Thursday, August 15, 2019

INDEX

Vol. CXXVIII, No. 122
 © 2019 The Michigan Daily 

NEWS ....................................
OPINION ............................... 
ARTS......................................
MiC.........................................
SPORTS................................

MICHIGAN IN COLOR
‘Mother of the sea’ 

Ana Maria Sanchez-Castillo 

shares a poem on her multi-

cultural identities connecting 

with the religion of Santeria

 
 >> SEE PAGE 9

NEWS
Admissions

Kedra Ishop and Erica Sand-

ers discuss the application 

process and incoming class 

 
 >> SEE PAGE 2

OPINION
Welcome back

Olivia Turano gives her 

insights to “welcome 

week” 

 
 >> SEE PAGE 4

ARTS
Jia Tolentino

Acclaimed New Yorker 

writer to speak on her 

literary debut “Trick Mirror” 

at Literati Book Store
 >> SEE PAGE 6

SPORTS
Soccer

FC Barcelona cruises past 

SSC Napoli 4-0 in weekend 

game held at the Big House

 
 >> SEE PAGE 12

inside

2
4
6
9
10

Alumni call for 
separation from 
Stephen M. Ross

Stephen M. Ross, the New 
York-based real estate mogul 
who is the largest donor in 
University of Michigan history 
and namesake of the School of 
Business, has faced backlash from 
University alumni and on social 
media following his decision to 
host a reelection fundraiser for 
President Donald Trump in his 
Southampton home.
Following reports of Ross’s 
scheduled fundraiser — with 
tickets ranging from $100,000 
to $250,000 — he was trending 
on Twitter, with many calling 
for the boycott of SoulCycle 
and Equinox, two luxury gym 
companies owned by Ross.
Ross, whose net worth is 
estimated at about $7.7 billion, 
also owns football team the 
Miami Dolphins. In a statement to 
the Miami Herald, Ross defended 
his fundraiser, explaining he 
and Trump agree on some issues 
but “strongly disagree on many 

others.”
“I started my business with 
nothing and a reason for my 
engagement with our leaders is 
my deep concern for creating 
jobs and growing our company’s 
economy,” Ross wrote. “I have 
been, 
and 
will 
continue 
to 
be, 
an 
outspoken 
champion 
of 
racial 
equality, 
inclusion, 
diversity, public education and 
environmental sustainability.”
SoulCycle and Equinox also 
released statements affirming 
their commitment to diversity 
and tolerance. Both companies 
emphasized they do not endorse 
the event and said Ross is a 
passive investor uninvolved in 
management. 
However, 
some 
on 
social 
media 
continued 
to 
cancel 
membership 
to 
the 
two 
businesses and still condemned 
Ross’ support of Trump, citing 
the president’s rhetoric as racist, 
misogynistic and homophobic. 
Among Ross’ critics are former 
Hillary Clinton advisor Phillippe 
Reines, model Chrissy Teigen, 
actor Sophia Bush and actor Billy 
Eichner. 
In particular, Miami Dolphins 
receiver Kenny Stills suggested 
Ross’ support for Trump is 
contradictory to the mission 
statement 
of 
RISE, 
a 
non-
profit 
Ross 
founded 
aiming 
to “educate and empower the 

sports community to eliminate 
racial discrimination, champion 
social justice and improve race 
relations.”
University 
community 
members have also shared their 
concerns about the fundraiser 
to the Ross School of Business, 
prompting Dean Scott DeRue to 
send an email to students, faculty 
and staff in response. DeRue 
said the school does not endorse 
or support this fundraiser or 
any others for any political 
candidates.
The email emphasized the 
school’s 
values 
of 
diversity 
and inclusion as well as civic 
responsibility. 
In 
upholding 
these values, DeRue wrote the 
importance of listening to and 
working with people holding 
different opinions is key to the 
democratic process. 
“I want to close by saying that 
we, as an educational institution 
built 
on 
these 
core 
values, 
reject all attempts to divide 
our community,” DeRue wrote. 
“We are strong because of our 
diversity, and hate has no place in 
our society. At Michigan Ross, we 
rise above hateful rhetoric and 
live the values we aspire to. It is 
the Michigan way, and it is the 
way we will create a better world, 
together.”

City sees rise 
in absentee 
ballots cast

Clerk anticipates 
more absentee ballots in 
future due to passing of 
Proposal 3

Ann Arbor experienced a 22 percent 
increase in absentee voting during 
the Aug. 6 election, data from the city 
shows. Deputy City Clerk Steve Gerhart 
said his office did not experience a 
major influx of activity, despite the the 
increase in voting through alternative 
routes.
In November 2018, Michigan passed 
Proposal 3, which allows all eligible 
voters to cast an absentee ballot 
without explicit justification. Nearly a 
year since its passage, Ann Arbor has 
already begun to see its effects.
Prior to the proposal’s passage, 
absentee voting was limited to those 
over 60, those unable to get to the 
polls because they were out of town or 
prohibited by religious circumstance, 
those awaiting arraignment or trial, 
those who could not vote without 
assistance and those who were working 
to coordinate the election outside their 
precinct. The Aug. 6 election was the 
first sense the passing of Proposal 3.
Gerhart attributed the increased 
absentee voting to registration done 
online or over the course of months 
leading up to the actual election. All 
Ann Arbor registered voters are able to 
request an absentee ballot from the city 
clerk’s office beginning 75 days prior to 
any election and extending until the 
Monday prior. Voters need not fill out 
a formal request. Ann Arbor absentee 
ballots can be requested in person, over 
the phone or by email.
When 
retrieving 
absentee 
ballots from the city clerk’s office, 
recipients are subject to the same 
voter identification laws as all other 
Michiganders. Applicants presenting 
requests within 14 days of the election 
will be required to show proof of 
residency.

ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Read more at michigandaily.com

MELANIE TAYLOR
Summer News Editor

Read more at michigandaily.com

michigandaily.com

‘U’ community weighs in on 
Ross fundraiser for Trump

FILE PHOTO
Stephen M. Ross speaks at an event.

CLAIRE HAO & 
SAMANTHA SMALL
Summer News Editors

