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Friday, March 17, 2017 — 3

with the help of our colleagues 
at the U-M Alumni Association, 
along 
with 
other 
channels. 

Our 
(massive 
online 
open 

courses) have reached over 5.6M 
enrollments over the last 5 years 
so we also hope to encourage 
many of these learners to 
explore these topics with us.”

Natural Resources Prof. Arun 

Agrawal, an expert in political 
science, will be hosting the first 
teach-out event. Agrawal said 
the transition to authoritarian 
rule is a prevalent topic in the 
media and he believes many 

can benefit from having a better 
understanding 
of 
how 
this 

transition functions.

“I think what is really important 

for us to understand better at this 
point is how democratic countries 
can become more authoritarian or 
countries that are more democratic 
can become more authoritarian,” 
Agrawal said. “This is important 
both because of the way many 
issues are being portrayed in the 
news media and because of the 
concern that many people have 
about the extent to which that an 
erosion in both democratic values 
and democratic decision making, 
and I’m not talking just about the 
United States — I think it is going 
on lots of countries.”

According to Agrawal, since 

the 1980s, there has been a 
general trend toward democracy 
in political systems in areas such 
as Africa and Latin America. 
However, he said in recent years 
there has been a growing concern 
about a global shift away from 
democracy in many countries, 
so he and other faculty members 
participating in the teach-outs 
will draw on historical examples 
of countries that moved from 
democracy to authoritarianism 
and 
relate 
them 
to 
current 

political climates around the 
globe.

TEACH OUT
From Page 1

plan replaces the brick awning 
over the entrance with a glass 
canopy, allowing more light to 
reach the entrance. White was 
concerned 
about 
specifics 
of 

this renovation. Lewis said this 
modification would give a better 
aesthetic impression.

“The North entry is the most 

heavily used entrance of the 
Union, in some ways, it’s a front 

door to the University for visitors, 
students, staff, faculty, alumni and 
currently is very dark, hard to find 
and not very welcoming,” White 
said. “This canopy will create a 
more appropriate and inviting 
entry for everyone to come and 
enjoy the renewed place we call 
the Michigan Union.”

Prior 
to 
the 
presentation, 

University alum Alan Knaus, 
a member of Friends of the 
Michigan Union, expressed his 
dissatisfaction with the renovation 
of certain spaces in the Union for 
student activities. He said the 

renovation catered to students 
over 
alumni, 
and 
eliminated 

elements of the Union he loves, 
such as the Billiards Room.

“I was not happy with (the 

elimination of the Billiards Room) 
and the alumni that were there were 
also not very happy about that,” he 
said. “From my perspective, the 
Office of Student Life does not 
belong in the Michigan Union. 
Essentially it’s supporting 1,400 
special interest groups.”

REGENTS
From Page 1

unity.”

State Rep. Stephanie Chang 

(D–Detroit) could not be at 
the event, but sent a statement 
to event organizers that was 
read at the event, saying she 
stands in solidarity with all 
immigrants 
and 
minorities 

facing harassment or attack.

“While I cannot be here 

tonight, my thoughts are with 
you, as well as with the families 
who have been affected by 
hate crimes,” Chang said in the 

statement. 
“Immigrants 
and 

others, today more than ever, are 
harassed attacked and murdered 
with horrifying frequency.”

During the vigil, attendees — 

particularly those of South Asian 
descent — were also invited to 
share personal experiences or 
general thoughts on their own 
communities.

Business 
junior 
Chelsea 

Racelis, a co-organizer of the 
event, said she hoped people 
would leave and not only reflect 
on what people in their own 
communities may be facing, but 
also strive to understand others 
and get further involved.

“I hope people reflect on 

what this means for their own 
communities,” 
Racelis 
said. 

“There is a reason why everyone 
came here today.”

Racelis also said she hopes 

people continue to go out and 
engage with different people and 
events around campus to learn 
more and stand in solidarity 
with others.

“I hope people leave with not a 

filled cup, but the desire to fill their 
cup,” Racelis said. “To not just 
come here and say ‘oh look this is 
so great, I went to this vigil and 
learned so much.’ I want people to 
take people and say ‘these are the 
experiences I heard and I want to 
hear more experiences.’ ”

HATE CRIMES
From Page 1

that. It’s probably people like 
Donald Trump who need to be 
humanized, it’s not you.”

