Thursday, May 9, 2019
INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 108
© 2019 The Michigan Daily
NEWS ....................................
OPINION ...............................
ARTS/NEWS..........................
MiC.........................................
SPORTS................................
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
My commencement
speech
“I want to reiterate how
resillient our community
and each one of you are.”
>> SEE PAGE 9
NEWS
2020
Democratic presidential
candidates make campaign
stops in Detroit
>> SEE PAGE 3
OPINION
Addressing housing
Anik Joshi examines the
lack of affordable housing
in Ann Arbor
>> SEE PAGE 4
ARTS
Rico Nasty is in
the kitchen
Cooking up craziness
with Kenny Beats on new
mixtape
>> SEE PAGE 7
SPORTS
Big 10 tournament
Softball team kicks of play
as top seed in bracket on
Friday
>> SEE PAGE 11
inside
2
4
6
9
10
Commencement speakers
reflect on time at ‘U’,
future ambitions
Community,
guests celebrate at
Michigan Stadium
on Saturday
Students,
parents,
faculty
and
guests
filled
Michigan
Stadium
Saturday
morning
for the annual University of
Michigan
Commencement
ceremony. The event celebrated
graduating students and featured
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as the
commencement speaker.
LSA Interim Dean Elizabeth
Cole said in her speech that
graduates have abilities which are
not yet known to them but should
not be afraid to utilize them when
the time comes. As an alum herself,
Cole said she understands how
attending the University prepares
students for the world and is
inspired by its history of student
activism.
“My wish for you, the class of
2019, is to recognize your power,”
Cole said. “You have everything
you need to face the challenges of
your time.”
LSA senior Avi Sholkoff, one
of four student speakers, said he
first came to campus unsure if he
would fit in and if Ann Arbor was
right for him. However, he found
communities, and said he leaves the
University knowing it was for him.
Sholkoff focused his speech
around destigmatizing the mental
health problems that can come
with college life. He said these
issues are often not talked about,
but he wanted attendees to know
it is a real issue and to recognize
the importance of mental health
awareness.
“Michigan became the first place
where I realized feelings of anxiety
and loneliness are truly OK,”
Sholkoff said. “To anyone hearing
this: know that you are not alone
and you matter.”
Engineering
senior
Bassal
Salka shared his experience at
the University as a Muslim. He
discussed the people he met as
well as his own involvement at the
University.
“When we reflect on our time at
U-M, we think of skills learned or
goals achieved,” Salka said. “These
successes tell only half the story.
Equally important are the variety of
experiences and resulting emotions
that have built our character,
shaped our ambitions and produced
lifelong friendships.”
Public
Policy
senior
Yvonne
Navarrete said the lessons she has
learned through her parents, her
Detroit community and her time
at the University have helped her
confront fear with courage. Navarrete
founded La Casa, a Latinx student
organization, at the University with
other student leaders.
“I was uncertain and afraid
when I first applied to this
prestigious
University
as
an
undocumented student,” Navarrete
said. “I didn’t know if I would be
accepted, wanted or able to afford
the ‘Michigan Difference.’”
Local school
grapples with
accusations of
sexual assault
Community High
students talk complaints
of mishandled cases,
Title IX investigation
On the morning of April 25, Jenny
Hannibal, parent of a Community High
School student, filed a Title IX complaint
to the Office of Civil Rights, alleging Ann
Arbor Public Schools mishandled at least a
dozen cases of sexual misconduct, including
a rape on campus by an expelled student.
Hannibal later withdrew her statement
due to factual inaccuracies but plans to
re-file a revised version. A previously
scheduled parent meeting at Community
High
School
conducted
by
AAPS
Superintendent Jeanice Swift commenced
just 20 minutes after the withdrawl of the
statement.
In the initial complaint, Hannibal
claimed
Community
High
School
regularly failed to properly file Title IX
documentation
forms.
The
complaint
also accused the school of neglecting to
notify the police in multiple cases of sexual
assault and the victim’s parents in at least
one incident of sexual assault. Hannibal
mentioned Michigan’s mandated reporting
laws, which require mandatory reporters,
such as school administrators and teachers,
to disclose suspected child abuse and
neglect to the police.
In addition, the complaint alleged that
Community High School Dean, Marci
Tuzinsky, discouraged staff members
from reporting alleged assaults and even
threatened to transfer a teacher who
attempted to notify Paul DeAngelis, AAPS
executive director of high school education
and Title IX coordinator.
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Community Affairs
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ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
Governor Gretchen Whitmer deliver the commecement address at Michigan Stadium Saturday morning.
CLAIRE HAO &
SAMANTHA SMALL
Summer News Editors
BARBARA COLLINS &
ALEX HARRING
Summer Managing News Editors
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
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