Thursday, July 18, 2019 INDEX Vol. CXXVIII, No. 118 © 2019 The Michigan Daily NEWS .................................... OPINION ............................... ARTS...................................... MiC......................................... SPORTS................................ MICHIGAN IN COLOR Language of love MiC editor Aly Charf writes a poem dedicated to her Nana and Tata, who both died in the last two years >> SEE PAGE 9 NEWS Affordability University community examines increased tuition and fees for 2018-19 year >> SEE PAGE 3 OPINION The Democrats Akaash Tumuluri discusses internal divisions within the Democratic Party ahead of the primary election >> SEE PAGE 4 ARTS Nevertheless New feminist film festival founded by University alum proves the future is female >> SEE PAGE 7 SPORTS Baseball Three Wolverines are competing in the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer >> SEE PAGE 12 inside 2 4 6 9 10 $200,000 project set to be completed by fall semester At the center of the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus, where the Diag’s two largest paths cross, lies a bronze block ‘M’ set in granite in the ground. The monument was donated by the University’s class of 1953 as a gift to then University President Harlan Hatcher. During the fall and winter semesters, thousands upon thousands of students, staff and visitors pass the block ‘M’ every day, but few dare to tread on it directly. “Campus legend has it that if you step on the M you will flunk your first blue book exam, hence the many people who diligently avoid trodding on the marker,” the University’s cultural attraction description says. Students revere the ‘M’ as an icon of the University, so when construction began on the artifact in early July, they noticed. LSA sophomore Alexis Irlbeck said the construction is necessary, but joked it was alarming. “For one, I would really hope that none of the construction workers were poor little University of Michigan students working for the summer and having to work that closely to the block ‘M,’” Irlbeck said. “Obviously, it’s a good thing. It’s going to look all nice and brand new, but it is kind of sad that it’s all covered up by construction right now. Hopefully, that is not going to be the case when all the freshmen come in September.” The construction is being done by outside contractor J. S. Vig Construction and is scheduled to be complete by the time classes begin for the Fall 2019 semester, according to University Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald also told the Daily the project’s total cost is $200,000, half of which is being covered by donor funds. The project entails replacing the concrete beneath the M as well as the stone surrounding it. In an email press release, the University said the selected stone was chosen to uphold the historical look of the landmark while enhancing its durability. “The Giallo Veneziano stone material that will be installed matches the existing stone and the current shape and pattern will remain the same,” the release said. “The new stone panels will be considerably thicker and are expected to hold up much better to Michigan’s extensive freeze- thaw cycles.” Irlbeck works as a Campus Day Leader, showing prospective students around campus in the spring as an ambassador for the University. Irlbeck tells her groups about the block ‘M’ legend by gathering them in a circle around the marker like one would share a story by the campfire. “What I just tell everybody is not to step on the block ‘M,’ but if you do, there is one way to reverse the curse,” Irlbeck said. “So, I’ll turn around and point at Hatcher.” Irlbeck then explains to her groups the curse’s only anecdote is if the afflicted runs from the steps of the Hatcher Graduate Library to kiss the pumas on the Biological Sciences Building and run back. The sprint must also happen within the first and last tolls of the Bell Tower at midnight — which is both physically and logistically impossible because the Bell Tower no longer rings after 10 p.m. — and the runner must be naked, which is illegal. Whenever she tells the story, Irlbeck said she feels like she’s “including” students in the University community. Nonpartisian election plan fails by 1 vote City Council votes down Mayor Chris Tylor’s proposal at meeting On Monday, Ann Arbor City Council discussed an override of Mayor Christopher Taylor’s veto of a resolution that would put an initiative on whether or not the city’s elections should be partisan on the November 2019 election ballot. The council ultimately fell one vote short of the eight votes necessary to override the veto. Before the contentious vote, the council welcomed Michael Cox, the new Ann Arbor police chief. Cox said he looks forward to working for and with the community. “Thank you all for showing confidence in me to lead this great city and police department,” Cox said. “I can’t wait to work with both the citizens of Ann Arbor and the police officers here.” During public comments, four people spoke about boycotting Israel. Multiple councilmembers shared their own views on the issue and how the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission should handle it. Councilmember Ali Ramlawi, D-Ward 5, spoke about how the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission should look at human rights issues across the world. Other members of the council, such as Julie Grand, D-Ward 3, and Zachary Ackerman, D-Ward 3, discussed how they feel Jewish identities and spaces are often attacked by protestors in Ann Arbor. City Council then discussed the override of they mayor’s veto on a ballot initiative. Currently, Ann Arbor elections are partisan, and the ballot initiative resolution introduced on July 1 would allow voters to decide if Ann Arbor elections should be nonpartisan. ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Read more at michigandaily.com OLIVIA SCOTT Daily Staff Reporter Read more at michigandaily.com michigandaily.com Students reflect on ongoing block ‘M’ construction in Diag KARTIK SUNDARAM/Daily The Block M undergoes construction that is scheduled to be completed the time classes begin for the Fall 2019 semester. MELANIE TAYLOR Summer News Editor