Dance senior, is trying his hand
at direction for the first time.
Since April, he’s been tirelessly
planning how to tie this show
together.

A
completely
student-run

organization,
MUSKET
is

celebrating its 60th anniversary
this year, and though there were
a few reservations before settling
on this risque musical, the pay
off
has
proven
worthwhile.

Provided with funding and no
censorship, MUSKET is free to
experiment in their productions
and doesn’t necessarily have to
exercise caution when deciding
which show to perform.

However, producer Hillary

Ginsberg, a fifth-year senior
double majoring in Business
and Screen Arts and Cultures,
and Marketing Director Brett
Graham, an LSA sophomore
studying
political
science,

reached out through MUSKET
to organizations such as Students
for Choice and the Sexual Assault
Awareness
and
Prevention

Center to set up in the lobby after
the show.

“We are trying to make it

so that we can convey all the
sexuality and the intensity of
the show, but at the same time

people can come see the show
and leave feeling like they’ve
learned something — that they’ve
progressed with the subject
matter and not that they’ve been
somehow upset or affronted by
the show,” Graham said.

With the aggressive nature of

each pop-punk musical number
overpowering the eyes, ears and
mind, “Spring Awakening” is
an emotionally taxing musical
for both the audience and cast
members. Breaking out of the
narrative and bursting into song,
the actors use solos to release
pent up emotion. Songs are used
less to drive the plot and more as
a reaction and coping mechanism
for what the character has just
experienced.

“It’s the perfect example of

how musical theater is written
to escalate a powerful feeling
to the point where the only way
to convey it is by bursting into
song,” said Sarah Eskandari, a
School of Art & Design freshman.

Will Ropp, a senior in the

School of Music, Theater & Dance,
elaborated: “It’s exhausting, but
in a very artistically fulfilling
way.”

Playing Melchior, Ropp, along

with the other male leads, is in
nine of the 11 musical numbers of
the first act. Exhausting, indeed.

The multitude of themes,

characters and storylines that

transverse over the course of
the musical creates a unique
mood relatively unseen before in
MUSKET productions. Though
they have produced shows like
“Sweeney Todd,” “Rent” and
“Into the Woods” that exist on
the darker end of the musical
spectrum, they’re all dwarfed
in comparison by the shadow of
angst and pure power exerted
in “Spring Awakening.” With
songs
alternating
between

“Totally Fucked” and “The Bitch
of Living,” no emotion is spared
and no experience is too delicate
to be proclaimed in a pop rock
manner that channels bouts of
rage, ecstasy and longing into
every word.

The time and commitment

of the crew and 17-member
cast doesn’t go unnoticed by
witnesses to this musical, even
before they have stepped foot on
the Power Center stage.

“Every moment that they have

experienced in this room is a
major moment and, even as an
outsider getting to watch, that
is so rewarding,” Ginsberg said.
“I think every single person who
comes to see this show is going
to see every single moment of
hard work they have put into this
show and how well they have
developed these characters and
their incredible story lines.”

MUSKET
From Page 1A

signed up to participate, and
the group plans to set up a table
in Mason Hall to gather more
support. Raoof said their efforts
may include a petition to the
governor.

“We have received positive

feedback
from
students
on

campus and willingness to join
us in spreading the word,” she
said.

Dahbour
said
feelings
of

frustration
with
the
state’s

unfair treatment of refugees
inspired the campaign. She also
said she was disappointed that
people quickly blamed refugees
for the Paris terror attacks.

“As refugees are accused of

the very terror they are trying to
flee from, we dehumanize them
and silence their narratives,” she
said. “They are now being denied
safety, a basic human right, based
on their background and/or
religious affiliation.”

She said refugees already

have to go through a multi-step
program to enter the United
States
—
a
process
which

typically takes one to two years
— and said moves to prevent their
entry is rooted in prejudice, not
security.

Business sophomore Sunny

Demirjian fled Syria as a refugee
in 2012 with her siblings to
come to Michigan and live with
their grandmother. She said the
transition was difficult and it
took them about a year to adjust
to life in the United States. On
top of that, they were rarely able
to speak to their parents due
to difficulties communicating
with people in the country.
Demirjian’s parents were able to
come a few years later.

“It’s very underestimated how

much immigrants go through
when they leave their country,”
Demirjian said. “It’s just such
a struggle, especially for the
parents because they are literally
giving up everything they have
and even their future to provide
for their kids, and also for the
kids.”

Since
his
initial
announcement,

Snyder has clarified that Syrian
refugees already in the process
of coming to Michigan before
the attacks will not be prevented
from entering. However, some
legal scholars say governors
actually have little authority
to
prevent
refugees
from

entering their states, and say

the decisions are largely made
by the federal government. In
September, Snyder said he was
working with the Department of
Homeland Security to help with
the resettlement of refugees in
Michigan.

