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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Monday, March 30, 2020

Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Cancellation of March Madness hurts local business

Ann Arbor stores to lose out on revenue MICHAL RUPRECHT Daily Staff Reporter

ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily University President Mark Schlissel virtually sits down with the Daily to discuss Unviersity policy, comittments and challenges.

Schlissel discusses ‘U’ response to COVID-19

University of Michigan President: ‘We’ve adapted pretty darn fast’ EMMA STEIN

Daily News Editor

Each month, The Michigan Daily sits down with the University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel to discuss important questions about University policy, commitments and challenges. This month, the interview was conducted virtually. Topics discussed in this month’s interview included COVID-19, sexual misconduct allegations against faculty and GEO bargaining.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. President Schlissel started off the interview by emphasizing the importance of the census and urged all University students to fill it out. Mark Schlissel: You know, one is a reminder to students about the census. Every 10 years — and it happens to be this year — we’re doing this nationwide census. It’s in the constitution, it is important to determine the distribution of all kinds of federal benefits and also how many Congresspeople represent

each part of each state. So it’s a really big deal. And if you live in the dorm, you’re automatically counted, but if you live off campus or no longer on or near campus, you should use your off campus address and go ahead and file for the census. The Michigan Daily: Have you or any other members of the University of Michigan administration been tested for COVID-19?

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

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News

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Recently passed legislation extends aid to families, businesses across the country in largest stimulus package in modern American history ALYSSA MCMURTRY Daily Staff Reporter

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., held a conference call this afternoon with various media outlets to brief ly discuss the details of the Coronavirus Relief Bill passed by Congress. According to Dingell, the $2 trillion would be sectioned off into seven main categories: individual, small businesses, large businesses/corporations, hospitals and public health, local and state governments, federal safety net and education. Dingell said the bill will hopefully boost the economy and keep the workforce intact. “My prayer is at the end of this they’re going to have jobs to go back to,” Dingell said. “That’s one of the things we worked really hard to get into this bill, that any help was tied into protecting the workers.” Dingell highlighted some of the areas the bill focuses on and said it will boost supplies for personal protection equipment, which includes masks and gloves. “(The bill) provides direct aid to the healthcare institutions, it boosts supplies of the personal protection equipment in critical medical care,” Dingell said. The bill will also supply funding for both small and large businesses. Dingell emphasized how important funding for the auto industry would be, saying that there are roughly 17 million jobs directly connected to the auto industry. Dingell likened the global pandemic to “an invisible enemy” and said this bill will hopefully give them enough for their “arsenal.” “We’re at war … with an invisible enemy, and we don’t have enough tools in our arsenal,” Dingell said. “This bill is going to get us there and if it’s not enough, we’re going to have to do more. But we need to give people hope. We need to put stimulus into the economy.” Dingell emphasized how

dependent America is on getting medicine and medical supplies from China. She said she hopes that there is some type of investment to change this dependency. “We need a massive infrastructure bill,” Dingell said. “Hopefully, when we come out of this we’re going to invest in what we need to invest in — at the same time, we’re going to be creating jobs which ultimately make our economy stronger. We’ll put more money in and we’ll create more revenue.” Dingell urged everyone to follow Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call to “stay home and stay safe,” and to use technology to remain in contact with others during this time. “We got to do what we got to do which is stay home,” Dingell said. “(But) we have to remain in contact and check in with each other. We have to stay together as a community and if we stay together as a community, we’re going to get through this.” One reporter asked about unemployment benefits for the selfemployed since many have had their claims rejected. According to NPR, the new bill creates a temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that will serve through the end of the year. Dingell responded that she was unsure if unemployment claims will now be automatically reviewed. “This legislation is dealing with people directly impacted by coronavirus,” Dingell said. “If they have lost their job or are not getting income related to the coronavirus, they should, I hate to say this, reapply. If they are having problems, my office is open seven days a week.” WXYZ-TV news reporter Jim Kiertzner asked Dingell about President Donald Trump’s tweets directing criticism at General Motors and Ford Motor Company. “He’s going after General Motors

