Ann
Arbor
resident
Freda
Herseth said she does not support
the use of the library plot for
affordable housing. She said it was
not what she agreed to when she cast
her vote in support of Proposition A.
She said it was this disagreement
that compelled her to attend the
open house.
“I’ve heard that some of the Task
Force may be wanting to change this
to include things that we did not vote
for,” Herseth said. “I’m here to try to
keep democracy going.”
According to Herseth and other
attendees, the desire to place
housing and other private businesses
in a building on the library plot is
motivated by money. Ann Arbor
resident Braxton Blake said he fears
City Council may be acting on their
own behalf, rather than on behalf of
their constituents.
“(The library plot has) become
a vehicle to sell the quality of our
city for the profit of those who have
money already,” Blake said.
When asked what she wanted
visitors to say about the City when
they leave, Ann Arbor resident Libby
Hunter said she wanted people
to note the area’s walkability and
uniqueness.
The
Weiser
Diplomacy
The
Weiser
Diplomacy
Center hosted a conversation
Center hosted a conversation
about the influence of media
about the influence of media
and
information
on
the
and
information
on
the
relationship
between
the
relationship
between
the
United States and Russia on
United States and Russia on
Wednesday
evening.
Susan
Wednesday
evening.
Susan
Elliot, former US ambassador
Elliot, former US ambassador
to Tajikistan, and investigative
to Tajikistan, and investigative
journalist
Yevgenia
Albats
journalist
Yevgenia
Albats
discussed
accessibility
to
discussed
accessibility
to
information in Russia and what
information in Russia and what
the U.S. can do to improve its
the U.S. can do to improve its
ties with the country. The panel
ties with the country. The panel
was moderated by Ford School
was moderated by Ford School
professor
Melvyn
Levitsky,
professor
Melvyn
Levitsky,
a former U.S. ambassador to
a former U.S. ambassador to
Bulgaria and Brazil.
Bulgaria and Brazil.
The
panel
started
with
The
panel
started
with
a
discussion
about
the
a
discussion
about
the
accessibility of media in Russia
accessibility of media in Russia
and the platforms that Russians
and the platforms that Russians
base their opinions on. Albats
base their opinions on. Albats
spoke on the limited range of
spoke on the limited range of
the Russian media, deeming it
the Russian media, deeming it
“dead.”
“dead.”
“Russian media is dead,”
“Russian media is dead,”
Albats said. “You can say that
Albats said. “You can say that
it is a dead man walking, but
it is a dead man walking, but
basically there is one internet-
basically there is one internet-
based TV channel left, one
based TV channel left, one
broadcasting left, there are
broadcasting left, there are
three, I would say, independent
three, I would say, independent
media websites. That’s basically
media websites. That’s basically
it.”
it.”
Albats further emphasized
Albats further emphasized
that though Russian media is
that though Russian media is
limited, YouTube has emerged
limited, YouTube has emerged
as a new medium for people to
as a new medium for people to
access news and information.
access news and information.
She also discussed how the
She also discussed how the
fall of journalism has affected
fall of journalism has affected
Russian journalists.
Russian journalists.
“It is a huge problem for
“It is a huge problem for
Russian journalists, especially
Russian journalists, especially
in my age group, who spend
in my age group, who spend
(their) lives in the Russian
(their) lives in the Russian
media organizations and are
media organizations and are
now left without jobs,” Albats
now left without jobs,” Albats
said. “It is the same problem
said. “It is the same problem
that happened back when the
that happened back when the
USSR collapsed, it is that we
USSR collapsed, it is that we
didn’t have real investigative
didn’t have real investigative
journalists who knew how to do
journalists who knew how to do
the job.”
the job.”
Elliot then spoke about the
Elliot then spoke about the
policies the U.S. government
policies the U.S. government
has tried to adapt to benefit the
has tried to adapt to benefit the
Russian people.
Russian people.
“One of the things that we
“One of the things that we
tried to do in terms of the
tried to do in terms of the
U.S. government was look for
U.S. government was look for
alternatives to Russian state
alternatives to Russian state
television,” Elliot said. “It is
television,” Elliot said. “It is
extremely
difficult
because
extremely
difficult
because
a lot of it is based on money
a lot of it is based on money
and advertising and to be
and advertising and to be
able to promote a different
able to promote a different
voice or a different point of
voice or a different point of
view,
especially
when
the
view,
especially
when
the
overwhelming control is from
overwhelming control is from
Russia.”
Russia.”
Albats said she believed the
Albats said she believed the
period of stability in Russia
period of stability in Russia
was coming to an end and the
was coming to an end and the
younger generation was going
younger generation was going
to change the system with their
to change the system with their
heightened interest in politics.
heightened interest in politics.
“Last summer we saw unrest
“Last summer we saw unrest
in Moscow when a lot of young
in Moscow when a lot of young
people went out into the streets
people went out into the streets
and about 15-20 were arrested
and about 15-20 were arrested
and many went to jail,” Albats
and many went to jail,” Albats
said. “We see that the generation
said. “We see that the generation
of those who were born after the
of those who were born after the
Soviet Union collapse are much
Soviet Union collapse are much
less prone to be afraid. They
less prone to be afraid. They
are much more fearless and are
are much more fearless and are
more included in politics. They
more included in politics. They
want to see new faces. They are
want to see new faces. They are
eager to take part in politics and
eager to take part in politics and
have a say in the decisions that
have a say in the decisions that
are made.”
are made.”
Regarding the issue of
Regarding the issue of
acc
accuracy
in
Russian
news,
uracy
in
Russian
news,
Elliot explained how in the
Elliot explained how in the
past newspapers were deemed
past newspapers were deemed
reliable but now are not.
reliable but now are not.
