintendent Michael Rice, who has called it a “bad law.” Though only 5 percent of third graders are expected to be retained under the policy, there have been concerns from Vitti and members of the Don’t Leave Us Behind campaign regarding the varying performance levels across school districts. DCSD, for example, would have had 20 percent of its third graders held back — approximately four times the state average. DellaVecchia said beyond the impacts on students, the law could require schools to make staffing changes based on the number of students being retained. LSA senior Ariella Meltzer said she originally found the campaign through the Roosevelt Institute and was particularly struck by how clearly the data showed the policy impacting lowincome and minority populations in the state. “What’s really harmful about the law is that it hugely
ramped up hiring new faculty as well. In fact, Crang’s data shows the CSE department has grown by almost 40 percent in the last five years. The department, which had 50 tenure track professors and eight lecturers in fall 2013, has expanded to 60 tenure track faculty and 20 lecturers in fall 2019. Peter Chen, the CSE Chief Program Advisor and a professor in the EECS department, said the department has worked hard to hire more faculty. Chen explained the department has also hired more adjunct instructors, sometimes graduate students, who are not permanent faculty members. However, he said it is difficult, if not impossible, to hire more instructors at the rate of growth in student enrollment, especially as other universities and highpaying jobs in the private sector compete for many of the same qualified candidates. Chen explained the department’s main initiative has been to increase class sizes dramatically. While upper-level classes used to have about 20 to 50 students to one instructor, classes have now ballooned to 150 to 200 students to increase the availability of these classes. However, Chen, who also teaches upper-level EECS classes, noted there comes a tradeoff with increasing the student-to-teacher ratio. “That’s probably not great for students or teachers, because it’s really hard at that scale to give adequate attention to each student, which you’d like to as a teacher, and I think students would like as well,” Chen said. To increase class availability, Chen explained certain classes have begun experimenting with online-only sections in which students watch lecture recordings instead of attending lectures in a designated classroom. Yet, with this solution, the department should remember that the University is not an online-only college, Chen said.
At the same time, Chen explained the department has tried to limit demand for computer science classes. Recently, the department limited students to only registering for two upper-level EECS classes at a time, which Chen said has extended opportunity for those who register later in the process. In addition, enrollment in these classes are prioritized for majors and minors of computer science who need them to graduate. Despite these reforms, students who recently registered for their next semester classes have still experienced waitlists that have hundreds of people. As one post in a University student Facebook group noted, waitlists are sometimes a similar size to that of the class itself. According to Rackham student Sharang Karve, a firstyear student in the College of Engineering, the problem is further exacerbated as students feel compelled to register for more classes than they intend on taking. “If you don’t get into a certain class, you waitlist for two others,” Karve said. “Now, when you waitlist for two others, that’s blocking another person to register for that class… It’s a snowball effect. They don’t really know which ones they’re going to get into, so the blanket answer is to waitlist for everything and just hope you get into one.” The University course registration system assigns students a time to register based on the number of credits they have, so students with the most credits register first. However, a recent op-ed in The Daily has argued this system favors students from betterresourced high schools, where students have more access and support in taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, and thus arrive at the University with more college credit.
disproportionately affects minority and low-income students in terms of retention,” Meltzer said. “All the research shows that it just has really bad effects all around. And when you combine that with the fact that you’re putting this extra burden on a school district or students that already face an incredible amount of hardships, such as in Detroit or Flint, I literally consider it a racist law. I think that the intention — in terms of getting students to reach, like, proficiency and literacy at an earlier age — is important and that’s something we should be working towards, but the execution of the law is really lacking.” At least 25 states have similar legislation in place. Under Michigan’s version of the law, there are exemptions, though critics question if these favor those with the resources to obtain them. These “good faith exemptions” include students enrolled in special education with an individualized education plan, limited English with less than three years of instruction in an English language learner program and having been enrolled in their current school for less than two years with evidence they did not have an individual reading improvement plan. State Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R-District 32, an advocate of the law, did not respond to The Daily’s request for comment. Test scores have shown more than half of Michigan third grade students test below proficient in reading. Those in favor of the policy, like former state Rep. Amanda Price, who sponsored the bill, have said it requires schools to focus on ensuring students can read. Members of the Don’t Leave Us Behind Campaign point to research demonstrating the negative social and psychological impacts of retainment. For instance, students who are retained are more likely to drop out. Though the campaign is against the bill in its entirety, DellaVecchia said their current goal is to get an amendment passed changing the retention component to optional. DellaVecchia said they are
pushing for this change to allow families and teachers to make the decision rather than the government. LSA junior Jordan Tyo said the coalition behind the campaign has been growing. The group has been meeting with lawmakers in Lansing, as well as trying to connect with parentteacher organizations and gain wider name recognition among parents. While they have had difficulties reaching out to parents, the group has found success in getting the attention of state representatives, who largely ignored them when the campaign began. “It’s surprising how illinformed parents are, not being any fault of their own or the school, it’s just that this bill kind of slid in there and, all of a sudden, it’s going to affect, and they still don’t completely know about it,” Tyo said. “It’s a little tedious trying to get in there and trying to expand, but it’s also kind of cool seeing just the grassroots going from hardly getting an answer to meeting with these representatives and really picking up momentum.” In addition to lobbying policy makers, DellaVecchia said they have been meeting with community groups across the state to educate people on the law. One roadblock they face is getting an amendment on the table to be voted on. DellaVecchia said the chairs of the House Education Reform Committee and the Senate Education Committees would have to bring the amendment to the floor, though they are not required to do so. DellaVecchia said he would not be surprised if they did not bring the amendment forward. If they cannot get an amendment through soon, Meltzer said families across the state will bear the consequences as thousands of third graders this year are retained. With this in mind, she said the campaign is in a race against time. “It is going to be really sad if we can’t get something to change to see the literal thousands of kids that are going to come home with this piece of paper that says your kid is going to be held back,” Meltzer said.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 — 3A
Michigan in Color
Senior Goodbyes
With love, Carly innumerable interviews, laid awake thinking about Managing MiC Editor typos, cried in every room in There’s a unique this building, and somehow vulnerability in attaching attracted the attention of your name to words, having Steve from Utah, who for a them printed 7,500 times time left angry comments on and distributed to every each one of my articles. But here, I found purpose building on campus. Even though I’ve done this nearly and community. The work 100 times in my four years I’ve done at the Daily has here, as I sit writing for the felt more meaningful and Daily one last time, I can tell productive than any other assignment I can think of. you it never gets easier. But I sure have grown up This place really is a means since Emma Kinery assigned to make great change. If you me my first story and set have a story to tell, the Daily my world in motion. I’ve will listen. I have no idea what a come a long way since being that shamelessly try-hard college experience looks freshman: running down to like without this place, but the South Quad lobby to pick I take comfort in knowing up a paper each morning, the Daily is evergreen. taking three shaky breaths More women of color will before calling a source, take up space above the wanting so badly to do right fold. More articles will hold by the stories I had been the powerful accountable awarded the privilege to tell. and give a platform to the In time, I became one of overlooked. More freshmen the editors who basically will trudge up the steps of lived in this building, who the newsroom bewildered, finally found out what the ambitious, and unaware heck MDesk is, who was they’re about to take on the pulled into the time warp most rewarding experience that is making a newspaper, of their lives. I can’t wait to emerging at 12 a.m. with the read what they have to say. To those that made this distinctly shrill headache that can only be produced by place a home, Boo Boo, the sports section’s playlist, Kaela, Sophie, Matt, Maya and who complained about and Riyah, you guys are my job, but only because that some of the most formative was easier than explaining friends I’ve ever had. I still how I could possibly enjoy can’t believe we did that. It spending 20+ hours in the was so crazy and so special. newsroom every week. We made a really good team. But it hasn’t been without To my dumplings, sacrifice. By pouring you’re truly the cool older myself into 420 Maynard, girlfriends I always wanted I neglected friendships, to make in college. I don’t requested (and was denied) know who I would be if countless essay extensions, you hadn’t taken me under strained relationships and your fashionable, graceful, ceded many good night’s uncommonly literate wings, sleeps. I’ve stuttered through and I don’t ever want to find CARLY RYAN
out. To Na’kia, you’re something so special and everyone who meets you can feel it. I really can’t imagine a better leader or a more loyal friend. It’s me and you forever. To the MiC staff, the work you did this year mattered. I can’t thank you enough for your diligence, your words and your hugs. To all of this year’s managing editors, I’m not sure in what other context a ragtag bunch of individuals like us would be found in the same room, but somehow, it really worked. Thank you for being so fearless and fun in taking on what was probably the craziest learning curve we’ve ever encountered. The result was extraordinary. To Finny and Maxy, as our very own Joel once said, “The Michigan Daily really has some of the best white men out there.” You guys are the best of the best. To Joel, there’s no one I’d rather be canceled with. Thank you for always knowing just how to make me laugh. Tuesday nights were always the best part of my week. To Maggie, for always being 100 percent true to yourself –– no matter how uncomfortable it made people. You light up every room you walk into. Just don’t go wearing too many skirts, especially in front of [redacted]. To Maya, everytime I think about our friendship for too long I cry, so I’ll just say thank you for growing up with me. I’ll be here from 5th Bush to beyond. 420 Maynard, there’s nothing like you. Thank you, again and again.
Forever and always, Na’kia NA’KIA CHANNEY Managing MiC Editor
“won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life?” - Lucille Clifton When I joined Michigan in Color in 2018, my goal was to find the language to describe my identity as a Black woman for myself. I wanted to be liberated from internalized misconceptions and controlling images that had left my self-determination stif led and misaligned. It is through Michigan in Color that I discovered the inherent beauty, joy and brilliancy in my Blackness. Thus, it has been one of my greatest honors to have been able to serve as Co-Managing Editor for Michigan in Color. As MiC has helped me cultivate my narrative, voice, purpose and self-love, I am thankful to have been a part of a platform that has helped others shape theirs. To my Podcast, Blog, and Creative Content Editors: I am in awe of what you have been able to accomplish. From the creation of the Creative column, our podcast and the expansion of the blog, I am so incredibly proud of your vision and direction. You have been instrumental in
expanding Michigan in Color beyond the written page and increasing methods of self-expression. I hope that you all continue to foster your imagination and creativity and that you never stop pushing your ideas into reality. To the editors of the column: You have all been such a delight, and your hard work has not gone unnoticed. You all have been so amazing in helping us to continue the mission of our section. Each and every single one of you has expanded the capacity of Michigan in Color to serve students of color, and I will be forever thankful for your f lexibility, dedication, and commitment. To my wonderful, intelligent, beautiful Co-Managing Editor Carly: Thank you for everything. More than I can express, you are what has kept me solid throughout this journey. Your kindness, direction, and diligence is admirable, and the section is so lucky to have f lourished under your leadership. In addition to being the best co-Managing Editor that I could have ever asked for, you have become such a dear friend to me, and I genuinely will miss the sliver of peace that you brought for me every Sunday.