and Ford for not wrapping up production of ventilators, of masks and so on,” Kiertzner said. Dingell replied that she has also read the tweets, but would prefer to deal with the pandemic over the politics. “I have stayed on top of this issue from day one,” Dingell said. “We need all the help we can get in Michigan. We’re going to be the epicenter. We’re going to be like New York, faster than any of us wants to think about it. Nobody wants to get into a pissing contest with the president, we need his leadership right now.” Dingell said she believed the large three auto companies — Ford, Chrysler and GM — are doing what they can to provide ventilators, but she said some type of federal “management” is necessary. MediaNews Group journalist Dave Herndon asked Dingell if there was a plan for those still in school, K-12 specifically. “Governor Whitmer was talking about the possibility of the school year being over in Michigan, I was wondering, is there something that the Congress is working on?” Herndon asked. Dingell replied that though there are currently no plans on a national level because education is largely a state issue, the schools will only reopen when it is completely safe to do so, regardless of the timeline. “We probably won’t hit an apex in Michigan for two to three weeks,” Dingell said. “I don’t know when we’re going to reopen. We’ll open the schools when it’s safe to open the schools. The first priority right now is to keep people safe and that means not gathering in large groups, and quite frankly I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think it’s pretty likely that we will not open schools until the fall.” Daily Staff Reporter Alyssa McMurtry can be reached at amcmurt@umich.edu.

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Paige Engkvist volunteers to make extra masks for hospitals that are short on supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Dingell reviews details of $2 trillion COVID response

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Michigan in Color

Monday, March 30, 2020 — 3

Environmental racism: the missing link of the Coronavirus Pandemic NA’KIA CHANNEY

Former MiC Co-Managing Editor

According to the CDC, 160 to 214 million Americans could be infected by the novel coronavirus over the course of the pandemic. Of those infected, 200,000 to 1.7 million are projected to die. The sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has taken the nation by surprise. Cracks in the United States health infrastructure have been exposed, amplifying feeble preparedness and ability to protect the average Americans, let alone the most vulnerable populations. The elderly and those with predisposed health issues have been found to have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms, and while this is true, this analysis only scratches the surface of understanding what populations remain especially vulnerable. In addition to class differences, which have already been noted due to unequal access to tests between the rich and the poor, environmental quality is also a factor. In her book Farming While Black, environmental activist Leah Penniman outlines the relationship between environmental racism and negative health outcomes in Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. Using this framework, we can apply an intersectional lens to understand how gaps in environmental justice and public health are setting communities of color up for tragedy. Environmental racism describes

the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards, including toxic waste facilities, garbage dumps and other polluters which ultimately lower the quality of life for low socioeconomic groups. Spearheading the birth of the Environmental Justice movement of the 1970s, discourse on environmental racism works to uncover how policy, enforcement of laws and regulations, deliberate targeting of people of color for toxic waste facilities and exclusion of people of color from ecology movements affect environmental quality. In 2018, EPA researchers confirmed that race, not poverty, is the strongest predictor of exposure to health-threatening particulate matter. The EPA also found that Black Americans are significantly more exposed to air pollutants, resulting in higher rates of lung disease, heart disease and cancer. Applying these frameworks at a local level, The University of Michigan’s School of Public Health estimates that air pollution kills more than 650 Detroiters a year — more than twice the number of residents killed by gun violence annually. As stated previously, the severity and death rate of the coronavirus increases for those with chronic heart and lung conditions. By looking at the current health prognosis for many Black American citizens, we can anticipate that Black people and others in low-socioeconomic statuses are going to be among those most strongly affected by COVID-19.

Considering the longstanding, generational influences of environmental racism and the pitiful response of the Trump administration towards the coronavirus, the potential for positive change is bleak. Since his election, the Trump administration has rolled back 95 environmental rules and protections at the expense of environmental preservation and public health. The administration has steadily chipped away at the EPA’s funding, minimized environmental liabilities for corporations and has notably withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement. Nevertheless, more people are becoming knowledgeable about the incompetencies in U.S. environmental and health policies and are demanding more from their elected officials. Some of these proposed solutions include establishing Medicare for All, enforcing more stringent regulations for air and water purity, relocation of landfills and increased access to COVID-19 testing facilities for low-income individuals. When outlining populations especially vulnerable to COVID19, it is imperative that we apply a conscious, critical and intersectional lens that considers populations in the context of social dynamics and systems of power. By doing so, we can begin to more correctly project COVID-19’s impacts and develop a plan of action to keep vulnerable populations safe, healthy and alive.

