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Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Biden speaks in Detroit ahead of primary day Whitmer, Booker and Harris support presidential hopeful at Michigan rally IULIA DOBRIN & ANGELINA LITTLE Daily Staff Reporters

Cheers of “Let’s go, Joe” filled the gym of Renaissance High School in Detroit on Monday night, the eve of the Democratic primary, as supporters gathered to rally for presidential hopeful Joe Biden. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Cal., Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined Biden on the stage in a final push for his election before Tuesday. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan opened the rally in support of Biden, referencing the former vice president’s commitment to helping rebuild Detroit’s economy following its 2014 bankruptcy. “He got us new buses, he got us housing ... When the rest of the country had written us off, he was there,” Duggan said. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist explained his support for Biden using three factors: his record, his results and his relationships. Gilchrist said he voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in 2016, receiving a mixed response from the crowd, but explained he believes these three qualities set

Biden apart. “The difference is nobody with the records, results and relationships of Joe Biden was on the ballot and what we need in 2020 is somebody who is gonna have a vision that includes all of us,” Gilchrist said. “When Joe Biden looks to build a coalition, he doesn’t look away from any person, he doesn’t look away from any community, instead, he looks to empower people to help make a difference.” Biden’s record resonated with some University of Michigan students in attendance as well, including Information junior Harrison McCabe, who said he finds Biden the most trustworthy of the remaining Democratic candidates. “I trust Joe,” McCabe said. “He has a record of getting things done, and he’s the most ‘get-it-done’ person left in this race.” LSA freshman Kenny Larson, who is involved with Students for Biden at the University, said he felt a sense of coalition while waiting in line for the doors to open to the rally. “Just based on what we’ve seen walking through here, this rally

reflects a really diverse coalition of voters, whether that be across age, race, ethnicity, sexuality,” Larson said. “I think that really speaks to sort of Joe Biden’s message of unity.” Whitmer spoke to this coalition in her speech in support of Biden, pointing to the diversity of the crowd. “What I love about Joe Biden, though, is he knows how to build a coalition,” Whitmer said. “I’m ridin’ with Biden and everyone else has a seat too. It takes coalitions to win. And this campaign looks like this country and it looks like this city.” LSA freshman Adam Grimes, who is a member of Students for Biden and attended Sunday’s rally for Sanders, felt that the crowd at the Biden rally was more diverse and indicative of a stronger coalition to beat Trump. He pointed to Biden’s victories in Southern states as evidence of his ability to turn key states democratic.

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“Bernie’s crowd yesterday actually made me a little bit nervous,” Grimes said. “It was just the same young, generally white voters that he’s been getting and that’s not what’s gonna win the election against Trump.” Booker mentioned this sense of unity while also appealing to Detroit natives, speaking about his mother’s roots in Detroit and his grandfather being a United Auto Workers assembly line worker. “This party is not the party of ‘me,’ it’s the party of ‘we,’” Booker said. “It’s the party that believes in this radical concept — I don’t know if y’all ever heard of it — it’s called science.” Booker listed other issues important to the Democratic party as well, such as civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights and worker’s rights. Harris, taking the stage after Booker, spoke more to some of these central party issues. “Michigan: Justice is on the ballot in 2020,” Harris said. “Economic justice is on the ballot in 2020. Reproductive justice is on the ballot in 2020. Healthcare justice is on the ballot in 2020, environmental justice is on the ballot in 2020, racial justice is on the ballot in 2020, and Joe Biden is on the

ballot in 2020.” Biden came out after Kamala’s introduction, thanking those who spoke before him. He specifically thanked Whitmer, citing one of her campaign’s catchphrases. “When I hear that great line you say, ‘Let’s fix the damn roads’ — let’s fix this country,” Biden said. He began his speech by talking about how just over a week ago, the press and Congress had declared the campaign “dead,” a ruling that, according to Biden, was overturned by South Carolina and Super Tuesday primary results. Afewminutesintohisspeech,Biden was interrupted by Anti-NAFTA

See BIDEN, Page 3

ASHA LEWIS/Daily Presidential candidate Joe Biden hosts a rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit.

A 2 talks Students compare 2020 candidates, multiple policy positions on higher education languages ‘U’ political organizations discuss funding for public schools, community colleges on ballots CITY

City administrators comment on Limited English Proficiency challenges on voting JULIA FORREST

Daily Staff Reporters

With the 2020 election approaching, United States immigrants and naturalized citizens make up one-tenth of eligible voters in the United States. The number of U.S. immigrants and naturalized citizens eligible to vote has grown by 93 percent since the year 2000, making about 23 million immigrants eligible to vote. However, more than 5 million of those immigrants have Limited English Proficiency, making it more difficult for them to vote since ballots are often written only in English. Carolyn Chen, LSA junior and field director for the University of Michigan chapter of College Democrats, spoke to The Daily about the issue of English-only ballots for those with LEP. “English-only ballots are an issue because without having multiple languages, there is covert disenfranchisement by pushing away underrepresented minorities from the polls,” Chen said. “If people are not able to understand a ballot, they are unable to vote.”

EMMA RUBERG & FRANCESCA DUONG Daily Staff Reporters

As Michigan gears up for the March 10 Democratic primary, University of Michigan students are comparing the positions of front-runners former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. on issues relating to higher education. Affordability of four-year colleges and universities

has been an important topic throughout the primary. Both candidates’ platforms include measures to increase affordability and reduce student loan debt, focusing heavily on the expansion of Pell grants, a federal subsidy provided to students from low-income families. According to Biden’s published positions on higher education, Biden thinks college should be used as a pathway for people to move into the

middle class. To make college more affordable, he promises to double the maximum value of Pell grants in order to offer additional financial aid specifically towards low-income and middle-class students. Biden’s platform also says he wants to further loan forgiveness for people working in public service and continue programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives debt to students entering public-

See LANGUAGE, Page 3

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protesters, who had large banners and began chanting. Biden responded with, “This is not a Trump rally,” telling people in the crowd to let the protesters go. The protesters were quickly escorted outside, after which the crowd resumed chants of “Let’s go, Joe.” Soon after, about 25 protesters from Sunrise Movement, a climate activist group that endorses Sanders, and Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100), a Black youth organization dedicated to social justice issues, disrupted the rally with the chant “Joe must go.” They carried banners reading “Green New Deal Now” and “Green Jobs For All” as they marched and chanted. Allie Lindstrom, midwest trainer and co-founder Sunrise Ann Arbor Hub, said they hoped to interrupt the rally and ask Biden questions about his ability to appeal to youth voters. “My intention was to call attention to the fact that Joe Biden does not have widespread youth support and many of the policies that excite young people and excite new voters — he has not spoken (about), he has not committed to any change, and we

service related careers. His platform also discusses promoting an income-based student loan repayment plan and protecting GI benefits for veterans and their families. LSA freshman Andrew Schaeffler, co-founder of Students for Biden at U-M, believes Biden’s policies on increasing Pell Grants would directly impact University students by increasing access to education. See EDUCATION, Page 3

GOVERNMENT

Sanders garners minority support Bernie makes strong efforts to reach out among Muslim, Arab American communities EMMA RUBERG Daily Staff Reporter

Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator hoping to win the Democratic presidential nomination, has made an extensive effort to reach out to the Muslim community, garnering large support. Arab American and Muslim groups on various social media platforms use #Muslims4Bernie and #InshallahBernie to show their support. Many in the Muslim community have taken to referring to Sanders as “Amo Bernie,” meaning “Uncle Bernie.” At a campaign event in Dearborn on Saturday, Sanders addressed members of the area’s large Arab American and Muslim communities. He discussed the need to focus on what unifies people, rather than what divides them. “Every person in this room, it doesn’t matter if you’re Christian, Muslim, Jewish, whatever you may be, you have the same dreams and aspirations,” Sanders said on Saturday. “Last I heard, everyone needs health care as a human right. Last I heard, everyone wants their kids to get a quality education.”