Lastly, to the new Managing Editors of Michigan in Color Maya and Ana: I am so incredibly excited about your leadership and visions for the section. You two were meant for this position, and I am confident that MiC is in powerful, capable hands. Know that my faith in you will never falter and that I will be supporting you for days and days to come. The Daily has become a second home, and I will remember it fondly for all of the laughs, challenges, and innovation that has come from its walls. It is such an honor to have been able to contribute to the legacy of the Daily and its commitment to journalistic freedom. The students here have all inspired me so much, and it is through the leadership and fellowship that I’ve witnessed from others that I have begun to believe in myself. Michigan in Color, you have been both the ends and the beginnings of my weeks for the longest that I can remember. You have been both the solace after a busy week and a burst of energ y for the coming weeks’ trials. As MiC strives to amplify the voices of people of color, I look forward to carrying this commitment with me for decades to come.
Opinion
4A — Wednesday, December 11, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALANNA BERGER | COLUMN
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Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of The Daily’s Editorial Board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
BRITTANY BOWMAN | COLUMN
T
The toxicity of American holiday traditions
hanksgiving was first celebrated in the late 19th century. It embraces a whitewashed history of Native Americans sitting down happily with the Pilgrims to celebrate a successful year of harvest, and most importantly, life. The story touts that the Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to hunt turkey and plant corn, and with their freshly harvested crops and fireroasted bird, everyone celebrated and feasted together. This joyous ideal is what we are taught all throughout elementary school, something consequently ingrained in our consciousness. It is explained that this holiday is a time for “giving thanks” and conscious cultural appropriation. In peppy, youthful classes all across America, students fashion feathered headdresses and jump around in circles, soon to sit down criss-cross applesauce and talk about how they’re thankful for their dog or mommy. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is a simple time to consume questionable turkey innards and steaming mashed potatoes and talk about “what they’re thankful for,” which usually involves a drowsy response of “each other.” However, for many others, Thanksgiving has a contentious history that goes far beyond the time the initial “feast” was held. Americans love traditions, but many are unaware of why these so-called traditions are so widely celebrated. For Native Americans, Thanksgiving is not a holiday synonymous with blessings, praise and gratitude. Instead, it is a reminder of the dark history of the past four centuries that is rarely told transparently. In his article, “Why I’m not Thankful for Thanksgiving,” Michael Dorris, an American novelist, scholar and member of the Modoc Tribe, wrote, “Considering that virtually none of the standard fare surrounding ... Thanksgiving contains an ounce of authenticity, historical accuracy or cross-cultural perception, why is it so apparently ingrained? Is it necessary for the North American psyche to perpetually exploit and debase its victims in order to justify its history?” At the whitewashed feast that is so well celebrated today, the sitting down and breaking of bread with Native Americans was a prelude to one of the worst acts of genocide in the history of our planet. America is built on an endless stream of broken promises from invaders who exploited and commiserated the indigenous people of the land they “founded.” With this in mind, let Natives express their trauma over “Thanksgiving” and genocide without tone policing them or reprimanding them on how they are “making others feel bad” about wanting to celebrate an entirely commercial holiday. Just as there was backlash against the movement to rename racist sports teams, such as the Washington Redskins, nonNatives are uncomfortable when confronted with terrible histories
of what America has done to its Native people. America is not losing its values because “friendsgiving” is becoming more popular than Thanksgiving; People are simply readjusting their priorities and realizing they don’t want to continue filling their lives with toxic bonds for the sake of the title “family.” Thanksgiving is steeped in tradition, and lately, this sense of tradition is being threatened for Americans who hold their familial ideations and ignorance so dearly. Although the concept of celebrating the holidays with your friends instead of family members has been around for decades, the term “friendsgiving” has been made more prevalent in recent years. Although it’s only a simple wordchange and still the same concept, some people are up in arms talking about how America is losing its values by embracing friendsgiving and negating Thanksgiving. A Huffington Post article even alleged that “it’s precisely the absence of any threat to life and limb that makes Friendsgiving such a fail.” It’s claimed that people would rather work or spend time with their friends than go home to spend time with family around the holidays. However, being able to denounce people who make these decisions comes from an inherent place of privileged family dynamics and a limited perspective.
America is built on an endless stream of broken promises from invaders The holidays are a hard time for a countless number of people. Many do not have functional homes with happy, smiling family members to return to. Others may face a financial barrier and not be able to afford to travel hundreds of miles or take off work to see family members. Flights home are expensive, especially around the holiday season, and people may wonder if it’s worth it to spend entire paychecks to go home to a potentially miserable environment. Consequently, choosing to celebrate with loved ones who are geographically closer can avoid the anxiety caused by making these tough monetary decisions. Individuals may also not feel comfortable being around family members due to past traumas, differing political or emotional outlooks, homophobia, racism, overall bigotry and so on. Perhaps the reasoning behind not wanting to see family is simpler and someone just doesn’t want to answer all their aunts and uncles’ menacing questions or address “what can you do with an English degree?” Having a great family
dynamic where you can spend every holiday together without it being chaotic, stressful and exhausting is fantastic. However, this environment isn’t the case for plenty of people, so friendsgiving and other friend-centered holiday celebrations are new trends that create comfortable dynamics that promote inclusion and mutual wellbeing among loved ones. In the best-case scenario, we choose who has access to our time and space, especially during the holiday seasons. Between seasonal depression, toxic families and the looming possibility of the death of relatives, sometimes reintroducing yourself to a family environment after weeks away can be very challenging. If you must attend and you become uncomfortable due to your identification with a community that is being verbally harassed at a family outing, please know you deserve better and so many are supporting you walking out. Abusive families or family members that are cruel, unaccepting and bigoted do not have inherent value and do not need to be given time — if at all possible. Friendsgiving is all about choices, and people should not be shamed for choosing what sets them at peace. It’s about celebrating life with people you care about and vice versa, not people you should be forced to encounter. Commercially constructed holidays with centuriesold, genocidal pretenses should be cut out altogether. Friendsgiving is an obvious substitute, and although it may be much healthier and enjoyable for many without functional, poster families, the whitewashed holiday seasons are still a constant and looming trauma for Native peoples. Although the holiday is toxic in a variety of ways, proper education in the genocidal history of this feast can allow people to remember the trauma of colonization on the Native Americans. Over the holidays, we can get together with loved ones to mourn those who were murdered and lost, as well as their centuries of traditions and sacred land, by acknowledging the true history of America and Thanksgiving while giving agency to Native Americans. I realize the centuries of stolen land and murder may be “hard to teach,” but it is necessary. If you are priviledged enough to celebrate the holidays with a happy, functional family, please take a moment to examine this privilege and recognize the inability of countless families across America to do the same. Friendsgivings should be encouraged for those without readily accessible, stable and happy families, but both institutions should prioritize giving respect to Native Americans and remembering the trauma these holidays have caused. Brittany Bowman can be reached at babowm@umich.edu.
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Handling mental health during the holidays
he holiday season is touted by society as the most wonderful time of the year. Cheerful music, cheesy movies and bright decorations abound as soon as Halloween passes. However, for many Americans, the holiday season is one to dread. Along with tidings of comfort and joy, the holidays bring the pressures of large family gatherings, parties among friends, an abundance of unhealthy foods and obligations to spend money on gifts. Coupled with the colder, darker weather, the onset of the holiday season can leave many feeling overwhelmed, anxious and depressed. Despite the crushing expectations to have fun and enjoy the merriment of the holidays, it is possible to survive the season with your sanity intact. There are a multitude of reasons why the holiday season is difficult for many. Some individuals and families find the holidays highlight the absence of loved ones they have lost, whether through death or some other means. An empty chair at a dinner table — a concrete reminder of a missing person — may be easier to look past at other times of the year. Moreover, holiday family gatherings can bring back painful memories of a departed person and times shared during happier seasons. To cope with the grief that accompanies the holidays, it is important to first consciously acknowledge that the season will be emotionally difficult. Grief is often a taboo subject, especially during the holidays. However, Rachel Thomas, president of OptionB, an organization that provides resources to those facing grief or other adversity, says social support can make all the difference to a grieving person. In order to best support someone in your life who is grieving, be sure to provide open invitations to holiday festivities, but do not pressure them into attendance if they seem unwilling. If you are able, gifting a donation in memory of the lost loved one may be a welcome gesture that provides comfort during a difficult season.
Beyond grief, individuals with active eating disorders or those in recovery often experience an increase in their symptoms during the holiday season. As most of the major holidays — especially in the United States — center around food, people who struggle with anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating or other related disorders may feel a profound sense of panic. The prospect of eating under the watchful eyes of large groups of friends and family in social situations can cause many to fall further into patterns of disordered eating. Many people with anorexia in particular often do not know what a normal amount of food is for them and fear eating any amount will cause immediate weight gain. This fear is then compounded by the feeling that everyone nearby is watching and intensely judging the amount of food they are eating. When bulimia, the cycle of bingeeating and purging, is involved, the abundance of food may present feelings of excitement and immense shame, as well as selfhatred and fear over the prospect of their loved ones finding out about their struggles. The family and friends of someone struggling with disordered eating can provide support by refraining from commenting on their loved one’s food or their own eating habits during the holiday season. It can also be helpful to make time for holiday activities that do not focus on food, such as watching movies or singing carols. Most importantly, patience and kindness are integral to helping a loved one cope with their eating disorder throughout the holiday season. Anxiety and depression are often prevalent during the holidays as well. The demands of cooking, gift-buying, cleaning, throwing or attending parties and the overall pressure to “perform happiness” can be isolating. Furthermore, the looming new year can present feelings of inadequacy over lack of achievements of goals set at the start of the year. For many others, attending holiday parties full of coworkers, friends
or family members presents crippling social anxiety and may increase feelings of isolation in those with depression. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, de-stressing and handling holidayrelated depression can involve simple acts, such as avoiding the obligation to say yes to all holidayrelated gatherings you may be invited to, avoiding excessive use of alcohol or drugs and maintaining healthy habits through eating and other forms of self-care. The holiday season may be difficult even for individuals without diagnosed mental illnesses. Those with jobs in retail often find what is supposed to be a joyful time dampened by managing customers on their worst behavior. Others may find that the repetition of the same songs, movies and traditions grates on their sanity. If you find yourself among these groups, understand that such feelings are common. Northwestern Memorial Hospital psychiatrist Michael Ziffra, M.D. emphasizes the importance of skipping holiday activities that you do not enjoy. Alternatives include buying gifts online if you cannot stand crowded shopping malls. Because the holidays are often hectic and disruptive, it is important to stay as close to your normal schedule as possible to maintain some sort of normalcy, says Ziffra. Clinical psychologist John E. Mayer recommends setting aside a part of your holiday budget to buy yourself something you have wanted for some time as a means to ease the holiday blues. If you still find yourself struggling, reach out to a trusted loved one to confide your difficulties. The same goes for if you notice someone close to you seems to be having a hard time. Getting through the busy holiday season can seem impossible, but there are ways to manage the abundance of emotions that often surface around the end of the calendar year. Alanna Berger can be reached at balanna@umich.edu.
