Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Jb1Mi tigan E3a4
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KATIE BURKE ERIC FERGUSON ELLIOT ALPERN
EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR 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.
Poor execution
'U' administration mishandled student seating change
n April 22, University students learned that student seating at football
games for the 2013 season will be conducted under a general admission
policy. This policy is different from previous years, where the number
of accumulated credits determined how close to the field a student's tickets were.
Many students have voiced their opposition to general admission, and a petition
on the University's UPetition site calling for a gradual implementation of the new
seating arrangement has garnered nearly 3,600 signatures. While the Athletic
Department's decision to have general admission for football games shouldn't be
problematic in the long run, the manner in which the department is implement-
ing general admission leaves much to be desired.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
5
CHECK OPINION OUT ONLINE
This week on michigandaily.com: Columnist James Brennan breaks down why inequal-
ity is detrimental to society, Maura Levine explains why she doesn't approve of general
admission and Clayton McLaughlin discusses the Daily's portrayal of money in politics.
Ann Arbor atmosphere
Twists, laughs
in Iron Man 3'
ne morning, I was at Biggby Cof-
fee on East Liberty Street work-
ing on a Spanish assignment.
It was the midst of
winter; most people
ordered hot cocoa_
that morning to warm -
up. It was 9 o'clock in
the morning - one of
the most hectic times
in an average Ameri- _
can's day. While I
was stressing about SARA
my assignment that SHOUHAYIB
was due a few short
hours later, I noticed
a girl crying at the corner table of the cof-
fee shop. She was sitting alone bundled up
in her winter gear with her face nestled
in her hands. As she was quietly whimper-
ing, a middle-aged woman gently tapped
the girl on the shoulder asking if she was
all right. "Do you need a hug?" the woman
asked. The girl accepted the offer, and they
embraced for a few short moments as if they
were mother and daughter. The woman lent
the girl a few last consoling words and then
took off for her day. A minute later the girl
packed up her stuff and did the same. She
wasn't crying anymore. In fact, she walked
out with a smile. It was in that moment I felt
the world would be a better place if it were
like Ann Arbor, Mich.
I thought about all the random things
the city showcases that make me smile, like
the violin-playing wolf. Or the guy that sits
outside of the UGLi knee slappingand play-
ing the harmonica. I learned last year that
he's actually a professor at the University.
That fact alone makes me smile.
How about the fact that you can walk
everywhere? Not only is it convenient for
those of us who don't have cars, but it also
works off all of the unwanted calories, like
the Amer's frozen yogurt that we all so
shamelessly indulge in. The city not only
forces you to exercise when walking to
places, but it also accommodates all kinds
of fun and adventure. Take the Nichols
Arboretum for example: the winding foot-
hills and trails are a runner's dream, where
all the day's stress melts away. It's even a
great place for those who want to picnic in
the fields away from the hustle and bustle
of downtown. And if you're lucky you might
even be able to catch a Quidditch match
or witness two lovers sneaking kisses on a
romantic walk. It's the hidden gem of the
city that everyone can find ause for.
When you're in the city, you may
notice a variety of languages being spo-
ken around you - you can hear every-
thing from Mandarin to Greek, showing
that Ann Arborites are exceptionally
well-rounded and culturally aware. The
worldly experience doesn't end there.
The city hosts multiple restaurants that
serve various international cuisines. The
best part is, it doesn't eat away at
wallet. But if you are willing to spl
The city is a
perfect example
for the world.
your
urge,
By JAMIE BIRCOLL
DailyArts Writer
Oh, how far Tony Stark has come.
"Iron Man 3" is the fourth outing
for Robert Downey Jr. ("Sherlock
Holmes") as the genius-billionaire-
playboy-philanthropist Tony Stark.
But this time,
Blake sang lion songs frm his new album, Overarnwn.
James Blake takes
on the Majestic
there's something
different about
Tony: He seems
damaged.
The film fol-
lows the events of
last year's block-
buster, Marvel's
"The Avengers,"
meaning the
world remem-
Iron Man3
At Quality16
and Rave
Walt Disney
Pictures
There are several aspects
of general admission seating
that, while different from the
past, will benefit students. All
students now have the chance
to sit wherever they want in
the student section, provided
that they arrive early enough
to the stadium. As a result,
students can freely move
around the stands and sit in
whatever group they desire
without having to sign up
for group tickets beforehand
or having to dodge ushers.
Moreover, Athletic Direc-
tor David Brandon's stated
reason for going to general
admission in the first place
was to ensure that more stu-
dents show up to the start
of the football game. If this
logic plays out in practice, the
atmosphere in the student
section on game days should
become even more energetic
and enjoyable, with more stu-
dents showing up to support
the team.
