sexual activity to be verbal or oral,
sober, and enthusiastic.”
However,
language
the
University’s alternative definition
of consent — as articulated in
the Sexual Misconduct Policy
— remains largely unchanged
compared to a version updated on
Jan. 17, 2015.
The top of the page begins
by describing consent as “when
someone agrees, gives permission,
or says ‘yes’ to sexual activity with
other persons.”
The page then proceeds to note
that, “The University of Michigan
Policy on Sexual Misconduct
by Students defines consent
as a clear and unambiguous
agreement,
expressed
in
mutually
understandable
words or actions, to engage in a
particular activity.”
During his fireside chat on
Wednesday, University President
Mark Schlissel told students that
the University is planning to role
out changes to the University’s
Student
Sexual
Misconduct
Policy by the Fall 2015 semester.
He said changes could potentially
include the guidance students
are given in regard to seeking
counsel, among other issues.
The University most recently
made changes to its Student
Sexual Misconduct Policy in 2013
in response to guidance from the
U.S. Department of Education’s
Office for Civil Rights in 2011.
These alterations did not address
the University’s definition of
consent, but focused on amending
the University’s responsibilities
in
the
investigation
process
and the burden of proof applied
in
University
disciplinary
proceedings.
that, we made the commitment,
we made that decision, and in
the final analysis we needed to
honor that decision that was
made to show, and so tonight we
have two movies.”
“American
Sniper”
is
a
2014
film
adaption
of
the
autobiography of Chris Kyle, a
sniper who served four tours
in Iraq and is credited with the
most kills in U.S. military history.
While the movie has been
critically acclaimed, it has also
been critiqued for its depiction of
Muslims and the war in Iraq.
“The reason why the film was
disturbing to be played at UMix is
because UMix is supposed to be
fun and inclusive, and the movie
‘American Sniper’ raised a lot of
controversy from all sides of the
spectrum,” wrote LSA sophomore
Lamees Mekkaoui in the initial
letter calling for the screening’s
cancellation. “It’s clearly not
something that could be fun and
inclusive. It just doesn’t go with
Build-A-Bear and inflatable laser
tag, those things just don’t go
with ‘American Sniper.’ ”
Before starting the film, a
representative from the Center
for Campus Involvement read a
statement saying the University
supported the right of the media
to express viewpoints and would
remove anyone who disrupted
that right.
Though
the
University’s
decisions related to the movie
screenings
has
generated
controversy on campus and in
the national media, Friday’s
UMix
proceeded
without
protest or disruption. Late last
week, several Muslim and Arab
students reported. experiencing
threats
and
racist
remarks
after many students in those
communities advocated for the
film screening’s cancellation.
Ann Arbor resident Mozhgan
Savabieasfahani, a University
alum, attempted to hold a
discussion
after
the
film,
unaffiliated with the University.
However, students showed a lack
of interest and the discussion
fell through.
When the University decided
to show “American Sniper” at
another location and time —
before returning the film to the
UMix schedule — the Center
for Campus Involvement had
promised a discussion forum
following the screening.
Savabieasfahani said she came
to the screening after hearing of
the possibility of a student-led
protest. However, a protest did
not occur.
Business
senior
Lance
Feigeles said he agreed with the
University’s decision to follow
through with the showing.
“I liked that they added the
alternative movie for people who
didn’t want to see it,” Feigeles said.
“But I think the initial trying to get
rid of it, I had a problem with that.”
Engineering sophomore Nick
VerSchure also said he agreed
with the University’s decision.
“The
University
is
not
condoning anything in this film
as good or bad, they just want to
show a feature film,” VerSchure
said. “Personally, I’m here because
I support the movie itself, and I
support our troops.”
see the devastation that this brings
all the time,” she said. “It is difficult
to do this kind of work because you
realize how many cultural norms
are working against you.”
As part of the event, student
models carried signs with sexually
suggestive
advertisements
on
them, and dressed up to mirror
the women in these ads to bring
attention to the level of media
objectification. Others held signs
that read: “Sexual objectification
portrays
women
as
sexual
objects rather than individuals
with
their
own
experiences
and personalities,” and “Sexual
objectification
often
portrays
women as submissive to men.”
The group asked local stores
to take a pledge not to objectify
women in their advertisements.
Several Ann Arbor retailers signed
the document, including The
Getup Vintage, Pitaya, Bivouac,
The M Den and Ragstock.
Lisa
Weiss,
the
women’s
fashion manager for Bivouac, said
the march was constructive for
dialogue, but could have caught
the store’s patrons off guard.
