Around 8 p.m. on Monday
night, the Michigan Student
Power Network created a petition
called
#UMichColdShoulder
demanding the University of
Michigan cancel classes.
“The University of Michigan
-
Ann
Arbor
must
close
campus during harsh weather
conditions - not just in extreme
circumstances,”
the
petition
reads. “A refusal to do so
is classist and ableist, with
disproportionate
effects
on
workers, low income community
members,
and
community
members who are not able-
bodied.”
The petition calls for students
to email and call University
President Mark Schlissel as well
as sign the petition. As of 10
p.m Monday night — about two
hours after its creation — the
petition had 2,236 signatures.
Students say they’re cold and
upset
The
petition
came
after
students trudged through deep
snow in an effort to make it to
class on Monday. U-M students
felt the effects of Winter Storm
Jayden, facing a day of constant
snow that accumulated quickly
on University sidewalks and
streets. The weather conditions
caused many students to question
the
University’s
decision
to
remain fully operational.
According to the National
Weather
Service,
a
winter
weather advisory was put into
effect for the Ann Arbor area at
4:30 p.m. Monday. The advisory
predicted two to four inches of
snow to accumulate throughout
the day.
LSA junior Rylei McAllister
took to Facebook to express her
opinions on the University not
canceling classes on Monday.
“I
understand
why
the
University doesn’t cancel classes
for weather,” McAllister wrote.
“But think of the kids who are
already at a disadvantage because
they are struggling to afford to
go here and are expected to walk
long distances.”
Over
the
weekend,
the
University sent out multiple
warnings regarding the severe
cold,
detailing
remaining
outside in subzero temperatures
could result in frostbite in less
than 10 minutes.
“The university released a
statement telling these same
students they will get frostbite if
they are outside for longer than
ten minutes,” McAllister wrote.
“But (the administration) knows
misses (sic) classes can mean a
lower grade for attendance and
participation, which financial
aid rides on.
michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Amid
growing
concerns
over the lack of transgender
voices in conversations about
coverage plans, University of
Michigan graduate employees
met with human resources
representatives
and
the
MHealthy Advisory Committee
Friday to urge the University
to
cover
gender-affirming
surgeries.
Members of the Graduate
Employee
Organization’s
Trans Health Caucus discussed
potential
improvement
to
GradCare, a healthcare plan for
University graduate students
that covers most transgender
surgeries yet deems certain
ones, such as facial feminization
surgery, as cosmetic and not
medically necessary.
The conference was closed to
the public, yet more than 50 GEO
members and allies lined the
hallways of Wolverine Tower
holding signs of support that
read “Are you ready to listen?”
and “Our lives are not cosmetic.”
University spokesman Rick
Fitzgerald said the goal of the
conference was for members
of HR to better understand the
perspectives and experiences
of the Trans Health Caucus’
members.
On
Monday,
the
Ford
School of Public Policy hosted
an event featuring Manny
Teodoro,
director
of
the
Policy and Politics Program
and associate professor at
Texas A&M University, who
has
conducted
significant
research on the nation’s water
systems.
The
event,
titled
“Water System Finance: the
Political Pitfalls of Public-
Private Partnerships,” covered
the effects of public-private
partnerships on water systems.
Teodoro started his talk by
introducing a unique caveat
in the water market — the
disparity in the visibility of the
price of water and its quality
in the market.
“With
water,
the
cost
is much more visible than
quality,” Teodoro said. “Most
of the contaminants in water
are invisible to us. However,
the price of water is very easily
GOT A NEWS TIP?
Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVIII, No. 63
©2019 The Michigan Daily
N E WS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
O PI N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
CL A SSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
S U D O K U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
michigandaily.com
For more stories and coverage, visit
Bursley bus
crashes into
tree during
snow storm
M-bus slides off icy Fuller Road,no
reported injuries after reported incident
BARBARA COLLINS
Daily Staff Reporter
On Friday, President Donald
Trump passed a continuing
resolution
proposed
by
Congress
announcing
the
federal
government
would
reopen for three weeks while
negotiations over immigration
policy continue.
Since the initial shutdown
on Dec. 22, the absence of
government
funding
has
impacted
several
programs
and
departments
at
the
University
of
Michigan,
specifically publicly funded
research projects and other
areas dependent on federal
government support.
Another affected group at
the University has been the
Public
Service
Internship
Program, or PSIP. Each year,
the program accepts more
than 100 students interested in
government work, preparing
them for summer internships
in Washington, D.C.
Federal
shutdown
hurts PSIP
members
GOVERNMENT
University internship
program in Washington,
D.C. faces challenges
BEN ROSENFIELD
Daily Staff Reporter
GEO Conference discusses improving
transgender healthcare program
Trans Health Caucus proposes updates to GradCare, increases benefits
LIAT WEINSTEIN
Daily Staff Reporter
Director
talks water
visibility
and safety
CAMPUS LIFE
Texas A&M professor
debates public-private
infrastructure partnership
MICHAEL ZHANG
Daily Staff Reporter
See SNOW, Page 3
Follow The Daily
on Instagram,
@michigandaily
See PROTEST, Page 3A
On Monday at approximately
2:30 p.m., a Bursley-Baits bus
accident
occurred
at
1100
Block Fuller Road, according to
Melissa Overton, deputy chief
of police & public information
officer for the University of
Michigan Police Department.
About
20
passengers
were
aboard the bus and there were
no reported injuries.
“(The bus) slid off the road
crashed into a small tree,”
Overton wrote in an email
response to The Daily.
Public
Health
senior
Olajumoke Jegede was on the
bus when the accident occurred.
Jegede told The Daily in a
statement she fell out of her seat
and was afraid the bus would tip
over.
“Our bus hit a tree. It was
scary because we were afraid
the bus would tip over for a
moment,” Jegede wrote. “I had
fallen out of my seat whn the bus
spun out and when I got back
up, we were facing traffic on
the side of the road, thankfully,
and the windshield was cracked.
Thankfully no one was hurt, but
someone definitely could have
been. I think there needs to be
more consideration for students
and other commuters in terms
of travelling to class in weather
like this.”
LSA sophomore Juliana Rose
was on a different Bursley-Baits
bus, which passed the scene of
the accident earlier today. Rose
said she saw police cars and tow
trucks near the bus, and traffic
was moving slowly in the area
surrounding the crash.
“We just saw it on the side
of the road,” Rose said. “There
were tow trucks, police cars,
all the traffic is moving slow
… I was like, ‘Oh wow, I hope
that doesn’t happen to me. I
don’t want to be stuck out in the
snow.’ (Our bus) was sliding a
little bit when we were turning
corners.”
LSA sophomore Grace Miller
was on a Commuter North bus,
which was stopped just before
the crash. Miller watched tow
trucks pull the bus back onto
the street and said there were
students, faculty and hospital
workers on her bus, which
stopped for approximately 10
minutes.
“We’re really quiet but this
one lady asked to get off because
we’re literally not moving,”
Miller said. “We’re just stopped.
People are trying to get home
from work before it gets worse.
SAYALI AMIN
Daily News Editor
ALEX HARRING
Daily Staff Reporter
MAX KUANG/Daily
Students, faculty and staff struggled to navigate campus Monday due to hazardous weather conditions.
See PSIP, Page 3
MAX KUANG/Daily
Protestors support the GEO Trans Health Committee Negotiators at Wolverine Tower Friday.
‘U’ remains open during hazardous
weather, students voice concern
Community members question Adminstration’s decision to not cancel classes during snowstorm
Read more at
MichiganDaily.com
See ACTIVISTS , Page 3