University of Michigan Theta Xi’s 

decision to host a concert with Detroit 

native rapper Big Sean in October 

has drawn criticism from a number 

of students on campus, as well as the 

UM Black Student Union.

Students cited a prior incident of 

racial insensitivity from the fraternity 

in criticizing their decision to host 

Big Sean, one of the most widely 

popular Black artists. In 2013, Theta 

Xi planned a “Hood Ratchet” themed 

party, sparking campus-wide anger. 

The party, which planned to include 

a “twerking contest” and had various 

gang references in the Facebook 

description, prompted disciplinary 

measures against the fraternity 

and led both the fraternity and the 

University to issue an apology.

 Many on campus argued the 

party and the language of the 

Facebook page parodied Black culture 

and misogynized women. 

After the 2013 incident, the 

University suspended the fraternity 

from the IFC and gave them five 

sanctions, including designing an 

educational program on issues of race 

and attending bystander intervention 

workshops. The fraternity eventually 

cancelled the event and apologized, 

stating the party was not “the 

result of a chapter decision, vote or 

endorsement” despite being created 

with Theta Xi’s name.

The Big Sean event also is 

scheduled on the same date as Black 

Homecoming, a prominent party 

hosted by HEADS and Sister 2 Sister.

In a series of Twitter posts 

Monday afternoon, students 

criticized the concert and said the 

2013 party was what prompted 

#BBUM, a Twitter hashtag later that 

year aimed at allowing Black students 

to share their campus experiences 

which went viral.

The UM frat that tried 2 throw 

a racist party is now trying 2 have 

a concert with a black artist on the 

same day as Black

Music, Theatre & Dance junior 

Diego Zimmerman, speaker of 

the Black Student Union, tweeted, 

“Insult the Black community, bring 

one of the best performers to concert 

at the same time as their annual 

homecoming, more like #ThetaSigh.”

Zimmerman did not respond to a 

request for additional comment at the 

time of this article.

LSA senior Cam Dotson and 

vice president of finance of the 

Interfraternity Council tweeted 

that he thought “theta Xi is moving 

forward with building a positive 

culture and this event is brought 

forward in good faith.” Dotson did 

not wish to give a public statement to 

The Michigan Daily.

 Theta Xi president, Business 

junior Andre Clejan ,and executive 

member and LSA junior Calvin 

Gong did not respond to a request for 

additional comment.

FINDING HOUSING.
puzzle by sudokusyndication.com

HINT: CHECK OUT OUR HOUSING 
GUIDE COMING OUT 9/29!

Tweets

Michigan Students 

@UmichStudents

If Michigan football could 
pull through that game and 
go on to win 45-28 then you 
can text back

Follow @michigandaily

Michigan Dining
@MichiganDining

Cinnamon Toast Crunch is 
in the house at Squad. Sushi 
should be coming soon.

Darren Rovell @darrenrovell

Dan Patrick says Jim 
Harbaugh has sent him 
a “game used” pair of his 
khakis, believed to be from 
the Hawaii game 

Andrew D. Martin @ProfADM
.@ArborSquirrel Get a 
flute. Play it well. Lead 
the skunks over to Ann 
Arbor Hills. Use crosswalk. 
#PiedPiperOfSkunks 

 

CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES

Climate Change & You

WHAT: Jerry Hasspacher will 
discuss the 2015 COP-21 Paris 
Agreement and how individuals 
can mitigate detrimental effects 
of climate change. 
WHO: Matthaei Botanical 
Gardens & Nichols Arboretum

WHEN: 7:30 pm to 9 pm

WHERE: Matthaei Botanical 
Gardens

Strings Showcase

WHAT: The finest SMTD string 
students perform as soloists and 
chamber groups in a monthly 
performance series.
WHO: SMTD

WHEN: 3 p.m. 

WHERE: Earl V. Moore Building, 
Ritton Recital Hall

MUSIC Matters Bar 
Night at Charley’s

WHAT: Support MUSIC 
Matters’ at Charley’s. $5 cover 
charge. 
WHO: MUSIC Matters

WHEN: 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. 