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SUDOKU.....................6 SPORTS...................7 ARTS...............5

News

2 — Tuesday, March 10, 2020

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SAYALI AMIN and LEAH GRAHAM NATALIE STEPHENS/Daily Images of Incarceration is a photography exhibit comprised of work from artists Steph Foster and Ashley Hunt. Steph’s work is centered around incarceration and Ashley’s work focuses on the spaces surrounding prisons, jails, and detention centers around the country. The exhibit is on display at the Residential College Gallery through April 9th.

Engineering and Nursing students discuss losing credits after cross-campus transfer

Those changing schools within the University often have to take additional semesters KRISTINA ZHENG Daily Staff Reporter

University of Michigan students transferring between schools or colleges on the Ann Arbor campus struggle to bring their credits with them, leading many to take on additional semesters to fulfill distribution requirements. Carmela Brown, associate director of the Newnan Academic Advising Center, detailed the policies for students undergoing crosscampus transfer. Regardless of the school or college, students are required to fulfill the requirements implemented by the school or college they transfer into, Brown explained in an email to The Daily. “Each academic undergraduate unit determines the requirements and policies to uphold the integrity of their degree,” Brown wrote. “When a student moves from one unit to another through a cross-campus transfer, the student is required to follow the policies determined by the unit which could be different for each school or college.” According to Brown, in the Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 semesters, approximately 120 students transferred cross-campus to LSA. Most of these students had a minimum of 30 credits when they transferred since most remained in their original school or college for a year, Brown explained. LSA sophomore Tess Eschebach transferred from the College of Engineering to LSA at the end of last

semester. Eschebach told The Daily her decision to transfer to LSA was due to the School of Engineering’s highly technical curriculum. “I didn’t want to be doing technical stuff fulltime,” Eschebach said. “The College of Engineering is structured in such a way that even with f lexible technical electives that they have in the EECS department, it’s like you’re still taking all technical classes with little time to take any humanities. I wasn’t really vibing with that.” Engineering students often take the same courses during their first two years, including LSA courses like Math 115, Chemistry 130 and Physics 140 and Engineering courses like Engineering 100, among others. Many of these courses do not transfer to fulfill distribution requirements in LSA, according to Eschebach. “In the College of Engineering, your schedule is basically planned out for you, like from day one,” Eschebach said. “I remember I was super stressed this semester because I could take anything. And I was like that is so stressful because, in Engineering, you literally come into Engineering with your first years planned out. And once your major is declared, your next two years are planned out … And none of that stuff really directly translates to LSA credit, so I guess that could be a big problem as well.” Brown said Engineering students generally enroll in LSA classes in their first year to fulfill Engineering requirements. Other courses

taken through the School of Engineering would be considered non-LSA credits, only 20 of which would count towards an LSA degree. “Engineering students are usually taking LSA classes in their first year as part of their Engineering requirements such as math, physics and chemistry,” Brown wrote. “Therefore, they usually have not maxed out of the non-LSA credits. The College does recognize the degree requirements and competencies required of all LSA students which include the students who transfer to LSA.” Likewise, transferring into the School of Nursing from LSA requires a set of prerequisite courses students must take before applying, including English 125, Psycholog y 111 and Biological Chemistry 212, among others. If students choose to take courses outside of these prerequisites in LSA, the credits earned do not transfer to the Nursing School. Nursing sophomore Alissa Elanjian transferred to the Nursing School after her freshman year in LSA. Elanjian knew from the start of her freshman year she would be applying to the Nursing School, allowing her to tailor her LSA courses. “The Nursing School only accepted 30 to 35 transfer (students), so I did not have a very high chance of getting in,” Elanjian said. “So I did take a big risk by applying because all of my classes in freshman year were focused towards the Nursing School. So if I did not get into the Nursing School, the only

classes that would make sense were the Stats 250 that I took in LSA and the English course I took in LSA.” Another concern for students transferring from the College of Engineering is that many of the credits they’ve accumulated through Advanced Placement or dual enrollment credits only count toward Engineering distribution requirements. They do not apply to LSA distribution requirements, Eschebach explained. “For my humanities distribution, I was able to knock most of it out with AP credit, but in LSA, it doesn’t count,” Eschebach said. “So, like, that’s a difference that I know no LSA students are getting that credit, but it’s really kind of jarring moving from Engineering, where it was fulfilling distribution requirements, and now it’s not. And now, I’m stuck in a lot of 100 level courses.” As an Engineering student, Eschebach would have been able to graduate in three years with her AP credits and dual enrollment transfer credits. Now in LSA, she will most likely graduate in five years. “I’m going to be here a while,” Eschebach said. “I was just continually pushed into doing Engineering, so I never really thought about doing anything else … it’s been a lot exploring for me, a lot of confusion in what I want to do … I’m sure I’ll have extra time just because of distribution as well.” Reporter Kristina Zheng can be reached at krizheng@ umich.edu

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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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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com disruptions are indicative of the tension of contemporary political climate. “This is what’s wrong with American politics,” Biden said. “I’m not going to worry — this is a reflection of the world of American politics today.” He went on to talk about some of his campaign’s goals regarding health, such as accessible healthcare, lowering drug prices and protecting rural hospitals.

BIDEN From Page 1 wanted to highlight that ahead of the primary,” Lindstrom said. However, police escorted the group out quickly after their disruption began. Lindstrom said the crowd also ripped up protesters’ posters and shoved them. Biden responded that the

SANDERS From Page 1 According to the Los Angeles Times, representatives from the Sanders campaign said they hope Muslims will help him win the upcoming Michigan primary, as he did in 2016. They also believe the campaign’s outreach, which includes campaign ads in Arabic, to the Arab American and Muslim communities would be a relevant factor if he wins. Sanders’s campaign released a digital ad on Sunday highlighting support for the senator among members of Michigan’s Arab American population. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., backed Sanders early on, endorsing him in October 2019. In the video announcing her support for Sanders, she cited his backing of her and other recently elected women of color. She spoke of Sanders’s commitment to implementing values they both share. “For me, representing the third poorest Congressional

EDUCATION From Page 1 He also said Biden’s plan for loan forgiveness would affect many students, especially those hoping to work in public service. “I think on a broader scale, just having a president that’s focused on these things (is important),” Schaeff ler said. “Having a president that will appoint a secretary of education that has been on the front line … will do a lot in terms of having our concerns heard.” Sanders’ plan to increase affordability promises to guarantee tuition-free and debt-free public colleges, universities and trade schools, as well as to cancel all student loan debt, expand the Pell grant program and triple funding for work-study programs. Porter Hughes, LSA freshman and co-founder of Students for Bernie 2020 at the University, views Sanders’ plans as a way to increase the amount of middle- and working-class people who are pursuing higher education. He said he thinks it would increase the amount of diversity on campus. “Cost is a huge barrier in terms of access to higher education and Bernie has the best plan going forward