“I believe in what they are
doing and it is an interesting
concept in order to shock and
get attention (for the cause),”
she said. “I didn’t have anything
against them coming into the
store, but I have no idea how my
customers feel about it and the
way it’s done could scare people.”
Attendees marched through a
number of the participating stores
along State Street, applauding
them
for
their
respectful
advertising
and
protesting
stores like American Apparel for
sexualizing women’s bodies in
their advertisements.
LSA freshman Rachel Beglin,
Fashion for Freedom co-founder,
said she is passionate about this
issue and wants to continue raising
awareness by keeping people
informed through events like the
Fashion for Freedom show on the
Diag and the subsequent march
down State Street.
“The models were dressed as
the people in the ads to show that
they are not 2-D and cannot be
objectified,” Beglin said. “We were
bringing them to life to show that
they are real people.”
The group engaged in a moment
of silence at American Apparel
to show its disapproval of their
ad campaigns, which members
believe
contribute
to
bigger
societal issues, including rape and
sexual violence toward women.
LSA freshman Natalie Drobny,
who modeled as part of the show,
stressed that the objectification of
women in the media has been an
ongoing issue for decades.
“I think that it is really important
to raise awareness of stores that are
still using ads that are derogatory
toward women,” Drobny said. “We
had ads from every single decade
and it’s not getting any better — big
chain stores are still involved. It
sounded like a really cool thing to
be involved in.”
3-News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Monday, April 13, 2015 — 3A
them of childhood. As a result, she
decided to create “a giant baby.”
“I had friend volunteers help
animate the puppet,” Belgrod
said. “What Mark (Tucker) says
is that if you’re on a parade it’s a
stage. Each puppet has a message,
and so you’re supposed to animate
it, make it come to life with the
help of people. I was the base, so
I kind of hid in the diaper of my
baby. It was just a giant, 20-foot
baby with his eyes closed.”
Belgrod added that her favorite
part of both the class and the
parade was interacting with
fellow students as part of the
artistic process.
“Usually when I create art, it’s
very independent and unsocial,”
she
said.
“Traveling
to
the
studio, helping each other out
and goofing off — the people and
the energy that they brought to
the class made everything just
so fun. It was also really great to
see how people would react to my
own piece and those of my fellow
classmates.”
Ross Huff, an Ann Arbor
resident, said he enjoys FestiFools
because it’s an opportunity for all
members of the community to
convene.
“Like, this is what we should
be doing in our streets,” Huff
said. “It’s the community getting
together and bringing it out just
for the sake of having a great time.
It gets people out of the house and
together. It gets you to remember
who your neighbors are.”
“It’s one of our favorite annual
traditions with the kids,” said
Shannon Johnson, who brought
her kids from Brighton, Mich.
to the festival. “It’s just a great
chance for them to see some fun,
creative things.”
Lori
Beth,
another
Ann
Arbor resident, recently moved
into town from Lansing. She
attended the event with a small
group of people, all of whom
were also relatively new to Ann
Arbor, as a way to familiarize
herself with her new hometown.
Her favorite puppet was a huge,
paper-mâché puppet of arcade
game character Pac-Man.
“I’ve never been to a parade
of puppets before,” Beth said. “I
really like the Pac-Man one. I’ve
never been to an event where
they’ve had art on display in this
way. It’s just so much fun.”
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patients and survivors to share
their experiences fighting cancer.
LSA sophomore Mitchell Becker,
a cancer survivor, discussed losing
loved ones to cancer.
“I choose to relay to remember
the family members that I have
lost and because there’s hope,” he
said. “I hope that someday nobody
should ever have to lose another
friend or family to cancer.”
In an interview, LSA sophomore
Meredith Joseph, an MRelay
recruitment specialist, said the
event aims to be a cathartic outlet
for survivors and those currently
fighting the disease.
“My
mother,
who
passed
away due to cancer, deserves
to be remembered each and
every day,” Joseph said. “When
I chose to relay, I found a group
who is passionate about curing
cancer. Relay for Life gave me the
courage and strength to open up
and relate to a giant community.”
LSA
sophomore
Lauren
Gallagher added that the event
was important even for those
not directly affected by cancer.
Gallagher attended the event
with members of her pre-law
fraternity, Kappa Alpha Pi.
“We
fundraise
mostly
for
Relay because it’s a fun event and
it’s for a great cause,” Gallagher
said. “It’s really cool to see so
many different sororities and
fraternities come together. Plus,
it’s a great way to escape and also
have fun.”
MRelay
will
return
next
semester to promote campus-
wide
“No
Shave
November”
activities as part of the worldwide
event designed to raise awareness
about prostate cancer.
MRELAY
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