ANGIE CORRIGAN /Pinterest

“Pick a Color” JINAN ABUFARHA MiC Columnist

i painstakingly paint my nails every week last week it was bubblegum blue. from up close they must look so trite and clumsy. i need to stop biting them, but blood from my fingertips tastes sweeter than from anywhere else. i know this, i don’t know why. sometimes i like to pretend i am folding in on myself i am jealous of origami swans and the way they know how to bend in all the right places i am jealous of their fragility my body is all too big, too sturdy to bend it is all points and hard edges in places not conducive for swan-ness i don’t know how to unfold them. i keep dreaming of myself pulling out my nails one by one to sell for something i can never remember what i don’t think i should’ve been given a body shouldn’t have been trusted with this one bodies are made for worship and i can only hear God’s voice at the bottom of my own desperation my mother says why do you insist on ruining these hands that God gave you? well, these hands came with a lot of strings attached is it not obvious i am trying to sever them. i am willing to make a trade, however, i want a small metamorphosis. after all, this thing that God loves most? i am willing to give it back that is worth at least becoming a house cat or a raccoon. my nails are bright red and it is not enough to stop me from tearing into myself. my mouth is rattling against its cage like an animal awaiting slaughter

Practicing Self-Care in Self-Quarantine HIBA DAGHER MiC Columnist

In these times of uncertainty and social distancing, it can be really easy for us to justify habits that aren’t always conducive to our mental health—spending days lazing on the couch, staying inside all day, binge-watching Tiger King on Netflix (this I’m totally guilty of ). While some laziness and being stagnant can definitely be justified as therapeutic, acting in self-care and self-love is essential during these stressful times. Here are a couple of activities you can do to soothe your mind, body and soul during these stressful times: 1) Listen to yourself: Let your

inner voice be your guide and tell you which self-care ritual you need to act on. If you have high energy, take on a task you’ve been ignoring for a long time, like organizing your closet or going through your camera roll. If you’re tired and want to relax, allow yourself that! Take a nap, listen to music, look at airline prices and imagine all the trips you’d hypothetically take if we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic, etc. 2) Journal: Journaling is one of the most effective ways you can keep track of your wellbeing, and is a great way to just take some time away and focus on yourself and your thoughts. It can act as a great source for self-reflection or even a cathartic way to dump all of your feelings into a single place. Start each entry by making a list of all of the things

you’re grateful for. 3) Write letters to your loved ones: Honestly, I’m using this quarantine to become my idealized self: a Jane Austen protagonist. There’s just something really nice about opening a letter from someone, and knowing that they took time out of their day to handwrite and address a letter to you. You could send each other printed out memes, polaroids, pictures, even little presents to one another. 4) Go out for a walk: A lot of us might not realize it, but we walk a lot when we’re on campus. From classes to on-campus jobs to org meetings to events, it’s hard to go from clocking in at almost 10k steps a day and then barely hitting 500 when you’re sitting at home. Going on a daily walk around in your neighborhood

or at a local park can be a helpful way to just take a breath and, as my Lebanese mother says, kahli el shams shouf wijak (translation: let the sun see your face). 5) Pick up a new hobby! Have you ever thought “Man, I would love to learn how to do X/Y/Z, but I just don’t have the time” — well, quarantine is the perfect time to learn! Start a garden, learn how to sew your own clothes, write poetry, get really good at winged eyeliner, start a blog, make jewelry, play video games: The possibilities

UNSPLASH

are pretty much endless. We’re all ignoring the constant rush of canvas notifications anyways, might as well learn a new skill while doing so.

Opinion

4 — Monday, March 30, 2020

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

EMILY ULRICH | COLUMN

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com

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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.