Biden also spoke about his role in the Paris Agreement, saying he will have the U.S. rejoin the agreement “first thing” on day one of his presidency. “We have to up the ante,” Biden said. “We’re 15 percent of the world’s problem and we will get to natural emission. But, the rest of the world, if they don’t, it won’t matter.” He also talked about his plans for teachers and public education,

district in the country, he is in many ways pushing back against this really painful oppression,” Tlaib said. “It’s been incredibly inspiring to see his unwavering support for the same ideals that I have.” His campaign manager Faiz Shakir is the first Muslim and Pakistani American campaign manager for a major political party presidential campaign. Sanders has also received endorsements from many leaders in the Muslim community. In addition to Tlaib, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, endorsed Sanders in October. Tlaib and Omar are the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, both with widespread support from the Muslim community and throughout their districts. Tlaib is also the first woman of Palestinian descent to serve in that role. Other prominent Arab American community leaders in Michigan have thrown their support behind Sanders in recent weeks. In a Feb. 27 press release, the Sanders campaign announced endorsements from

four Michigan public officials, including state Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, who has ties to the Arab American and Muslim communities, as well as Dearborn Heights Councilmember Dave Abdallah, a Lebanese immigrant, and Ann Arbor Councilmember Ali Ramlawi, D-Ward 5, a Palestinian American whose father left the West Bank as a refugee in 1948. State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, the first Arab American Muslim to represent Michigan’s 15th State House District, and former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed have also joined the Sanders’s camp, speaking at a campaign rally in Dearborn on Saturday. On Twitter, Hammoud explained his reason for backing Sanders, saying the senator “not only sees Arab and Muslim Americans, he doubles down and organizes WITH us. There has never been a candidate for president

to completely eliminate that barrier,” Hughes said. “I feel like we would see much more diversity in terms of racial and ethnic diversity and socioeconomic diversity at the University of Michigan if this policy was in place.” According to the University’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 65 percent of current students identify as Caucasian. 15 percent identify as Asian American while a combined 12 percent identify as African American, Hispanic and Native American, with the other 10 percent being other/unknown. U.S. News reported that 19 percent of undergraduates at U-M Ann Arbor are receiving Pell Grants, with the number being closer to 39 percent at U-M Flint. LSA sophomore Hazel Gordon said Sanders’ goal to make four-year colleges and universities affordable is the main reason she supports him. Gordon said she has witnessed how the University community is affected by Ann Arbor’s cost of living and the burdens of debt on college graduates and believes Sanders’ plan would alleviate the burden on students with lower socioeconomic statuses. “I have a lot of friends who are only able to go to Michigan on financial aid,” Gordon said. “When it comes to paying rent

in Ann Arbor and being able to afford food, it’s not easy. Most people in my generation can’t buy a house or have kids … because (of ) debt.” According to President Donald Trump’s campaign website, Trump has prioritized the expansion of the Pell Grant program by distributing the grants year-around rather than just in the fall and spring semesters. He has also publicized the changes made to the Federal Student Aid processes and says the process is now easier to navigate, has better customer service and is more accessible to students. During his time as President, Trump has discussed making funding for higher education more accessible but has also worked to cut Federal Student Loan funding by imposing caps on the number of loans students can receive for higher education. The Trump administration has reduced programs allowing parents to take out loans for a child’s education and wants to end the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Trump has also promoted for-profit colleges and has ended Obamaera regulations on these institutions, making it easier for them to receive federal funds. Nick Schuler, LSA freshman and freshman chair of the

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According to Forbes, Biden will pay for his plans by capping itemized deductions at 28 percent and “eliminat(ing) the practice of stepped-up tax basis.” The Tax Foundation describes the step-up basis as “when a person leaves property to an heir, the cost basis of the bequeathed asset receives a ‘step-up’ in basis to its fair market value at the time of the original owner’s death.” In other words, people must pay taxes on their investments based on value on the date the investment was made and the value when sold. Should the person die and transfer their investments to their heirs, the value of when the investment was made becomes that of the current market price. Biden would change the current tax law to avoid this loophole. Schaeff ler said one of the main reasons he supports Biden is because he believes Biden’s proposed methods are realistic and achievable — he said he thinks Sanders’ plans are unachievable. “When you look at something like free college for all, eliminating all student loan debt, on the surface, that sounds amazing,” Schaeff ler said. “Without a clear way of paying for it and a clear way for that to pass through the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, at that point, it’s just a plan. I don’t think there’s a way to implement it.” Reporter Emma Ruberg can be reached at eruberg@umich. edu. Reporter Francesca Duong can be reached at fduong@ umich.edu.

Opinion

4 — Tuesday, March 10, 2020

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ELIZABETH COOK | COLUMN

Demonetize your vote

ith the Democratic primaries in full swing, the University of Michigan’s campus is becoming dense with political advocacy — fliers, voter registration drives, candidate offices opening and endorsements are present at every corner. As people begin to discuss the primaries online and on campus, students want to take part in the monumental 2020 presidential election. Conversations range from preferred candidates to potential policies to the peculiar statements made in debates. However, a commonality that ties many of the topics together is touchy, personal and controversial: money. In the Democratic primary, the role of personal wealth is flagrant. Front runner Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has made working-class issues the cornerstone of his campaign, while Mayor Michael Bloomberg, D-N.Y., is pouring his $56.1 billion net worth into mimicking a grassroots campaign with personal social media advertisements despite making condescending comments about blue-collar jobs. During the 2016 election, President Donald Trump effectively utilized his personal wealth and experience as an entrepreneur to garner support. The narrative of being a “selfmade” billionaire paints an image of independent work ethic and success; despite flaunting his wealth, he was still able to run as a political outsider positioned to end corruption. His “drain the swamp” mantra has been satirized following his tactful cabinet placements. However, the impact of financial affluence in politics runs much deeper than the presidency and a fascination with billionaires. Voters who have firmly established opinions on billionaires should keep in mind that positions and policy can change, but deeply rooted opinions tend not to. Rather than having cyclical discussions on the merits of enormous wealth acquisition, we must focus on how the current system favors private interests over public values. Campaign finance legislation protects the ability of wealth to be shielded from the public eye in local, state and nationwide campaigns. The state of Michigan has a deep history of insufficient campaign finance transparency and ranks last among the 50 states in the ability to analyze systems that enable corruption according to The Center for Public Integrity, to the detriment of our elections. Public access to information, lobbying disclosure and executive, legislative and

judicial authority are the other glaring issues the state is failing to address. Donation limits are spotty at best, pathetic at worst. The Secretary of State website that should accessibly show campaign finance is convoluted. Critical information is buried by complex search engine fields and a lack of coherent organization to the detriment of constituents seeking to educate themselves on their options for representation. This particularly impacts those with less proficient digital literacy. These deeply embedded policy issues are being buried with other political discourse. They must be exposed, discussed and changed — reforming a system that hides dark money must be at the forefront of conversations about money in politics as opposed to whether a candidate is a billionaire.

Reforming a system that hides dark money must be at the forefront of conversations Systemic failures are reinforced by electing people that directly benefit from that system. Independent organizations, like the National Rifle Association, invest vast sums of money in candidates that will strike down gun control legislation, despite the majority of the public claiming we need to combat gun violence. With the 2020 presidential election fast approaching, it is time to discuss these hidden (and not so hidden) influences. The political-economic system is reinforced by campaigns powered by personal wealth. Trump used his self-described success as a tool for his campaign; as a businessman, he knew how to negotiate deals and get things done. This narrative was bolstered by the assertion that Trump was “self-made,” when in fact his “small loan of a million dollars” was actually more than $413 million, when factoring in inflation. This falsehood was not a partisan belief. Both Republicans and Democrats misperceived Trump’s financial background surrounding his 2016 presidential run. Statements like “I built what I built myself” and “I did it by working long hours and working hard and working smart” evoke

admiration and empathy from some constituents, veiling his cushioned life and access to an array of business ventures from his family’s wealth and network. Utilizing the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” narrative establishes solidarity with working and middle-class voters who believe hard work is the main element of success. This tactic is unethical because it implies he has had similar life experiences when in truth he always had the wealth to fall back on. His interests lie in maintaining the system that allowed him and his family to accumulate immense wealth, not reforming it to the needs of the working class. The crux of the conflicting narratives surrounding billionaires, between vilification and romanticization, lies within each individual’s unique perspective on how the economy works; we typically fall somewhere between the notion of rugged individualism and systemic assistance and restraint. And these values are not easily changed. Political discourse should be rooted in the realities of how democracy is being damaged by the influence of immense sums of money from both elected representatives and nongovernment organizations. Rather than if we believe billionaires are good or bad, our discussions should be driven by ideas that can change, like positions on the specific policies that allows dark money to be shielded from constituents. Disguising the role of money in the policies politicians support when elected is a deliberate aim to deceive their constituents, undermining the desires of the people, which should be the focus of the narratives of wealth. When politicians misguide the public about the source of their funds, the signals that should be flagged are muted in the convoluted and congested political narrative that tends to focus on salaciousness. Acknowledging the difference between how we conceptualize wealth and how money plays a role in democracy will be crucial in healing a deeply flawed and unrepresentative government. It is our duty as students of the University, and as citizens, to understand that some values cannot be debated — we must focus our energy on educating ourselves on the flawed policies that protect dark money and how to redirect the narrative of money in politics. Elizabeth Cook can be reached at elizcook@umich.edu.