However, this change
should have been handled
differently. Regardless of
his goals, the way Bran-
don chose to implement the
general admission policy
is disrespectful to return-
ing students. The Athletic
Department announced the
policy change at the start of
the 12-day window in which
students could purchase
season tickets, coinciding
with the already busy end
of the semester. The depart-
ment also chose not to con-
sult the student body. Had
the department announced
their intention to change the
seating policy at an earlier
date, students who oppose
the policy change would've
had the chance to voice their
opposition and suggest alter-
natives along the lines of the
petition before they had to
buy tickets. Most disappoint-
ingly, the Athletic Depart-
ment deprived seniors of a
time-honored privilege with-
out their consent.
Implementing this policy
change in a way that will
ensure student safety and
streamline the process of
getting into the stadium on
game days should be a prior-
ity for the University as the
football season approaches.
Pennsylvania State Univer-
sity - a school with general
admission - has allowed
their students to camp out
days in advance in order to
get one of the first few spots
in line for the student sec-
tion. This is just one of the
contingencies that Univer-
sity administration must pre-
pare for next fall, along with
long lines outside of the sta-
dium well in advance of the
game and students jockeying
for seats during the game.
While general admission
has numerous benefits, its
abrupt introduction was ill-
advised. University admin-
istration, particularly the
Athletic Department, must
now ensure the switch to
general admission doesn't
adversely affect the game day
experience this fall.
Main Street is the place for you. The point
is the options are limitless, and the beau-
ty of Ann Arbor is you don't have to go to
Thailand to taste Thai food - you can do
that just by walking a few blocks.
Also within walking distance are great
shopping experiences for an entire family.
From toy stores to sex shops, downtown
Ann Arbor has it. It's the perfect paradox
exemplifying how conducive the area is not
only for college kids, but for family life as
well. Ann Arbor also has not only one movie
theater, but two! Granted, some of the mov-
ies they play come out 5 months later than
when they actually debut ... but hey, who's
counting?
The farmer's market is another con-
venient aspect of the city. Locally grown
foods are cheaper and healthier for us
humans, and they also decrease pollution
and cut costs for imported goods from
other countries. Being in Ann Arbor taught
me all of that - admittedly, it also brought
out the inner tree hugger in me.
Aside from the amazing sights, it's the
people of Ann Arbor, like the woman at
Biggby, who make this city what it is.
There's a certain energy you can feel when
you walk down the streets of downtown.
Even the homeless men asking for money
on the street are friendly. "You have a
blessed day now," they say, even when you
can't spare some change. The city is a per-
fect example for the world to model after.
So what does the world have to do to be
like Ann Arbor? It's a simple recipe really.
It requires a dash of compassion, a pinch of
exercise, a sprinkle of humor, a tablespoon
of education and a variety of languages and
cultures all blended together. Bada bing
bada boom, and there you have it, the per-
fect recipe and most importantly, the world
is saved.
-Sara Shouhayib can be reached
at sarasho@umich.edu.
I ha
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So
Englishs r mance from a man called "Fal-
tyDL" - who graced us with an
ivers with synth over-long set of sluggish EDM
tracks from his laptop - Blake
)und in Detroit took the stage, accompanied by a
guitarist and drummer and look-
By JOHN LYNCH ing remarkably lanky and awk-
ManagingArts Editor ward in his six-foot-five stature.
Without an introduction, the trio
d only been to the Majestic opened with "Air & Lack There-
re in Detroit once before of," an obscure instrumental
riday. Two years ago, I from his early discography that
n upstart Odd Future crew translated surprisingly well in
into the small venue and concert.
havoc. Though Tyler, the Sitting behind a keyboard
or eventually cut the con- (as he did throughout his per-
hort after audience mem- formance), Blake first used his
egan inexplicably throwing microphone on "I Never Learnt
bottles on stage, the show to Share," a haunting number
emorable for many reasons: from his self-titled debut album.
the first concert I had ever With the help of a loop machine,
o with a mosh pit, it was the he triple-layered his voice -
t I have come to suffocating which was absolutely stunning in
th and it was the first time person and every bit the improb-
ever heard Frank Ocean's able combination of D'Angelo
and Joni Mitchell that penetrates
dless to say, seeing English the synths of his studio tracks -
and producer James Blake before unleashing the song's diz-
Majestic was an entirely zying drop.
ent experience. This time, Two of Blake's more famous
dience wasn't adorned with tracks, "CMYK" and his Feist
-down cross T-shirts and cover, "Limit To Your Love,"
were no shouts of "GOLF were arguably the highlights of
G!" nor any shouts at all. the show. The former, a slow-
ng a mosh pit at this show building, Kelis-and-Aaliyah-
have been an incredible sampling dance track, was the
ition to the crowd - a group set's most energetic piece - sub-
out 200 silent, motionless tly reinterpreted from its studio
r folk that sipped casually version through electric guitar
er-priced beer while trying and live drums. With fan-favorite
o look vaguely interested in "Limit To Your Love," Blake had
ow. the crowd in a frenzy from the
er a trivial opening perfor- first piano note to the final, bass-
wobbling wave of sound.
