M

y dog, Moose, passed away 
last Saturday night.

He spontaneously suf-

fered from a punc-
tured 
lung, 
and 

there was nothing 
the 
veterinarian 

could reasonably do 
to save him. If he 
had 
tried, 
Moose 

would 
have 
been 

subjected to a long, 
painful recovery — if 
he made it through 
surgery. So, my dad 
and stepmom made 
the 
gut-wrenching, 

soul-aching decision to put him down. 
Since I was in Ann Arbor, I didn’t have a 
chance to say goodbye.

Despite being nearly 10-and-a-

half, Moose was a seemingly healthy 
dog. He ate well, chased passing cars 
across the yard and didn’t have a hard 
time walking up stairs.

But now, he’s gone. What gives me 

solace, though, is that Moose did not 
suffer. He didn’t have arthritis or hip 
dysplasia that would have caused a 
painful, debilitating decline. He went 
without much pain. He left us on top. 
I suppose that’s all I can really ask for.

Yet as I drive, recline on my couch 

filling out medical school applica-
tions, or sit at my desk at work, his 
memories infiltrate my thoughts.

I think about the time he barked at 

the squirrel in the tree. And the other 
time. And the other time. And the 
other time.

I think about the time he pretend-

ed to be deaf, only for us to realize 
an hour later he was just trolling the 
whole family. I crack up every time 
that gets brought up.

I think about the all the times I pet 

him, stopped, and then was immedi-
ately scratched because he wanted me 
to continue. I relented, every time.

I think about the times taking his 

130-pound frame into the pet store and 
calling him “Tiny” as other customers 
walked by. It was always hilarious.

I think about the (semi-gross?) 

times he licked my face.

I think about the times I laid with 

him on the floor, when we would look 

at each other eye to eye.

I think about the sound of his bark.
And I think about discovering what 

a Shepadoodle was nearly 11 years ago, 
telling my family this was a dog we 
had to have. He would be big, but not 
shed (though that claim turned out 
to be very, very wrong). He would be 
perfect for us.

***

It’s just so hard to believe that the 

next time I drive home, he won’t be 
outside trying to block me as I pull 
into the driveway.

The impact of a pet, especially one 

like Moose, is impossible to describe. 
It sounds a little weird to say, but 
Moose was like a brother to me. He 
was larger than life. Despite his 
imposing size, anyone who met him 
loved him, or at the very least, toler-
ated him. (My friend once texted me 
saying, “You know I hate dogs, but I 
didn’t mind Moose. That’s the best 
praise I can give a dog.” I’ll take it.)

When I came home on Sunday, our 

home felt noticeably emptier. Yes, we 
have two other dogs (shoutout to Gra-
cie and Penny), but it is clear Moose’s 
death left a glaring hole in our family. 
Throughout his whole life, he brought 
us together. He taught us what uncon-
ditional love was all about. He could 
turn any bad day into a good one. But 
because of this, I know his spirit will 
live on in me.

***

Mortality had been on my mind 

before Saturday.

Nearly two weeks ago, my grand-

father was admitted into the hospital 
after experiencing chest pains, and 
faced the prospect of needing stents or 
bypass surgery. Luckily, after under-
going a heart catheterization, neither 
was necessary. Still, I couldn’t help 
but contemplate the possibility of my 
grandfather’s life being significantly 
altered. I was afraid.

And on Friday, I finished listening 

to the audiobook of “Being Mortal,” 
the book of Dr. Atul Gawande’s mus-
ings on how death in the United States 
should be handled to reduce pain and 
suffering of the elderly at the end of 
life. Gawande discusses the need to 
have difficult conversations about 

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.

EMMA KERR
EDITOR IN CHIEF

AARICA MARSH

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

DEREK WOLFE

MANAGING EDITOR

420 Maynard St. 

Ann Arbor, MI 48109
 tothedaily@umich.edu

Edited and managed by students at 

the University of Michigan since 1890.