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A case for collective climate action

ou wake up in the morning and switch on your light. With that flick of your index finger, you are complicit. You are causing the seas to rise, likely leading to the displacement of between 32 and 80 million people. You are responsible for the future death of all coral reefs, ridding over 500 million people of their livelihoods. You are responsible for increased water scarcity, affecting over 350 million people. Is this fair? No. But that is what politicians, corporations and people in power are saying these days: handing you, the individual, the burden of ending the climate crisis and the g uilt associated with not being able to. Over the past several months, I have witnessed many examples of our community leaders — both at the University of Michigan and city level — shirking the responsibility to act on the current climate crisis and instead calling for increased individual action and behavioral change. At the Ann Arbor City Council meeting last April, City Councilwoman Anne Banister, D-Ward 1, voted against dedicating $880,000 to address climate change at the city level, stating how “we can demand that the city do a bunch of stuff but I would again urge that people look at their own choices.” Similarly, during a public town hall about the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality (PCCN) that same month, University President Mark Schlissel explained that “we really do as individuals share not just in the need to have a successful outcome, but in actually driving that success.” At a carbon neutrality town hall in September, Stephen Forrest, co-chair of PCCN, stated that “this isn’t just the responsibility of the University administration. It’s the responsibility of all of us, turning off lights, unplugging our chargers and things like that. These things are actually really meaningful if you add them up.” At a similar panel discussion on the intersection of businesses and carbon `told the

audience he walks four miles round-trip to work every day in an effort to reduce his own carbon footprint. Forrest said that “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.” These recommendations from our leaders illustrate two possibilities: They are either knowingly parroting fossil fuel industry talking points or are showing their complete lack of understanding of the way in which systems shape individual action. Similarly to how the fossil fuel industry profits from our current reliance on fossil fuels, corporations, institutions and the powerful reap the benefits of our current systems — both economic and political — that prioritize their profit over our planet, and are the causes of the current climate crisis.

Institutions and the powerful reap the benefits of our current systems

In other words, climate change is a symptom of a far-toolong overlooked side effect of our current economic and political systems that protect money and power at the expense of all else. When those with wealth and power have something to lose from correctly addressing the causes of the climate crisis, it is easier for them to double down on greenwashing and calls for individual behavior change. We are instructed to unplug our chargers and turn our lights off while corporations go unchecked, profiting from the destruction of our ecosystems. Just 100 companies are responsible for 71 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and 20 of those corporations are responsible for a whopping 35 percent of all global emissions.

As Thoreau (bleh, I know) states in his essay “Civil Disobedience”: “I quarrel not with far-off foes, but those who, near at home, cooperate with, and do the bidding of, those far away, and without whom the latter would be harmless.” To be clear, I quarrel with both the far-off foes and those near at home, with names like Banister, Schlissel and Forrest. Forrest, for example, makes $344,000 annually and can afford to live close enough to walk to work, while living in a city with such an extreme lack of housing and housing affordability that graduate student employees, who are attempting to bargain over more affordable housing and climate action, are told they should live in other cities and commute to. Forrest is by no means the villain of this story, but his actions and words are emblematic of a larger issue: It is leaders like him — those who have benefitted from current systems of power and are therefore reluctant to change them — that stand in our way and in the way of a livable planet. When we f ind ourselves liv ing in a societ y t hat ha s been built f rom t he g round up on huma n exploitation, resource ext raction, fossil f uel use a nd power accumulation, t he indiv idua l w ill a lways be complicit, rendering indiv idua l action by itself f utile. I a m not telling you to stop reducing meat consumption, or stop get ting on busses, or stop t urning of f lights a nd unplugg ing cha rgers. A nd I’m not say ing t hat you don’t bea r some of t he responsibility for causing the climate crisis and carry some of the burdens of solving it. What I’m saying is that in order to correctly address this crisis, today’s systems of exploitation and inequality must be toppled. Only collective action can do just that. Julian Hansen is a senior International Studies major and member of the Climate Action Movement at the University of Michigan and can be reached at hansju@umich.edu.

SUNGMIN CHO | COLUMN

Students exposed to hate in Ann Arbor

n Dec. 17, 2019, two of my friends and I were walking on East William Street. A middleaged white male who seemed intoxicated aggressively shouted “f***ing Asian b*tches!” at us. On Feb. 24, 2020 t wo loiterers at the State Street entrance to Nickels Arcade asked me for money before telling each other “he doesn’t speak English.” In both incidents, to avoid confrontation, I couldn’t do any thing but walk away. Compared to many major cities in the United States I have visited, Ann Arbor is considered a relatively safe place. In fact, it has been recog nized by Niche — a ranking and review site — as one of the best cities to live in America, in terms of both the overall environment and safet y. But at the same time, Universit y of Michigan students living in Ann Arbor are not completely free from the problems that plag ue the rest of America. Universit y buildings are spread throughout the cit y, making the boundar y of campus quite blurr y. When it comes to housing, 69 percent of students at the Universit y live off-campus. Many major student apartments are located downtown, directly adjacent to where these incidents took place. This makes students returning to their homes after class or activities late at night v ulnerable to those t ypes of unpleasant encounters. The Ann Arbor experience is an implied part of the Universit y experience. Although those incidents did not involve physical violence or bodily harm, those hateful and racist remarks offend, upset and discourage students of minorit y identities. Even if the Universit y

prioritizes diversit y, equit y and inclusion, the scope of student life often reaches beyond the Universit y’s jurisdiction. Life in the cit y and at the Universit y are inalienable, and the hate on the streets clearly affects student life. In order to resolve these incidents, students, the Universit y and the cit y of Ann Arbor should work together. According to the Universit y’s Division of Public Safet y and Securit y, DPSS off icers are working with the Ann Arbor Police Department regarding campus and nearcampus neighborhoods’

The hate on the streets clearly affects student life

safet y. Since DPSS’s mission is to ensure the safet y of the Universit y communit y, it should prioritize protecting students from external threats, instead of internally patrolling students, arbitrarily making assumptions of drinking activit y and authoritatively searching random dorm rooms. On March 24, 2019, a DPSS off icer entered my dorm room and falsely assumed my friend and I were drinking. She asked us to show her my refrigerator and trash bin. After treating us with baseless suspicion, she left without apolog izing. Compared to searching non-existent alcohol consumption, addressing hate incidents seems to be

much more urgent. This suggests that DPSS should look outward, not inward. Moreover, it is imperative that the communit y recog nize the urgency of this issue. Even though hate incidents do not necessarily involve physical violence or damage, the consequence should not be overlooked. As shown in other recent incidents nearby, hate speech negatively impacts the educational communit y and discourages minorit y students. Students might perceive that they do not belong to the local communit y, or develop a negative impression of Ann Arbor, or their college experience in general. Therefore, the cit y and Universit y authorities should cooperate and take action, not necessarily through prosecution, but through proactive measures such as patrolling near-campus neighborhoods to prevent such fear in the f irst place. Ann Arbor is home to over 60,000 students. Regardless of where they come from, Ann Arbor is where they spend the majorit y of their time during their college years. In order for any student to feel they belong to this cit y, internally emphasizing diversit y, equit y and inclusion is not enough. These incidents especially target minorit y students and sig nif icantly deg rade their experiences in Ann Arbor. This can negatively impact their universit y experience as well. Therefore, I call on the Universit y and cit y authorities to work together to not only address this urgent issue but also prevent these instances from happening in the future.

