4 - Friday, February 7, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 4- Fida, Fbruay 7 204 Th Mihign Daly mihigadaiyco 74WC 1 0R alv Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MEGAN MCDONALD PETERSHAHIN and DANIEL WANG KATIE BURKE EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR 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. FROM THE DAILY Bridging a lack of access The NITC is a necessary investment for Michigan's future ecently, the Canadian government announced its willingness to begin construction on the New International Trade Crossing to Canada, which voters approved in 2012. The NITC is a necessary alternative to the privately owned Ambassador Bridge. Furthermore, the NITC has the potential to contribute to economic growth - which Detroit seriously needs. The bridge would create job opportunities, as well as lead to needed infrastructure improvements for shipping industrial components in and out of a city that is still heavily dependent on manufacturing. Republican Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder must work with the federal government to provide the necessary funding and ensure the bridge's construction. MEGGIE RAMM E-MAIL MARGUERITE AT ROSERAMM@UMICH.EDU 2014 WINTER COLLEGE OLYMPICS EVENTS Yeah, we know. The Canadian government is ready to proceed with land purchases, and will be responsible for the majority of the costs - totaling over $2 billion. The United States has yet to provide the $325 million needed to build a customs plaza and 1-75 connection ramps. Although Snyder has strongly endorsed the new bridge, his push has not been sufficient to pressure the Department of Homeland Security to provide the funds. The Ambassador Bridge, which was built in 1929, lacks the capacity to meet the demand for trade and ground shipping exchanges between Detroit and Windsor. According to a 2010 report, approximately 10,000 commercial vehicles cross over the four-lane bridge on a typical weekday. Canadian transportation officials are expecting truck traffic to triple and vehicle traffic to double over the next 30 years. The Ambassador Bridge already struggles to accommodate truck and vehicle traffic, and increases will unnecessarilyburden businesses with long border wait times. Because the current bridge directs traffic through residential and commercial areas, trucks pass through 17 traffic lights in town. Although there is a Detroit-Windsor tunnel as well, public demand for the NITC demonstrates the incapacity of the existing bridge and tunnel. The NITC will directly connect to major roads, simultaneously increasing efficiency and alleviating traffic. The NITC has the potential to enhance the already strong trade relationship between the two countries, improving the economies of both throughthe additional gains of comparative advantage. Furthermore, the NITC would provide a public option for internationalcrossingbetween Detroit and Windsor, disrupting the private near-monopoly held by the Moroun family, the current owners of the Ambassador Bridge. The new bridge is needed to strike a balance between private and public ownerships. This would allow tolls to respond better to market pressure.TheCanadiangovernmentwillcollect tolls to help offset the costs of construction, but ownership of the bridge will be jointly held between the United States and Canada. The NITC may also help spur job growth in Detroit. Snyder believes that this major construction project will directlycreate 12,000 jobs and indirectly create 31,000 jobs as a byproduct ofbetter trade.Also,more trucks can smoothly cross over the new bridge for trading business purposes. In an interview with CBC News, Snyder said, "Getting Michigan-made products to more markets faster will enhance our economic competitiveness in the future and help our state create more jobs." Once construction is complete, the bridge may help revitalize the city of Detroit and attract new industry and business professionals. While his support for the project is commendable, Snyder needs to do more to ensure the project moves forward in a timely manner. Snyder should pressure the Department of Homeland Security to fund the plaza. As the Canadian government has already committed to fund the project up front, the United States should actively cooperate with Canada so that construction can begin. Snyder also needs to create a plan to relocate or properly compensate the more than 1,000 residents who will have to move out of the Delray district to make room for the plaza and related infrastructure. Concrete plans from Snyder could help further construction efforts that will benefit the state. Prompt action by Snyder and the federal government to provide funds for the NITC is in the best interest of the state. Adequate funding for the customs plaza will allow construction to begin on a project that will enhance trade, create jobs and provide a balance between government and private ownership of vital infrastructure. first heard news of Brendan Gibbons's expulsion from the University via the benevo- lent, ever-present Facebook. The Michigan Daily article outlining his expulsion - er, "permanent separation" - K from the Univer- sity was trending STEEN on my newsfeed. Rather than a collective gasp or indication of any form of surprise really, the general reaction from the people posting the article seemed to be a response of, "It was about time!" Brendan Gibbons? Rape allegations? "Yeah, we know." We didn't always know, though. In fact, the allegations of rape against Gibbons go back all the way to 2009, but I didn't even hear about the case until around August last summer - also from a post I saw on Facebook. I