On Sunday, his office released

a statement saying Michigan
would not accept any refugees
until the state investigated the
screening process further. He
later penned an op-ed in Time
Magazine
titled,
“We
Must

Welcome
Refugees
—
After

Screening Them.”

“I let it be known that

Michigan can be a place where
thousands can experience safety
and freedom—and a growing
community where they will be
embraced and comforted by a
support network,” he wrote.
“It’s the right thing for us to do
as Michiganders, and the right
thing for us to do as Americans.
But the events of recent weeks,
including the violence in Paris,
Beirut and the skies over Egypt,
remind us of the dangers our
world faces from extremists
who are becoming increasingly
sophisticated in their methods of
doing us harm.”

History
Prof.
Pamela

Ballinger, whose work focuses on
the history of human rights, said
the response is alarming.

“The
growing
chorus
of

governors who wish to block
resettlement of Syrian refugees
in their states is a worrisome, yet
sadly predictable, response to the
terror attacks in Paris,” she said.
“These governors displace blame
onto
the
literally
displaced,

victims forced to flee their homes
as a result of the same extremist
violence that shook Paris last
week. Such a view ignores that
the U.S. commitment to take
Syrian refugees is already low, as
well as the fact that the process
of refugee vetting in the U.S. is a
slow and careful one.”

Unlike
proposed
measures

in other states, Snyder said
Michigan’s ban is only temporary,
and would be revoked after
the state reviews the federal
government’s screening process
for refugees.

“It’s
disappointing
that

Michigan
Governor
Rick

Snyder, whose previous pro-
immigration and pro-refugee
stances had distinguished him
from the majority of his fellow
Republicans, has joined those
calling for a halt to Syrian
resettlement,”
Ballinger
said.

“To be fair, Snyder has not

closed the door on accepting
refugees, instead urging caution
and a ‘pause.’ This contrasts
with those politicians — notably
New Jersey’s Chris Christie —
who apparently find even tiny
orphans a threat. Nor has Snyder
indulged in the ‘Christians only’
rhetoric of Ted Cruz or Jeb
Bush.”

Law Prof. James Hathaway,

who directs the Law School’s
Program
in
Refugee
and

Asylum Law, expressed similar
sentiments.

“Governor Snyder’s reluctance

to welcome Syrian refugees
to Michigan is very, very sad,”
Hathaway said. “The United
States is accepting only an
incredibly tiny share — less than
one-fourth of 1 percent — of the
Syrians who have been forced
to flee their homes, and who
are entitled to international
protection. For so many U.S.
governors to refuse to do their
fair share to reach out to these
victims of brutal violence is just
shameful.”

Not only does Hathaway find

it embarrassing for the state, he
sees the move as a recantation of
the freedoms the United States
promises.

“It makes a mockery of their

commitment to freedom and
justice for all, as those coming
are the victims of the brutality
we say we condemn,” Hathaway
said. “It is also ridiculous for
governors to rationalize their
isolationist posture on security
grounds, as refugees resettled
to the U.S. must undergo an
incredibly
thorough
vetting

process before they are allowed
to travel here. So let’s condemn
this action for what it is: knee-
jerk, uninformed and not worthy
of America.”

However,
while
Demirjian

said she believes refugees should
be let in, she understands why
states can’t take in everyone.

“From
a
humanitarian

perspective, I’d say they should
definitely let the people in,”
Demirjian said. “However, when
you look at it from Michigan as
a state, from their perspective,
they just want to maintain their
bounds in terms of how many
people are there and in terms of
job availability. They just don’t
want to gather further burden on
them because these people are
coming in looking for resources
to survive. So makes sense
logically, but I know it’s not the
best in terms of a humanitarian
perspective.”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Thursday, November 19, 2015 — 3A

SNYDER
From Page 1A

TALK IT OUT

MARINA ROSS/Daily

School of Music, Theatre, and Dance sophomore Giovanni Bellegarde speaks at the Intergroup Relations discussion
concerning Mizzou in the West Quad Connector on Wednesday. >> READ MORE AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM

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demonstration on the steps
of
Hill
Auditorium.
During

the demonstration, members
protested
stagnant
minority

enrollment and demanded the
University meet seven goals for
improving campus climate and
diversity of the student body.
A new location for the Trotter
Multicultural Center and an
improved Race and Ethnicity
requirement were among the
demands made by the BSU.

The University has since

addressed
several
of
the

demands outlined by the BSU,
however, in a one-year follow-
up with The Michigan Daily in
January 2015, both University
administrators and the BSU
agreed
increasing
Black

enrollment to an amount equal
to 10 percent was, and still is,
the most difficult demand to
address.

University
alum
Robert

Greenfield,
who
served
as

treasurer of the BSU when
#BBUM was launched, was
fundamental in both drafting
the demands and subsequent
negotiations
with
University

administrators. In an e-mail
interview with The Michigan
Daily, Greenfield looked back on
the creation of both #BBUM and
the BSU’s seven demands.


