deadline
to
produce
documents explaining why
he was detained. During this
time, the Knight-Wallace
Fellowship,
a
University
program
managed
by
Wallace House that allows
mid-career journalists to
spend an academic year at
the University, advocated
for his release and accepted
him as a fellow for the 2018-
2019 school year. Gutiérrez
and his son have been living
in Ann Arbor since the
beginning of his fellowship
in September.
Judge Robert Hough, the
current presiding judge on
the case, denied Gutiérrez’s
asylum
request
in
July
2017, but later reinstated
the appeal. Wallace House
Director Lynette Clemetson
said
the
family
should
know the results of the case
by January. Hough also
denied earlier requests to
change the hearing venue
to Michigan, a mandate
that Beckett has taken to
indicate
an
unjust
bias
against Gutiérrez.
Beckett cited the lack
of consideration of new
material evidence as his
first indication of injustice.
He described the allegedly
ignored evidence filed in
the
appeals
court,
such
as updatedexpert data on
conditions in Mexico that
show 47 reporters have
been killed in the country
since
1992,
and
letters
of support from various
prominent news outlets and
organizations.
“I
strongly
believe
that
Judge
Hough
has
prejudged the case. He’s
done
everything
in
his
power
to
minimize
it.
Judges are kind of like the
gatekeepers of cases, they
admit and exclude evidence,
they decide whose credible
and who is not,” Beckett
said. “Back in May, we won
Emilio’s appeal to have the
judge review new material
evidence
that
was
not
available before that was
very important to the case.
All the evidence that was
submitted should’ve been
with Judge Hough on Oct
22, and he barely has it. That
seems very reckless, that’s
never happened to me.”
Kathy Kiely, Lee Hills
Chair in free press studies at
the University of Missouri
School of Journalism and
National Press Club freedom
fellow, spearheaded NPC’s
effort to gather evidence of
Gutiérrez’s past journalistic
work.
She
tweeted
a
document detailing letters
of support from the NPC,
Radio-Television
Digital
News Association and the
National
Association
of
Hispanic Journalists.
Beckett
claimed
that
despite a strong testimony
from Clemetson in support
Gutiérrez’s asylum request,
her efforts were not taken
into
account.
Clemetson
joined the two for a hearing
in August and on Monday.
“When Lynette joined us
in August, she came in good
faith to introduce herself,
to meet the judge, to tell
him about her program,
and
the
judge
wouldn’t
even acknowledge her in
the courtroom and told
me it was irrelevant. And
to me, that was a sign of
disrespect, at that moment
I told the judge that it was
in the interest of justice
and
Emilio’s
fellowship,
which is not just some
small
accomplishment,
that this case should no
longer be before him, and
that it should be moved to
Michigan,”
Beckett
said.
“He later said, ‘I don’t care
if you turn blue, I’m not
letting go of this case.’”
Clemetson echoed many
of Beckett’s sentiments.
“I was able to testify.
Emilio was able to testify. It
was clear that the judge did
not consider our testimony
at all,” she said. “After
everything that happened,
it was our assumption that
we
were
testifying
not
just to the judge but to the
appeals court, because the
judge had indicated that our
testimonies were not going
to change the way he saw
the case.”
Clemetson
said
while
they are appreciative the
two can return to Ann Arbor
for the time being, the team
still has a long way to go
before Gutiérrez and his son
will have secure status.
“The sad thing is that the
judge has always had the
power to grant asylum to
Emilio and Oscar, and while
this further delay means
that he can come back to
Michigan, a much better
outcome would’ve been that
the judge look at all of the
evidence and grant asylum
for this journalist whose life
is in danger,” she said. “That
was the desired outcome
yesterday, and we certainly
hope that the ruling in
January reflects that he
has gone through all of the
evidence presented, which
at this point addresses every
concern that he expressed
in his first ruling. There
should be ample evidence
to allow him to reach a
different
conclusion
this
time, but if he doesn’t and
if he denies asylum a second
time, I am certain that
Emilio’s lawyers are going
to pursue the appeal.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Thursday, October 25, 2018 — 3A
thing,” Burke said. “This is just
something that I’m feeling, or
to even describe. I’m not going
to make a comment right now,
but I’m going to tell you how my
frame of reference was built.
I’m going to tell you where I’m
coming from as I enter into this
conversation. The intention is
not to change someone’s mind.
There’s no winning.”
Panel member Rachel Rohr, a
Knight-Wallace fellow, spoke of
her experience with trolls while
managing the digital side of a
show on National Public Radio.
She discussed how her show
was unique among others for
having a particularly healthy
comment section. In order to
achieve this, she shared that
she dedicated time every day
to read every comment. If a
commenter violated community
guidelines, she would redact
or delete their comment in
addition to explaining to them
why she did so. She spoke of
how her presence itself altered
behavior,
for
people
knew
she was there monitoring the
conversation.
However, she also noted such
an approach had its limitations
due to subjectivity. She also
spoke of how such a solution
was only necessary because
the
structural
features
of
the comment section could
not
prevent
trolling,
and
how ultimately it is not ideal
because it is not sustainable nor
scalable.