OWEN STECCO | COLUMN

Check up on your LGBTQ+ friends during the COVID-19 crisis

hile all the arenas unsupportive family systems of our lives that can exacerbate feelings have undergone of isolation and loneliness. tremendous change in these last Many in our community few weeks as many find alternative of us were forced to homes when they pack up and head move out for the home from school, first time and can it’s imperative that pursue new avenues we check in on to express their the communities identity. Coming impacted most by home to histories the coronavirus. of unsupportive While quarantine communities or OWEN and stay-in-place family systems can be STECCO orders may provide extremely difficult exciting or relaxing family for LGBTQ+ individuals, and time for some, many in the we rely on those in our support LGBTQ+ community are systems, schools or social faced with difficult home circles to uplift us in times of situations. In a community isolation and discrimination. plagued by ostracization and The presence of depression disproportionately high levels and mental illness in the of mental illness, isolation can be particularly lonely and damaging as many of us have established new identities and support systems away from home. It’s easy to sink into depressive episodes or feel unsupported in isolation as the quick departure from campus and a lack of stability in educational routines has left many without closure. While sitting in bed all day and watching lectures or streaming services seems to be the new LGBTQ+ community is all norm, it’s important to ensure too common due to stigma those in your support system and discrimination, in both and friend groups are still youth and adult individuals. connected and functioning. 31.5 percent of LGBTQ+ youth Many of the symptoms cited being so hopeless or sad associated with depression and they had stopped doing their depressive episodes consist of usual activities, which can feelings of hopelessness, loss of translate into our current dayinterest in activities, irregular to-day uncertainties about the eating patterns and persistence COVID-19 pandemic. With of empty moods, all of which can higher rates of mental illness, be compounded by the current suicide and homelessness pandemic and isolation. All of than the general population, these feelings and symptoms the LGBTQ+ community is are all too familiar for LGBTQ+ uniquely at risk in times of individuals, 80 percent of whom separation like these. Further, reported feelings of depression the LGBTQ+ community is far in the last week. too familiar with stigmatization Only one in four LGBTQ+ and isolation in public health youth identify having families emergencies — as we saw in the that support them at home, while HIV/AIDS epidemic. 78 percent cited not being out Throughout the HIV/ to their families due to negative AIDS epidemic, the federal comments surrounding their government largely ignored identities. In a quarantined the LGBTQ+ community, environment, LGBTQ+ resulting in massive losses individuals will likely find

Coming home to histories of unsupportive communities or family systems can be extremely difficult.

and distrust in many of the institutions intended to protect those at risk. With an abysmal past in epidemic conditions, coupled with the current administration’s war on LGBTQ+ rights, the community can tend to feel lost and reluctant to reach out for support from institutions and support groups. In response to struggles at home and stigmas surrounding our identities, many LGBTQ+ individuals move to create “chosen families.” The “chosen family” stems from ballroom culture in New York City but has taken on a new form for many LGBTQ+ individuals. A chosen family serves as a support system separate from the biological family or home. Many LGBTQ+-identifying individuals find themselves creating a family in college when they are away and able to build a system that supports them and allows them to explore their identities in a loving environment. These chosen families stand in for the reinforcement and direction that many lack at home but, with online courses and mandates to return home, many have found themselves separated from their families. Many LGBTQ+ individuals rely on their support systems and chosen families for support in times of uncertainty, so reach out to your LGBTQ+ friends and family. With so many symptoms masking themselves in statusquo quarantine behavior, go out of your way to FaceTime and check in with your friends who might not have support systems outside of those at school or in their chosen communities. The same goes for other at-risk communities and those without the resources necessary to maintain a healthy mindset in times of chaos and uncertainty. It is imperative we support our LGBTQ+ family, especially as we find ourselves in uncomfortable environments without the institutional or societal support that those with mainstream identities benefit Owen Stecco can be reached at ostecco@umich.edu.

