Residents
living
adjacent
to the proposed Lockwood
Apartments issued complaints
of the development worsening
the dioxane plume as reason to
stop the building of the senior
complex. They also cited the
alleged lack of care from the
developer
to
environmental
concerns
as
especially
troubling.
Public Policy senior Lauren
Schandevel
said
although
environmental
concerns
are
most
definitely
valid
in these discussions, in the
history of affordable housing
conversations,
excuses
like
these are often used to shut
down these developments.
“I can understand if (the
dioxane plume) is a genuine
concern that they may have,”
Schandevel
said.
“My
only
fear is that I’ve witnessed
other
conversations
about
affordable
units
and
there
are a lot of excuses made by
community members that may
be disingenuous because they
don’t want ‘those people’ near
their community, so I think
that’s something that we have
to keep in mind.”
Following the discussion of
affordable housing, the council
moved onto a vote to confirm the
nominations to the Independent
Community Police Oversight
Commission. The commission
has been an ongoing concern
in City Council meetings since
January 2018, when the Human
Rights Commission called for
increased accountability and
transparency from the Ann
Arbor Police Department in
response to incidents linked to
police brutality, most notably
the shooting of Aura Rosser
by an Ann Arbor police officer
and the rough arrest of Ciaeem
Slaton by Ann Arbor police
officers at the Blake Transit
Center.
Since the initial call for
increased
oversight,
City
Council created a task force
in March 2018 to develop a
police oversight commission.
Throughout the development
of
the
commission,
councilmembers and citizens
alike have argued over the
appointment
of
commission
members and the agency of the
commission.
After months of contentious
discussion, on March 11, City
Council announced the names
of those nominated to the
Independent Community Police
Oversight Commission. They
voted Monday to confirm the
appointees of the commission.
The confirmation was passed
even with community concerns
and audience interruptions.
Sargeant
Donovan-
Smith, a doctoral student in
anthropology and history at
the University of Michigan,
continually
raised
concerns
during City Council about the
transparency of the selection
process. Many of Donovan-
Smith’s
comments
were
directed
at
Councilmember
Jane Lumm, I-Ward 2.
“Why
did
you
nominate
someone
who
works
for
McKinley
Properties?”
Donovan
asked.
“Someone
who
has
systematically
discriminated against formerly
incarcerated people in Ann
Arbor? Tell us how these people
are qualified.”
Mayor Christopher Taylor
said
he
is
proud
of
the
commission that was chosen.
The members were nominated
by by Councilmembers Julie
Grand, D-Ward 3; Ali Ramlawi,
D-Ward 5; Elizabeth Nelson,
D-Ward 4; and Lumm.
“We strove to work with staff
to find something that was both
practical for their purposes and
for councilmembers,” Taylor
said. “No system is perfect.
From my part, I’m comfortable
with the core picks and the try-
it-out basis. In six months, if
it’s a disaster, then we’ll either
know it or they’ll tell us.”
Argha is from New York City and is
not running under a party name. After
several light-hearted anecdotes in his
opening statement, he highlighted
how his platform includes improving
campus sustainability by banning
plastic water bottles and increasing
the awareness of CSG across campus.
He also focused on providing free
feminine
hygiene
products
to
University students.
“The last time you went to a
public restroom, how much did you
pay for the toilet paper? Nothing,
right?” Argha asked. “So why is it any
different for period products? Period
products are not a luxury but a basic
human right. This should be free here
at the University of Michigan and
everywhere else.”
The event then proceeded with
questions from Farkas, Kall and
audience members. One of the first
issues brought up by the moderators
was regarding Saturday’s reports of
an active shooter on campus, which
were later proven to be unfounded.
Gerstein was randomly chosen
to respond first via a coin toss. He
began by describing the importance
of
acknowledging
the
reality
of the active shooter threat. He
emphasized the need of more student
involvement in the Division of Public
Safety and Security. Gerstein did not
acknowledge the current 10-person
DPSS Student Advisory Board.
“An integral part of Isabelle and
my campaign … is to make sure there’s
an active student voice connected
to DPSS and advising them on ways
to handle emergency situations on
campus,” Gerstein said. “Obviously,
one of the issues that was somewhat
unclear throughout the entire process
was the lines of communication and
the misinformation that were being
spread through the event.”
Argha responded to the question
by stating the University community
needs to take steps to ensure
responders get to an emergency
situation as quickly as possible. He
then connected this issue to a bigger
dilemma on campus regarding the
lack of diversity.
“Diversity is a big issue in the
University of Michigan, and at
the same time, while we are the
leaders and the best, we are not the
leaders and the best when it comes
to diversity,” Argha said. “That is an
issue we should all work to resolve,
and that comes with working with
CSG and the administration …”
In light of the Climate Strike at the
University on March 15, candidates
also discussed their platform on
sustainability and climate change on
campus. Argha hopes to implement
an initiative titled “Ban the Bottle” in
which he would like to ban all plastic
water bottles on campus.