remember wonder- ing why The Daily, in the four years since the incident, hadn't covered the allegations against Gibbons ... at all ... and I felt simultaneously hesi- tant and motivated to write about the topic given that 'the case had -been essentially off the radar for so long. Could I be sued if I wrote about Gibbons? I wondered. Is it too far in the past to bring up now? Is there any "point" to bringing it up now? There's a kind of learned helpless- ness that seems to have developed in regard to the Gibbons case - a feeling of, yeah, we all sort of knew about it by now, but we had accepted that the University, the coaches, the police and the student body weren't going to do anything about it. We felt pow- erless, hopeless and, perhaps even- tually indifferent. And this shared sense of helplessness is particularly unnerving given that it's such a high- profile case. Sexual assault survivors all too often do not get the benefit of the doubt, which explains why 97 percent of rapists receive virtually no punishment. We knew about this case - we knew about Gibbons - and yet it felt like there was nothing we could aboutit. I ended up writing a column about Gibbons and football and its relation to rape culture in general. I received several emails after writing my col- umn from readers expressing their shared disgust with the issue. "Not proud," "conflicted" and "disturbed" were a few responses to my column in regards to Gibbons and the overall lack of coverage on the case. And my response to these e-mails was essentially, "Yeah, I know." (And, of course, "Thanks for writing.") And all the while, there was a sense that it was all over anyway - that there was nothing we could do about it now. It was too late. The Daily even wrote in one article out- lining the case, "It's unclear why sanctions were Like the. not decided in this matter until the Uni recently." So why did it response to take so long to ep s get this guy out eXpu n of here? Maybe Gibbons s because Gibbons was a good foot- "Yeah, we ball player? The Michigan Daily ended its article on Gibbons's expul- sion with, "Gibbons is fourth in made field goals in Michigan history and owns the program record for con- secutive successful extra points with 141." Odd way to end an article about an alleged rapist. Even stranger, the Athletic Department spokesman, Dave Ablauf, doesn't want to say when Gibbons came to speak to the Athletic Department regarding his expulsion over sexual assault allega- tions. And when Michigan football coach Brady Hoke gave a press con- ference that included comment on the Gibbons allegations this Mon- day, guess who wasn't invited? The no-good meddlin' news staff of The Michigan Daily. But, much like I felt when I wrote my column on Gibbons originally - and howI feel when I write many of my columns - I often ask myself, Is anyone even listening? I'm thinking back to Mar- tin Luther King, Jr. Day, when I stopped by the protest formed by students of the Black Student Union outside Hill Auditorium. The BSU students formed a line and listed seven demands they insisted the University acknowledge and follow through on. What stood out to me most dur- ing this protest, though, was the line uttered by Business senior Shayla Scales: "We have heard the Univer- sity use the phrase 'We are listening' since 1970, and I am tired of waiting for a response. We are tired of wait- ing for a response." I think the "We" uttered in students, Scales's state- ment can speak versity's for a larger num- ber of University the belated students than f Brendon just those seven BSU protesters, eems to be and can pertain to a number of knew too." differentissues. The Student Union of Michi- gan posted a powerfulresponse tothe mishandling of the Gibbons case, as well as other unimpressive responses from the University regarding sexual assault, Black student enrollment and employee salaries, to name a few. The University does respond when its students complain, but, just like the belated expulsion of Gibbons received a widely-uttered reply of, "Yeah, we knew that all along" from us, it seems oftentimes the Univer- sity's response is simply, "Yeah, we knew, too." - Katie Steen can be reached at katheliz@umich.edu. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Barry Belmont, Nivedita Karki, Jordyn Kay, Kellie Halushka, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble,Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck,Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe ANDREW LIEBERMAN1 1 .W I I like Leno, sort of (not really) This Friday night, Jimmy Fallon will host ly, and that is why I'm still fairly anti-Leno. his last episode of "Late Night" and be on his However, if one really looks at Leno's situa- way to hosting "The Tonight Show." The day tion, he really didn't do anything wrong. One before, Thursday, Jay Leno will host his last day he was told by NBC that he was being episode of The Tonight Show after 22 years. pushed out. Then shortly after he was gone, I don't actually like Jay Leno, but I also don't NBC asked him to come back and he agreed. believe the popular opinion to resent him is His position in the whole debacle, in a sort necessarily fair. of messed up way, made complete sense. I Historically, on the surface, people have believe NBC is to blame for making quick, legitimate reasons to dislike Leno. Some shortsighted decisions. argue he unethically received The Tonight Even if, as the reader, you're convinced Leno Show over David Letterman by going behind isn't that bad of a guy, you probably don't think his back. However, what really spawned he's very funny; I completely agree based on much of my generation's hatred