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.