They embody the Michigan difference.” Dickinson said the team designed Electrum about one year ago and began construction in May. The team made aerodynamic changes in the nose and canopy areas of the car and added new solar cells and battery design. He said the cost of the entire project was about $1.2 million. “(With) any new technology, there’s always a risk, but I’d say these were not the type of drastic changes that we made when we switched the body style up in 2017,” Dickinson said. “This year, the game was not necessarily to make it a drastic change and shake the waters, it was more ‘how can we take this proven design and incrementally improve it and try to get it closer to number one?’” Dasgupta emphasized the team’s innovations, and said they also focused on team dynamics this year. “We have focused on our team dynamics in order to maximize efficiency during the race and control stops as well as being prepared for any challenges that we face along the way,” Dasgupta said. The team received funding from a number of sponsors, including the University, to build the car. Millunchick said the cars are state of the art and use expensive technologies, so it’s important that the University financially assists the team. She added the University will continue to sponsor the team because of the team’s successes. University alum Charles Hutchins has been a donor since 1989. Dickinson called Hutchins the team’s number one fan. Hutchins said he has traveled to the race with the team almost every year. “We came into town and were there when they crossed the finish line, so it’s a wonderful feeling,” Hutchins said. “The number of things they overcame to be third is mind boggling.” on the topic of menstruation, the event featured speeches by student activists, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., state Rep. Tenisha Yancey, D-Harper Woods, and 2018 Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Dingell told the audience she used to hear menstruation referred to as “the curse” when she was in high school. As someone who had endometriosis, Dingell said she felt like she couldn’t talk about it because men would minimize her pain. “I cannot tell you what it means to me, as a woman … to be with women talking about a subject that’s been way too taboo for too long, and to be here on the first day we’re gathering for it. I want to thank all of the women that are here ending the stigma that should’ve ended years ago,” Dingell said. Tenisha Yancey spoke about two bills, House Bill 4165 and 4166, she introduced alongside state Rep. Brian Elder, D-Bay City, to eliminate the tampon tax in Michigan. She urged the audience to contact their representative in support of the bills. “If you happen to be low- income or homeless, you might often find yourself having to make a decision each month that’s unthinkable for many of us: Do I eat, or do I pay for tampons and pads?” Yancey said. “‘Do I feed my children, or make sure I have the sanitary products that I need?’ every 28 days. No one should have to be faced with those choices ever.” A 2019 survey of low-income individuals in the U.S. who menstruate found almost half of those in the study had to choose between buying food or menstrual hygiene products. In lieu of products such as tampons and pads, individuals used alternatives such as toilet paper, paper towels, rags, socks and diapers instead. Acknowledging his privilege as someone who has never menstruated before, El-Sayed drew on his experience as a doctor to discuss the health implications of period poverty. When individuals have to ration menstruation products, El-Sayed explained they are more at risk for disease and toxic shock syndrome. He also said the stress of inaccessibility can weigh heavily on an individual’s mental health. “When we advocate for access to basic goods that people need to live their lives, we are talking about a matter of human rights,” El-Sayed said. Wayne State University student Emily Tujaka, the co-president of her campus’s PERIOD chapter and lead organizer of the rally, said she believes abolishing the tampon tax would be a good step toward alleviating period poverty. “There’s a lot of stuff — Viagra, corrective shoes, canes — that are exempted from the sales tax, because they’re considered necessary,” Tujaka said. “Period products are not one of those, which we think is ridiculous, so we want that tax gone.” One table with free donuts also had a sign providing attendees with food for thought: why are donuts exempt from sales tax but my tampons aren’t? Public Health junior Sarah Jang, a member of the University’s chapter of PERIOD, said she created the sign to draw attention to the “ridiculousness” of the tampon tax. “One of the members of our club was buying donuts and she found out that there are no taxes on these donuts, but then tampons are taxed,” Jang said. “It’s absurd. Donuts aren’t essential, you don’t need them to live. But you need tampons.” Rackham student Ashley Rapp explained she became involved in efforts surrounding period poverty after a friend working in Detroit public schools asked for product donations because her students couldn’t afford them. Rapp noted the University doesn’t provide free menstrual products, unlike some other schools across the country, such as University of Texas at Austin, Yale University, Saint Louis University and others. 2A — Monday, October 21, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com News TUESDAY: By Design THURSDAY: Twitter Talk FRIDAY: Behind the Story WEDNESDAY: This Week in History MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers SPICE IT UP puzzle by sudokusyndication.com “ WE ARE . . .” ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily A trumpet player performs on the field before the start of the Michigan vs. Penn State football game at Beaver Stadium Saturday evening. DESIGN BY LYDIA CHENG The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University OF Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for September-April are $250 and year long subscriptions are $275. 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