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

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

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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