“One of my main efforts is also
to ‘Ban the Bottle’,” Argha said.
“Banning plastic bottles on campus,
while it may seem like a small step,
increases student awareness and
brings all students together to
increase sustainability efforts in our
community, and at the same time, it is
part of a much bigger plan and a much
bigger structure.”
Gerstein hopes to address issues
of climate change and sustainability
long term by integrating a five-
year sustainability plan. According
to Engage Michigan, short-term,
tangible solutions the party hopes
to implement include providing a
low-waste grocery shopping guide
and encouraging students to not buy
plastic bottles.
“We can work to incentivize
students to not buy plastic bottles
and working towards eventually
becoming a plastic-free campus,”
Gerstein said. “But ultimately, I think
the crux of our sustainability platform
is working with the student body and
the students most invested in this
issue to find a comprehensive solution
we can present to the administration
that puts our university on the track
for positive sustainability in five
years.”
Additionally, candidates discussed
how, if elected, they would handle
Title IX issues on campus. At last
week’s
CSG
Student
Assembly
meeting, students voiced concerns
regarding the Sixth Circuit Court of
Appeals ruling the University must
provide the chance for the accused
party to cross-examine the accuser.
Furthermore, current CSG President
Daniel Greene, along with Shamina
Merchant, Ohio State University’s
student body president, recently sent
a letter to U.S. Education Secretary
Betsy
DeVos
voicing
concerns
regarding
the
Department
of
Education’s recently proposed Title
IX regulations.
Gerstein answered by stating
Engage
Michigan
believes
and
stands by survivors. He said he
hopes to consult organizations such
as the Sexual Assault Prevention
and Awareness Center and Office
of Student Conflict Resolution to
create an environment supportive of
survivors.
“We need to make sure we’re
consulting
relative
campus
organizations like SAPAC and OSCR
and partnering with them on the
support of this issue,” Gerstein said.
“Overall, the great thing about how
we should approach issues of sexual
misconduct and, specifically, this
cross-examination policy, is trying
to create an environment most
conducive to supporting survivors
and allowing them to feel comfortable
and safe at this University.”
Argha discussed placing resources
like SAPAC and the Spectrum Center
on the Michigan app as well as
incorporating these resources into
freshman orientation. He also hopes
to change the mentality of sexual
harassment on campus by working
with other student organizations
and does not believe the University
should turn into a courtroom when
dealing with Title IX issues.
“Many students at the University
of Michigan have the Michigan app,
but SAPAC’s hotline is not on there,”
Argha
said.
“CAPS
after-hours
hotline is not on there. Let’s get them
on there so when we need the help,
we can get the help. I would also like
to work with other organizations on
campus to change our mentality of
sexual harassment on campus.”
Later in the debate, Gerstein
and Argha answered questions
about racial equity and inclusion on
campus. In a University of South
California report on racial equity at
public universities, the University
received an F in racial equity.
Candidates discussed the importance
of diversity, equity and inclusion on
campus as a whole.
Argha discusses how his identity,
as someone who grew up in
Bangladesh, has impacted his time
at Michigan and encouraged the
creation of an annual multi-cultural
event.
“It is not enough for the University
and our community to want more
diversity,” Argha said. “We need to
celebrate diversity in our community,
and CSG must play an active role. … I
would like to push for more cultural
events, at least one every year where
different organizations can come
together and put on performances
and share ideas and educate our
whole community.”
Gerstein
understands
the
importance of diversity, equity and
inclusion. According to Gerstein, the
students of color resolution mandates
CSG representatives attend student
of color organization meetings once
per month.
“From those smaller initiatives,
we allow the greater Michigan
community
to
understand
the
perspectives
and
experiences
of students of color and other
marginalized
students
at
the
University, and can work through
that understanding, to understand
the importance of diversity, equity,
and inclusion on our campus as a
whole,” Gerstein said.
After a five-minute break, debate
resumed with a town hall with
Blanchard, the only vice-presidential
candidate running this year.
One
of
the
questions
the
moderators
asked
Blanchard
pertained to the lack of diversity
within CSG itself. The December 2018
CSG demographic report revealed
nearly 60 percent of representatives
identified
as
white.
Blanchard
responded by acknowledging the
statistic and expanding upon how to
diversify.
“I think there’s definitely an
issue with demographics of CSG,”
Blanchard said. “I think especially for
low socioeconomic-status students,
this is definitely an issue prevalent for
them. I think there is a lot of work that
needs to be done, and I think the first
step to that is really talking to these
students who feel that they are facing
these issues to gain more insight.”
