3 NEWS Thursday, May 17, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com Twenty-six Wolverines named Fulbright Finalists Program funds international engagement By ROB DALKA For The Daily The University of Michigan boasts 19 students and seven alum- ni as finalists for the 2018-2019 Ful- bright Student Program. The Fulbright program was introduced in 1945 when Sen. J. William Fulbright presented a congressional bill that encouraged student engagement in the inter- national community. The program currently offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to U.S. citizens who complete their undergradu- ate degree before the grant date. The recipients of the grant include young professionals that hold or are pursuing bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees. The University’s International Institute hires Fulbright program advisers to help students navi- gate the application process. The advisers hold information sessions throughout the year and help stu- dents make their applications com- pelling and competitive. Among the announced final- ists, 13 U-M students were offered English Teaching Assistantships through the Fulbright program. ETA recipients assist local English teachers in classrooms around the world, including Bulgaria, China, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Slo- vak Republic, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey. Eleven students and recent graduates were offered the Ful- bright Study-Research Award, which allows recipients to work on research projects at foreign univer- sities. Eric Peterson, a recent LSA graduate, is one of the named final- ists for this award. As an under- graduate, Peterson researched Rydberg atoms in professor Georg Raithel’s atomic physics labora- tory. Last summer, Peterson par- ticipated in a two-month research project at a French university through a National Science Foun- dation grant. Peterson credited his experi- ence in France for his interest in working with people from differ- ent countries. “Science is really an interna- tional effort, whether that be through large collaborations or just through the sharing of knowledge, and I think my expe- rience in France opened my eyes to this,” Peterson said. Under the Fulbright Study/ Research Award, Peterson will be working at the ELI-NP research facility in Romania, studying interactions between high-ener- gy laser pulses and solid material. Two other individuals will be participating in unique Fulbright programs. Laura Lapidus, a recent Music, Theatre & Dance gradu- ate, has been named the final- ist for the John Wood LAMBDA Award in Classical Acting. Each year, the award gives one finalist the opportunity to pursue a one- year master’s degree in classical acting at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. Another finalist, recent LSA graduate Merin McDivitt, was accepted into the Binational Internship Program in Mexico. The program allows fellows to intern at a Mexican company or organization while taking classes at a local university. McDivitt is looking forward to working and studying in Mexico City. “I’m so excited to live in Mexi- co City!” McDivitt said. “I visited the city recently and fell in love with it — it has more museums than any other city in the world and is home to literally thousands of unique communities, a stun- ning national park and dozens of layers of ancient and modern his- tory.” McDivitt is interested in sustainable tourism and heri- tage-based businesses in Latin America and hopes that she will learn a lot during her experience. “I hope to gain a much deeper understanding of Mexican cul- ture, particularly the business and arts environments.” McDivitt said. “Mexico has a rich, impres- sive tradition of regional artisan wares that I can’t wait to explore and see how I can collaborate on future projects that raise aware- ness of Mexican heritage.” When reached for comment, the University spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen said, “It is always great to see our students recog- nized.” Visit MichiganDaily.com for City election 2018:A breakdown of Ann Arbor’s mayoral and council candidates City primary election will be hosted Aug. 7 By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Summer Daily News Editor The Ann Arbor City Council will hold a primary election for mayor and five council positions Aug. 7. Here is a breakdown of this year’s candidates: Mayoral Candidates: Incumbent Mayor Christopher Taylor will seek reelection against Council Member Jack Eaton, D-Ward 4. Taylor admits he’s proud of the progress made during his first term but feels his work isn’t over. “Although I feel we have done a lot of great work in Ann Arbor, there’s still a great deal more to do,” Taylor said. “Obviously, we have to work to fix our roads; our (storm) water infrastructure is aging. Also, it’s important that we make Ann Arbor the most equitable and sus- tainable place you’ve ever lived. We need to fund and commit to afford- able housing and implement our climate