The stories of the refugees, 

all told through the help of a 
translator 
onstage, 
were 
all 

united by common threads of 
shared humanity, desire to help 
others and a love for American 
democracy.

Omar, who did not provide 

his last name as he was an 
Iraqi refugee, said he came to 
Michigan in 2014 with his wife 
and two sons. Once he settled, 
he began learning English online 
and applying for jobs. He noted 
how hard it was to start from a 
place less than zero, and how 
easy it is for people to forget they 
share humanity with people from 
different cultures.

“I am a person just like you and 

we are all from one humankind, 
and I want to live somewhere safe 

and secure,” Omar said. “Arabs 
and Iraqis also have culture and 
customs, like Americans … We are 
human.”

Another speaker, Shihab, who 

also did not provide his last name 
due to his immigration status, 
detailed the horrors that refugees 
encounter in Arab countries such 
as Egypt, then expressed his deep 
love and admiration for the United 
States. He said he hopes his voice 
will reach people across the world, 
and that he can start a new life 
replete with happiness and safety 
in America.

“We 
as 
Muslims, 
and 

specifically refugees, really love 
all of you guys,” Shihab said. 
“Especially as refugees looking 
for a safe place to live to live in 
safety and freedom, because we 
were denied that right in our own 
home countries. We wanted to 
come to America to live, to live in 
happiness and safety and freedom. 
To live in democracy and justice. 
To build a future for our kids, and 
to teach them knowledge and good 
manners. Oh people, I ask you to 

help me. So that my small voice, 
me and my brother, will reach the 
rest of the world.”

At the end of his talk, Shihab 

read aloud a small portion of 
a letter he wrote to President 
Donald Trump. In the letter, he 
asked the president to provide 
refugees with a safe place to live, 
and said refugees respect his 
leadership and policies.

“For the sake of refugees, please 

help us, please help us, Mr. Trump,” 
he said. “Look carefully in your 
future plans. We deserve and we 
need to live in a safe place and we 
respect your policies and your 
orders, and respect your fear for 
the American people — because 
America is more important than 
anything.”

Students in attendance said 

hearing the refugees’ stories made 
them consider their privilege, and 
how immigrants can become part 
of U.S. society today. 

REFUGEES
From Page 1

it’s racist,” Sarkar said. “Students 
are already qualified to be here. 
The problem is that they don’t 
want to be here.”

Later in the debate, candidates 

were asked about their ideal 
commencement speaker, a repeat 
question from one of last year’s 
debates, allowing them to get 
a little more creative. Rosen 
advocated for Donald Glover, 
commonly known by his stage 
name Childish Gambino, because 
of the performer’s determination, 
drive and ability to entertain a 
crowd accustomed to the typical 
seriousness of commencement 
speeches; Sarkar chose Beyoncé, 
someone she has been pushing for 
as a speaker since her freshman 
year, because of her empowering 
aspects, 
specifically 
when 

showing it is possible for a woman 

to maintain a successful career, 
family and social balance, a 
balance Beyoncé built for herself; 
Art & Design senior Keysha Wall, 
the DAAP presidential candidate, 
said they would like to see Angela 
Davis, a political activist and 
someone Wall continues to learn 
about, address students.

In another question regarding 

the drinking culture on campus, 
Wall 
highlighted 
alcohol’s 

common 
association 
with 

sexual assault and discussed 
the importance of disciplining 
those accused of rape and sexual 
assault. According to a 2007 
National Institute Justice report, 
89 percent of incapacitated sexual 
assault victims reported having 
consumed alcohol.

“I know that one of the 

problems when our campus gets 
to drinking, or when alcohol 
is involved, is the issue of rape 
and sexual assault,” they said. “I 
would say that, even bigger than 
that, we can prevent people from 

even being hurt by exposing and 
expelling rapists from campus.”

Candidates 
followed 
with 

closing 
statements, 
each 

expressing 
their 
dedication 

to CSG and what their parties 
mean to them. Vice presidential 
candidates then came forward to 
debate.

The status of the University 

as a sanctuary city was again 
brought forward in this round of 
questioning, and candidates were 
asked whether or not they were 
concerned the University could 
lose federal funding if it were to 
declare this status or if it were to 
bring in controversial speakers.

LSA senior Lauren Kay, vice 

presidential candidate for DAAP, 
described issues they see with the 
discussion of such topics solely 
in terms of financial standpoints, 
as well as issues regarding the 
privatization of higher education.

DEBATE
From Page 1

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