Moderators further questioned
Blanchard about affordability on
campus. Blanchard explained the
importance of affordability in regards
to tuition but explains that there are
other areas of affordability that should
be addressed as well. Specifically, she
touched upon academic affordability
by increasing resources in the library
and subsidizing homework access
codes and food affordability.
“I
think
there’s
also
food
affordability
issues
that
were
mentioned before, and I think
increasing public microwaves on
campus is an indirect solution to the
problem where it helps encourage
and allow students to bring their own
food from home, rather than having
to buy food from campus,” Blanchard
said.
To end of both the presidential and
vice-presidential debates, Kall asked
each candidate to express something
complimentary about their opponent
and talk about how they look forward
to working with their opponent in the
future if they do not win the election.
Argha was selected to respond
first, stating a common goal of
bettering the University.
“I’ve spoken to Ben, I met with
Isabelle, and I love that you guys are
running such a great campaign. You
have a beautiful website and I love
the platform that you’re running on to
get Michigan involved, and that is one
of the main steps towards making
Michigan beautiful just the way it is.”
Gerstein complemented Argha on
his candidacy and hopes to improve
the Michigan experience together.
“Shub, I want to compliment you
on running as a first-year student and
caring so much about the needs of
this university and the needs of the
students.” Gerstein said. “Regardless
of whether I win or not, I look
forward to continuing to advocate for
our platform and continuing to make
the Michigan experience better for
every student, regardless of their
identity.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 — 3
CSG
From Page 1
Schandevel said while these
extreme
measures
indicate
how wealthy students are given
numerous
advantages
during
the college admissions process,
the fact some public schools are
given more extensive funding
than others is one of the biggest
ways students are benefited
when applying to college.
In January 2018, Schandevel
started Being Not-Rich at UM:
A Guide, a 115-page document
offering advice to lower-income
students about how to adapt to
life at the University, to help
bridge some of the gaps between
students
who
come
from
wealthier school districts and
those who do not.
“It’s really clear that higher
education sort of reinforces
this economic and subsequently
racial hierarchy,” Schandevel
said. “Even if you don’t send your
kid to a private school, you still
have a public school system that’s
predicated on the notion that
local taxes will supplement state
and federal funding. When you
have that policy, it advantages
wealthy
districts
over
poor
districts and sets those poor
districts up to fail automatically.
So even if you’re in the public
school system, the American
education system is still favoring
wealthy people.”
In response to the scandal,
University
Public
Affairs
released a statement condemning
the indicted parents’ actions
and reaffirming the University’s
commitment to a fair admissions
process.
“At the University of Michigan,
we use a comprehensive, holistic
approach
to
review
every
candidate
for
admission
to
identify a talented, diverse class
of students who will flourish
on our campus,” the statement
reads.
“We
engage
multiple
readers and reviews in evaluating
the full set of credentials offered
for consideration.”
Students related the recent
scandal with wealth disparities
present at the University, even
though
the
University
was
not involved with the scheme.
Griffin St. Onge, LSA senior and
co-chair of Affordable Michigan,
a
student
organization
representing
low-income
students, said she wished the
University would focus more on
the needs of students who are
first-generation or come from
schools with fewer resources.
“I think if Michigan as a public
university that is always striving
for that ‘uncommon education
for the common man’ thing, I
think if they feel an obligation to
fulfill that goal, then there needs
to be a lot more effort,” St. Onge
said.
Even
so,
St.
Onge
said
programs
like
the
HAIL
scholarship, which began in
2016 and offers full tuition
scholarships to accomplished
students
from
low-income
backgrounds, have made some
progress in bridging the wealth
disparity gap although there is
still work to be done.
“They’ve
done
a
lot
of
previous things with the HAIL
scholarship and they’ve been
trying to go out to different
communities, but I think there
needs to be a bigger conversation
of where are we getting our
students from, how are we
supporting our students who are
low-income or first-generation
who do come here and end up
in a very different environment
where
they
need
additional
support,” St. Onge said.
A report by the Equality of
Opportunity Project — cited in
The New York Times’ The Upshot
in 2017 — found the median
family income of a student at
the University is $154,000, the
highest of 27 public colleges
classified as “highly selective”.
A
report
from
the
Detroit
Free Press also found that the
graduation rate for Pell Grant
recipients at the University is
86.9 percent, as opposed to a 92.5
percent graduation rate for non-
Pell Grant recipients.
University spokesman Rick
Fitzgerald wrote in an email
interview with The Daily that
the University’s overall high
graduation rates still make a
University
degree
a
worthy
investment.
“A
family’s
investment
in a University of Michigan
education
is
a
good
one,”
Fitzgerald wrote. “A consistent
97 percent of students return
for their sophomore year, and
92 percent graduate from our
Ann
Arbor
campus
within
six years — among the best
retention and graduation rates
in the nation. These are positive
proof points that we share often
with prospective students and
families.”