WHERE: Good Time Charley’s

Central Student 
Government Mass 
Meeting

WHAT: Learn how to get 
involved with the main student 
government body on camp
us. 
WHO: CSG
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Michigan Union, 
Pendleton Room

MESA/Spectrum Center 
Open House

WHAT: The Sprectrum Center 
and the Multi-Ethnic Student 
Affairs are holding a joint open 
house with appetizers and 
desserts.
WHO: Spectrum Center
WHEN: 4 p.m. to 5:30 pm

WHERE: Michigan Union, 
rooms 2202 & 3200

LSA Diversity, 
Equity, and Inclusion 
Community Forum

WHAT: A community forum 
about LSA’s new strategic plan for 
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
WHO: LSA Development, 
Marketing & Communications
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: MLB, Auditorium 3

Positive Links Speaker 
Series

WHAT: Sarah Pressman will 
offer research-based strategies 
about the effects of smiling on 
stress, health, and behavorial 
outcomes.
WHO: Michigan Ross Center for 
Positive Organizations
WHEN: 4 pm to 5 pm

WHERE: Ross School of 
Business, Blau Hall

Brexit: What’s Next?

WHAT: A round table discussion 
with a panel to contextualize 
Brexit and its political and 
economic implications.
WHO: International Institute

WHEN: 4 p.m. to 5:30 pm

WHERE: School of Social Work 
Building, room 1636

2 — Tuesday September 20, 2016
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ON THE DAILY
ON THE DAILY

BIG SE AN

VIA DEF JAM RECORDS

Big Sean is slated to perform at a concert hosted by Theta Xi in October.

The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the 
University OF Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s 
office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $110. Winter term (January through April) is 
$115, yearlong (September through April) is $195. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus 
subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and 
The Associated Collegiate Press.

420 Maynard St.

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327

www.michigandaily.com

ARTS SECTION

arts@michigandaily.com

SPORTS SECTION

sports@michigandaily.com

DISPLAY SALES

dailydisplay@gmail.com

NEWS TIPS

news@michigandaily.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

tothedaily@michigandaily.com

EDITORIAL PAGE

opinion@michigandaily.com

HUSSEIN HAKIM

Business Manager

734-418-4115 ext. 1241

hjhakim@michigandaily.com

SHOHAM GEVA

Editor in Chief

734-418-4115 ext. 1251

sageva@michigandaily.com

LAURA SCHINAGLE 
Managing Editor schlaura@michigandaily.com

EMMA KERR 
Managing News Editor emkerr@michigandaily.com
Senior News Editors: Allana Akhtar, Jacqeline Charniga, 
Emma Kinery, Camy Metwally, Katie Penrod
Assistant News Editors: Riyah Basha, Kevin Biglin, Caleb 
Chadwell, Tim Cohn, Will Feuer, Nisa Khan, Jennifer Meer, 
Lydia Murray, Caitlin Reedy, Alexa St. John 

CLAIRE BRYAN and REGAN DETWILER 
Editorial Page Editors 
 opinioneditors@michigandaily.com

Senior Opinion Editors: Caitlin Heenan, Ben Keller, Anna 
Polumbo-Levy, Rebecca Tarnopol, Stephanie Trierweiler

MAX BULTMAN and JAKE LOURIM 
Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com

KATHLEEN DAVIS and ADAM THEISEN 
Managing Arts Editors 
 arts@michigandaily.com

Senior Arts Editors: Caroline Filips, Melina Glusac, Jacob 
Rich, Ben Rosenstock 
Arts Beat Editors: Matthew Barnauskas, Christian Kennedy, 
Rebecca Lerner, Natalie Zak

AMANDA ALLEN and GRANT HARDY 
Managing Photo Editors photo@michigandaily.com

ANJALI ALANGADEN and FRANCESCA KIELB
Managing Design Editors 
design@michigandaily.com

Senior Design Arts Editor: Jacklyn Thomas

KARL WILLIAMS 
Statement Editor statement@michigandaily.com 
 

Deputy Statement Editor: Nabeel Chollampat
Statement Photo Editor: Zoey Holmstrom
Statement Lead Designer: Shane Achenbach
Statement Creative Director: Emilie Farrugia

EMILY CAMPBELL and ALEXIS NOWICKI 
Managing Copy Editors copydesk@michigandaily.com

Senior Copy Editors: Danielle Jackson, Taylor Grandinetti

NIVEDITA KARKI 
Managing Online Editor nivkarki@michigandaily.com

Senior Web Developers: Dylan Lawton, Bob Lesser

LEVIN KIM 
Managing Video Editor video@michigandaily.com

Senior Video Editors: Michael Kessler, Abe Lofy, Emma 
Winowiecki

DEMARIO LONGMIRE and TONI WANG 
Michigan in Color Editors michiganincolor@michigandaily.com

Senior Michigan in Color Editors: Sabrina Bilimoria, Christian 
Paneda, Ashley Tjhung