Though Blake only played five
songs from his latest release,
Overgrown, most tracks from the
album were relatively disappoint-
ing in a live setting. "Our Love
Comes Back" and "I Am Sold,"
which he debuted live for the first
time in Detroit, were lackluster,
tedious and hypnotic in the worst
way. "Retrograde," the crown-
ing achievement from Overgrown
and Blake's career thus far, con-
cluded the main set and seemed
unexpectedly flat. The song's
cathartic crescendo of synths
didn't pack the awe-inspiring
punch of the studio track, and for
the first time that night, Blake's
vocals didn't quite "hit" right.
After an encore performance
of his Joni Mitchell cover, "A
Case of You," Blake was met with
rousing applause and looked gen-
uinely humbled by the audience's
response as he left the stage.
At one point in the show, Blake
remarked that the Majestic The-
atre was renowned among musi-
cians as a "magical" venue and
that he could certainly see why.
Though his genre of music is
not inherently thrilling live -
glass bottles were daintily sipped
that night rather than thrown on
stage - and though he and his
band missed the mark on a few
tracks in Detroit, James Blake
has incredible talent, and his live
performance (which matched the
Majestic's dark and gloomy atmo-
sphere) is certainly one worth
seeing.
bers the alien attack on New York
City. Tony, more than anyone, has
questions about that day, but none
more pressing than, "Are we safe
now?" Having established a solid
relationship with Pepper Potts
(Gwyneth Paltrow, "Contagion"),
Tony has everything to lose and
spends sleepless nights preoccu-
pying his tireless brain.
Then enters the Mandarin,
played by Ben Kingsly ("The Dic-
tator") and bearing resemblance
to Osama bin Laden. By the time
the film starts, the Mandarin has
already attacked three Ameri-
can cities and promises more to
come. Between the terrorism and
Tony's obvious PTSD symptoms,
a very serious tone pervades the
film.
But director Shane Black ("Kiss
Kiss Bang Bang") makes an inter-
esting move: He keeps it comical.
The film is interspersed with jokes,
ironies and deadpan sarcasm that
keeps it engaging even when the
plot simmers down. And it does sim-
mer down, albeit in a good way.
About an hour in, the focus
shifts to Tony's encounters with a
fatherless boy who possesses the
same genius and sense of humor as
his own. Here the audience views
a vulnerable Tony - vulnerable
because his suit is damaged and
unusable, and vulnerable because
the boy forces him to confront
his own past demons. But just
when sappiness threatens to over-
whelm, the film switches back to
comedy, then back to action. It's
not perfect - in fact, it's rather
abrupt - but it works.
And it works because Robert
Downey Jr. is Tony Stark. This is
a character we have seen through
four films and, at this point, one that
carries a set of expectations. We
expect the cynicism, the sarcasm,
the over-the-top action, but also the
heart and heroics of a man with a
dark past thatstill wants to do right.
Stark and Rhodey (Don Cheadle,
"Flight") - formerly War Machine
and now the Iron Patriot - domi-
nate the action sequences, though
even Paltrow has more than one
shining moment. The obligatory
final battle scene may not hold up
to that of "The Avengers," and the
road there is somewhat bumpy, but
it holds its own and truly thrills.
Kingsley and Guy Pearce ("Pro-
metheus") clearly enjoy playing the
villains, with Kingsley particularly
standing out. There's no real way to
go into it without spoiling the best
twist of a multi-twist film, but, to
put it as the Mandarin so eloquently
does: You'll never see it coming.
At this point,
Downey Jr. is
Tony Stark.
Black makes this entry memo-
rable because, while there are quite
a few action sequences, the bulk of
the film is spent with its heroes out-
side of their armor. He reminds us
that, in the end, Tony is just a man.
He has a life beyond the suit and
must face consequences of actions
he took long before he became Iron
Man.
Beneath its action-packed exte-
rior, "Iron Man 3" has heart. It has
a story to tell, and a good story at
that. It certainly has its noticeable
faults, but a chance to see Downey
Jr. in that hot-rod red and gold
chrome is always a chance worth
taking.
Stay after the credits for some
comic interplay between Tony and
an old friend.