Joseph
Aranoff,
LSA
sophomore, said the scandal
revealed some of the illegal
ways wealthy parents give their
children
advantages
in
the
college process, but also said
he doesn’t think these illegal
methods do not reflect the
majority of wealthy students at a
university.
“I think everybody that’s
here at this university deserves
to be here, and if we’re judging
people of means and of wealth
and making the assumption
that they don’t deserve to be
here because somehow their
wealth is equivalent to a bribe,
it’s a dangerous precedent,”
Aronoff said. “Just because you
have the means to attend a good
university doesn’t negate the
work you had to do to get there.”
Students
also
noted
how
the
consideration
of
legacy
status in admissions decisions
favors students from wealthier
backgrounds.
A
student
is
considered a legacy applicant
if a member of their family
is an alum of the University.
Fitzgerald wrote in an email
interview with The Daily that
while the University does take
legacy status into account, that
factor alone does not determine
the admission of an applicant.
“The university also considers
alumni ties, but it is not a
primary factor in admissions
decisions,”
Fitzgerald
wrote.
“Alumni ties can be a useful
indicator of a student’s interest
in the university.”
COLLEGE
From Page 1
From there, he served as
ambassador to Jordan from 1998
to 2001; assistant secretary of state
for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001
to 2005; ambassador to Russia
from 2005 to 2008; secretary for
political affairs from 2008 to 2011;
and deputy secretary of state to
under the Obama administration
from 2011 to 2014.
Burns is currently the president
of the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace, a foreign
policy think tank focused on
promoting peaceful policy among
government
leaders,
business
leaders and civil society.
Public Policy Dean Michael
Barr facilitated the conversation
as a promotional event for Burns’
new book, “The Back Channel: A
Memoir of American Diplomacy
and the Case for Its Renewal.”
Barr asked Burns to define
what diplomacy means to him and
Burns started with a preliminary
definition.
“Diplomacy is what we do to
promote our interests and values
abroad, to try and persuade other
government to act in ways that are
consistent with ours,” Burns said.
Burns attempted to clear up
common
misunderstandings
about how diplomats work.
“(There’s) the notion that
diplomacy is just about talking
nicely to people, or indulging
foreign leadership — something
that I think the president himself
sometimes is guilty of — but the
truth is, diplomacy is hard work,
and it’s about that persistence,”
Burns said.
Much of the discussion centered
around Burns’ reflections on prior
administrations and how they
handled international relations.
He described his work under
the Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton,
Bush, and Obama administrations
within the Middle East, and
emphasized that diplomacy can be
a dangerous career. According to
Burns, more American diplomats
have died in the past several
decades than military generals.
Burns shared what he observed
to be important for a leader to
succeed in international relations.
“You’re never going to get
very far in effective diplomacy
or effective foreign policy if you
don’t have a vision, if you don’t
a strategy, if you don’t (have) a
theory of what’s animating the
international landscape, of what
your own strengths are, and
connecting ends to means,” Burns
said. “You need to have that vision,
and the best presidents and the
best secretaries of state that I’ve
seen and worked for have that.”
When discussing the tough
decisions a diplomat has to make,
Burns expressed regret in his role
under then-Secretary of State
Colin Powell regarding the choice
to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
“Given
all
the
sectarian
differences and grievances and
anger that that rigid and autocratic
regime was sitting on, once
you take that lid off, you could
imagine some of the sectored and
political consequences that would
happen,” Burns said. “My greatest
professional regret, as I say in the
book, is not acting more effectively
to underscore those concerns.”
Burns criticized how President
Donald Trump’s State Department
handles international relations,
noting how following a process
can seem inefficient at times,
but the absence of process is also
troublesome.
“My concern in the current era
and this administration is that
I don’t really see any process,”
Burns said. “Policy gets driven
from tweet to tweet. I say that
because we’ve been fortunate that
as we’re almost two and a half
years into this administration,
and there hasn’t been a prolonged
international crisis yet. Those are
the moments when you need a
process that’s disciplined.”
Barr asked Burns about his
views on a variety of prevalent
international
issues,
including
the country’s relationship with
Russia, the Iran nuclear deal, the
Syrian civil war and Saudi Arabia’s
conflict with Yemen. Burns shared
an anecdote from meeting Russian
President Vladimir Putin on his
first day as ambassador to the
country.
“In your first meeting (as an
ambassador), you present your
credentials,” Burns said. “Before
I can hand him my letter (of
credentials),
President
Putin
saunters forward and says, ‘You
Americans need to listen more.
You can’t have everything your
own way anymore. We can have
effective relations, but not just on
your terms.’”
POLICY
From Page 1
CITY
From Page 1
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