M-Write — a program promoting conceptual learning through writing housed inside the Digital Innovation Greenhouse in the Office of Digital Education — continues to grow as it introduces writing and a peer review program to introductory-level STEM- oriented and social science courses, though this is the third semester of its use. M-Write will be utilized in three courses during the winter 2017 semester: Economics 101, Material Science Engineering 250 and Biology 174. Economics is the largest class that will use M-Write, with over 300 students. A computer program called M-Write II anonymously distributes prompted writings to three other members of the course for peer review. The program then returns the student commentary to the original student, who revises their work accordingly. Anne Gere, professor of education and English and Director of the Sweetland Center for Writing, initiated the project and said the goal is to promote deeper learning through the inclusion of a writing component. Around 300 gathered in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater Thursday night to see the 2016 National Book Award-winning novelist Colson Whitehead read passages shining light on the horrors of slavery from his book “The Underground Railroad.” Throughout his speech, Whitehead explained the novel’s conception; he first thought of writing about slavery in the year 2000, but he didn’t begin writing it until three years ago, when he felt he had matured. “I knew if I had started then, I would have fucked it up,” Whitehead said. “So I was like, ‘I will wait and write more books and perhaps become a better writer … and hopefully I will be more mature and able to tackle it.’ ” Whitehead said he is fortunate to be able to use his novel and platform to illustrate the torture and abuse his ancestors and others suffered under slavery in America. “When I was working on the book, I had to start grappling with the horrors of slavery,” Whitehead said. “I don’t know where my family came from … I don’t know who they were or where they died, but part of writing this book right, writing it good, was honoring them.” Whitehead also offered commentary on America’s current racial climate, stating the election of Donald Trump as president is proof white supremacy is still prominent in the country. Whitehead said he believes certain passages of the book, such as when free Blacks are stopped and frisked, have greater meaning now. “When the election happened, I did start reading different sections from the book,” Whitehead said. “The book sort of does read differently now that we have this sort of re-entrenchment of white supremacy.” LSA sophomore Colin Page said he attended the event both because he has read “The Underground Railroad” and because one of his professors recommended students attend. Page said his interest piqued when Whitehead talked about his approach to writing about the theme of oppression, specifically the parallels he drew between race relations during slavery and today. “I specifically enjoyed when he talked about how he mingled historical aspects of the book with realism in order to comment on society and the oppression he sees that was prevalent 200 years ago, and is still unfortunately very prevalent today,” Page said. “He used the mixture of the two to show the duality between the two ages and how we’re still wrestling with a lot of the same issues that we were.” LSA freshman Scott Bays echoed Page’s sentiment, saying his major takeaway from Whitehead’s lecture was his use of the past in his novel to draw parallels to and comment on oppression in today’s society. “I thought it was really interesting how he could use fiction and genre to expand the scope of what he was saying,” Bays said. The beginning of a new semester is traditionally a time of recruitment and increased student involvement in different organizations on campus. At Winterfest, the University of Michigan chapters of both College Republicans and College Democrats had tables to promote mobilization and their respective agendas for 2017. With President-elect Trump’s inauguration only a week away, the two political groups are focused on how the new administration will affect their future efforts to promote various ideologies, as well as increasing student political efficacy, which would lead to wider involvement and student knowledge about current political events. While the University College Republicans are “thrilled” about President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, according to LSA junior Enrique Zalamea, president of the organization, they plan to focus largely on local Michigan state politics during the winter semester. They have michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Friday, January 13, 2017 ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. INDEX Vol. CXXVII, No. 8 ©2016 The Michigan Daily N E WS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 O PI N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 S U D O K U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 CL A S S I F I E DS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 M-Write tool expanded to intro, STEM curriculum Students, activists protest expected Planned Parenthood defunding See STEM, Page 3 60,000 people were served by Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) last year. WHAT IS PLANNED PARENTHOOD? - safety-net provider - steps in where providers stop accepting Medicaid patients - Medicaid reimburses services PP provides WHO IS MOST AFFECTED? - low income households - rural areas >25% Less than a quarter of MIchigan’s counties have no OB/GYN doctor. PPMI is often the only place patients can access health care. WHO USES IT? WHO HAS ACCESS? DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD: REPERCUSSIONS AND STATISTICS DESIGN BY KATIE BEUKEMA Planned Parenthood funding is currently in the process of being repealed, sparking concerns both locally and nationwide. ACADEMICS Expansion of program to include bio, material science and economics classes EMILY MIILLER Daily Staff Reporter Congressional Republican initiative spurs discontent from campus community On Jan. 5, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R) announced a budget bill that would begin to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law and would include language that would strip Planned Parenthood of more than half of a billion dollars in annual federal funding. “Planned Parenthood legislation would be in our reconciliation bill,” Ryan said at a press conference. Republican lawmakers have tried for years to strip the reproductive health organization of its federal funding, particularly since it faced an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in 2015 dealing with the purported illegal sale of fetal tissue. Although the investigation found no evidence of illegal acts, it placed Planned Parenthood and its Democratic allies on the defense. Ruth Lednicer, Planned Parenthood of Michigan director of media and communications, said in an interview the protestors are active even at the traditionally liberal Ann Arbor locations. CARLY RYAN Daily Staff Reporter See GOP, Page 3 Dems, GOP strive for inclusive ‘U’ policies CAMPUS LIFE Campus political groups reflect on their goals for the upcoming year HEATHER COLLEY Daily Staff Reporter KEVIN ZHENG/Daily Novelist Colson Whitehead kicks off the University of Michigan Bicentennial Theme Semester with a reading of his book “The Ungerground Raildroad” at the League on Thursday. Colson Whitehead discusses parallel between current events and slavery The award winning author also read passages from famous novel to 300 gathered CALEB CHADWELL Daily Staff Reporter A mindful approach Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight uses the lessons he learned from his high school coach to help him to bounce back from mistakes. » Page 8 michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit See DEFUNDING, Page 3 It’s possible Michiganders could soon see the reduction or even elimination of the state’s 4.25 percent income tax, as discussions on different proposals in both the state House and Senate are underway. House Bill 4001, which would reduce the 4.25 percent tax to 3.9 percent in 2018 and then reduce the tax by another 0.1 percent each year over a span of 40 years until the income tax is eliminated, was introduced by state Rep. Lee Chatfield (R–Levering) on Thursday. Additionally, state Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R–Harrison Township) is also expected to soon introduce his own income tax elimination plan in the Michigan Senate that would eliminate the income tax over five years, the Detroit News reported. Brandenburg declined an interview with The Michigan Daily. Edward Cho, University of Michigan economics professor, presented some of the general advantages and disadvantages that See TAX, Page 3 Legislature considers income tax elimination GOVERNMENT Bills have potential to decrease tax over years, sparking mixed reactions CALEB CHADWELL Daily Staff Reporter