MARISA WRIGHT | COLUMN
I
We must learn from #NousToutes
n France, one woman dies every two days from a man committing domestic violence. In the United States, three women die per day at the hands of men perpetrating domestic violence. On Saturday, Nov. 23, about 150,000 people across France — from Paris to Bordeaux to Lyon — gathered in protest of growing rates of femicide in France. Femicide is the killing of a woman or girl on account of her gender by a man. Since the start of 2019, 137 women have died from gender-based violence in France. The outrage over the rise in femicide in France was sparked by the murder of Julie Douib by her husband, Bruno Garcia Cruciani. Douib reported domestic violence to the French police over a dozen times, including an incident where she told police she was afraid her husband, who had a gun license, might shoot her. The police told her they could not do anything until her husband actually pointed a gun at her. Two days later, Douib’s husband shot and killed her. Douib’s murder was emblematic of the danger domestic violence poses to women and the obstacles women face when reporting violence to police. A French dialogue began and led to the #NousToutes movement, which organized the protests on Saturday. #NousToutes translates to “All of Us,” but takes the French feminine verb form, meaning “All of Us Women.” It was founded in the summer of 2019 as an extension of the #MeToo movement, or the French equivalent #BalanceTonPorc, to call attention to the widespread genderbased violence men commit against women in France. This gender-based violence includes domestic abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, rape and other forms of sexual violence. More than just a protest march, the #NousToutes grassroots movement has pushed change in France. Though French President Emmanuel Macron has failed to keep his promises of making gender equality the “great national cause,” the French government opened a national debate on gender-based violence and femicide. After Macron admitted on Facebook that France “couldn’t manage to protect” women from femicide and intimate-partner
violence, he announced a threemonth series of conferences involving government officials, women’s rights groups, lawyers, prosecutors and victims’ families to work on preventing femicide and supporting domestic violence victims. By some measures, domestic violence is more prevalent and destructive in the U.S. than in France, with 29 percent of American women experiencing physical violence by a partner compared to the 26 percent of French women. While France is taking steps to protect women from violent men, the U.S. seems to be ignoring the problem, which enables men to continue to abuse and violate women. Republicans in the U.S. are actively blocking a law designed to protect women and punish abusers of any gender. In the U.S. House of Representatives this year, 157 Republicans voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) at the urging of the National Rifle Association. The bill was first passed in 1994 as the first federal legal acknowledgement of domestic and sexual violence, making them crimes and providing federal assistance to combat violence against women. While the VAWA Reauthorization did ultimately pass the House, the Republican-controlled Senate, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has refused to even take a vote on the bill. While the VAWA Reauthorization is important for addressing genderbased violence in the U.S., it seems it will be stalled in the Senate until Democrats gain a majority, which is unlikely to happen soon given Republican voter suppression efforts. In the meantime, feminists and activists can work to gain support for the Equal Rights Amendment, which has renewed hopes for passage after Democrats gained a majority in the Virginia House of Delegates in the 2019 election. The Equal Rights Amendment, proposed in 1923 by the National Women’s Party, is “designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.” The amendment attempts to end legal distinctions between men and women regarding elements like divorce, property and employment. The main clause of the ERA states, “Equality of rights under the law
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The U.S. Constitution does not promote this. Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972 and similarly ignored by the Senate, the ERA was ratified by 35 states, falling three states short of the required 38 before a 1982 deadline. It failed, in part, because of the efforts of conservative activist and strident anti-feminist Phyllis Schafly. In 2017, Nevada became the 36th state to ratify the ERA, and one year later, Illinois became the 37th. While many express concerns these efforts might be in vain, some legal scholars question if the House had the authority to place a deadline on the amendment in the first place. Even if a court rules it did, then the House also has the authority to remove the original 1982 deadline. With a Democratic majority in the House, the ERA could therefore be passed in 2020, which also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment. While the ERA is not specifically aimed at ameliorating domestic violence, a constitutional guarantee that rights cannot be abridged on the basis of sex can force law enforcement to protect women against domestic violence. In the 2005 case Town of Castle Rocks v. Gonzales, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment does not compel state law enforcement to enforce restraining orders protecting women against domestic violence. The ERA could fix this. The U.S. desperately needs to address domestic violence, particularly that of men who commit violence against women. Domestic violence also affects men, though at far lower rates, and is not exclusive to heterosexual relationships. In the U.S., nearly one in three women and one in nine men will experience rape, physical violence or stalking by a partner. The U.S. should emulate the French #NousToutes movement. Like France, we have a domestic violence epidemic. Passing the Equal Rights Amendment is the first legal step to ending it. Marisa Wright can be reached at marisadw@umich.edu.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, December 11, 2019— 5A
FILM REVIEW
‘Honey Boy’ is a heartbreaking look at past & present ANDREW WARRICK Daily Arts Writer
Shia LaBeouf has always been a character. In 2014, at the Berlin Film Festival, he wore a paper bag over his head reading “I am Not Famous Anymore.” Later that same year, he performed #IAMSORRY, where he wore the paper bag again and let people visit him in a room while he sat silently, sometimes weeping. On top of these performances were multiple arrests for public drunkenness, that culminated in a 2017 incident after which he attended a 12-step rehab and anger management program. That is where “Honey Boy,” written by LaBeouf and directed by Alma Har’el (“LoveTrue”), was written. In an opening montage centered around LaBeouf’s breakthrough in the early 2000s, Otis, LaBeouf’s cinematic alter ego played by Lucas Hedges (“Boy Erased”), falls apart in a booze soaked spiral as he films blockbuster after blockbuster. It’s jarring, almost painfully so, making it the perfect way to convey a fractured, addicted headspace. After a horrific car wreck and an arrest where he spars with police officers, Otis is sent to rehab. Then the movie jumps to Otis’s childhood. Noah Jupe (“A Quiet Place”), a child actor, plays young Otis. His father, played by LaBeouf, acts as his chaperone. He’s a recovering alcoholic and convicted felon, constantly hitting on the nearest woman and reminding anyone and everyone about his glory days as a rodeo clown. He’s latched onto his son for the money from his acting success, not to right any wrongs.
Yet this is no caricature — LaBeouf has never performed this well or this honestly. Playing his own father, LaBeouf wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s not afraid to rip it to shreds right in front of one’s eyes. The bulk of the movie is conversations between Otis and his father, with each character asking for what the other cannot give them. Otis needs a stable adult in his life, while his father wants his son to forgive, condone and encourage his bad choices. While their relationship is anything but healthy, there’s still love between them, which, for better or for worse, makes it hard for either of them to step away. Adult Otis watches this all play out with the audience, trying to come to terms with it. The rehab scenes are just as honest as
AMAZON STUDIOS
the flashbacks, with LaBeouf psychoanalyzing his own anger issues, narcissism, trauma and addiction. It’s incredibly brave. “Honey Boy” is a riveting dialogue between past and present; between violence and trauma. It’s genuinely heartbreaking. There are no easy answers, and one gets the sense that LaBeouf himself still isn’t sure how to feel about his father. Looking back, LaBeouf’s performance art doesn’t seem so silly. Of course he would try and avoid fame after what his childhood was like. Plus, what’s so different between making a movie like “Honey Boy” and sitting alone with strangers and crying one’s eyes out, laying personal trauma bare for all the world to see? It may not be the most subtle, structured or healthy way to go about things, but it makes for remarkable cinema.
TV REVIEW
Honey Boy State Theatre Amazon Studios
MUSIC NOTEBOOK
‘Reprisal’ is try-hard TV This was Year of the Orange in-law, Doris sets out to reclaim her identity as Katherine and destroy her brother’s empire. Daily Arts Writer Despite its solid concept and striking exterior, “Reprisal” starts off slow and relies on gratuitous “Reprisal” thinks it’s really cool. And you know violence and trite mobster-movie dialogue to what? It’s right. “Reprisal” is cool. It’s a gorgeous bide time before Doris/Katherine can get bloody blend of neon lights, Lolita sunglasses, dank motel revenge. Within the first four episodes, the show rooms, rusty hot rods and sequins on burlesque sets up so many subplots for minor characters that, costumes. The time period is hazy — flip phones even with a flawless look, the story feels messy and are as present as pastel rotary landlines. “Reprisal” disorganized. Rather than explore the nuances of Doris’s story, has a lot going for it. Whether it’s enough to be truly “Reprisal” sets up every character as seeking their worthwhile remains to be seen. The story, while presented as twisted and own individual form of redemption. Ethan’s wanted complex, is rather simple: A man betrays a woman. for murder in Michigan. Meredith searches for her missing stunt-woman mother and The woman gets revenge. The man sells dangerous hallucinogens to and woman in question, however, bankroll her investigation. Gang are brother and sister. Together, elder Joel (Rodrigo Santoro, “300”) they make up a sibling team who leads the Brawlers while trying run a vaguely Southern, extremely to raise his young daughter away violent gang called the Banished from the violence. Burlesque emcee Brawlers. Picking up years after Season One Queenie (Lea DeLaria, “Orange her brother Burt left her for dead, Episodes 1-4 Is the New Black”) tries to assert “Reprisal” follows Katherine herself as a valuable member of Harlow (Abigail Spencer, “Mad Hulu the gang. As the season progresses, Men,”) now under the alias Doris Now Streaming “Reprisal” starts feeling more like a Quinn. Since her brush with death, TV-MA version of “Riverdale” than Doris married a wealthy Detroit a coherent, adult drama. restauranteur with a terminal The stakes of “Reprisal” are illness, so she eventually can collect constantly changing, and, as a his inheritance. Meanwhile, a former employee of Doris, result, the pacing of the show suffers. One minute, Ethan Hart (Mena Massoud, “Aladdin”) arrives a room of bikers are getting murdered. The at Burt’s Bang-a-Rang, a no-holds-barred night next, a girl watches a home video from the ’70s. club operating as the Brawlers’s headquarters. Yet, somehow, both moments are still boring in Ethan is soon recruited by a smaller group called comparison to the very best of the show’s visuals. the Three River Phoenixes to help transport In trying to cross over into multiple genres and contraband between the Bang-a-Rang’s various aesthetics, “Reprisal” can’t settle on what actually branch locations. As a Phoenix, Ethan meets — works. “Reprisal” may not be the next “Sopranos” and becomes infatuated with — the club’s star pin-up girl Meredith (Madison Davenport, “Sharp or “Sons of Anarchy.” It may not be the most Objects”) who happens to be the daughter of the innovative or compelling thing on TV right now. It may not even be the best “woman seeks revenge in gang’s leader, Burt Harlow. As Ethan gains trust with the Phoenixes, he patriarchal system” show on Hulu at the moment communicates his successes with Doris, who has — looking at you, “Handmaid’s Tale.” However, been slowly building a gang of her own to take if “Reprisal” can figure out what its strongest down the Brawlers from the inside. With the help of characters and story lines are, the show could end two small-time criminals and her timid daughter- up being just as cool as it looks. ANYA SOLLER
Reprisal
COMMUNITY CULTURE NOTEBOOK
‘Holiday Sauce’ hits home ALIX CURNOW Daily Arts Writer
“There’s no place like home for the holidays.” This lyric from the popular song “Home for the Holidays” has become a staple of the holiday season. However, while rampant global consumerism and capitalism wants us to believe the holidays are filled with gingerbread houses and smiling grandmas, that is simply not the case for many Americans. Many of us (especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community) search for a home away from home during the holiday season. At least, that’s what Taylor Mac, co-director and star of “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” did. According to their website, “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” is a “two-hour intermission-less extravaganza (musical show) for an adult, gay-friendly audience.” In an interview with “Q Voice News,” Mac (who uses the pronoun “judy” lowercase sic unless at the start of a sentence) described judy’s holiday experience as “tortorous and homophobic.” Mac said, “‘Holiday Sauce’ is a tribute to my drag mother, Mother Flawless Sabrina. I went to a Christmas party and a couple of holiday parties at her house. They were the best. The parties were so freeing. I didn’t have to hang out with family. I could be myself. It was a loving environment.” “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” is brought to Ann Arbor by the University Musical Society. Mac, along with a “spectacular” band and surprise special guests, will take the stage of the Power Center Sat. Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. and Sun. Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. “Taylor grew up queer and went on to find a found family in New York City,” said Co-Director of “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce”
Niegel Smith in an interview with The Daily. Smith and Taylor are longtime artistic collaborators. “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” is just another one of their collaborative masterpieces. “Taylor and I are working to make the culture we want to see in the world,” Smith said. The performances in “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” contain a celebratory and healing culture that extends to its audience, too. The audience members, many who may or may not find solace in going home for the holidays, can certainly find an exciting home for themselves while watching the performance. “I hope everyone is a little surprised and delighted, and we center our elders and those who came before us. You’ll know what I mean by that when you come to the show,” Smith said. Like its audience, the show itself is changing and growing with the times. “Each iteration (of ) the work changes … constantly evolving as we evolve and as our world evolves,” Smith said. The show skillfully uses costuming to comment on our ever-changing world. Costume designer Machine Dazzle has created costumes that can be considered characters of their own. “There is a maximalism in Machines’ aesthetic. Inside each costume are added layers that slowly reveal themselves,” Smith said. “Machine is looking to not only express the character with the costumes but to show a deeper message beneath.” The costuming for this show is incomparable to almost everything in our current theatrical landscape.
