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.