Abandoning life as we know it

he views at the top were certainly beautiful — the blue of Lake Michigan stretching out forever. However, nothing compared to what was at the bottom of the hill, which took my breath away. Windows shattered, paint peeling, roof caving in, doors flung open to rooms with mattresses torn apart and water dripping. I was looking at what used to be the most popular ski destination in the Midwest — Sugarloaf Mountain. When the resort was at its prime it attracted up to 4,000 skiers a day. This past Wednesday, 20 years after its closure, I was the only one there. Within the resort, the atmosphere only became more apocalyptic. It felt like an ideal setting for a horror movie. There was one picture hanging on the wall that hadn’t been broken. The date on the bottom of the frame read 1972. The picture was of what looked like an après-ski party — the outdoor patio crowded with people in multicolored retro snowsuits, laughing and holding drinks. I then looked out at what was left of the back patio, all of the chairs broken and the wood deck rotting. It felt surreal to see the photo of how vibrant this place used to be and compare that to the lifeless scene in front of me. The eeriness of this abandoned resort gave me the same chills I felt scrolling through photos by The New York Times of deserted places around the world during this pandemic. The photos included the Eiffel Tower, Times Square, the streets of Rome and the Sydney Opera House — emptiness spreading globally like the virus. This is a virus that does not recognize borders. Across the world, the most popular destinations are completely abandoned. There are public spaces, places built for humans, but no humans. The desolation is evident on campus. On March 10, I was weaving around other students, trying to make it on time to my morning lecture. Two weeks later, the only signs of life on the Diag are the squirrels fighting over nuts, a sight all too reminiscent of the shoppers I witnessed at Meijer bickering over the last rolls of toilet paper. Our lives changed abruptly with no indication of when things will get better. COVID-19 has rightfully been the only thing in the news recently. I’ve heard “stay six feet apart” and “wash your hands” hundreds of times. We are reshaping our lives around

this virus. It feels as though this is only the beginning of a timeless, emotional, medical pandemic and financial recession. We are currently a part of something that will be known as an infamous historical event. Twenty years from now, previously lively spaces like Sugarloaf in the 1970s, could look very different. As a result of the coronavirus, jobs will be lost, businesses will close, buildings will be boarded up and places will be abandoned. The eeriness of abandonment is already evident in airports, national parks, subways, wedding venues, concert halls, schools, churches, travel destinations, stadiums, etc. What is the cost of these places being closed? The source of income that previously circulated through these places is all of a sudden inaccessible, cooped up in their homes under “shelter in place” orders. Realistically, if businesses cannot innovate and reinvent themselves virtually many may not survive. Wuhan, China, where the virus first emerged, has been in lockdown for almost two months. Many businesses in the United States could have to endure two months without income. It is hard to believe that the economy is “going to all bounce back and it’s going to bounce back very big,” as President Donald Trump claims, when so many people are risking unemployment. Within this pandemic we can still find hope. The emptiness around the world does not instill eeriness alone. There are hints of aspiration and realization. Aspirations for things we often took for granted, like social connection. When you are restricted to FaceTime, the value of in-person conversation becomes evident. There is also a realization that places are only worth the people in them. Many of the currently abandoned spaces around the world have beauty in themselves, but the actual beauty is the presence of others within these spaces. For right now we can empathize, accept and look ahead. Empathize with those most vulnerable during this pandemic, accept that things are not going to be normal and look ahead to when places will be full of people, instead of abandoned. Emily Ulrich can be reached at emulrich@umich.edu.

SUBMIT TO SURVIVORS SPEAK The Opinion section has created a space in The Michigan Daily for first-person accounts of sexual assault and its corresponding personal, academic and legal implications. Submission information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/survivorsspeak2020.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and op-eds. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while op-eds should be 550 to 850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University affiliation to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.

Arts

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Monday, March 30, 2020 — 5

TV REVIEW

‘One Day at a Time’ returns, triumphantly, on cable That doesn’t stop her mother, Lydia (Rita Moreno, “West Side Story”), from trying to retain her status Daily Arts Writer as the matriarch of the household. Elena (Isabella This is it. A little over a year since Netflix Gomez, “Big Hero 6: The Series”) remains an pulled the plug on the critically-acclaimed Latinx- overachieving, lovable and preachy high school centered family sitcom, “One Day at a Time,” and dork. Alex is a cool teenager (seriously, that’s after numerous fan campaigns and a last minute all there is to him), while Dr. Leslie Berkowitz save by POP TV, the show has finally returned (Stephen Tobolowsky, “Silicon Valley”) and the to our screens. Regardless of whether you’ve Alvarezes’ landlord Schneider (Todd Grinnell, watched the series from the beginning — either “Grace and Frankie”) are the opposite of that and the 1975 original are the essential notcreated by Norman blood-related overstayLear or the reboot their-welcome family in 2017 — or are only members. discovering it for the With the show’s first time, the premiere transition from a is very aware of its streaming service to need to appeal to both cable channel, episodes Season 4 Premiere audiences. Becoming are shorter, as they must POP TV the first ever show to fit within the 21-minute be saved by a linear window. Unfortunately, Tuesdays @ 9:30 p.m. television network that meant cutting the from a streaming addictively catchy theme platform, the Cubansong down to a simple American Alvarez title card. Aside from family has no problem sticking it to their old that, “One Day” maintains its balance of socially platform with the son Alex (Marcel Ruiz, conscious storylines with family comedy, like “Breakthrough”) declaring, “there’s nothing good when Ray Romano (“The Big Sick”) had a cameo on Netflix anymore.” role as a census taker. Penelope slams the door The premiere focuses on reintroducing us to in his face while Elena stresses the importance the Alvarez family, who have all changed over of participating in the census, highlighting the the course of the last three seasons, while still generational gap. Or Penelope grappling with retaining their most beloved qualities. Penelope the fact that being a single “badass feminist” and (Justina Machado, “Jane the Virgin”) is still a hard- wanting to be in a relationship because you’re loving single mother, now a nurse practitioner. feeling alone aren’t always mutually exclusive. It’s JUSTIN POLLACK