4

Thursday, July 23, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
OPINION

As a separate entity under 

the state constitution, the Uni-
versity of Michigan, Michigan 
State University and Wayne 
State University have the power 
to make and enforce ordinanc-
es about weapons on campus 
that are not aligned with state 
law. However, AAPS and other 
school districts that have passed 
gun control policies, such as 
Clio Area Schools, might not 
have that right. Both districts 
are currently being sued for 
allegedly violating the Michi-
gan constitution, which allows 
for citizens with a Concealed 
Pistol License to enter gun-free 
zones as long as their concealed 
weapon is carried openly on the 
premises. The group Michigan 
Gun Owners and Ann Arbor 
resident 
and 
AAPS 
parent 

Ulysses Wong have filed a law-
suit against AAPS while Clio 
schools parent Kenneth Her-
man has filed suit against Clio. 

It seems the schools are violat-
ing the CPL and open carry laws 
surrounding in the state.

However, this is not the case 

at the University. Weapons are 
not allowed on campus unless 
specifically stated in the Stan-
dard Practice Guide. Because of 
this, there are many procedurs 
and regulations in place to make 
it easier to detect a threat on 
campus, similar to other schools 
across the state. For example, in 
September 2014, the Univer-
sity issued an Emergency Alert 
warning of a possibly armed 
suspect in the Chemistry Build-
ing. Though this turned out to 
be a false alarm, it demonstrates 
the safety benefits of gun bans 
on campus. The mere presence 
of what appeared to be a gun on 
campus set off a chain of securi-
ty procedures. Because the Uni-
versity doesn’t allow any guns 
on campus, there is no need to 
determine if a particular gun is 

a threat, and safety procedures 
can be implemented far more 
effectively. The presence of 
guns on campus can muddy the 
waters and cause uncertainty 
for students and law enforce-
ment officers alike.

Similarly, 
proponents 
of 

lifting gun bans from college 
campuses often claim that 
guns could help prevent sexual 
assaults, which would be par-
ticularly powerful considering 
recent University survey results 
show approximately 22.5 per-
cent 
of 
University 
females 

have been victims of sexual 
misconduct. 
However, 
this 

argument fails to consider the 
reality of sexual assault on col-
lege campuses; according to 
2008 research by the Nation-
al Institute of Justice, 85 to 
90 percent of sexual assaults 
against females are perpetrated 
by someone known to the vic-
tim. This invalidates the ste-

For Moose

FROM THE DAILY

Take the finger off the trigger
 Michigan legislature should enact more strict gun policy
O

n March 5, Ann Arbor resident Joshua Wade openly carried his 
firearm to his younger sister’s choir concert at Pioneer High School, 
creating a disruption among audience members. In response to 

the incident, the Ann Arbor Public School Board passed three policies on 
April 15 effectively banning all weapons on school grounds unless they 
are carried by law enforcement officials. Months later, Wade, though 
unaffiliated with the University, has once again decided to take a stance on 
the right to carry his weapon and filed a lawsuit against the University for 
banning guns on campus, claiming the ban is unconstitutional. While the 
University’s ban is seemingly legal, bans enacted by other public entities, 
such as elementary and secondary schools, may not be. With the number 
of incidents involving guns on the rise, Michigan legislators must act now 

to unequivocally keep guns out of schools.

DEREK
WOLFE

reotypical idea of “a predator lurking 
behind the bushes” that dominates 
the conversation about sexual assault 
and suggests that guns are not the 
best antidote; when the victim trusts 
the assailant, guns are difficult to 
anticipate and implement for protec-
tion. Simply, there is no logical reason 
for guns to be on campus.

Just as college campuses should 

be gun-free zones for the safety and 
security of students, so should other 
public schools. Gov. Rick Snyder and 
the state legislature must take action 
in order to close the loopholes that 
currently allow those with a CPL to 
open carry in schools. These weapons 
are neither needed, nor wanted.

