See DRIVING, Page 3A
In 2007, a loose-knit group of
skateboarders and skateboard
enthusiasts
in
Ann
Arbor
decided it was time to create
a skatepark in a city that has
many other exceptional public
amenities. In 2014, after a large
community effort, Friends of
the Ann Arbor Skatepark — a
nonprofit
public
skatepark
in Ann Arbor — was created.
Twelve years after this initial
push, the skatepark is a thriving
nonprofit. And now, it’s elected
its first female president, Nina
Juergens, on Jan. 21.
Juergens
joined
the
skatepark
effort
in
2009
to
oversee
branding
and
merchandising. She said she
was
optimistic
about
the
progress of the skatepark, as
the interested skate community
members
had
transferable
knowledge to contribute to the
project.
“I think the timing happened
because we were older and knew
people that could help us along
the way with volunteering,
advice, grant writing and legal
help to form the non-profit
Friends of the Ann Arbor
Skatepark,” Juergens said. “It
truly was a community effort.”
After the grand opening in
2014, she helped to organize
and run a free program to teach
women and girls how to skate.
As the new president, she hopes
these programs will continue to
advance under her leadership.
“Just because it’s built doesn’t
mean
it’s
done
evolving,”
Juergens said. “Upon the park
opening, I co-created a program
along with Crystle Partington,
another board member from
the beginning, called All Girls
Skate, with free instruction to
women and girls during the
summer. We provide all the
equipment needed. I’d like to
see more events, programs and
amenities happen in the future.”
Juergens
also
has
long-
term plans for the skatepark,
including
adding
more
infrastructure and amenities.
“I’ll be meeting with the head
of the Parks Department soon,”
Juergens said. “I would like to
see lights for winter use and
things that make it comfortable
to families to spend the day
there, such as bathrooms, picnic
tables and shelter.”
Also elected at the annual
meeting were Secretary Trevor
Staples and Treasurer Josh
Meisler. Meisler has served as
the
organization’s
president
for the past four years. Meisler
said
in
the
announcement
press release that he has high
hopes for the coming year with
Juergens as president.
Representative
Yousef
Rabhi and Senator Jeff Irwin
reintroduced the polluter-pay
bill to Michigan Legislature
Thursday, Feb. 14.
The new bill would hold
corporations
and
industries
responsible
for
polluting
Michigan air and water. State
Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ypsilanti,
introduced the bill back in
2017 to the Michigan House of
Representatives
and
teamed
up with state Sen. Jeff Irwin,
D-Petoskey, to reintroduce the
bill to both the state House and
Senate this year.
“What
the
polluter-pay
law does is it re-establishes
a law that we used to have
in Michigan that says once a
polluter makes a mess, they
have to clean it up,” Rabhi said.
“That’s the simplest way to put
it.”
Irwin and Rabhi want to
return to former Michigan
laws that held pollutants more
responsible.
Michigan
law
was changed under the Engler
administration.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVIII, No. 79
©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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B
michigandaily.com
For more stories and coverage, visit
CAMPUS LIFE
Survivors in
Speak Out
tell stories
to empower
Regents meeting addresses
renovations, One University
Panhellenic Association’s 4th annual
event helps with pain, healing process
Communtiy expresses concerns regarding food ethics, equality between campuses
Gov.
Gretchen
Whitmer
endorsed
a
bill
expanding
Michigan’s
texting-while-
driving laws on Wednesday.
The bill, HB 4198, which
was introduced by state Rep.
Triston Cole, R-Charlevoix,
proposes to make it illegal to
read emails and send messages
over
social
media
while
driving. Additionally, it seeks
to prevent new drivers ages 16
and 17, with either level 1 or
level 2 licenses, from talking
and listening to a cell phone
when operating motor vehicles.
In a press release, Cole
touted
the
importance
of
creating safer roads by limiting
distractions for drivers.
“It’s time we put our cell
phones away while driving—
and that includes checking
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
and all the rest of it,” Cole
wrote.
“Social
media
can
wait until the driving is done.
Making this important change
to Michigan law will keep
our roads safer for everyone
by
eliminating
potential
distractions for drivers.”
Distracted
driving to
be targeted
in new bill
GOVERNMENT
Proposal endorsed by
Whitmer aims to expand
texting-while-driving laws
MICHAEL ZHANG
Daily Staff Reporter
Friends of the Ann Arbor skatepark
elects its first ever female president
Nina Juergens hopes to increase girls’ interest in skateboarding community
Draft law
introduced
to decrease
pollution
GOVERNMENT
State officials aim to hold
companies responsible
for polluting air, water
ALYSSA MCMURTRY
Daily Staff Reporter
See POLLUTION, Page 3A
See REGENTS, Page 2A
See SPEAKOUT, Page 3A
Follow The Daily
on Instagram,
@michigandaily
Posters championing self-
worth adorned the walls of the
Michigan
League
Ballroom
Thursday night for the fourth
annual
Panhellenic
Speak
Out. The event, hosted by the
Sexual Violence Education and
Empowerment branch of the
Panhellenic Peer Educators,
provided a confidential space
for survivors of sexual violence
to share their stories.
Quiet
moments
of
contemplation
swept
across the room following
the
powerful
stories
of
sexual
assault.
Audience
members
were
invited
to
share
their
experiences
in
an
open,
unmoderated
forum.
Individuals
spoke
for
themselves
and
read
anonymous
submissions,
expressing
their
pain
and
processes of healing through
short
stories,
poems
and
unscripted reflections.
Due to the highly sensitive
and confidential nature of the
event, The Daily was asked
to refrain from recording or
quoting speakers.
MADELINE MCLAUGHLIN
Daily Staff Reporter
CATHERINE NOUHAN
Daily Staff Reporter
CLAIRE MEINGAST/Daily
The Ann Arbor Skatepark is located at the corner of North Maple Road and Dexter Avenue.
See SKATE, Page 3A
30 years of Michigan Basketball: 1989-2019
Special Edition Inside - Maize Rage Poster on Centerfold
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, February 22, 2019
michigandaily.com
The University of Michigan
Board of Regents convened for
their first meeting of the semester
Thursday. Prior to a sharing
of public comments, the board
presented successes in research
as well as several renovation
proposals.
To
begin
the
meeting,
University
President
Mark
Schlissel emphasized the value
of
post-secondary
education.
Before
announcing
his
recommendations for Arthur F.
Thurnau Professorships, awarded
for
outstanding
contributions
to
undergraduate
education,
Schlissel cited Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer’s goal of having 60
percent of Michigan residents
obtain
a
post-high
school
education. Schlissel noted higher
education is crucial for the success
of the state.
“The state of Michigan is made
stronger by 15 public institutions
that vary in scope and mission,”
Schlissel said. “We can see the
benefits
amongst
our
three
University of Michigan campuses.
Additionally, it is a cause for
optimism that Governor Whitmer
has set a goal for post-secondary
educational attainment.
ATTICUS RAASCH &
ALEX HARRING
Daily Staff Reporters
MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily
University President Mark Schlissel speaks on post-secondary education at the regents meeting at the University of Michigan Golf Course Thursday.