Overall,
much
of
the
discussion
referenced
ideas
raised
by
fourth
panel
member
Megan
Ankerson,
a
communications
studies
associate
professor.
She
outlined many of the main
difficulties
with
changing
online
dialogue
relate
to
questions of labor, or who
moderates the exchanges, and
architecture or how the design
of a platform could prevent
trolling.
Ankerson
concluded
solutions must address both
the
technological
and
the
human. In the last remarks of
the evening, she envisions the
kind of common space online
environments should be.
“I think, as someone that
comes
from
communication
studies, that this is a really
important connection between
community
and
common,
and having a space where
we
don’t
necessarily
have
our
opinions
in
common,
but a space in which we can
debate questions of common
concern, in order to, you know,
communicate,” Ankerson said.
Dawson-Andoh
said
the
point that resonated with her
the most was the discussion of
exactly how online culture can
be reshaped.
“I think the question of labor,
and how you’re to moderate
online spaces if you want to, you
know, deal with (this) problem
with this problem of toxicity,
not
just
trolling,
not
just
individuals, because toxicity is
an entire environment – How
do we stop that?” Dawson-
Andoh said.
Event
organizer
Kristin
Hass, the faculty coordinator of
the Humanities Collaboratory,
explained
the
event
was
designed to encourage audience
engagement, particularly from
undergraduate students.
“People in the humanities
have
a
lot
to
contribute
to try and understand the
world, and that wouldn’t it
be cool to provide a space for
undergraduates to get in on
the conversation, so that we
weren’t just inviting people to
come and give a lecture,” Hass
said. “The intent (of the event)
was to provide an opportunity
for undergraduates to talk to,
to have a real exchange with
faculty and actors in the world
who are trying to address a big
problem that matters to a lot of
us.”
Ankerson
also
mentioned
the Humanities Collaboratory
is planning to host another
High Stakes Culture event next
semester and were looking
for student input on potential
topics.
ASYLUM
From Page 1A
One
of
the
questions
submitted
asked
if
the
University
could
build
new
student housing on land the
University
currently
owns,
making
it
environmentally
friendly and low cost.
Acker
responded
the
University
has
allowed
the
private sector to build in parts
of campus like S. University
Street
and
students
pay
a
substantial amount to live in a
good location.
“I think there’s an element of
planning that needs to go on,”
Acker said. “When I hear the
amount that people are paying
for housing close to campus, it’s
become such a premium that it’s
really ridiculous.”
Rabhi added the University
has land that is underutilized
currently in parts of North
Campus, especially near Baits.
“The
University
has
a
considerable amount of land
up there,” Rabhi said. “Some of
the more underutilized land the
University has is some of the
Northwood developments where
there’s vast swaths of mowed
grass that could be potentially
utilized for University students
that are housed and families.”
Another question mentioned
a U-M Dearborn survey that
collected
data
on
student
housing and food insecurity.
The question posed whether
similar
information
would
become available for Ann Arbor
and whether any action would
be taken.
Brown
said
the
lack
of
information
on
Ann
Arbor
would
make
improving
or
helping
these
marginalized
populations difficult.
“I can’t believe there hasn’t
been a survey,” Brown said.
“How do you understand the
group you’re trying to serve if
you don’t have the data?”
Rabhi added a Washtenaw
County perspective, mentioning
there is data and information
available
on
homeless
populations in the county but
not so much for students.
“The county Human Service
net knows a lot about hunger
in the community,” Rabhi said.
“But there’s a lot of gaps when it
comes to the student population
in particular.”
Rabhi also mentioned money
the county receives for these
populations takes into account
low-income students.
Many questions brought up
also dealt with the changing
socioeconomic demographic of
the University, including how
large parts of the state may view
the University as expensive
and inaccessible. The median
income
at
the
University
measures at $154,000.
Brown
compared
the
differences of students who
attend the University based on
county.
REGENTS
From Page 1A
TROLLS
From Page 1A
social
policies
rather
than
economic policies and restated
Schuette’s ties to the Flint water
crisis and lawsuits he filed to
dismantle the Affordable Care
Act. She promised to work across
the aisle, citing a turbulent
political climate.
“Bill Schuette and I couldn’t be
more different.”
Environmental Issues
Water
policy
issues
such
as the Flint water crisis, the
Detroit Public Schools water
crisis, the Line 5 deal in the
Straits of Mackinac, per- and
polyfluoroalkyl
substance
issues and the Nestlé water
deal saturated the debate on
protecting
Michigan’s
largest
natural resource.
Whitmer promised to create a
department that would oversee
contaminants and use of the
natural resource and denounced
the deal with Nestlé Waters North
America, which would allow the
company to pump 76,000 gallons
of water per day from Michigan
for $200 a year. She said Schuette
is confusing recreational water
policy with the fundamental right
to clean drinking water –– a right
she promised to uphold.
“It is appalling the state of
water and the lack of safety in our
water,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer also vowed to enter
Michigan
into
an
alternate
climate alliance until the Trump
administration enters the nation
back into the Paris climate accord,
and said it’s time for Michigan
to lean into renewable energy
sources.