Sungmin Cho can be reached at csungmin@umich.edu.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Arts

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 — 5

Polly Rosenwaike depicts motherhood in many forms EMILIA FERRANTE Daily Arts Writer

In her collection of short stories, “Look How Happy I’m Making You,” Polly Rosenwaike captures the experience of motherhood from all angles. Rosenwaike cultivates her book’s appeal in the very first page, instantly dismissing any preconceptions a reader might have about a book on motherhood. It would be easy to write off this book as one for mothers — or at least for women — but Rosenwaike clarifies that this book is for anyone and everyone by starting her collection with the line, “We are all in love with the baby.” The book draws the reader in immediately, regardless of whether or not they have any special interest in motherhood. The narration defamiliarizes the experience of interacting with a baby, saying, “he tracks our shopworn, overly articulated faces,” effectively describing the silly faces we all make at babies in a way that is beautiful. This beginning, something we can all relate to, makes motherhood accessible and sets the stage for the arduous journey the book charts through the lives of many different versions of motherhood. In a collection of short stories with different narrators, maintaining a continuity of theme from one segment to the

next can be difficult. Not only does Rosenwaike make it seem easy, she exploits the different perspectives in order to force the reader to reckon with the decisions that come with motherhood. Every character is understandable to the reader, from the woman grappling with her aunt’s death at the same time

Rosenwaike reflects on the many wonders of witnessing a tiny being come into existence.

as her baby’s birth, to the woman having an affair with a younger man right after becoming a mother. The most poignant comparison by proximity, however, was between the stories “Grow Your Eyelashes” and “Field Notes.” In the first story, the woman at the center tries desperately to conceive and keep a baby, and her failure to do so is rendered in precise prose.

In the story that directly follows it, the woman gets pregnant and decides to have an abortion. “Decides” is a strong word — it is already a foregone conclusion. She is sad about it, as anyone would be, but she never truly considers keeping the baby. Even as a staunch supporter of a woman’s right to choose, it is almost impossible not to feel accusatory toward the woman in the second story. The first story puts the reader in the headspace of someone for whom having a baby would be a blessing, so when it is a curse for the second narrator, we still are angry with her for squandering an opportunity the first woman would have cherished. It produces a strange feeling in the heart and mind of someone who has always been pro-choice, one that is certainly illuminating. For people of all political persuasions, however, it finally depoliticizes the issue of abortion. Choosing whether or not to terminate a pregnancy once again becomes a human issue, one based on the minutiae of each woman’s experience, unable to be explained away by a single story. Rosenwaike tactfully deals with another topic that is inextricably linked to motherhood, despite often going undiscussed: postpartum depression. Society likes to paint early motherhood as a rosy blossoming of the motherchild relationship fueled by the joy of watching a tiny person

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experience the world for the first time. This is the case for some women — but for women with postpartum depression, that picture can feel like a slap in the face. Rosenwaike slips in a short story that deals with postpartum depression head-on, right in-between other stories about various tribulations of motherhood. This is the first, and perhaps most subtle, success in dealing with this topic: she does not separate it from the others, which would make it seem shameful. Instead, it is just another story among stories, effectively normalizing a stigmatized subject. Her structure is also notable — she formats the piece as a list of sorts, titled “Ten Warning Signs of Postpartum Depression,” like a WikiHow help piece. Her prose pinpoints the disgust she feels with the entire situation, describing her baby as “a disappointed old woman,” her birth as an

Daily Arts Writer

PIXAR

Dan Scanlon talks about love, family and ‘Onward’ Surrounded by Michigan paraphernalia in the Three Cats Cafe, Dan Scanlon looks comfortable and at home because he is. As someone born and raised in Clawson, MI, it’s no wonder Scanlon is eager to talk about “Onward,” Scanlon’s highly anticipated film based on his own childhood, in his real-life hometown. Scanlon has worked with Pixar for many years, taking part in many films such as “Cars,” “Brave” and “Monsters University.” “Onward,” however, is the first original Pixar film that he is directing, and what makes it even more special is that its storyline was derived from his own life. Scanlon, similar to the film’s protagonist Ian Lightfoot, voiced by Tom Holland (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), lost his father at a young age and had to learn how to live his life without him. When it came to making “Onward,” Scanlon said he set out to address the nagging questions you have to sit with in the face of loss. “What would you do if you could meet someone you lost? What would you say to them that you didn’t say before?” At the same time, Scanlon added, “You don’t get that opportunity, sadly … ” What you do get, though, is the chance to call up the people “who did more than they had to to help you become the adult you are

Polly Rosenwaike Doubleday Books Mar. 16, 2019

possible.” Rosenwaike describes in excruciating detail the way support can sometimes feel inadequate, that all the expectations placed onto

Brandy Clark magnifies life’s small, vital moments KATIE BEEKMAN

Daily Arts Writer

Look How Happy I’m Making You

mothers can make one feel like “a manufacturing fluke.” On a happier note, the book manages to capture some of the rosiness of pregnancy without sounding trite or clichéd. Rosenwaike reflects on the many wonders of witnessing a tiny being come into existence. Her characters say things like “Sometimes I thought my ballooning body was beautiful” and “I liked the way my skin stretched so tightly over my belly.” They ponder over things like “a brand-new face” and “the dawning of all kinds of consciousnesses.” They convince us so thoroughly of their reality and demonstrate so much resolve and pure awe in the face of struggles that have existed since the very beginning of humanity, that when Rosenwaike casually says that “the meaning of life” is “to continue it,” we do not even question it. Instead, it seems obvious, undeniable, like a foregone conclusion.

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experience that hurt so much “you thought something must be wrong,” and thoughts of hurting her baby that occur “within the realm of the horrifically

today… if they’re still around and thank them for what they did.” Luckily for Scanlon, he had a supportive older brother, just like Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”), and a devoted mother, just like Laurel Lightfoot (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”), that he could rely on. And, by calling on the experiences and memories that he

Scanlon, similar to the film’s protagonist Ian Lightfoot, lost his father at a young age and had to learn to live his life without him.

had with those valuable people in his own life, he created a stunning, realistic and moving film meant for everyone, not just children. The beauty of “Onward” lies in its two central characters, Ian and Barley. These two brothers are what Scanlon refers to as “a different type of brother and a different type of man.” They are shamelessly unafraid of being

genuine and heartfelt towards one another, while still maintaining an easy, teasing banter. They disregard any and all expectations and stereotypes of toxic masculinity. Ian and Barley have a “sincere, sensitive relationship” and have no problem being “vulnerable” with each other, Scanlon said. Ian’s shy qualities are well-matched with his brother Barley’s wildness, and they have to work together to succeed in their quest to spend one final day with the father they barely remember. Barley’s endless support of Ian is based on the support Scanlon received, and continues to receive, from his own brother Bill, who “has been such a fan...and supporter of the movie,” since he first saw it at the Pixar wrap party. While the whole film is full of love and sincerity, there is one part in particular that will be remembered as the most touching scene. In fact, when I asked Scanlon what he believes is the most iconic, “where’s my supersuit?” scene of the film, he didn’t hesitate in answering “the end.” He purposely styled it so that the visual aspects would stand out “even if you have the sound down.” And he’s right. Every image, every motion in that climactic scene has you holding your breath, even with little to no sound being heard. That scene sums up the whole movie for me. It makes you hug your siblings a little tighter and look your parents in the eyes when you thank them for everything they’ve done. It’s a reminder of those you have with you and a tribute to those you no longer do.