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JIM WILSON
Daily Arts Writer
It turns out 2019 wasn’t the Year of the Pig: 2019 was actually the Year of the Orange. Yeah, that’s right. But what does that mean, you might find yourself asking. I’ll tell you. 2019 was the Year of the Orange because San Francisco, CA’s finest, Larry June, dropped not one, not two, but five albums. In one year! That’s crazy. It’s like that time in 2017 when King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard released four solo albums and one collaborative album (with the Mild High Club). Each of those albums had their own sound and vibe, which was a hell of a lot of fun to listen to throughout the year. The same goes for Larry June’s string of releases over the past twelve months. Two things make Larry’s historic run different from that of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, though. First, he’s a rapper. Second, his five albums were a lot more fun to listen to throughout the year. Larry June is such a developed and fullyrealized character that it’s hard to take him seriously as an artist. For his entire career, he has worked to maintain a certain persona, one that’s carefree, loose, candid and in love with Whole Foods. He loves his city, oranges (so much that they’re featured prominently on a couple of his album covers), riding his bike and looking after his son. On the microphone, he’s a goofy character. There’s no debating that. He’s prone to erratically hopping on and off the beat, often just to talk shit and stunt. He adlibs things like “good job, Larry” and “yeehee!” at the end of damn near every line he raps. He often relies more on his charisma than his rapping ability to entertain listeners. He releases a lot of music, at least a couple of times per year. Some of it good, some of it bad, very little of it great. But he took December of 2018 and most of the new year’s first two months off to collect himself. It’s a good thing he did. Starting with the release of his first project of 2019, February’s Early Bird, there was a new Larry in town. Early Bird is the perfect execution of the things everyone loves about Larry June: the ad-libs, the rants, the health food talk, the shit talk and the bizarre flexes. He raps about the things that normal people talk about with their friends. However, unlike past releases, the flows are tighter, bars more descriptive and the sound more cohesive. The beat selection is impeccable, bouncy and never boring. At one point on album opener “Lets Go Eat,” he raps, assisted by a bombastic take on the classic Bay Area sound, “This not a date baby girl, this just how I play / A little 65
dollars ain’t nothing to me.” That’s the Larry everyone loves, flexing the same way an average person would when talking about a night out. However, Larry introduces a new side of himself in this new project. He was seldom ever sentimental or introspective on his previous releases, but on Early Bird, he shows that he’s more than just a braggadocious goofball. On the chorus of the title track, he delves into his personal life a bit, rapping, “To live like this, you gon have to take Ls / You gon have to fall off, you gon have to bounce back / Have you ever lost it all, hundred thou to a rat / God, I’d trade everything to have my grandma back.” Moments like these show just how much Larry June has grown as an artist. You can’t help but be proud of him. His next project, April’s The Port of San Francisco, keeps the ball rolling. This time around, though, Larry shows off some of his versatility. The album is slower, groovier and more intimate, thanks to its soul-inspired sound. It’s like a lovedup version of Early Bird, and it’s so fun to listen to. The album reaches its climax on the Polyester the Saint-assisted song, “Let’s Get Smoothies.” He talks about all the things he loves about his girl, and it’s not just the obvious things that rappers often say when they praise their girls. He points to her aversion to posting too much on Instagram, and he suggests taking her biking around the city — something that he typically only does by himself. This album proved that Early Bird wasn’t just a fluke and that 2019 really has been Larry’s year. What’s impressive is that each release brings something different to the table. June’s CardoGotWings-produced Mr. Midnight brought the extra-boastful bangers, September’s Out the Trunk brought the chillers and October’s Product of the Dope Game brought a street-oriented mix of them all, like a victory lap of sorts. Each release reveals a new dimension of Larry. The widelymocked rapper has transformed himself into someone respectable. What’s great about it all, though, is that Larry never forgets who he is. He’s still the same Larry on each album. He still flexes about pedestrian things, like how much his Hydroflask cost, while spouting motivational speeches, often on the same song. He’s still hilarious and unleashes the best ad-libs in the game, even if he does go a little overboard at times (he really goes off on “Baggage Claim”). He’s still addicted to oranges. With these five albums, he finished carving out his own lane, something he’s been trying to do for his entire career. Larry is finally starting to get the love he deserves, and rightfully so. 2019 was his year, the Year of the Orange.
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Arts
6A — Wednesday, December 11, 2019
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TV REVIEW
‘Toast of London’ is bizzare, surreal and a total trip SAYAN GHOSH Daily Arts Writer
Comedian Matt Berry’s (“What We Do in the Shadows”) “Toast of London” has been running on Channel 4 for more than five years now, only recently traveling over the Atlantic airwaves and underwater cables to Netf lix and IFC in the U.S. As with many examples of British comedy, it may take a bit of warming up to it to really enjoy, but once you embrace its nonsense, it’s one of the funniest shows out there “Toast of London” revolves around the life of its protagonist Steven Toast (Berry), a hopelessly lost and eccentric stage actor whose life mostly consists of bumbling around and confronting a bizarre set of characters, from a rival actor
“Toast of London” is as unapologetically crass and stupid as often as it is unbelievably clever
known as Ray (“Bloody”), Purchase (Harry Peacock, “The Kennedys”) and his landlord Ed-Howzard Black (Robert Bathurst, “Downton Abbey”). Berry and Arthur Matthews, the writers of the show, have a glittering resume of TV comedy. Berry has taken part in classics such as “The IT Crowd” and “The Might Boosh,” and Matthews co-created one of the finest TV comedies of all time, the timeless “Father Ted.” They take many of the same elements of the aforementioned shows, but tone down some of
the innocent silliness in favor of an unhinged vulgarity. The show is loosely serialized, but most episodes deal with largely independent arcs. The premiere finds Toast in a conversation with his inept agent Jane Plough (SarahDoon Makichan, “Good Omens”) about finding new roles and expanding his horizons. This conversation takes place
Toast of London Netflix Series 1 Episodes 1-3
After a rewatch, it will be extremely difficult not to fall for its charm
after the rousing failure of his current play, whose title is supposedly so obscene that every time it is mentioned by a character, all we hear is, well, a host of other sounds. Berry’s delivery suggests he is always on stage, eschewing any form of dynamic range other than a powerful, straight-from-thediaphragm voice. In addition, he has a distinctly individual accent. While slightly unnerving at first, it makes a bit more sense if you view the series as a set of live theater bits. The voice as well as the litany of facial expressions that Berry produces fit the selfaggrandizing character of Toast perfectly. The premiere also gives a taste of the absurdity that defines the show, involving
episodes such as Toast interviewing a producer in jail for Holocaust denial. “Toast of London” is unapologetically crass and stupid equally as often as it is unbelievably clever. It’s a credit to the writers that that line is towed almost perfectly in each episode. Viewers of “Toast of London” will feel utter confusion upon their first watch, but the show is intriguing enough that it warrants a rewatch. After a rewatch, it will be extremely difficult not to fall for its charm.
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VIDEO GAMES NOTEBOOK
In our humble opinion, the best video games of 2019 ELI LUSTIG
Daily Arts Writer
It was a huge year in gaming. From the revival of classic franchises, to the success of numerous indie darlings, as the year comes to a close it’s time to reflect on our best experiences. Here is The Daily’s pick for the best video games of 2019. “Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice” Controversial? Yes. A new beginning? Yes. Mentally strenuous and engaging? Yes. A game for everyone? No. “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” is a masterpiece of gaming because it does not compromise. After concluding their critically acclaimed series “Dark Souls,” developers FromSoftware had a vision and stuck to it. That vision is “Sekiro”: the 15th century Japanese themed, stealth, action adventure that had gamers either glued to their screens or screaming at it. “Sekiro” is hard, very, very hard. But it’s exactly this struggle which allows the player to appreciate the craft and sophistication that went into this game. “Sekiro” does not accommodate for its audience, the audience must accommodate to it. To endure it is to admire it. “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” is committed to an artistic message. It is that commitment that makes it the best game of 2019. “The Outer Worlds” “The Outer Worlds” is proof that video games have transitioned into the age of intertextuality. The relationship between “The Outer Worlds” and video classics is one of homage and reverence.