One Day at a Time

POP TV

also not always subtle in its messages — like when Romano reminds the Alvarezes that the census does not ask about citizenship. It’s these kinds of conversations that make the Alvarezes uniquely Latino and entirely American. It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds, given that its move to cable also means episodes will be released on a weekly basis, rather than all at once. This makes the show feel too structured at times, as a certain amount of the plot must be accomplished within a specific amount of time before the commercial break. One of the things that drew me to “One Day” initially was how it differed from most multicamera sitcoms in that the episodes were a little longer, and how it perfectly balanced season-long arcs with episodic storylines. While I wouldn’t

expect the latter to change, the shortened episode run times give the impression that the writers are racing against the clock to fit into unnatural feeling act breaks. This could simply be due to fans of the show having to get used to the new format. One thing that was obvious, however, was the lack of balancing plotlines outside of Penelope’s. Still, it’s safe to say that the humor and heart of “One Day at a Time” has been captured. With the coronavirus pandemic halting production on several television shows, who knows how many more episodes we’ll get. Even if there are some elements that we’ll miss — like the slightly longer episodes — it’s better than no new episodes at all. All I have to say is thank you to POP TV for taking a chance on a show I will excitedly tune in to every week.

ALBUM REVIEW

Surprise ‘Ghosts’: a reminder that Reznor’s still king ANISH TAMHANEY Daily Film Editor

This week, Nine Inch Nails posted the following message on its website: AS THE NEWS SEEMS TO TURN EVER MORE GRIM BY THE HOUR, WE’VE FOUND OURSELVES VACILLATING WILDLY BETWEEN FEELING LIKE THERE MAY BE HOPE AT TIMES TO UTTER DESPAIR — OFTEN CHANGING MINUTE TO MINUTE … MUSIC — WHETHER LISTENING TO IT, THINKING ABOUT IT OR CREATING IT — HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE THING THAT HELPED US GET THROUGH ANYTHING — GOOD OR BAD. WITH THAT IN MIND, WE DECIDED TO BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL AND COMPLETE THESE NEW GHOSTS RECORDS AS A MEANS OF STAYING SOMEWHAT SANE. As I admitted to a friend on the phone later that day, getting out of bed and discovering the release of new Nine Inch Nails material is one of the best things I could have possibly woken up to at this strange, isolated point in my life. What’s more is that these two new albums aren’t exactly standalones. They are sequels to Ghosts I-IV, an ambient instrumental album that recently turned

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12 years old and marks a fascinating turning point in the band’s career. Ghosts I-IV is something of a toy box for Trent Reznor’s most introspective musical ideas. In stepping away from the realm of industrial rock, the frontman demonstrated the haunting power of his compositional abilities. In fact, a few tracks from the album went on to score what I consider the greatest movie of the 2010s. Reznor and Ross would hardly pause from writing film and TV scores after Ghosts I-IV. One piece, “34 Ghosts IV,” was sampled by Lil Nas X to become Billboard’s longest running No. 1 song, ultimately winning Reznor his first (and likely last) Country Music Award. With all that said, while Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts lack the gritty, combustive charm of their oddly imposing predecessor, they are mature and deeply affecting additions to the Nine Inch Nails canon. Both albums sacrifice that distinct, thrummy intensity of previous NIN records, trading this quality in for a focus on an all-consuming atmosphere. And yet, the albums could not differ more in tone. Ghosts V: Together is a warm yet unsettling hug. The best way to listen to the album is with your eyes closed and your head down, allowing