You probably haven’t heard of Brandy Clark before, but you’ve definitely heard one of her songs. Between “Follow Your Arrow” by Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart,” she’s penned hits for some of the best in the business. On her third album, Your Life is a Record, Clark proves she saves her strongest songwriting for herself. Often, Clark’s prowess with words interrupts the song itself. The listener is forced to take pause, not because a verse is particularly weighty, but because it takes time to unravel a clever joke. Clark’s nuggets of humor are everywhere. In “Bad Car” Clark plays with a common saying to sing about her car’s dysfunction. “Yeah, there’s death and taxes, and the check engine light blinkin’ on,” she sighs. Some lines are snickerinducing: “Can’t eat this, you can’t eat that / Is there anything that ain’t giving cancer to rats?” she deadpans on “Bigger Boat.” While she excels at one liners, Clark also knows how to set a scene. The chorus of “Long Walk,” a Kacey Musgraves-reminiscent kissoff to a mudslinging neighbor, sketches out a progression of images that run through your mind like a comic strip. Simultaneously sharp and campy, Clark provides her nemesis with a detailed set of instructions on

how to “take a long walk off a real short pier.” Zooming out, it’s clear that Clark takes the title of her album seriously. Each song dips into a pocket of everyday life — and the way Clark makes normalcy shine is like spinning hay into gold. In “Pawn Shop,” she traces the end of two broken dreams — a woman pawns off her wedding ring and a struggling singer pawns his guitar. But, Clark promises, when the shop opens again, the items “will start a new dream secondhand.”

Your Life Is a Record Brandy Clark Warner Records

“Who You Thought I Was” is the record’s heartbeat. Clark recounts all of the things she used to want to do until she met her significant other — but there’s a twist. In the bridge the listener finds out that Clark’s relationship is over, so what sounds like a love song at first is suddenly flipped on its head. This bait and switch is emblematic of Clark’s artistry in general. The everyday is extraordinary and the expected isn’t what you think — you just have to pay attention.

The track that expands these snapshots into a nation-spanning statement is “Bigger Boat.” While recognizing the country’s political polarization, this song seems to situate Clark on the sidelines. Its instrumentation is both timeless and playful, resembling the Disney songs that Randy Newman, who is featured on the track, is known for. This makes his presence on the song a bit eerie. It’s discomforting to hear a voice of childhood’s past giving up on America getting along. But not so fast. Understanding Clark’s approach to songwriting suggests that her call for “a bigger boat” is sarcastic. What she’s really calling for is unity. Despite writing for country stars, Your Life is a Record is categorized as singer/songwriter. This classification makes sense as most of the songs could easily fit into any coffee shop playlist. Instead of featuring banjo licks, the songs are stripped in a way that shows off Clark’s voice and lyrics. What does this mean for country music, a genre experiencing an endless identity crisis? Most likely it means that one of its best songwriters knew that she wasn’t going to get any airplay with a country record anyway, so she decided to take the opportunity to sonically expand. Clark’s lyrics speak for themselves. Your Life is a Record puts a magnifying glass on the small moments and makes it all feel big. If your life really is a record, you would be lucky if it was half as good as Clark’s is.

WARNER

Arts

6 — Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

DAILY LITERATURE COLUMN

TV REVIEW

Emily Yang: Notes on ‘Sweet Days of Discipline’ EMILY YANG

Daily Literature Columnist

SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

‘Saul’ sets up an endgame JUSTIN POLLACK Daily Arts Writer

As “Better Call Saul” begins its fifth and penultimate season, it continues to inch closer to the timeline of the “Breaking Bad” universe. Last season saw the addition of undercover meth distributor-businessman Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, “Breaking Bad”) and in its most recent episode, it appears DEA Agent Hank Schrader (Dean Norris, “Superstore”) will also play a major role in the coming seasons. With the recent news that “Better Call Saul” will end after six seasons, it makes it much more intriguing for fans of the “Breaking Bad” franchise to predict the series’ endgame as the plots of Fring, Mike (Jonathan Banks, “Breaking Bad”) and Nacho (Michael Mando, “Psych”) all head in the same direction. Part of the brilliance of “Breaking Bad” is the observation of Walter White’s moral decay from a nebbish science teacher to the leading meth chef of the Southwest. In contrast to gradual character transformation, perhaps the most clever challenge taken up by “Better Call Saul” is its utilization of similar narrative arcs to reveal how some of the

most prominent characters from “Breaking Bad” ended up involved with drug cartels. “Better Call Saul” spends a considerable amount of time explaining these characters’ various backstories, which can be frustrating at times — particularly for viewers of “Breaking Bad” — but, narratively, appears to be worth the payoff.

Better Call Saul Season 5 Episodes 1-3 AMC Mondays @ 9 p.m.

We’ve spent the better part of four seasons watching Mike evolve from working the ticket booth at a parking lot to becoming one of Fring’s most valued security officers. The conclusion of last season saw Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk, “Breaking Bad”) officially register to practice law under the name Saul Goodman. In these first few episodes of Season 5, Jimmy/Saul markets himself as a lawyer for those looking

to engage in criminal activity at a heavily discounted price. Upon being recruited by Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton, “Sense8”), the following episodes find Jimmy at the center of the imminent war between the Mexican drug cartel run by the Salamancas and the hometown drug team led by Fring, effectively placing Jimmy in opposition to Mike, whom he’s worked closely with in the past. For the characters who don’t appear in “Breaking Bad,” a sense of danger looms on the horizon — even for Jimmy’s current girlfriend, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, “Veep”), a more accomplished lawyer. Kim and Jimmy’s relationship may appear sweet, but at its center their codependency is toxic. In the past, Kim was willing to stretch the ethical boundaries of her job because Jimmy was worth it. Despite Kim’s best efforts to push Jimmy in the direction of becoming a responsible lawyer, he’s changed his name and the clients he represents. Now that she’s distanced herself from Jimmy — and his “50% off non-violent felonies” deal — she’s forced to reflect on how much of Jimmy’s personality she’s allowed to incorporate into her own.

It is notable that not every piece of literature or media by and about women is feminist. The label gets used so frequently to mean “anything mostly concerning women, created by one” that the word mostly connotes, at this point, more of a sanguine, positive approach to femininity than anything else. This makes Gabrielle Annan’s use of the word to describe Fleur Jaeggy’s 1989 novella “Sweet Days Of Discipline” in a review in The New York Review of Books surprising. I’m willing to follow this association, though given how intensely perverse Fleur Jaeggy’s work is, how much it seems to resist any reading is not on its own terms. The book is pretty much entirely populated by women, to be sure. The men appear as bemused, slightly pathetic interlopers in the intensely feminine boarding school atmosphere. The narrator writes that she “got to know headmistresses, reverend mothers, mother superiors, and Mères préfètes.” Boarding schools are places of total submission, where

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every aspect of a young girl’s life is itemized and subject to inspection. The nameless narrator of Jaeggy’s novella recounts periodic, unpredictable inspections of the cupboards the students kept their linens in. The formal aspects of this strict regime seem almost beside the point, but the narrator does

It is notable that not every piece of literature or media by and about women is feminist. recount a school where all the girls kissed the hand of Mère préfète before bed. It is unsurprising, then, that the girls increasingly only have this way of relating to each other. The plot of the book, such as there is one (Jaeggy writes in a fascinatingly atemporal way, sentences following

each other with little connective material, juggling spaces and times) involves the narrator’s involvement with Frédérique, a slightly older girl who is able to embody the boarding school’s ideal of strict discipline more completely than anyone else, so much so that she “never needed to curtsey, because her way of respecting others instilled respect.” The narrator starts noticing details, like someone close-reading a text. Frédérique never looks in the mirror. Frédérique eats “with her elbows pressed against her bust.” Frédérique speaks to herself occasionally, “moving her lips and staring at something like emptiness.” It’s unclear what the narrator wants of her, but there’s an ominousness baked into the whole process. From the get-go, the narrator says she wants to “conquer” Frédérique, something that in practice means a kind of mastery of the site of submission — the logic of boarding school miniaturized and focused on one person. It’s both erotic and not. The reproduction of this imposed discipline (and thus the reassertion of control over it) becomes the narrator’s way of relating to most everything in the world.