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
DOWN 1 Thin cookie 2 Tequila plant 3 Spot for a Mercedes 4 Second-oldest Kardashian sister
5 Formula __ auto racing 6 Winged stinger 7 Ski resort near Snowbird 8 Complete one exercise segment 9 Space heater? 10 Utterly shock 11 Grow slack, as a poorly tied knot 12 Novelist Tyler 13 Classic autos 18 “Correctomundo!” 22 Standard Oil brand 24 Former U.N. leader Hammarskjöld 25 NFL periods forced by ties 27 Susan of “L.A. Law” 29 Hawaiian garland 30 Triage MD 31 Portent 32 Diplomat’s need 33 “Do I need to __ you a map?” 34 Fanny 35 Difficult H.S. class covering U.S. or world events
39 Round Table title 42 “I’m the culprit” 43 “Cryptonomicon” novelist Stephenson 44 Dog’s “I’m warning you!” 46 ’90s trade pact 47 “Yuck, tell someone else!” 48 Fuel efficiency stat 50 Kiss
53 The “A” in James A. Garfield 54 Narrow hilltop 55 Initial stage 56 Kitty cries 57 Middle proof word 59 Fit 60 Avoid like the plague 63 Uppercut target 64 Efron of “Baywatch” (2017) 65 Hubbub
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
12/11/19
The movies we wait all year to watch NATALIE KASTNER Daily Arts Writer
The day after Thanksgiving, my family puts “Elf” on our television on repeat for the entire rest of the weekend. We own it on DVD and our Apple TV, too, just in case. If I had to, I could recite the entire thing to you from start to finish. I don’t even think it’s funny anymore, it’s just a tradition. Miraculously, after watching “Elf” for 48 hours straight, my excitement toward winter break kicks right into gear. My usual grey sweatshirt and sweatpants turn into festive red dresses. My usual hatred for making eye contact on Blue Buses turns into easy small talk and new friends. My actual friends usually line the halls of the Walgreen Drama Center with complaints of how dry the weather is, but in December they also cheerfully hum Christmas tunes while still complaining. The holidays are a time for happiness and cheer, and every single movie pertaining to the season tells me so. Even the trashiest Hallmark movie helps guide us in the direction of general merriment. Last Wednesday, I was dead tired from six hours of tech rehearsal and a full day of classes. I saw that the movie “Love Actually” was on television, and I sat wide awake, entranced for a full two and a half hours. Even my vernacular is affected by these movies. When
The holidays are a time for happiness and cheer, and every single movie pertaining to the season tells me so By Michael Schlossberg ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
exactly what “Mortal Kombat 11” does. By taking everything down a pace, “Mortal Kombat 11” delivers the best fighting experience I’ve had in years. So long are the days of button mashing and cheap wins. I now feel like I can have a fair fight with my friends. Add back the signature gore and bloody finisher moves and what you get is a game that provides desensitizing masochistic fun for everyone in the family. I’ve lost count of how many arguments I’ve settled over “Mortal Kombat” this year. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” I never thought I’d see the day, much less be the one to report it, but “Call of Duty” has made a comeback. For about a decade, “Call of Duty” was a washed up celebrity, showing up every year, managing to turn a couple heads, but at the end of the day, still irrelevant. After making cookie cutter game after cookie cutter game, people were tired and any fan who wasn’t a prepubescent boy would agree that “Call of Duty” had seen better days. Taking a much needed break and not even including a single player campaign in the last installment, Activision has returned with a game that is so rich in visual detail it scares me. “Modern Warfare” looks and sounds like real life. Stalking through a terrorist hideout with night vision goggles and silenced weapons might sound like standard video game affair. Yet its creaking of the floorboards, the quiet ding of bullet casings falling to the ground, the shortening of breath as your character is about to open a door. These tiny details accentuate every experience making “Modern Warfare” the most realistic game I’ve played in 2019.
COMMUNITY CULTURE NOTEBOOK
Release Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2019
ACROSS 1 Super silly 6 Gum balls, e.g. 10 Surgery memento 14 “Once more!” 15 MLB family name 16 Voice mail signal 17 Result of overexposure in the field? 19 “Yeah, that’ll never happen” 20 Actress Mendes 21 Brewpub orders 22 Fencing blades 23 Blitz by a linebacker 26 Ill-fated Ford 28 Result of carelessness in a locker room? 33 Hot rod 36 Cellist with multiple Grammys 37 Sales pro 38 Picks from a lineup 40 Champagne label word 41 Sighing contentedly 45 Salve 49 Result of excessive practice in calligraphy class? 51 Cloud, as of gnats 52 Title Mozart valet who married Susanna 56 “__ Health”: Quiet Riot album 58 Hops hot spot 61 Laundry hamper 62 Greek Cupid 63 Occupational concerns such as 17-, 28- and 49-Across 66 Balmy 67 Free speech org. 68 Sampler wisdom 69 Eyelid irritation 70 “That’s enough” 71 Dancer cohort
It’s fitting that this game was released in 2019 because veteran gamers will find that “The Outer Worlds” is a nostalgia trip through some of the best games of the decade. Developed by some of the best brains behind the Fallout series, “The Outer Worlds” plays very similarly but also borrows creative mechanics from other successful games. Blasting your way through an art deco inspired galaxy controlled by corporate oligarchy is well … a blast. Despite its many allusions to classic video games and sci-fi, “The Outer Worlds” manages to tell a story with political relevance while still keeping things light hearted. “The Outer Worlds” puts video games into the context of cultural history and reminds old time gamers how far the medium has come. “Mordhau” “Mordhau” is a competitive first-person medieval warfare game with a skill ceiling so high, I could get a Masters degree in it. This indie darling not only managed to capture the attention of the steam community, but also all my free time. The thrill of charging into battle along 60 plus players, shields ready and swords primed is a thrill second to none. The best part of this game is its complex and difficult but rewarding combat. “Mordhau” is a game of infinite approaches. By utilizing slashes, lunges, faints and blocks, combat turns into a dance. You’ll probably get sliced to bits in your first couple hours, but stick around for a while and you’ll be a master knight wielding excalibur as your sword. “Mortal Kombat 11” For a franchise that revels in gore and spectacle, who thought that slowing things down would make for a better game? This is
12/11/19
Holiday movies sit with us so profoundly because they are possibly the only parts of our formative years that do not betray us later in life
the month of December rolls around, you aren’t “upset,” you are “an angry elf.” You aren’t “dumb,” you are a “cottonheaded ninny muggins.” Anytime a friend leaves class, my immediate goodbye phrase is, “Bye Buddy, I hope you find your dad,” in full Mr. Narwhal voice, regardless of their gender. I know these are all “Elf” references, but Will Ferrell is just such a genius when it comes to comedy. At the very least, I crack myself up when choosing to use these phrases instead of the usual trendy Gen-Z phrase of the day. Holiday movies sit with us so profoundly because they are possibly the only parts of our formative years that do not betray us later in life. I know that the new Netf lix Christmas movie is probably awful, but I still press play while I do my laundry because I know exactly how it will make me feel: warm and fuzzy. I don’t know what kind of hypnotic magic they put in those plot lines, but holiday movies are addicting. The purity of the message in each movie allows us not only to have faith in our community, but also greater faith in humanity as a whole. In the end, all we need during those last couple weeks of December is a little bit of a break and a charming story of the loved ones we share it with. As Buddy the Elf would say, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Regardless of what you’re celebrating this winter break, I hope you spend time to sing and rejoice in the people you love.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 — 7A
Birthdays and Santa: Quick hits with Jack Summers and Keaton Pehrson MOLLY SHEA
Daily Sports Writer
TIEN LE
Daily Sports Writer
The Daily hockey beat used to run a video series during the 2011-12 season called “Quick Hits.” They were one-on-one interviews with players that covered everyday life and all of its funny moments. But now, for budget reasons, it’s in written format. For the last edition of the semester, The Daily’s Molly Shea and Tien Le sat down with linemates, sophomore defenseman Jack Summers and freshman defenseman Keaton Pehrson, to discuss the upcoming holiday season and their teammates. *** Molly: We heard that it’s your birthday today. So, what’s your favorite birthday that you’ve ever had? Keaton: Oooh. That’s tough. It’d probably be one when I was younger. Oh! I know which one it is. It’s my Golden Birthday when I was 10, and we went to the Water Park of America in Minneapolis. Got to stay overnight at the water park with a bunch of my buddies. Tien: What about you, Jack? Jack: Uhhhh. Probably just going to Zap Zone. Me and my buddies used to always go every year for my birthday and their birthdays, so that was always a fun time. Tien: Molly just turned 19 the other week. Jack: Oh really? What did you do for your birthday? Molly: No. I’m 22. And I went to Rick’s. Molly: You guys are a defensive pairing, if you had to come up with a nickname for your pairing what would it be? Jack: Probably something like salad. Keaton: Salad guys? Jack: The salad men?
Keaton: Salad men!!!! Tien: Why? Jack: The hair. Long hair. They both run their hands through their hair. Keaton: Because the salad. It’s greasy. Jack: Long hair. It’s called salad. Molly: Ohhhhhhhh. Tien: Fair enough. So you guys played juniors together, do you have any fun memories from that time together? Keaton: I think it was fun just getting to play with him. Knowing we were both going to Michigan, build some chemistry early and then know we’re going to go to college together was pretty cool. Jack: Yeah we played together that first year as a D-pair, so it was just good getting to know him early. Molly: Favorite holiday tradition? Jack: The team always gets together for a Christmas gathering before we all leave for break. So that’s pretty fun. Otherwise, just being able to go home for a week and spend time with the family and catch up with everyone and see everyone is always a good time. Keaton: Yeah, getting to see family. I have a little pond in my backyard so we’ll shovel it off a rink and everyone will go skate out there. Which is pretty fun. Tien: Favorite Christmas song? Jack: That’s tough. Keaton: All I Want for Christmas. Jack: Mariah Carey! Keaton: Yeah, Mariah Carey. That’s a good one. Molly: If you had to switch lives with someone on the team, who would you pick? Keaton: Oooh. I’d go Cam York. I’d wanna know what it’s like to have all those Instagram followers. Freshman Cam York has 12.5k followers on Instagram, meanwhile Keaton has 1,475 and
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Sophomore defenseman Jack Summers still wears the number six as an homage to his childhood days playing baseball, before he committed to hockey full-time.
Jack has 794. Oof. Jack: Man, I don’t know. Probably the same. He lives a pretty good life. Keaton: See what it’s like to be famous. It’d be nice. Molly: When did you stop believing in Santa? Jack: Oooh. I think I was pretty old honestly. Keaton: Mine was pretty late, too. Jack: Maybe 10? Keaton: Oh mine was later than that. It was probably, wait when’s middle school? Jack: Eighth grade? Keaton: No.
Jack: Freshman year? Keaton: No. Probably like fifth or sixth grade. Right around when you’re getting ready to go to middle school. People would always tell me but I would always say, “No. He’s real!” Molly: If, for whatever reason, the pilot couldn’t fly the plane, who would you trust the most? Jack: Probably (Jack) Becker. He’s definitely the smartest guy on the team for sure. Keaton: I’d say him, or Strauss (Mann). Strauss is just … not weird but … he’s a little different. So that’d be something he’d
Strauss is just ... not weird but ... he’s a little different.