Reznor’s bouts of ethereal humming dissonance Here, musical ideas are no longer nine-minute to fill your mind. Like the best NIN records, waves of sweet kinetic force — they are indecent Together weaves through slow and rewarding little trios of short notes that attack like hornets. apexes with intensity, drawing one in completely It’s no secret that NIN writes dark music, but never before unleashing the naked core of its ideas. Both before has it been so overtly present in the band’s “Letting Go While Holding On” and the title track musical direction. NIN often coats its bleakness achieve this gradual release expertly. in grimy headbangability, but Locusts takes a far There is no shortage of what I call the “NIN blunter approach to the abyss. Moreover, not since chord” here, (a major third on top of a flat seventh, 2002’s Still has NIN tried to feel so intimate. The if you’re dying to know), a conflicting set of notes rendition of “Something I Can Never Have” on that that thrive in the band’s typically ambiguous record makes it sound as though Reznor’s voice is emotional settings. If echoing in a tiny room. you’ve listened to some That effect is attempted NIN, you probably here, though without know what these notes vocals we merely hear evoke — a reluctant, the pianist’s rustling fleeting smile. and breathing. Reznor appears to Locusts continues cite composer Vangelis with many of these (“Blade Runner”) same components, Nine Inch Nails with the patient depth sinking deeper into its of tones; each layer listener with unbending The Null Corporation of sound feels both claws. Aside from its vividly human and ambient backgrounds, distantly digital at the most elements of same time. This is a theme that Together relishes Locusts are organic; Reznor brings out some brass in, most notably on “Your Touch.” Despite the on top of the piano, delving further into the bumpy tactile impressions of the track’s title, its melodies noir style he employed on the “Watchmen” score. are wispy, warped electronic phrases. It made The newest installment of the Ghosts series me consider what human connection often feels certainly breaks new ground. But the question like in a global pandemic: faces as grainy laptop of where it will take Nine Inch Nails is an open camera images, voices as feeble phone speaker one. Trent Reznor is so utterly capable of musical audio, conversation as iMessage notifications. excellence that the question isn’t a matter of if, but If Together in an album that exists outside of how. Is this full-throated evil going to remain a part time — bleary, pulsating and digital — then Locusts of the band’s songwriting? I’m curious to see how is a panicking, frazzled human heart crushed by that would play with its more digestible material. urgency. The thesis of Nine Inch Nails is something like, Look no further than its opening track, “The “The world is a void and nothing matters, but it’s Cursed Clock,” to understand how drastically OK to feel that way.” I’m guessing that sentiment morbid everything becomes. Cool vibrating is not an unpopular one right now. Together and synths are replaced with a piano and strange Locusts managed to amplify all the feelings I had whirring. The minimalist uniformity of the notes about living inside all day while the world seems would make John Carpenter proud: If one were to have halted. By embracing the tenet that made to insert them into a “Halloween” movie, I don’t them who they are, NIN did us all a favor by think anyone would question it. expediting this release.

Ghosts V: Together & Ghosts VI: Locusts

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

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Monday, March 30, 2020 - 6

An ode to Michigan wolverines PHOTO ESSAY

ALLISON ENGKVIST Managing Photo Editor

“Can you edit a photo of the Big House empty?” As a photo editor, that’s not a normal question to get asked. A picture of a Maize out at Yost? Sure, we have that. Protests on the Diag? Of course. But an empty stadium, let alone the Big House? Well that just isn’t in the job description. I spent all night looking through the archives of Daily photos trying to find one, but the task was nearly impossible. Thousands and thousands of photos, yet not a single one of an empty Big House. Every photo was saturated with life. With maize and blue crowds, rally towels, sunglasses, posters, etc. From Crisler to Yost to the Big House, all I could find was pictures of beaming students, proud to be a Michigan Wolverine.

