6-News

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 — 7
News & Michigan in Color
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

By G.S. SURI

Michigan in Color Contributor

“He has a turban, and has 

long hair like a girl … like why 
would anyone like him?”

At 
sixteen 
years 
old, 

standing under a staircase 
in high school, I heard a 
conversation about me and a 
painful perception that has 
shaped an unfortunate view 
about how I see myself and 
how I thought others saw me. I 
could never look like those tall 
white guys in the Young Life 
youth group. I could never look 
like the guys wearing Brooks 
Brothers polos and backward 
snapbacks that I saw at Grand 
Valley State University. I was 
not good enough because of 
the way I looked.

Immigrants’ 
sons 
are 

taught to hustle. We are 
taught to make a name for 
ourselves and fly from the 
launch pads our parents made 
out of love, tears, sweat and 
blood in order for us to have 
the lives we are so blessed to 
have. Coming into college, I 
took this mantra in everything 
I did. From a high school 
experience where I felt closed 
up with no purpose, I took 
on my freshman year full-on. 
I was loud and opinionated, 
I made sure people knew I 
had a say because I felt that 

I did not have a say for so 
long in my hometown, where 
micro-aggressions and subtle 
racism helped diminish my 
voice. In trying to protect my 
voice, I closed off the voices 
of others in the process. My 
ego took over in wanting to 
be the immigrant son who 
did 
important 
work 
and 

made moves to accomplish 
things in order to honor my 
parents’ sacrifice. I wanted 
to define myself so badly in a 
place that was so big when my 
insecurities made me feel so 
small that I did not think of 
the consequences.

Being the good immigrants’ 

son that I was, I accomplished 
what I set out to do. I started 
groups, I helped lead groups. 
I was involved with activist 
movements that set precedent 
for 
public 
universities. 
I 

helped build startups that 
provided value to consumers. 
I 
performed 
service 
to 

communities as mandated in 
Sikhism through the concept 
of Seva (Selfless service). I 
was admitted into specialty 
programs and received media 
commendation. 
This 
“Me. 

Me. Me” monologue could 
continue, but it stops when I 
pause to reflect on “at what 
cost did I achieve?” I alienated 
some of the first people I met 
in 
college; 
I 
overpowered 

kind, soft spoken people when 

I spoke because of a need to 
make sure I was heard, since 
I was so scared of losing my 
voice. For years, my arrogance 
pushed away the first girl in 
my life to make me feel OK 
with what I looked like and 
who I was. Someone so kind, 
and because of weaknesses 
that I failed to address, things 
ended abruptly. In trying to 
pursue what I thought were 
ideals during my early years of 
college, I lost far too much to 
feel wholesome.

For 
me, 
internships 

unfortunately did not mitigate 
this, 
but 
amplified 
this 

behavior. Finance operates, at 
times, in a vacuum. So long as 
you do good work, reduce costs 
and support the firm, no one 
really cares what you do. The 
worst part is they incentivize 
you to be that way. In some 
of the places I worked, I saw 
people with gigantic egos and 
wallets, all the while stretched 
thin. As a result, they had 
little time with the people 
who mattered most in a place 
that applauded your work 
above all. And I am ashamed 
to say it got to me. It made 
me tougher, more critical, 
more in tune to senseless 
office 
politics 
and 
more 

aggressive in recognizing my 
accomplishments 
to 
senior 

management. By the time I 
realized how business had 

changed me, it was far too late.

I realized how alone I felt 

and that I wanted to be loved. 
I kept a lower profile and 
apologized to as many people 
who were willing to listen. 
I tried to listen more than I 
spoke and admit when I do not 
know enough about a situation. 
I became less influenced by 
money and asked myself what 
was important and who was 
important. 
I 
spent 
nights 

crying in my room asking to 
turn back time and begging 
for a redo. From persuasion 
through friends who cared 
enough about me to tell me 
the truth, I stopped chasing 
after the people who were not 
willing to listen that I was 
trying to be different. And 
with that, I could not blame 
them for their interpretation 
of my character, given what 
they saw in the past.