of Leno stems his performance as host of The Tonight Show. back to 2010 when it appeared that Leno gave I was lucky enough to see Leno live a few years Conan O'Brien The Tonight Show and then ago and his act was nothing like I've seen him took it right back a few months later. I don't on The Tonight Show. He was edgier, smarter, look at it like that and I definitely don't fully and simply funnier. If you look up some of his blame Leno for what happened; NBC should old performances, such as interviews on Let- have taken the brunt of the anger, not Leno. terman's Late Night, you'll see a different kind NBC told Leno a few years prior to 2010 that of Jay: a Jay who wasn't afraid of offending peo- he would soon be out; the show would be ple or alienating viewers. Conan's. Then NBC gave Leno his own show I don't blame Leno for the decisions he's at 10 p.m. Could Leno have decided to just made. He's been the most popular late night retire altogether rather than having a pseudo talk show host forever; he panders his humor "Tonight Show" an hour and a half before to such a broad audience and it makes him Conan's show? He probably could have; how- popular with the "common man." It's unfor- ever, ultimatelythat was NBC's decision. tunate, but it wasn't a bad show-business Not even a year into his stint as host, move on his part. NBC decided Conan's ratings were not good You can still choose to believe he's a sleazy enough and asked Jay to host a half hour guy because of the controversy with Conan and show when The Tonight Show normally Letterman, but I do hope you look up old clips started and bump Conan back. Could Leno of Leno, because he truly is a funny comedian. am an atheist. While atheism and agnosticism are much on the rise in the United States, particularly among people my age, most people remain religiously affiliated. I rarely find that my atheism angers religious people I meet. However, I am CAITLYN often met with (what I perceive BRENNAN to be) pity. The pity is not so much for the fact that I don't share in their particular religious beliefs, but that I don't possess any at all. Whether talking to a Catholic or Muslim or Jew or Sikh or whomever, when the subject of religion is breached, it often seems they'd rather I say I'm any religion rather than none. They speak of a void that can only be filled by God/religion/faith, and when I tell them my void is indeed perfectly full, they don't believe me. Their disbelief is magnified if I tell them about my loss of a parent. My father died when I was 20. Though he died abruptly, Iam fortu- nately able to say I have few regrets. There were no missed "I love you"s or agonizing loose ends left untied. We were extremely close, and we were extremely happy. In all hon- esty, this makes it more difficult to deal with his death. I feel robbed. I mourn his loss extensively, and sometimes I do search for something bigger to hold my faith. breaking down and building back up, I'm often told by others to seek to create more thoughts and more solace in knowing I'll see him again heartbeats, more veins, more trees. someday, but I can't. I know that We die, but our parts and pieces - I will never see him again. I don't our atoms - stay here. I don't just believe in heaven or hell, inan after- believe, but know, that in this way, life where everyone you've ever lost my father never really left. He will is waiting patiently for your arrival. I always be around me. believe when we die, we rot into the While science has no god and ground, decomposed by bacteria and I await no messiah, I have faith in bugs, to return back into the earth. it. I am able to find great content- Many people "of faith" find this ment in the truths it has to offer haunting and tragic - dismally me. Questions about where the uni- sad and cynical. But I believe it is verse came from or the exact origin beautiful. of life or what our Greater Purpose While unable to find comfort is don't faze me. Some of these in the idea of being posthumously things I don't believe I'm capable of reunited with my late father, I find knowing in my lifetime, while other great relief in things I happily knowing that seek answers to his body, as through explor- mine and yours ing that which and everyone's, I believe when we I find fulfilling will be the stuff die we return back and relevant. of which new I'm at no loss life generates. into the earth. and suffer no I'm calmed by profound con- the idea that fusion as to the in the grand meaning of life. scheme of the I'm happy universe, we are small; that nothing for the religious who peacefully is unique, and that nature reigns. explore their faith and what it has That electrons spin around nuclei to offer them, and I ask that they just as planets orbit stars, and that afford me the same. Don't feel bad the veins in my body branch out, for me because I don't believe in tinier and tinier, remarkably simi- God, and don't dismiss my faith lar to the branches which turn into because it relies on the physical sticks and twigs on trees. rather than the spiritual. Indeed, Our thoughts are just the prod- put simply, when I say I have faith, ucts of electrical firings and chemi- believe me. cal interactions, as are our beating hearts, and when these things stop, - Caitlyn Brennan can be so begins a process by nature of reached at caibre@umich.edu. Dust to dust have said no and let Conan mature and find his niche as host of the new show? Absolute- Andrew Lieberman is an LSA senior. FOLLOW THE DAILY ON TWITTER Keep up with columnists, read Daily editorials, view cartoons and join in the debate. Check out @michigandaily to get updates on Daily content throughout the day.