Stadiums should be full of an obnoxiously loud student section and a marching band that plays the Victors Song three times in a row but it never getting old. Fists should be punching through the air as the crowd dances to the Blues Brothers song during the final period of each game. Mr. Brightside should be blasting through the speakers as students jump through the bleachers, not knowing the Killers would retweet this ordinary rite. Traditions show these stadiums should be anything but empty. It’s not just the stadiums. It’s the theaters too. The restaurants. The auditoriums. The classrooms. It’s working hard at rehearsal every night just to see a performance get cancelled. Spending hours in the UGLI on a presentation just to deliver it via a computer screen. Dedicating every day of the

semester to the Daily and the newsroom just to see the paper not get printed. It’s a lot of heartbreaking disappointment. But this disappointment doesn’t take away from the hard work, the late nights or the dedication. Here we are, spending what may be our final days of the semester and school year on an almost empty campus. In the midst of this chaos, a lot of us have taken the time to reflect back on the year, scanning through old photos and posting them to Instagram or Facebook. It’s devastating to see it come to this abrupt halt as some say their final goodbyes. As someone who works every day to capture these moments on campus, I decided to try and summarize this past year via photos. I know it’s not quite the closure we were all hoping to get out of this

We watched a new basketball team take the court and kick off the season by winning the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Yes, the season had its ups and downs, but don’t let that take away from the highlights. We beat Michigan State in Crisler and witnessed Juwan Howard’s first season as head coach. And of course, Michigan Hockey had a strong season as well. We made it to the semifinals in the Big Ten Tournament and who knows, maybe we would have won. It’s also worth noting that we beat Michigan State in football, basketball and hockey this year...something to definitely remember. Beyond sports, we were fortunate to have some interesting speakers visit campus. Politics aside, it’s always unique to have the opportunity to listen to

course, Reggie was there to bless it during its opening. And finally, here are some of our favorite spots in Ann Arbor. We welcomed Joe’s Pizza to its first location outside of NYC and have worshipped it since. From walking through the arb to getting a sandwich from Zingerman’s, there’s a place for everyone in Ann Arbor. It’s easy to feel empty during this time of crisis. Walking around campus and seeing empty restaurants, stores and libraries. Not having a graduation or getting to see our best friends once more before next fall. Our traditional sense of community has been completely compromised. But in these past few weeks, I think we’ve created a new kind of community. The encouragement and aid I’ve seen students offer one another is truly incredible.

year, but I’m hoping it will serve for something. So Wolverines, through the lens of my camera and that of several Daily photographers, I invite you to take a look back at this past year. Full of joy, tears and lots of late nights. COVID-19 may have cut our time short, but let’s not forget how lucky we are to be a Michigan Wolverine. Let’s begin with one of Michigan’s obvious pride and joys: sports. Those warm summer Saturday afternoons spent in the Big House or cold winter walks to Crisler are some of everyone’s fondest memories. From beating Notre Dame in the pouring rain to snagging the Paul Bunyan Trophy, yet again, it was an exciting season for football (that is, up until November 30th, but we won’t talk about that).

some of these speakers. How many other universities had Bernie Sanders on their diag or Hillary Clinton in their auditorium? Ann Arbor and Detroit are big campaign stops for the presidential candidates, meaning we get to see everything up close. Plus, next fall Crisler won’t just be for basketball or gymnastics--we get to host the final presidential debate next fall. The year was also full of protests and rallies. From passionate students projecting their ideas across the Diag to hanging posters up in the Union opening, people’s voices were heard. After months of waiting, we finally got the Union back! Even though it didn’t come with the promised Panda Express or Taco Bell, that’s something to look forward to next year. The LSA building also had a nice renovation and turned into a great study spot. And of

People have offered beds in their houses, food, cars, etc. in a mutual aid sheet to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy. Professors, advisors and peers have reached out and offered a shoulder to lean on for anyone who needs. Restaurants have provided free meals and the Maize and Blue Cupboard continues to provide food for those who need it. I’ve seen everyone come together to lend a hand and that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Yes, it’s heartbreaking not being able to see the semester come to the close that we all envisioned. There’s no bandaid to heal that. But seeing this support network from my fellow classmates, that has to make up for something. This experience has united us all and reminds us how lucky we are to be a Wolverine.