I spent time trying to 

understand love and what 
that meant. In London, it 
was looking at my Indian 
grandfather smile at photos 
of my deceased grandmother. 
It meant that no matter what 
racism my grandfather faced 
in England, or how many 
people alienated my white 
grandmother for being with 
my grandpa, that love was love 
and it was going to endure 
until the end. It meant taking 
time to talk to my neighbors in 

Buenos Aires who explained 
that love is a growing thing, 
not a constant. That you love 
more and more every day that 
you know someone and it is 
not something that you try to 
rekindle over time because 
it dies out after marriage. It 
meant my mother following 
my father to a home 3,000 
miles away and holding each 
other while crying the first 
day in their new apartment 
because they knew they were 
going to make it together 
— without hesitation. Once 
I came to understand it, I 
realized I wanted it to be a 
part of me so long as I was 
happy with being myself first.

How 
can 
a 
Sikh 
boy 

atoning for his past find love 
in Ann Arbor? In a place 
where I am reminded I am 
an outsider, where recently 
several women laughed as a 
man sneered while telling me 
to “go back to my country,” 
how can I find something 
meaningful? My immigrant 
parents fell in love in months 
and knew they would be with 
each other forever. I cannot 
taper or dilute my happiness, 
excitement, pain and sadness 
like the white boys and girls 
were taught. As a means of 
longevity and survival, the 
communities I was raised 
in 
promoted 
being 
blunt 

and candid and open. There 

was not time for nuance or 
diminished feelings. I was 
told to wear my heart on my 
sleeve. When I am happy or 
upset, I make it known to the 
people who matter. When I 
am confused, I try to reach 
out and ask for clarity. I try to 
make people feel special if I 
truly feel they are special.

In a town where if I look 

for a special someone to grow 
something greater with then 
I am called naïve, or called a 
coward for not bringing the 
first girl at the bar who wants 
to learn about my turban 
back to my place, how can I 
find 
someone 
worthwhile? 

And even if I find that girl, 
can I be genuine given my 
insecurities? I look to my past 
and pray that I have changed 
when I ask if there is a me 
that is not defined by others? 
Is there so much G.S. that 
there is not enough room for 
another person in my heart? 
Will implicit racism and bias 
bring poison and fear into the 
relationships that I have had, 
tearing it apart? Or maybe 
I still feel like that 16-year-
old 
under 
the 
staircase? 

And will that hold me back 
from the courage to start the 
conversation?

How do I become more than 

what is assumed of me?

Officials say sites 
will be open to the 
public within the 
next two weeks 

By MARLEE BREAKSTONE

Daily Staff Reporter

After delays due to warm 

weather in December, a planned 
installation of three natural ice 
skating rinks is underway in the 
city of Ann Arbor.

Located 
at 
Allmendinger, 

Burns and Northside parks, 
installations 
for 
the 
project 

began 
Monday 
afternoon 

with the laying of water for 
the 
ice 
rink. 
Now-former 

City Councilmember Stephen 
Kunselman proposed the use 
of $89,169 from the city’s cash 
reserves to create the ice rinks 
before his term ended in 2015. 
The allocation was approved 
as part of the 2015 to 2016 Ann 
Arbor city budget.

The ice rinks will be added 

to Veterans Memorial Park and 
Buhr Park.

In 
an 
interview, 

Councilmember 
Julie 
Grand 

(D–Ward 3), who is involved 
in the city’s Parks Advisory 
Commission, said the locations 
were chosen both to spread 
the rinks around the city and 

make them accessible to the 
community, as well as based on 
where rinks have been located 
historically in the city.

Colin Smith, the city’s parks 

and recreation manager, said 
it will take 10 to 14 days for the 
ice to achieve the desired four 
inches of thickness. He said 
staff will return to the rinks 
nightly during this time period 
to rewater the rinks until the 
ice hits four inches. [COPY: 
“achieves the desired thickness” 
is repeated twice — consider 
rephrasing]

Grand said usage of the rinks 

will be available free of charge, 
and the rinks will be open to the 
public during regular park hours 
shortly.