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Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Tuesday March 10, 2020 — 7

Adversity shaping postseason for ‘M’ Rauch’s dedication leads to recovery DANIEL DASH

KENT SCHWARTZ

Juwan Howard’s first regular season as the Michigan men’s basketball coach featured no shortage of adversity. Bad news began trickling in before the Wolverines even took the court for the first time in November. Less than two weeks before the season tipped off, freshman wing Franz Wagner fractured his wrist in practice. The injury didn’t require surgery, but it forced him to miss Michigan’s first four games. Even when he joined the lineup, the lingering effects on his shooting wrist were evident in his 29-percent 3-point shooting clip through midFebruary. The recovery period was particularly difficult for Wagner, who was simultaneously trying to adapt to the American college level after spending last season with German club Alba Berlin. “The injury in October set him back with his stroke,” associate head coach Phil Martelli said on Feb. 22. “I think he’s a purer shooter than we’re seeing.” Since then, Wagner has found his jump shot. He’s shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc over the Wolverines’ last five games — a mark that has allowed him to become the team’s leading scorer over the same stretch. But as Michigan worked through the adversity of Wagner’s injury, a second starter went down. Junior forward Isaiah Livers missed six games after landing awkwardly following a dunk attempt against Presbyterian on Dec. 21, and when he returned a month later, he reaggravated his groin on a near-identical play. His absence stretched over the Wolverines’ next three games before an ankle injury forced him to sit out a fourth.

Two-and-a-half weeks ago, Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico laughed as she held out her hand, pretending it was in an icebox. She was acting out sophomore guard Danielle Rauch’s squats as she tried to prevent her left hand from sweating while staying in shape. Rauch broke her hand a day before Michigan’s Feb. 6 matchup against Purdue and missed the game because of her surgery that day. Bones take six to eight weeks to heal. Last Thursday against Nebraska, Rauch returned after just four. “She says she has a plan, we’ll see,” Barnes Arico said after a Feb. 19 victory over Illinois. “I don’t know, I’m not getting excited about it.” There wasn’t a lot to be excited about. It was the second injury in as many weeks after senior forward Kayla Robbins tore her ACL, and Rauch couldn’t do any hard labor for two weeks. But as one of the emotional leaders on the team, she was immediately determined to get back in the game. “When I got my stitches out, I went right into conditioning,”

Daily Sports Writer

MILES MACKLIN/Daily

Juwan Howard is “praying to the basketball gods” for good health.

Michigan has lost six of 10 games against conference opponents without a healthy Livers. “At some point, every team is going to go through (adversity),” Howard said Sunday. “It happened to us. I think we’ve learned a lot, and I think we’ve gotten better through the adversity. We’re going to forge ahead. … (I’m) praying to the basketball gods that we’ll continue to have good health.” Adversity has taken forms besides injury, particularly at inopportune moments. Howard handed senior point guard Zavier Simpson a one-game suspension in January following a 3 a.m. traffic incident on Jan. 26. In late December, an illness held sophomore forward Brandon Johns Jr. out of a nonconference tune-up. Most recently, junior guard Eli Brooks’s broken nose kept him out of last week’s loss to Wisconsin. Without their ace perimeter defender, the Wolverines surrendered a season-worst 11 3-pointers. Before returning three days later, he had to overcome a sinus infection he claimed was even more painful than the fractured nose itself. The only starter to suit up for every game of the regular season was senior center Jon Teske. The sum of the adversity was a 10-10 Big Ten record

and a bottom-half finish in the conference standings. “Most definitely not what we wanted,” sophomore guard David DeJulius said Sunday. “And I think that goes back to the history of Michigan basketball, especially with the last few years, just with how much success they’ve had. We just talked about how even the (2018) national championship team that won the Big Ten Tournament, they didn’t win the regular season, so now everyone’s zero-and-zero. “We just gotta come out there with a new-season mindset.” With the regular season now in the books, Michigan’s postseason mindset is bolstered by the experience of regularseason adversity. It knows what it’s like to play short-handed and lose, and it knows what it’s like to win with everyone in the fold. The Wolverines grew from the adversity, learning about themselves in moments that otherwise would’ve never presented themselves. Even through a miserable January that saw Michigan drop five consecutive games for the first time since 2015, young players such as Johns and DeJulius proved themselves as viable rotational pieces. And in the postseason, the silver lining of regular-season roadblocks could make all the difference.

SOFTBALL

Errors plague Wolverines in LA ABBIE TELGENHOF Daily Sports Writer

In a weekend with little offensive production, the Michigan softball team looked toward its defense to hold games together, and scrape by with wins. For Michigan coach Carol Hutchins, it didn’t do the job. “Defense is led by the pitching,” Hutchins said. “When the pitchers are on, it makes our defense a lot easier. But I think in general we had opportunities a lot of times for outs that we didn’t make. Very passive and very tentative. Very unsure on the field.” “I think our pitchers have set a really good tone. But our defense and offense need to pick up on it. Trust the pitchers, but have a little trust in themselves. I don’t think our defense was as good as it has been, but it’s definitely holding its own.” The errors only compounded on the struggle the Wolverines faced at the UCLA/LBSU Invitational. Going 2-2 on the weekend, in what should’ve been a more successful weekend, the errors only added to the long list of things Michigan needs to work on. For senior center fielder Haley Hoogenraad, the defense seemed fine. “I think, personally, defense can win you games,” Hoogenraad said. “So, honestly, we are a pretty solid defensive team. There haven’t been a lot of times where we just fall apart in the field. We usually make good throws and good plays. So I think it’s important for us to keep up that consistent defensive play, but I also think we do a really nice job of it.” The discrepancy between the two, coach and player, is bound to happen. Hutchins admitted she had spent four hours watching film before calling for her phone interview. It’s a different perspective, a different angle. But in a weekend series that showcased the gaps in the Wolverines’ offense, the

discrepancy between player and coach highlighted the importance of strong Michigan defense, something lacking over the weekend. As Hutchins said, defense starts with pitching. And starting against Boston University and closing against UCLA and Central Flordia, right hander Alex Storako played her typical, consistent game — with the exception of two errors. The first came on Friday, against Boston University, when, in the top of the first, a ball was hit back to Storako. Bobbling it, she tried to flip it to first base, but missed and allowed the batter on base. It ended up being a minor error as both of the subsequent batters struck-out, but an error nonetheless. Storako’s second error proved to be much more damaging for the Wolverines, as it ended Friday’s game against UCF, 3-2, in extra innings. It followed an error from sophomore catcher Hannah Carson when she overthrew second base, allowing a stealing runner to take third. The next batter up, Storako let go of a wild pitch, which forced Carson out of position to try and block, and provided UCF with a chance to score, which they took. Storako had just six wild pitches in her 20 games last season. Yet, in the 17 games she’s played this season, she’s already racked up 11. But with her increased presence in the lineup comes the responsibility of making plays when it matters. Carson also contributed another error, against UCLA when she overthrew junior first baseman, Lou Allan, on a dropped third strike. Again, her error didn’t have a major