“You sort of felt like you could
“You sort of felt like you could
rely on something you read in the
rely on something you read in the
newspaper, that it was probably
newspaper, that it was probably
true, but now you really don’t
true, but now you really don’t
know and especially with the
know and especially with the
influence of others, someone
influence of others, someone
can put news on Facebook and
can put news on Facebook and
you really don’t know,” Elliot
you really don’t know,” Elliot
said. “It is really hard to sort out
said. “It is really hard to sort out
fact from fiction.”
fact from fiction.”
In response to a question
In response to a question
regarding the acceptance of the
regarding the acceptance of the
LGBTQ+ community in Russia,
LGBTQ+ community in Russia,
Albats said the situation is not
Albats said the situation is not
black and white.
black and white.
“On the one hand in big
“On the one hand in big
cities, people are pretty much
cities, people are pretty much
accepted. People are getting
accepted. People are getting
accustomed to seeing same-
accustomed to seeing same-
sex couples. A lot of lesbian
sex couples. A lot of lesbian
couples
have
children
and
couples
have
children
and
they are pretty open about it,”
they are pretty open about it,”
Albats said. “However, there are
Albats said. “However, there are
parts of Russia that are totally
parts of Russia that are totally
intolerant, they totally don’t
intolerant, they totally don’t
accept any gay relationships.
accept any gay relationships.
People die there, people are
People die there, people are
beaten there, they experience a
beaten there, they experience a
lot of hardships.”
lot of hardships.”
Albats also discussed Putin’s
Albats also discussed Putin’s
recent announcement to amend
recent announcement to amend
the Russian constitution.
the Russian constitution.
“Today
Putin
basically
“Today
Putin
basically
dissolved
the
Russian
dissolved
the
Russian
constitution,”
Albats
said.
constitution,”
Albats
said.
“Today Putin announced that
“Today Putin announced that
there will be amendments to
there will be amendments to
the very basics of the Russian
the very basics of the Russian
constitution.
Today
Putin
constitution.
Today
Putin
basically announced the Russian
basically announced the Russian
constitution null and void.”
constitution null and void.”
In an interview with The
In an interview with The
Daily, Public Policy graduate
Daily, Public Policy graduate
student Gordon Rooney said the
student Gordon Rooney said the
U.S. needs to open up a dialogue
U.S. needs to open up a dialogue
with Russia in order to improve
with Russia in order to improve
ties between the two nations.
ties between the two nations.
“I think that our diplomatic
“I think that our diplomatic
efforts are engaging with Russia
efforts are engaging with Russia
at all levels,” Rooney said. “That
at all levels,” Rooney said. “That
could be cultural exchanges,
could be cultural exchanges,
academic exchanges, definitely
academic exchanges, definitely
those at the grassroots level.
those at the grassroots level.
Certainly, the upper echelons of
Certainly, the upper echelons of
governments have to engage and
governments have to engage and
I think it is critical for a lot of
I think it is critical for a lot of
important reasons.”
important reasons.”
Elliot also spoke about how
Elliot also spoke about how
the
U.S.
and
Russia
could
the
U.S.
and
Russia
could
collectively strengthen their ties
collectively strengthen their ties
in the future and the benefits it
in the future and the benefits it
would bring.
would bring.
“I think it’s time for the U.S.
“I think it’s time for the U.S.
and Russia to look for ways
and Russia to look for ways
that we can try to open up our
that we can try to open up our
dialogue. Russia is probably
dialogue. Russia is probably
the only country in the world
the only country in the world
who could probably destroy
who could probably destroy
the United States of America
the United States of America
in a matter of 30 minutes or so
in a matter of 30 minutes or so
because of nuclear weapons,”
because of nuclear weapons,”
Elliot said. “So at a minimum,
Elliot said. “So at a minimum,
we need to have a dialogue on
we need to have a dialogue on
issues of mutual concern. We
issues of mutual concern. We
have to make Russia a part of
have to make Russia a part of
the solution and not a part of the
the solution and not a part of the
problem.”
problem.”
2A — Thursday, January 16, 2020
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
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MONDAY:
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THURSDAY:
Twitter Talk
annika @nnikawang
ann arbor is fueled by bubble
tea and also your cool
boyfriend’s indie band
Ryan L. L. Dukes @Rydukes
People walking in Ann Arbor
don’t care what the light is
or what the street sign says,
they just walk whenever they
feel like it.
the stupid angry goblin @
lesbianmcdyke
guys at umich take one intro
philosophy course and be like
“yea i’d say i think abt things
deeply. more abstract. ethically.
are u familiar with Aristotle?”
im begging u to shut up
kd. @k3vxn_
umich professors: yes i allow
laptops but i will hate you if
you use them
Maheen @maheenjelllybean
The most Ann Arbor thing I
saw today was a guy walking
down the street, reading an
actual book, in the middle of
a snowstorm
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Weiser Diplomacy Center hosts
panel on U.S.-Russia relations
Former ambassadors, journalist discuss changing trends in Russian media
NAVYA GUPTA
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Andrew Gluck @irrvrntVC
Seeing some really fire
entrepreneurs coming out of
@UMich lately... something
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UNIVERSIT Y OF MICHIGAN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SYMPOSIUM
Tough Love: My Story of the
Things Worth Fighting For
A conversation with Dean Michael S. Barr
Monday, January 20, 2020
12:30 - 2:00 pm
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Annenberg Auditorium, 1120 Weill Hall
735 S. State Street
PARK
From Page 1A
See PARK, Page 3A