“In about two weeks, weather 

permitting, we should see the 
signs removed and (the rinks) 
will be open for the public to 
skate,” Grand said.

According to Grand, one-third 

of the budget for the project will 
be designated for parts that can 
be reused, such as the frame of 
the rinks, with the remainder 
being allocated toward staff 
labor, 
a 
potentially 
ongoing 

expense.

She said she is thrilled about 

the ice rinks and the Ann 
Arbor community shares her 
sentiment.

“I honestly have not heard 

anyone say they are unanimously 

excited about any topic other 
than the skating rink,” she said. 
“Everyone is excited about it.

Law Prof. David Santacroce, 

who is chair of the Ann Arbor 
Parks 
Advisory 
Commission, 

said by building the ice rinks, the 
city of Ann Arbor is recognizing 
a desire among residents for 
recreational activities such as 
ice skating. Several commercial 
rinks currently exist in and near 
to the city.

“People want to skate and 

they’d like to do it closer to 
home and for free if possible,” 
Santacroce said. “If we can 
get (the rinks) established, if 
the 
weather 
cooperates, 
it’s 

a great parks service for the 
community.”

Engineering junior Michael 

Vizzini, who grew up in the area, 
said the ice rinks would be a 
great addition to the town.

“I used to have a homemade 

ice rink at my house when I was 
younger and it was incredible,” 
Vizzini said.

Grand encouraged community 

members to skate at the rink, 
and said she’s hopeful that large 
crowds at the rinks prompt more 
city projects like it in the future.

“If they are widely used, then 

it will give a message to the 
city that more money should be 
budgeted towards ice rinks and 
similar projects in the future,” 
she said.

City to construct three outdoor 
ice rinks in Ann Arbor parks

Detroit Regional 
Chamber honors 
state Rep. Adam 

Zemke

By LYDIA MURRAY

Daily Staff Reporter

Along with several other 

Michigan legislators, one of 
Ann Arbor’s own was named 
a 2016 Lawmaker to Watch 
Wednesday.

The 
Detroit 
Regional 

Chamber 
included 
state 

Rep. Adam Zemke (D–Ann 
Arbor) in their newest list 
of 
impactful 
lawmakers. 

Zemke was one of six state 
legislators named, and the 
only 
Democratic 
House 

member on the list.

In a press release, Zemke 

said he feels honored to 
have been named and looks 
forward to continuing his 
work.

“I am honored by and 

deeply appreciative of this 
recognition,” he said. “While 
people of Washtenaw County 
are my first priority, it is 
also my responsibility as 
a legislator to think and 
act 
broadly, 
to 
vote 
my 

conscience and to help enact 
change I believe is necessary 

and beneficial in our state 
as a whole. I look forward 
to 
continuing 
this 
work, 

along with my Democratic 
and Republican colleagues, 
on issues that matter in 
our county, our region, and 
across Michigan.”

Jim 
Martinez, 
director 

of communications for the 
DRC, said Zemke was chosen 
because of his commitment 
to improving the state and 
region.

“We look for lawmakers 

from 
both 
sides 
of 
the 

aisle who are committed 
to 
finding 
solutions 
and 

creating policy that moves 
the state forward,” he said. 
“Rep. Zemke has proven to 
take a pragmatic approach to 
policy. He’s supported some 
issues that are important to 
our members, and to growing 
the economy and increasing 
prosperity and growth.”

In an interview, Zemke 

said he believes the DRC 
selected 
him 
because 
of 

his work pushing forward 
legislation, particularly in 
education and infrastructure 
investments.

Zemke 
mentioned 

although he does not agree 
with 
 
members 
of 
the 

chamber of commerce all of 
the time, he is able to work 
with them productively to 

acheive his goals.

“Locally and regionally 

our views are in line on 
many issues on how to move 
Michigan forward,” he said. 
“I think that this award is a 
kind of recognition of that 
work and my ability to move 
legislation forward.”

Looking 
at 
upcoming 

legislation, Zemke said he 
is 
currently 
working 
on 

bills relating to funding for 
Detroit public schools and 
pedestrian safety.