Illinois bigs the focus for Wolverines
BRENDAN ROOSE
Last Friday, the Michigan men’s basketball team scored 103 points against Iowa. Onehundred-and-three. Under former coach John Beilein, the Wolverines had only scored above 100 points six times — and never against a Big Ten opponent. Michigan seemingly only managed to crack triple digits against low-level nonconference foes, and based on Beilein’s more elaborate, drawn out offensive plays, it seemed to be almost on accident. But things are different under new coach Juwan Howard. The Wolverines are launching 3-pointers in transition, playing with pace and getting shots off early in the shot clock. So when Michigan treks down to Champaign on Wednesday to square off against Illinois — the Big Ten’s highest scoring offense — the game is sure to be a barn burner. For those not familiar with the term, a barn burner indicates a high-scoring affair for one of those inexplicable reasons that only locals understand. But Wednesday’s matchup has the potential to not just light the barn on fire, but take the rest of the farm with it. The Illini have already put up over 100 points twice this season, highlighted by a 120-point smackdown of Hampton. In the effort, Illinois’ prolific offense was led by its two bright stars — center Kofi Cockburn and guard Ayo Dosunmo, who both dropped 20. Cockburn has been having a monster season, averaging a double-double with 16.3 points
Midway through the third quarter on Sunday, Michigan found itself on the wrong end of an Oakland run. After hitting only one field goal in four minutes, the Wolverines saw their once 13-point lead dwindle down to just four with 2:18 remaining in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies were on fire, scoring 13 points over that same stretch. Michigan needed a spark. Sophomore forward Naz Hillmon delivered, notching six points in two minutes. With her help, the Wolverines closed the third quarter with an 8-0 run of their own, re-establishing the lead and putting an end to Oakland’s upset bid. Runs are a normal part of basketball. For various reasons, practically every team will go through stretches where the shots just aren’t falling. On Sunday, physical and emotional fatigue likely came into play for Michigan, as it was coming off of an overtime win against Syracuse just three nights prior. “That was a really tough recovery after Thursday,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico. “I knew that today we were still kind of physically and emotionally exhausted and that it was gonna be a little bit of a grind, but we figured out a way to do it and it was a great victory.” The key to surviving these scoring droughts lies in damage control. When the Wolverines go through stretches where they struggle to score points, they need to rely on their strong defense, hit a couple easy layups or make substitutions to give their starters a rest and allow fresh players a chance to make a difference. On Sunday, it was Hillmon who snapped the Grizzlies’ run with two layups and two free throws. Limiting the damage becomes a lot easier when Michigan relies on its leading scorer to pick up easy baskets when they desperately need
Daily Sports Writer
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
Sophomore forward Colin Castleton will be key against Illinois on Wednesday.
per game and 11.2 rebounds per game. Also averaging 1.3 blocks per game, the 7-footer has a physical skill set that reads like a grocery list. “Strong, tough, physical, inside presence, plays extremely hard, very good on the low block,” Howard said. “Another thing that stands out is, (he’s an) excellent offensive rebounder. Built with a lot of toughness and his frame just breathes toughness all over him. So we have to, of course, match his toughness. Our guys are very competitive, and they’re not afraid, but they love competing against any big that steps on the floor.” In short, he’s going to be a problem. The last time Michigan saw a physically gifted, dominant big down low — the Hawkeyes’ Luka Garza on Friday — he destroyed his career high and bruised the Wolverines for a whopping 44 points. Then again, the big man took 32 shots and no one else in a black and yellow jersey could hit a cloud from an airplane, leading to a 12-point Michigan win. While Cockburn undoubtedly presents a challenge, senior
(Cockburn is) an excellent offensive rebounder.
We gotta be ready for him. He’s a big, physical big.
center Jon Teske is certain that the big man is nothing he hasn’t seen before. “It’s another big body,” Teske said. “In the Big Ten, you play against a big center every night. He’s another one. We gotta be ready for him. He’s a big, physical big man down there, and we just gotta hold our own. He’s gonna get his looks, he’s gonna get his touches and he’s gonna score points. We’re not gonna shut him out, he’s gonna get his, and we just gotta limit what he does.” Teske’s answer is fairly telling in how the Wolverines are going to look to play Cockburn. In previous games against prolific bigs, Michigan’s game plan has been to limit the fouls called on Teske and backup bigs sophomore Colin Castleton and senior Austin Davis, letting the opponent pad the stat sheet while trusting the Wolverines’ offense to inflict maximum damage on the other end of the floor. And if Michigan does get in foul or injury trouble — as was the case Friday with Teske on the bench and Castleton in the locker room with a lip injury — the Wolverines have the depth to respond and maintain pressure in the low post on both ends of the floor. It worked Friday, when the third digit of the scoreboard was lit up for just the seventh time in nearly 13 years. And on Wednesday, Michigan is hoping — between Teske, Castleton, Davis and a bit of luck — to tack another one in the win column.
or baseball, I picked hockey. So I always kept six in memory of baseball. *Nick Blankenburg enters the room* Nick *panicking*: We’re about to start lift. Can’t be late. Or else I’m screwed. Tien: Alright, last question. So if you were stranded on a deserted island with someone from the team, who would you pick? Keaton: I’m going to go with Winny (Adam Winborg). He seems like he’s got survival skills, and he’s a pretty big man. We could fend for ourselves, I think. Jack: Yeah, definitely him. Keaton *has an epiphany*: Oh! Ooh! Is it (the recording) still going? Luke Morgan actually. That guy is a survival man.
‘M’ bench limiting scoring droughts
JACOB KOPNICK Daily Sports Writer
know how to do maybe. Just fly a plane. Molly: Are you superstitious about any pregame routines? Jack: Not really. I just do everything the same, every time. It’s not really a superstition. It just gets my mind right. It’s not too much. Keaton: Yeah, not really. Molly: Nick Blankenburg mentioned you like to sit in seat six in the stands before warmups. Jack: Yeah. Row six, seat six. I just always do that. Because that’s not superstitious at all… Molly: Why’d you choose six as your jersey number? Jack: So I grew up playing baseball, and that was always my baseball number. So when I had to choose between hockey
them. “I don’t even know her numbers, but I know they’re high,” said sophomore guard Amy Dilk. “Every day we try to get the ball to Naz and let her do her work — especially if it’s one-on-one, they can’t handle that.” But the Wolverines can’t always count on Hillmon to provide that spark — especially since she is currently nursing a minor ankle injury. They’ll have to get it from some other options down the stretch, and with a lot of players seeing significant playing time so far this year, the prospects seem pretty good. Michigan’s freshmen in particular provide great scoring options off the bench. Guard Michelle Sidor has been capable from three so far, shooting 13-for-33 — the most makes on the team. She has not been afraid to shoot the ball in her various appearances this season, and her high-energy style of play makes her a great spark off the bench when shots aren’t falling. Center Izabel Varejão has also been a solid change of
pace as a substitute. Her 6-foot-4 frame makes her incredibly difficult to guard in the post, and she’s sunk a pair of threes this year as well. If she can continue to develop her post game and cut back on turnovers, she’ll be a reliable weapon when the starters are struggling to score points. It’s not just the freshmen, either. Junior guard Priscilla Smeenge and sophomore guard Danielle Rauch both played meaningful minutes on Sunday, demonstrating the Wolverines’ depth and providing Barnes Arico with even more options when the team needs a spark. “We’re only as strong as our weakest link,” Smeenge said. “I feel like our 11th person and whoever’s coming off the bench can do a really good job of contributing” Michigan will need those contributions from the bench even more as the season progresses. Its opponents will go on runs — after all, they’re just part of the game — and it will have to hope that its depth can continue to produce in high-pressure situations.
I feel like our 11th person ... can do a really good job.
EMMA MATI/Daily
Sophomore forward Naz Hillmon helped Michigan fight off Oakland last week.
8A — Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
statement T H E M I C H I G A N DA I LY | D E C E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 9
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sex issue
PHOTO BY DANYEL THARAKAN / DESIGN BY KATE GLAD
2B Wednesday, December 11, 2019 // The Statement
statement T H E M I CH I GA N DAI LY | D ECE M B E R 11 , 2019
Managing Statement Editor Andrea Pérez Balderrama Deputy Editors Matthew Harmon Shannon Ors
Designers Liz Bigham Kate Glad Copy Editors Silas Lee Emily Stillman
Associate Editor Eli Rallo
Photo Editor Danyel Tharakan Editor in Chief Maya Goldman Managing Editor Finntan Storer
What consent means to me “E
BY ERIN WHITE, SENIOR OPINION EDITOR
very woman in my life has had to ask herself the question: What does consent mean to me?” My friend Sophie told me this when I first verbalized feelings about my experiences with sexual misconduct. I was confronted with the enduring effects of these experiences at the beginning of this semester, so I started developing the vocabulary I needed to explain what happened and how it impacted me. The effects of sexual harassment and sexual assault manifest differently for different people, and my reaction has always come in the form of compartmentalization and avoidance. I chose to evade these experiences for months, even years, after they occurred. They were simply “weird things” that happened to me, moments that were uncomfortable and awkward. Moments that just didn’t go well and weren’t worth talking about because I wasn’t a victim. I refused to let myself feel anything but slight unease about these situations because I thought what happened wasn’t “bad enough” for me to be as upset as I was. The truth of the matter is if someone breaks physical barriers or pushes you into sexual circumstances without checking in, you’re not giving consent. Consent doesn’t only apply to penetrative sex — it applies to touching, exposure or sexual activity of any kind. Consent applies to unsolicited comments about sex, requests for sexual favors and “teasing”, which are invasive and disrespectful acts that disregard important boundaries and leave the recipient feeling as if their autonomy is in question. However, the stigmas regarding sexual misconduct — the victim-blaming, lack of belief and internalized guilt that survivors feel — are existent and intimidating. Even though I can identify inappropriate behavior, I stand strongly with survivors and understand the importance of accountability, I could not break these stigmas down in my own life. I instead blamed myself and pushed my experiences out of mind to avoid dealing with their effects. “I think it would help you to put objective language to it. If someone else told you this story, what would you say?” My friend Nate asked me this when I began trying to process what had happened. Every time I tried to talk about my experiences, I found myself making excuses for the other person. My judgment was clouded. As a woman, our patriarchal society has taught
me to go out in groups, analyze what my outfit says about my sexual desires and be cognizant of who I’m talking to. I’ve been told to always carry my drink with me and to not accept one I didn’t see poured with my own eyes. Society has prepared me against boys in dark basements who I don’t know and it has warned me about those who might aggressively force sex. It’s all about how you can fight back or avoid a situation in the first place. It didn’t tell me that sexual misconduct is a snake with many heads and that most victims know the person who sexually assaulted them. Friends, colleagues and classmates perpetuate sexual misconduct. Loved ones perpetuate sexual misconduct. The idea that harassment and assault happens exclusively in the shadows with unknown, covert players is a disservice to understanding the breadth and complexity of the issue. People aren’t monsters, they are human beings shaped by their surroundings, and even people we know are capable of wrongly pushing, or breaking, boundaries. Our existing culture does nothing to curb sexual misconduct, support survi-
the stories outside of myself, as if someone was in the room watching it all play out. This broke down some of the stigmas in my head. Looking at the folded up notebook paper, there was no question of blame. I was able to see that my internalized guilt and the fear that I was being “dramatic” were unfair. I was able to rationalize that consent is something I hold close to my chest to protect my bodily autonomy, and others haven’t respected that power. “Let me send you this podcast I listened to about consent. It will be really triggering, but it could help.” My friend Danielle offered this to me after I had a noticeably difficult day. “In the No” with Kaitlin Prest is a Radiolab podcast series collaboration that explores the meaning of consent. The link popped up on my iPhone, and after having a particularly bad day of crying fits and skipping class, I sat down and listened to part one. Kaitlin tells the story of her best friend sexually assaulting her and the subsequent damage caused by his problematic response to her pain. It took me almost two hours to listen to this 55 minute podcast. I was sitting in the fishbowl with my headphones in, watching students printing and walking around the computer stations with a pen in my hand and my notebook on the desk in front of me. I wrote down everything that reminded me of my own experiences. I wrote down any powerful sentiments about consent that I either agreed with or hadn’t previously considered. I went in with a red pen and yellow highlighter until it looked like I was guaranteed an ‘A’ on my next exam. This process helped me deal with what happened in an analytical way; it was like an audio mind-map connecting dots that I couldn’t before. I shared the notes with Sophie and Danielle — I started talking more and generally being more open about it. Knowing there are so many people in situations like mine, who have had questions and feelings similar to mine, has made me feel less alone. I’ve written poems and letters and bullet points and this article. I’ve gone to therapy and contextualized my situation to professors and colleagues. There’s an idea that sexual misconduct is something you don’t talk about, but if someone who experienced it opens up, listening can help the healing. To me, consent means ownership of my body and my story. Situations from my past don’t make this ownership any less real.