Schuette said the government
needs to make sure “solid science”
is being used before formulating
policy. Whitmer said Schuette’s
views on the legitimacy climate
change are different when the
“cameras are off,” but Schuette
expressed otherwise.
“Climate change is real and
Earth is getting warmer and we
need to make sure every nation is
part of the solution,” she said.
Education
Schuette said he plans to
“grade” schools on a scale of A
through F to give families more
transparency in school quality,
reward schools with incentive
grants and create a literacy
director to create a “culture of
reading in Michigan.”
“When
I’m
governor,
Michigan’s children will read,” he
said.
Whitmer,
who
Schuette
contended is captive to the
“education
establishment,”
said she wants universal early
childhood education, improving
treatment of educators and to
triple the number of literacy
coaches.
She
said
Michigan
teachers are demoralized.
“It’s
no
wonder
teachers
support me,” Whitmer said. “You
know why? Because I support
teachers.”
In terms of tuition, both
candidates agreed high education
is currently too costly. But while
Whitmer proposed solving this
issue by creating a scholarship
plan that would provide a debt-
free two-year degree, Schuette
promised to focus on building up
trade schools and apprenticeships.
He said workers with trade skills
are needed in Michigan, and their
success can be bolstered by a
stronger economy.
“The best approach for high
school and college is a strong
economy,” Schuette said. “We
need to make sure that high
school graduates are career-ready
and workforce-ready.”
Whitmer also touched on the
lack of workers in skilled trades
and
said
Michigan’s
“talent
gap” contributed to Detroit not
making the short list of locations
for Amazon to build a second
headquarters.
“We have to prioritize meeting
the skills gap by making sure
everyone has a path to a skill,” she
said.
LGBTQ Rights
Recently,
the
Trump
administration
announced
a possible legal definiton of
sex that excludes transgender
Americans,
bolstering
the
debate regarding whether or not
Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil
Rights Act should be expanded to
make LGBTQ people a protected
class.
Schuette said he will make
sure Michigan is a state free from
discrimination, and that the best
way to assist in creating equality
is by making sure Michigan has
a strong economy, reiterating his
economic goals.
Whitmer said she supports
amending
the
Elliott-Larsen
Civil
Rights
Act.
Citing
lawsuits Schuette brought forth
against gay marriage, Whitmer
said Schuette would be the “most
anti-LGBTQ governor Michigan
has ever had.”
“I believe that it is time for
Michigan to get on the right side
of history –– this is 2018,” she
said.
Immigration
Since
the
Trump
administration
took
office,
Michigan has seen a 75 percent
decrease in legal refugee arrivals
–– a national low. Whitmer said
she sees this statistic as a negative
product
of
fear
mongering
from Schuette and Trump. She
expressed heartbreak over the
family separation policy that was
in effect over the summer and
said she is running to combat the
“nasty rhetoric” coming from
Schuette.
“Michigan
was
built
by
immigrants,” she said. “It’s a
strength that we have.”
Schuette emphasized border
security, saying if he were elected,
he would not allow sanctuary
cities.
He
said
Whitmer’s
immigration views are extreme,
and that if she were elected,
Michigan
would
become
a
sanctuary state and that she would
work to abolish Immigration and
Customs Enforcement.
Marching Band alumni raise funds
in support of survivors of assault
Following claims of harassment in SMTD, campaign diverts money from school
After the Michigan Daily
published the story of a School
of Music, Theatre & Dance
student’s experience reporting
a Graduate Student Instructor
for sexual assault, University
of Michigan Marching Band
alumni are diverting money
from donations to SMTD and
MMB towards sexual assault
awareness programs instead.
A
GoFundMe
campaign
started last night at 7 p.m.,
and has already surpassed its
goal of raising $1,972 for the
Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center at U-M. The
donation total is growing as
The Daily writes this update.
At the time of publication, there
are more than 412 shares on
Facebook, 74 donations, and a
total of $2,182 raised.
The
campaign
organizers
decided the fundraising goal
would represent the year that
women were first allowed to
join the Michigan Marching
Band in 1972.
“We have always donated
to the MMB hoping that more
students will have the life
changing experience that we
had as members of the MMB,”
MMB alumni Donald and Heidi
Amadek wrote on the campaign
page.
“Our
experience
was
not sexual assault. For an
organization
dedicated
to
music, a tone deaf response is
unacceptable, and we hope that
by donating to SAPAC that we
can show the victims that we
hear them, believe them and
support them.”
As the GoFundMe trends,
campaign
organizers
wrote
they hope to put pressure on
STMD and MMB to act in the
best interests of students.
“Now, as alumni, we compel
the MMB and SMTD to hold
themselves
to
those
same
high standards and set an
example for all members of
the University of Michigan
community that there is no
place for sexual harassment
and assault on our campus,” the
campaign reads.
CATHERINE NOUHAN
Daily Staff Reporter
DEBATE
From Page 1A
Read more online at
michigandaily.com