“We’re going to be working 

on legislation that deals with 
the Detroit Public Schools, 
because they have significant 
financial issues,” he said. 
“We are also going to be 
dealing with some legislation 
that I have been working 
on for quite some time on 
pedestrian safety and dealing 
with that on a statewide 
basis.”

As well, Zemke said he 

is also working on several 
election year efforts.

“I am likely to run for 

reelection again this year,” 
he said. “I am also serving 
as chairperson of the House 
Democrats 
election 
effort 

and we are trying to win 
a 
majority 
in 
November. 

Those are what I’m going 
to be focused on in terms of 
politics.”

Ann Arbor legislator named 
2016 ‘Lawmaker to Watch’

Michigan in Color: Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown

Results from 

M-City research 
revealed at Detroit 
auto show Monday

By TANYA MADHANI

Daily Staff Reporter

In 
collaboration 
with 

Ford Motor Companies, the 
University has participated in 
an automotive project to test 
autonomous 
vehicles 
during 

winter conditions — the first 
of its kind — both groups 
announced Monday during the 
North American International 
Auto Show.

Researchers 
from 
the 

University 
and 
Ford 
tested 

Ford Fusion Hybrids at MCity, 
the 
University’s 
test-cite 

for driverless vehicles in a 
simulated 
city 
environment 

opened 
earlier 
this 
year. 

According to a press release, 

the goal of the testing was to 
observe how LiDAR sensors on 
the vehicles would operate in 
winter conditions.

LiDAR 
sensors 
generate 

points of laser lights to help 
automated vehicles navigate, 
creating 
three-dimensional 

images of objects surrounding 
the road such as signs and trees, 
as well as the road itself. They 
also help automobiles calculate 
precise lane locations.

Ryan 
Eustice, 
associate 

professor of architecture and 
engineering and a researcher 
involved in the project, said in 
a statement that maps and GPS 
systems provided by outside 
companies 
do 
not 
function 

consistently in harsh winter 
terrains.

“The 
ones 
developed 
by 

Ford 
and 
the 
University 

of 
Michigan 
do 
(function 

consistently),” 
Eustice 
said. 

“The maps we create contain 
useful information about the 
3D environment around the car, 

allowing it to localize even with 
a blanket of snow covering the 
ground.”

He added that while LiDAR 

images are implemented to 
prevent accidents in hazardous 
winter conditions, inclement 
weather can cause snow to 
block roads and prevents the 
sensor from detecting it.

In his remarks during the 

auto show Monday, Raj Nair, 
Ford executive vice president 
and chief technical officer, 
said Ford has been testing 
autonomous vehicles for close 
to a decade and looks forward to 
developing the project further.

“Snow is one of the most 

extreme 
driving 
conditions. 

Snow 
blocks 
sensors 
and 

obviously 
creates 
slippery 

conditions. So, this testing will 
help us take fully autonomous 
vehicles to the ultimate level.”

Apart from Michigan, Ford is 

also testing driverless cars on 
roads in California and Texas.

University collaborates with 
Ford to test autonomous cars

like you are perceived and 

treated like you do not belong on 
a national level, particularly when 
the discourse is so vitriolic, has 
damaging effects on students.”

Law student Sarah Alsaden, 

treasurer of the Muslim Law 
Students Association, said since 
the media has a considerable 

impact in portraying minorities, 
it is important for it to maintain 
a neutral light when covering 
terrorism news.

Alsaden 
added 
that 
she 

believes the climate at the 
University 
toward 
Muslim 

students 
could 
be 
further 

improved if students listened 
more to how their peers felt about 
being represented negatively in 
the media.

“The media does put a focus 

on labelling Muslims as violent, 
which isn’t the same for other 
races or religions,” Alsaden 
said. “It is important that these 
harmful stereotypes are removed 
and we all become allies.”

Saleem said her team is 

currently working to publish 
longitudinal data about how 
reliance on media for information 
affect 
non-Muslims’ 
views 

toward Muslims over the course 
of three months.

MEDIA
From Page 2

LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily

State Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at the Ann Arbor City Club on September 15th, 2014.