CONSENT vors or hold those who do these things accountable. Nate advising me to view my experiences objectively was the best idea I received when I began coping with my own feelings. I’ve always been a writer, and journaling helped me open up about the impact of past experiences. There’s something about articulating the pounding in my chest or the source of a random burst of emotion that makes it seem less scary or unfounded. But journaling is not objective: It leaves room for my own internalized guilt and shame and confusion to show itself. The idea that “if I could just get over it, then everything could go back to normal” appeared on my pages in a million variations. Journaling lets me process the good and the bad, the rational and the fallacious. I alleviated some of my stress by trying objective writing. In Angell Hall Auditorium A I sat with my class notebook in front of me, dated and prepped to jot down lecture points. But instead of tuning into what happened with the development of sound in Hollywood, I wrote out what happened to me. I did this without using names or adjectives. I told
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 // The Statement 3B 3B
Has sex gone out of style?
BY MAGDALENA MIHAYLOVA, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
I
n November, Victoria’s Secret announced the cancelation of their 2019 fashion show, citing increased competition, rapidly declining profits and a disconnect with their consumer base as reasons for the end of this decades long tradition. For a company that built an empire by selling sex, it seems as though sex has gone out of style. Victoria’s Secret’s downfall is a reflection of social and cultural change in the United States, which is moving further away from the characterization of women as needing to be sexy for men. Women are replacing Victoria’s Secret’s overpriced, poorly-made push-up bras for alternative brands and start-ups, that aim to be comfortable and inclusive. But the distaste for Victoria’s Secret represents something much deeper than the quality of an underwire or the lack of proper sizing. It’s the experience of walking into a Victoria’s Secret store that goes against to the contemporary women’s movement; the stores exist as the perfect example to what society decided women should be. Each store is sickeningly pink and lacy, the walls covered with slow-moving images of thinly-clad, pouty-lipped women strutting to deafening house music. As a 120 year-old girl or a 20-year-old woman, the impact is the same: You feel small, insecure and unsexy. Perhaps the demise of Victoria’s Secret is promising for how our culture is changing, but today it still remains a market leader. Yet, lingerie is not the only sector facing criticism for its outdated portrayal of women. In Hollywood, where many gender constructions are reinforced through television and media scripts, women and women of color are still underrepresented and hypersexualized. Of the 100 top-grossing movies between 2017-2018,
ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE WIEBE
only nine percent of Hollywood movies had a genderbalanced cast and only 33.1 percent of all named, speaking characters were women. Only 11 movies had a woman of color as the lead. There is 29.2 perecent of women being shown in revealing attire including teenage girls. Latina women, who make up only one out of 1,200 directors, are the most likely to be hypersexualized or shown nude in feature films. This misrepresentation shows that without women to write, direct or spearhead creative works, the female narrative becomes skewed. How does this erasure and subsequent fabrication of the female narrative impact viewers? For young girls, the internalized adherence to gender roles is almost impossible to fight off. Even I, who was raised in the same way and with the same opportunities as my brother, felt the immense pressure imposed on me through television and movies. In the action movies I would watch with my brother, there was always a male lead – the hero – and a female love interest, whose sole purpose was to look hot on the back of said hero’s motorcycle...and that’s about it. She would be lucky to even have a line. This kind of representation (or lack thereof) conditions women to the idea that we have to be quiet but sexy, powerful but secondary, active but objects. That our purpose is to please men. It’s obvious that our institutions, brands and culture are rooted in patriarchal traditions, and though they are being reformed, change takes time. Meanwhile, a parallel process to that of culture and policy is occurring in social media, a free platform where women can take authority over their own bodies and rewrite the narrative. When I entered high school, social media like Instagram and Snapchat were beginning to take on a new life. I had been accustomed to posting awkward photos of myself throwing
up the peace sign on Facebook or using Instagram for the “cool” filters. But in parallel to my budding adolescence, Snapchat and Instagram were now places where you could post pictures of your body – however exposed – and receive praise for it (most of the time). This ranged from girls posting selfies in low-cut tops for their 300 followers or to the popular body-positive movement, which overtook the media’s standard of beauty as thin, white and unblemished and was replaced by more realistic representations of women that they created themselves. The latter redefined the image of women in the media, but the former is where social media platforms and their place in empowerment becomes questionable. It is clearly unfeminist to judge a woman for her sexuality and confidence, but some question if social media is causing women to contribute to their own objectification. Even though women use social media more and use it as a place to build their sense of self, apps like Snapchat and Instagram are largely owned by males, and images posted by women are subjected to the male gaze without compensation (of course, sponsorships exist, but only for those with lots of followers, and not every photo is a sponsored deal). And we’ve all seen the terrible, cringey Instagram accounts that serve to only post photos of attractive women – most of which are through submissions from the women themselves. It would be easy to write off social media as another failed place of honest representation for women – or even blame women themselves – but the male gaze is inevitable. It doesn’t matter if a woman posts a seductive photo online or just walks down the street – she will be objectified either way. From a young age, women are taught that our bodies are inherently sexual. In sixth grade, I was dress-coded for “provocative clothing”, back when I thought a boner was a literal reference to a bone (so I obviously had no understanding of what “provocative” even meant). In the early summers, my soccer team sweated through our shirts because we weren’t allowed to play in only a sports bra in case a boy walked by the field (the boys were allowed to play with their shirts off). In high school, there was an online dropbox for boys to post nude photos they had received from girls in our town. The list goes on and on and on. All forms of media will create a space for sexualized imaging and characterization because we are human and find bodies attractive. Some people know how to capitalize on this phenomenon and make a profit off of it. The question is not whether social media is holding us back from the social change we are seeing with more representation of women in the media or brands like Victoria’s Secret starting to lose their appeal. The question is how can we reconcile representations of women and sexuality in a way that allows for them to be their most sexy selves when they feel like it, or vice versa, without it being exploited for the male gaze and for male profit. How can we teach a generation of young girls that they too can be the hero while being proud of having big boobs or long legs? It is not as simple as making the lead of an action movie a woman and dressing her in a skirt. Yes, it is empowering to know you can save the world in heels, but the reality is deeper than that. The only way to have complex stories that show women and our sexuality in a true way is by having women write and share them, whether it be in a Tweet or on the silver screen.
SEX
4B Wednesday, December 11, 2019 // The Statement
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 // The Statement 5B
“A unique mix of barriers”: What stands in the way of students getting birth control?
SURVEY
DATA ANALYSIS BY PARTH DHYANI, ALEX COTIGNOLA AND TIM CHO, WEB DEVELOPERS
The Michigan Daily conducted their annual sex survey, which was completed by a total of 592 undergraduate students across colleges at the University, to gauge knowledge and habits regarding sex. 39.4 percent of respondents identified as male, 58.9 percent identified as female, 1.3 percent identified as non-binary, and less than 1 percent identified as other. –––
The Daily was particularly interested in examining usage, knowledge and impressions behind contraceptives, in context of the role that the University plays in providing resources and information about contraceptives. Check out the results below!
BY ELIZABETH LAWRENCE, MANAGING NEWS EDITOR in 2018. UHS is constantly striving to make contraception available to students, as well as to help students find what’s right for them. They recently implemented video visits as an option for contraception consultations. For ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE WIEBE students who have questions about health insurance, they have a Managed came from a family where we were raised with the Care/Student Insurance Office. wait until marriage, none of that stuff, don’t even And yet, the barriers remain. Students face financial, think about it,” LSA senior Emma Cheff began, educational and cultural obstacles, stigmas about their responding to the question of why she sought out prescribed sexualities and gender identities and concerns about birth birth control. control impacting their mental health. Each student has “And so, I didn’t really know how to get birth control. I their own story — their own “unique mix of barriers,” as didn’t know how it works — honestly, I didn’t know anything UHS health educator Laura McAndrew put it. How can UHS until I had to go through Relationship Remix, which was maximize support for all these students? really sad.” “I don’t have money to pay for birth control Her junior year, Cheff began the process of figuring out how to access birth control. If she relied on her parents’ insurance, every month” tudent 1, a Kinesiology junior who requested the bills would immediately disclose the prescription, but anonymity as she did not wish to publicly come out paying for the contraception out of pocket was not an option. as queer, found herself in a bind last summer when “I’m first gen,” Cheff said. “My family doesn’t make a lot of money. I’m working to pay through school. I don’t have her health insurance suddenly stopped covering her. As a person from a low-income background, Student 1 money to pay for birth control every month.” was covered by Medicaid. But due to a glitch in the system, Luckily, through much research, Cheff learned she could access birth control and stay on her parents’ insurance by her insurance wasn’t working. She had a birth control having the billing information sent to her instead of her prescription from UHS, but without health insurance, she parents. She then consulted with University Health Service would have to pay out of pocket. “I was trying to find places that were the cheapest that I medical professionals to find the birth control that worked could buy for because $20 to me is a lot of money,” Student best for her. Contraception is widely used on the University of 1 said. “Whereas I know to some of my friends and family Michigan-Ann Arbor campus. According to the 2018 members, it’s just a drop in the bucket. But for me, the first National College Health Assessment administered by UHS, prescription that I was on was $70 out of pocket per month, 87 percent of students used some sort of contraception which is absurd.” Ultimately, she managed to scrape together enough money during their most recent vaginal intercourse. The usage of long-acting reversible contraception such as the intrauterine to purchase the student health insurance plan. The first device and the implant, which are considered most effective thing she did was switch to an IUD, so she would not have to due to their long-lasting and user-independent nature, are pay for birth control consistently. “I switched to an IUD because I don’t have to pay for it increasing steadily. In 2014, 10 percent of students used LARC during their last intercourse. This rose to 23 percent month after month after month,” Student 1 said. “So now I’m baby-free for the next five years, hopefully.”