impact on the score of the game — the runner was tagged out in a rundown — but, like Storako, her increased role also demands an increased responsibility. Freshman shortstop Julia Jimenez added another error on the weekend for a team total of five. Receiving a throw-down from Carson, and trying to tag a stealing runner out, Jimenez let the ball slip past her, allowing the runner to steal third. All that said, errors are going to take place. It’s more about how Michigan responds to them than what the effect is in the moment they’re made. For the Wolverines’ benefit, their defense needs to remain strong because of their struggling offense. Without a strong defense, they will struggle on both sides of the plate. This could allow for more runs from other teams, something the Michigan pitchers work hard to contain. Michigan needs to be able to find solace in its ability to rally on the defensive end even when the offense isn’t producing. Keeping a positive mindset, and sticking to the one-pitch focus — both in the batter’s box and on the field — is something the Wolverines are striving to do. “Our biggest thing is, if you have a bad at-bat, it’s easy to just go internal with yourself and just kind of put yourself down and be distracted with that rather than be present in the moment, especially on the field,” Blair said. “Which, I think our defense has done really well with not letting the negatives in the game carry over. We just want to be present for our pitchers. Present for ourselves, for our team. And there’s always room for improvement and there are always opportunities in the game that we can take advantage of next time if we didn’t do it the first time.”

Our defense and offense need to pick up on it.

Rauch said. “I had a strength and conditioning plan with our strength coach. Every single day we had something, whether that’s on-court sprints, on the treadmill, in the weight room, just doing everything I can to keep my wind up.” Her hard work kept her fit, but then came her shooting and handling. As the backup point guard, she’s crucial to giving sophomore guard Amy Dilk rest, and her return would mean Dilk didn’t have to play 38 minutes every game anymore — if she could keep up her handles. “I just kind of worked on it every day,” Rauch said. “Kept working on it, worked on it until I felt comfortable enough and was able to practice this week.” Against Nebraska last Thursday, Rauch debuted her new look: Black tape around the middle of her hand, snaking up to wrap her middle two fingers. She was warming up, four weeks after breaking her hand and requiring surgery. After spending four weeks sitting toward the end of the bench, when it came time to find her spot she looked to sit closer to the coaches, eager to tell them she was ready to play. Except that chair was now sophomore forward Emily

Kiser’s. An awkward half second where both looked at the chair later, Rauch moved to the end of the bench. She only sat for nine minutes before entering the game. Rauch played 22 minutes in the Big Ten Tournament, the seventhmost on the team. She wasn’t the biggest contributor on the court, but her contributions have always been as an emotional voice and leader more than anything else. She scored just two points all weekend. They came from a jumper at the corner of the key on Saturday, when Ohio State left her unmanned, not respecting her shot. She stopped her movement across the court, as if suddenly becoming aware of her space, and pulled up. The two points tied the game at 47 early in the fourth quarter, capping off a massive comeback before the Buckeyes pulled back away. “She was a kid that was playing 30 minutes before she hurt that hand, and now she’s trying to just get back in to give us a couple minutes here and there to maybe give Amy a break,” Barnes Arico said. “I don’t think she’s 100 percent.” There are two weeks before Michigan plays its next game. By then, Rauch’s new look might be a bare hand.

ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily

Sophomore guard Danielle Rauch recovered quickly from a broken hand to play at the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan drops series to Pepperdine LILY ISRAEL

Daily Sports Writer

Michigan’s high powered schedule took them to the West Coast yet again this weekend. But the California sunshine was the only consistent part of the trip for the Wolverines. Spotty offensive play plagued the No. 16 Michigan baseball team (8-7) as it fell to No. 24 Pepperdine (12-3) 2-1 in its weekend series. The Waves won the opening game 14-2 and split the doubleheader on Saturday, with the Wolverines winning the first game 7-4 before dropping the final game, 6-1. In the first game of the series, a slow start doomed the Wolverines from the onset, leading to a 12-2 loss. “We came up flat, didn’t have a lot of intensity,” freshman third baseman Ted Burton said. “They took advantage of us when we were down. We’ll be better intensity wise and playing-wise.” The Waves have the highest batting average of Michigan’s opponents thus far and their heavy bats manifested themselves quickly. After going down in order in the top of the first, junior righthander Jeff Criswell got behind in the strike count in several at-bats. Ultimately, in the first inning alone he allowed three hits and three runs. “Whether it was finishing a hitter off with two strikes or putting the final out in the inning with two outs (we were unable to get out of the inning),” Michigan coach Erik Bakich said. Criswell started to settle down and finished the day throwing five innings with seven strikeouts and not allowing another run past the first inning. The lone highlight of the opening game was junior shortstop Jack Blomgren’s production at the plate. Blomgren went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, including a solo home run. His offensive production allowed Michigan to chip away at the deficit. But, the Wolverines left runners in scoring position multiple times. Blomgren’s home run may have cut the deficit to one run, but because Michigan left runners

ALEC COHEN/Daily

The Michigan baseball team is 8-7 with its first home games this weekend.

stranded earlier, it ultimately did not affect the outcome. “We knew that their starting pitching is very good,” Bakich said. “We knew they are an older team. It’s a great offense that’s just got a lot of power. We knew we had to play well. Unfortunately, they capitalized on all of our mistakes.” To begin the day Saturday, the Wolverines looked like a completely different team. Redshirt freshman left-hander Steven Hajjar threw a careerhigh six innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters. Solidifying himself as the second pitcher in the rotation, he found success in his fastball and his offspeed pitches, his curveball and changeup, to keep Pepperdine batters off balance. “We’re not a team that likes to get kicked around,” Hajjar said. “We go in and lose 14-2 that will fire anyone up. Coach Bakich gave us a good pregame speech that we need to earn this team’s respect and I think that fired me up personally.” The offense complemented Hajjar’s pitching by scoring four runs in the third inning and taking advantage of walks. Lead-off hitter junior Jordan Nwogu went 2-for-5 with one RBI, bouncing back from the first game where he went 0-for-4. “We are a team that has the ability to win this series and that’s what we showed in the second game,” Hajjar said. The final game of the weekend started off hot with Nwogu hitting the second ball he saw for a homerun, but Michigan was unable to

capitalize on this momentum. “I think the problem is that we didn’t use that to gain momentum,” Nwogu said. “We struggled the rest of the game to string quality at-bats together. I think sporadically we put together some good at-bats but not enough to plate runs.” Nwogu recorded the only two hits of the day, but the Wolverines were able to get a total of 10 baserunners via hit-by-pitch and walks. But they were unable to get many runners past second base and ultimately couldn’t bring home any of the runners. “We got a lot of runners to first and second but that’s about where they stopped,” Bakich said. “When your playing from behind and you’re down 4-1 and 6-1 and you can get the first two guys on, you can bunt them over. But a bunt at the point in the game when you’re down 4-1 we don’t really want to give up an out just to advance runners.” Junior left-hander Blake Beers pitched five innings, allowing five hits and three runs. Michigan dipped into the bullpen three times, but its offensive struggles did nothing to help the pitchers out. “I think that we don’t have a problem with effort or anything like that we are really giving it our all it just didn’t happen for us today,” Beers said. “The biggest thing that we can take out of today is that we are giving it our all it’s just not happening for us right now. “It’s not a bad thing it seems like right now it’s just not all coming together.”

8 â€” Tuesday, March 10, 2020

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