action plan.” Yet the mayor’s first term hasn’t been all roses. After the city voted May 2 to repurchase the Y lot from local real estate developer Dennis Dahlmann for $4.2 million, Coun- cilmember Jane Lumm, I-Ward 2, criticized Taylor for a statement he made in which he lamented how supporters of the vote cost the city “thousands, if not millions, of dol- lars.” “The statement is plainly and obviously temperate and not a per- sonal attack,” Taylor said. “It is in my view, plainly and obviously fac- tual: The fact that my colleagues made a very poor decision on April 2 and, in my view, contrary to the city interests. I can understand why people don’t want to hear that, but it was not said with personal- ity. It did not get to the motive. It just got to the effect of the decision. That’s public discourse.” Eaton, on the other hand, attrib- uted his candidacy to the fact that he felt the city was not addressing many issues in the way that he pre- ferred. “There are a number of issues that are very important to me that I just feel that we’re not taking a lead on,” Eaton said. “I think that I can provide leadership on the really important issues facing the city.” Eaton has served on City Council since 2013 and specified the issues he hopes to improve include infra- structure, public safety, affordable housing and the environment. One environmental concern Eaton addressed was the 1,4-Diox- ane plume that contaminates Ann Arbor groundwater. Dioxane is a carcinogenic com- pound that was widely used for manufacturing in the past. Ann Arbor manufacturer Gelman Sci- ences, now Pall Corp., released the chemical as an industrial byprod- uct into an unlined lagoon from 1966 to 1986. The main concern is the plume will reach the Huron River and contaminate Barton Pond, Ann Arbor’s main source for drinking water. “I would like to join the petition that other communities in the area have filed with the EPA asking the EPA to take a more active role in the oversight of the progress of the plume,” Eaton said. “I’m embar- rassed that a city like Ann Arbor with a strong reputation for envi- ronmentalism isn’t more active and seeking an actual remedy.” Yet some critics and council- members have complained about Eaton previously accepting dona- tions from Dahlmann, the local real estate developer who pur- chased the “Y lot” from the city in a failed promise to develop afford- able housing and commercial developing. “All council members receive contributions from people who later have business in front of coun- cil and the efforts to disparage me for having received the contribu- tions from Dennis Dahlmann are purely political,” Eaton responded. Ward 1: Councilmember Sumi Kailasap- athy, D-Ward 1, will not be seeking reelection. Democrats Ron Gin- yard and Jeff Hayner are running to fill her position. Hayner sees major concerns with the city’s natural resources and environmental concerns, spe- cifically within his ward. “Especially in Ward 1 where I’m running, we have a lot of land- use issues here on the north side,” Hayner said. “We’re the river part of the city primarily. We had the most vacant land, township (island) and agriculture land left over.” Ward 2: Councilmember Kirk Westphal is seeking reelection for Ward 2 against challenger Kathy Griswold. Westphal feels the main issues the city faces include public safety, affordable housing and infrastruc- ture. Westphal thinks continued Uni- versity and city cooperation will help address the recent string of home invasions and sexual assaults near the University. “I think I speak for all of Council when I say we will get resources that our police ask for to the extent we can within our budget,” Westphal said. “I think sexual assault is a com- plex problem that needs focus and cooperation between the city and the University to look at the sources of the problem and ensure we con- tinue coordinating and communi- cating with each other to go after what’s driving this latest uptick in these assaults.” Ward 3: Ward 3 will see a competition between Councilmember Julie Grand and Alice Liberson. Grand claims city affordability and public safety are major issues in Ann Arbor. As a pre-health aca- demic adviser in LSA, Grand said students often bring up concerns with city affordability in advising appointments. “I hear a lot from students on their struggles to find housing,” Grand said. “If the University is thinking about DEI initiatives and bringing in students from a range of income groups and increasing the number of transfer students, I really am con- cerned about affordable housing.” Liberson was not available for comment in time for publication. Ward 4: For Ward 4, Councilmember Graydon Krapohl is running for reelection against Elizabeth Nel- son. Nelson works as a substitute teacher for Washtenaw County and has been an Ann Arbor resi- dent since 2004. Her inspiration for running for City Council came after her realization that she does not have to be a spe- cific type of person to run for a council seat. Read more at MichiganDaily.com