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McAndrew said UHS tries to tackle the financial barrier in a few ways. The costs of different contraceptive methods are on the UHS website, and McAndrew said students are welcome to visit her or other Wolverine Wellness staff to think through their options. If students have concerns about using their family’s insurance plan, UHS can put information about that in their after-visit summary. McAndrew further encouraged students without health insurance to visit the Managed Care Office. Susan Ernst, chief of gynecological services at UHS, said one option they point patients toward is accessing birth control pills from local pharmacies, many of which have steep discounts. Another challenge is figuring out loopholes to get insurance companies to pay for contraception, Ernst said. She said sometimes insurance companies will pay for IUDs if they’re billed through the UHS pharmacy rather than their medical office. If none of these options work, Ernst said they will refer students to Planned Parenthood, which offers contraception on a sliding price scale based on income. This is best for students who want an IUD or implant, she said. “So, some of our students who have absolutely no income, they can get the IUD for pretty cheap,” Ernst said. McAndrew emphasized UHS is always looking for ways to improve their system. “We know that this doesn’t account for all circumstances,” McAndrew said. “I would really welcome ideas about how to better support students with the cost barrier, because I think it’s really important.”
“It’s very much taboo to talk about any sort of sexual, reproductive birth control”
R
ackham student Jess Hernandez first went on birth control as an undergraduate at Michigan State University. She said as a Mexican American, birth control was a taboo topic in her household. “I identify as Mexican American, and so, in our culture, it’s very much taboo to talk about any sort of sexual, reproductive birth control,” Hernandez said.
See BARRIER, Page 6B
6B
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 // The Statement
From Page 5B “I knew that birth control was a thing, but I thought it was kind of frowned upon. It wasn’t something my mom encouraged.” After some research and consultation with her stepmom, she went to the Planned Parenthood on campus. She’s gone there ever since. “The only person who knows is my stepmom,” Hernandez said. “I would assume my mom knows that, obviously, I’m sexually active. It’s just not talked about, like, ‘Oh, what are you using for protection?’ And my stepmom is white.” Students will approach getting contraception prescriptions differently based on how openly talked about it is in their community, McAndrew said. “Our identities can shape the norms we experience related to health, sexuality and how open or taboo a topic sexual health is in your community,” McAndrew said. “So, navigating those nuances can be challenging.” Student 1, too, came from a background where sex was considered taboo. She is from a small-town community where she said her sex education was “crap to begin with.” Her experience involved graphic images of STIs and being told that teenagers are incapable of love. “They concluded it with teenagers aren’t capable of knowing what love is,” Student 1 said. “You’re only allowed to have sex with people you love therefore you just can’t have sex. That’s what they ended it with. And I was like, ‘What do you mean I can’t feel love?’” She managed to get a birth control prescription to treat hormonal acne, but her doctor would not have prescribed it to her if it was for contraceptive purposes. Friends who were sexually active were unable to get birth control pills, she said. Her lack of knowledge in this area, Student 1 said, shows how crucial it is for University programs like Relationship Remix. “Having the University have the basic beginning steps to get everyone caught up so everyone is accountable at the same level of, you did learn this because you had to go,” Student 1 said. Relationship Remix includes information the effectiveness and availability of IUDs and implants at UHS, McAndrew said. But the mention of birth control is brief in order to make it relevant for the most students.
“I was worried as a queer woman who wasn’t fully out to myself”
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tudent 1 was initially hesitant to approach UHS for birth control because of her queer identity. “I was worried as a queer woman who wasn’t fully out to myself even when I came here as a freshman, and I didn’t want to accept that part of me,” Student 1 said. “I was afraid that people at this University also wouldn’t be accepting, because I had never been in a good relationship with health care providers that were very out there with supporting the LGBTQ+ community.” Fortunately, she had a positive experience with UHS, who she said have a background in treating members of the LGBTQ community. “Thankfully, the people at UHS had a good education on interacting with folks who don’t fit in the straight, (cisgender) narrative that a lot of new students here have,” Student 1 said. Student 1’s concerns are common in a healthcare system excluding LGBTQ patients, according to OB/GYN
clinical lecturer Daphna Stroumsa, who specializes in reproductive justice and queer health. “The health care system is not structured appropriately even when there isn’t inherent transphobia,” Stroumsa said. “The health care system is not structured to address the needs of trans people because it’s structured a priori around cisgender heterosexual people.” Stroumsa said LGBTQ people face barriers of stigma and assumption in trying to access birth control, which can have harmful consequences. “There’s often assumptions on everybody’s part about like, ‘Oh, if you’re gay, you’re never going to have sex with anyone who might get pregnant. We don’t even need to talk about this,’” Stroumsa said. In the New England Journal of Medicine, Stroumsa led a study examining the case of a transgender man who came into the emergency room of a hospital with lower abdominal pain. The hospital attributed the pain to him not taking blood pressure medication. Several hours later, they learned he was pregnant, but no fetal heartbeat was detected. Ernst mentioned this study as a catalyst that led UHS to improve care offered to trans and non-binary students. UHS has a Trans Care Team specifically devoted to these students with clinicians who have undergone extensive training. Ernst also said UHS focuses on making language during consultations as inclusive as possible. One way of doing this is asking students to describe the ways in which they have sex rather than assuming penetrative, vaginal sex. “It’s really like what parts go where when people are
having sexual activity,” Ernst said. “We don’t judge who’s doing what but just what activities are happening, so that we can make sure that they’re safe and protected in any way that they’re having sex.” Stroumsa said their experience with the intersection of gender identity and health care was completely different as a student. “I came of age in a world in which talking about gender identity and sexuality with health care providers in an open way was unthinkable,” Stroumsa said. “I’m glad to see the world slowly moving to a different place, and I want to keep the momentum of that change going.”
“If this were a different medical condition, if it didn’t have to do with my reproductive system, would they believe me more?”
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tudent 2, an LSA sophomore who requested anonymity for medical privacy, decided to go to UHS for birth control her freshman year. For the next year, she suffered mental health issues she felt that UHS did not take into account. When she went in for her consultation, she mentioned her history of severe menstrual symptoms. Since she’d had these issues throughout high school, she had normalized them, she said. The UHS nurse practitioner told her birth control would likely help with her symptoms, lessening her cramps and flow. The practitioner gave Student 2 Tri Sprintec, a widely prescribed birth control pill. Immediately, Student 2 started feeling worse. “I didn’t sleep for weeks, like I was getting two or three
7B Wednesday, 2019////The The Statement 7B Wednesday,December January 16,11,2019 Statement
hours of sleep a night,” Student 2 said. “I was doing really poorly in a class that I shouldn’t have been just because my brain didn’t seem to work. And I was picking fights with my roommate and with my boyfriend. Something was wrong physically.” She called UHS and was told to give herself some more time to adjust. When symptoms hadn’t improved after a month, she called again and was given a different pill. But there was no change. When she approached UHS again, the clinician she spoke to told her she should see a psychiatrist. “She was like, ‘I don’t know what your home life is like, maybe you should see a psychiatrist,’” Student 2 said. “They were like, ‘It’s probably in your head, and we don’t believe you that this is something wrong with your body. We don’t believe that it’s our fault for prescribing you this birth control’ … and that was so dismissive.” So, she kept taking it. She said her relationship with alcohol spiraled, and her anxiety worsened. She cried easily, even randomly, at things that would not normally trigger tears. She tried going off the birth control, but her cramps that month were so bad she was forced to miss work. Student 2 went back to UHS and saw a doctor affiliated with Michigan Medicine. They had a long, extensive conversation about her symptoms and her family’s medical history. The doctor ultimately diagnosed her with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which the birth control was exacerbating. “She was like, ‘You don’t have a mental health disorder. You have PMDD, a very severe case of it,’” Student 2 said. “During the luteal phase of your periods, the second two weeks after you ovulate … I have a genetically inherited protein abnormality in my brain that triggers an abnormal response to hormones. It’s very easy to treat with medication.” After a journey of a little over a year, Student 2 is finally feeling better. The doctor she met with prescribed her medication to treat her PMDD, and she’s on birth control that’s specific to her condition. Studies have not established a consensus on whether people with PMDD and premenstrual syndrome are harmed or helped by birth control. Student 2 said while she appreciated how willing UHS was to prescribe her birth control and how progressive the women’s clinic is in general, she didn’t feel like she was taken seriously in this instance. “All it took was the (the Michigan Medicine doctor) listening and saying these experiences are not normal and you shouldn’t feel that way,” Student 2 said. “Having a girl tell a nurse or a doctor, ‘Oh, my birth control is making me cry a lot.’ That’s not normal. And then being like, ‘Oh, it’s probably just you. You don’t know what you’re talking about?’” Ernst said UHS practitioners always note the side effects birth control may cause during contraception consultations. Sometimes patients will experience mood changes, but usually these symptoms resolve over time. If patients have follow-up concerns, they’re encouraged to call or reach out through the patient portal. “We explain that there are many different formulations of hormonal contraception and if they don’t tolerate the one we started, we can always change them to another method that works better for them,” Ernst said. Student 2 has been thinking a lot more about the intersection of reproductive health and mental health,
especially after learning of the high suicide rates linked to PMDD. Student 2 said she’s thankful she figured it out, but still wonders why she didn’t get the right medical advice the first time around. She said the lack of conversation and understanding about mental health and contraception was a big barrier for her. “If this were a different medical condition, if it didn’t have to do with my reproductive system, would they believe me more?” Student 2 said.
“I wish that nobody had to worry about the cost of contraception”
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rnst said in a better world, no one would have to worry about the cost of contraception. Many insurance companies have arbitrary requirements regarding contraception, she said. “You’re just putting up barriers so that people can’t get the care that they need. I would say that drives me insane,” Ernst said. “I really wish there was universal health care, because everyone deserves the same care. Everyone deserves to have the best care that they need.” McAndrew said UHS builds their systems to address issues most students are facing, while also trying to address individual student needs. This is something they continue to work on, she said. “Unfortunately, there are some times when we can’t
do everything that we want to do for somebody, and that is challenging, and that’s difficult, and it’s frustrating,” McAndrew said. “So, we just try to put our heads together about what is the best possible scenario we can make possible for this person.” Jennifer Villavicencio, clinical lecturer in obstetrics and gynecology, said the best practice is to make clear what services are offered in a compassionate, nonjudgmental way. She emphasized that contraception is extraordinarily safe, but that it’s not a one-size-fits-all model. UHS has the power to make their services even more accessible to students, she said, and they should use that power. “Those who have power always have the ability to use that power for good, and for equalizing and moving towards equity,” Villavicencio said. Cheff is already using her power for good. She’s helping a friend with similar circumstances — strict parents, inability to pay for birth control on her own — navigate her contraception options. “She’s scared because she wants the birth control,” Cheff said. “She’s really scared because she’s not in a state to have a child, obviously. So, I’m helping her saying, ‘This is what I did, this is how it worked out for me. Whatever I can do to make it easier for you so that you can be safe and still enjoy what you’re doing.’”
INFOGRAPHIC BY JONATHAN WALSH
8B
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 // The Statement
VISUAL STATEMENT: BELLE ISLE BY CLAIRE MEINGAST
THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY IS LOCATED ON THE PEACEFUL ISLAND PARK OF BELLE ISLE IN THE DETROIT RIVER. CALLED “THE JEWEL OF DETROIT”, IT OFFERS ELEGANT ARCHITECTURE, HISTORY AND NATURE TO ITS VISITORS. TWO MAIN ATTRACTIONS ON THE ISLAND ARE ITS AQUARIUM AND THE PLANT CONSERVATORY.