MICHAEL SCHRAMM 
Special Projects Manager

EMMA SUTHERLAND 
Social Media Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION

photo@michigandaily.com

CLASSIFIED SALES

classified@michigandaily.com 

NEWSROOM

734-418-4115 opt. 3 

CORRECTIONS

corrections@michigandaily.com

Editorial Staff

Business Staff

ASJA KEPES 
Sales Manager

ANNA HE 
Special Publications and Events Manager

SONIA SHEKAR 
Digital Marketing Manager

EMILY RICHNER 
National Accounts Manager

JULIA SELSKY
Local Accounts Manager

CLAIRE BUTZ 
Production and Layout Manager

Senior Photo Editors: Zoey Holmstrom, Ryan McLoughlin, Zach Moore
Assistant Photo Editors: Claire Abdo, Sinduja Kilaru, Sam 
Mousigian, Marina Ross, David Song

Senior Sports Editors: Minh Doan, Jacob Gase, Kelly Hall, Ted 
Janes, Kevin Santo, Brad Whipple
Assistant Sports Editors: Betelhem Ashame, Chloe Aubuchon, 
Laney Byler, Chris Crowder, Sylvanna Gross, Mike Persak

historical Nation of Islam was 
founded in the city in 1931, 
and Eastern European Muslim 
communities, 
composed 
of 

people from countries such as 
Albania and Bosnia, have lived 
in Detroit communities for 
more than 100 years.

Howell also spoke about the 

idea of a Halal space, which 
is a community that develops 
where people live in accordance 
with Muslim law, and Muslims 
can feel comfortable and safe. 
She discussed how these spaces 
come to be defined by factors 
such as territory, behavior and 
group relations.

Howell added that mosques 

are one form of a territorial 
factor, and that community 
relationships 
with 
city 

administration 
or 
other 

government groups lead to the 
forming of Halal spaces. She 
mentioned Hamtramck, which 
is believed to be the first city 
in the United States to elect an 
Arab-majority city council.

“When Muslims do make 

into a space and make it their 

own, that space will change,” 
she said.

Howell 
said 
grassroots 

organizing has played a major 
part in the development of Halal 
spaces. She gave the example of 
a mosque located in northern 
Hamtramck, 
and 
explained 

how its leaders contributed to 
the communities to appeal to 
Muslims who were considering 
leaving the area during the 
housing market collapse of 
2006 by buying and renovating 
houses in the area and renting 
them to Muslim families.

“This is in the city of Detroit 

where you don’t necessarily get 
a lot of government support 
in a neighborhood like this 
one far from public gaze,” she 
said. “This is one example of 
grassroots work.”

Howell said one other local 

organization called Dream of 
Detroit is trying to develop the 
street that they are living on 
near the neighborhood Waverly 
Place. It is near the Muslim 
Center of Detroit, the largest 
African-American mosque in 
the city.

LSA 
senior 
Courtney 

Crawford 
said 
she 
really 

enjoyed the lecture because of 

her lack of previous knowledge 
on the topic, adding that she 
thinks 
Muslim 
communities 

often are misrepresented by the 
media.

“It is something that you 

never hear about because of 
all the negative press on these 
communities and nothing on 
what they are doing,” she said.

LSA 
sophomore 
Leah 

Crockett attended the lecture 
as an extra credit opportunity 
but felt that she was able to 
gain 
a 
better 
perspective 

on communities that she is 
unfamiliar with.

“I learned about the history 

of Detroit in a couple of other 
classes, so it was really nice to 
hear this aspect of it and how it 
applies to Arab-American lives 
and cultures,” she said.

DETROIT
From Page 1

work 
overtime 
and 
neglect 

household 
and 
child-rearing 

duties, which obligates women 
to stay home.

“We need to change the 

game, or the rules of work 
environment,” 
Fukuda 
said. 

“Japanese 
people 
have 
long 

work hours and that’s because 
companies don’t have any laws to 
limit the work hours, so people 
compete with each other to get 
promotions by working a really 
long time.”

He also proposed an additional 

solution based on his experience 
researching 
European 
labor 

and family policies, suggesting 
emulating the policy of the 
Netherlands, 
where 
flexible 

work 
arrangements 
boosted 

female labor participation rates.

Fukuda pointed out that in 

addition to the Dutch labor 
model, which allots more time 
for parents to be with their 
children, salaries between full-
time and part-time employees 
who have the same job are also 
not as disparate as those in 
Japan. Fukuda ended his lecture 
by stressing that “equal pay for 
equal work” is a major key in 
tackling Japan’s labor problems.

“If the Netherlands can do 

that, why not Japan?” he said.

JAPAN
From Page 1