How did #BBUM start?

What
was
the
catalyzing

factor
that
led
to
the

movement? What sparked it?

Our BSU Executive board

wanted to start a campaign
to help mend the fractured
black community on campus

—
particularly
the
black

organizations on campus that
were at odds with each other.
Tyrell [Collier], the Speaker
at the time, came up with the
“#Being Black at the University
of Michigan” and Cap [Kendall]
came up with the abridged
version “#BBUM.” It was not
sparked by racist activity on
campus, though that helped
it gain momentum — and it
changed it from a dialogue
within the black community,
from
the
black
community

to a dialogue from the black
community about the campus
environment as a whole. A
catalyzing
factor
was
the

“Hood
Ratchet
Thursday”

party hosted by the IFC Greek
fraternity and the worsening
racial climate nationally. People
must understand that [the racial
climate] has always been like

this (or worse), it’s just that the
majority ignores it most of the
time.

How did that movement

turn into the seven demands?

Once we gained national

attention, we (had) leverage
to go back to the U of M black
community and ask what they
wanted to have done/fixed.
Many of the demands are lasting
agreements that the University
never came through on (but
agreed to) — this included the
10 percent critical mass of black
students on campus.

Why
were
these
specific

demands
chosen
and
why

only
seven?
Explain
the

reason behind the demands
and the process leading up to
the Martin Luther King Day
demonstrations.

We
chose
seven
because

they were the most important
— there is no significance to
the number itself. The reason
behind the demands was to
(for the most part) have the
University follow through on
blank promises it made [in the
past]. The MLK demonstrations
served as an official unveiling
of the demands on a day that is
supposed to be about change
(not just about remembering the
past in this “supposed” post-
racial world).

What did negotiations with
administrators look like?

What aspects of it stick out in
your mind? Any difficulties?

It was slow and political.

Administration
is
slow
(at

least in my eyes). At times it
was aggressive. Many of the
executive board felt like we
were getting stringed on long

enough to eventually graduate
(and so end the movement
given that activism like this
unfortunately
dies
with

the
founding
activists
that

graduate and leave campus).
The main difficulties were
convincing
admissions
that

they are doing a poor job with
black recruitment.

****

Meetings
between
the

University,
the
BSU
and

community
members
are

still ongoing. Last week, the
University held a weeklong
diversity
summit
intended

to
garner
input
from
the

community
on
improving

equality
and
inclusion

on
campus.
As
for
future

demonstrations from the BSU,
Greenfield had a short message
for the University community.

“Stay tuned,” he wrote.

BBUM
From Page 1A

uncovered costs.

“When I first got here, I

couldn’t
believe
the
living

conditions of some of the NASA
students,” she said. “I think
the University is awesome, but
they say free tuition and it’s not
really free. Living expenses are
so high.”

This semester, the University

enrolled
92
students
who

identify as Native Americans.
Though it’s an increase over
previous
years,
panelists

agreed the number was still
too low. University President
Mark Schlissel’s recent push
to improve diversity, equity
and inclusion on campus could
be doing more to assist Native
American
students,
Gaillard

said.

“They say they’re open to

hearing ideas from us, but I
think they need to realize and
accept that we’re also students
… they need to create avenues
for our voices to be heard,” he

said.

Aside
from
the

administration’s
relationship

to Native American students,
panelists spoke at length about
proper engagement with the
community at large. Because
the University is located on
land ceded from a number of
tribes — the Ojibwe, Odawa,
and
Potawatomi,
Shawnee

and Wendat all signed treaties
with territorial governors —
speakers urged consideration of
surrounding native populations.

“It starts with getting to

know (them), asking who they
are,” said Lynn LaPointe, a
Lakota tribe member who works
for the Michigan Department of
Education. “Whose land is the
U of M campus on? Being aware
sounds daunting but it’s really
not.”

Joseph Gonne, an associate

professor
of
psychology,

agreed that cultural sensitivity,
especially
in
light
of
the

historical
tension
between

Native Americans and white
America, is key for allies.

“Come ready to contribute,

but don’t assume that you know
what to contribute,” Gonne said.
“Action and understanding are
paired together.”

NASA
looks
forward
to

broadening the organization’s
scope on and off campus. The
group played a major role in
advising the Ann Arbor City
Council on their decision this
week to rename Columbus Day
to Indigenous People’s Day, and
is hosting more cultural events
and conversations this month.

MESA
Associate
Director

Linh
Nguyen
attended
the

panel, and noted the importance
of the University’s facilitation of
dialogue on Native American
students’ needs.

“As we talk about racial issues

on campus, their perspective
is nuanced and needs to be
incorporated,”
Nguyen
said.

“As someone who’s on staff and
working towards diversity and
inclusion, experiences like this
are reminders to me around the
complexity of how we actually
address issues like this in terms
of the diverse students and staff
that we have.”

NATIVE AMERICAN
From Page 1A

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