H.G.
approached
the
front desk staff bleeding,
received no help and was
taken back upstairs by her
trafficker.
Further,
the
plaintiff argues that, in
addition to the “constant
stream of male visitors to
her room,” there were clear
indications
crimes
had
occurred.
According
to
Tiffany
Ellis, an associate attorney
for Weitz & Luxenberg
representing H.G., hotels
profit from traffickers and
are therefore not motivated
to ensure employees are
reporting trafficking.
“All of these (signs) add
up over time in a hotel
… If the cleaning staff
sees some of these things
and the front desk staff
doesn’t, they should know
who to tell about it,” Ellis
said. “There should be a
common point of contact
and a common reporting
period. There should also
be
auditing
procedures
that go into place to ensure
that
these
policies
are
being followed. I think
that at the root of it, this
is about greed and turning
a blind eye to things that
they should have stopped.”
Law
School
student
Ashleigh Pelto, fellow at
the
Human
Trafficking
Institute, told The Daily
she believes this lawsuit
will pressure the hotel
industry to begin making
more
drastic
policy
changes.
“I
think
that
the
discovery
that
(hotel
brands)
could
be
held
responsible for trafficking
that’s going on in their
own
hotels
is
probably
the biggest thing towards
prevention,”
Pelto
said.
“Because,
if
it’s
going
to be something where
they could lose money or
even be held criminally
responsible, I think that’s
going to be the biggest
incentive and push for them
to start figuring out how to
stop it from happening.”
Pelto said it is easy to
forget trafficking is local
and that training should
not
be
limited
to
the
hospitality industry.
“I think a lot of times
there’s a perception that
trafficking is something
that
happens
overseas
or only in major cities or
at major sporting events
like the Super Bowl …
but it’s something that’s
happening
every
day,
and it’s going on in Ann
Arbor,” Pelto said. “And
so … learning to recognize
those signs is something
that anyone can learn how
to do.”
Portfolio
Hotels
and
Resorts, the operator of
the Ann Arbor Fairfield
Inn
franchise,
provided
The Daily with a statement
condemning
human
trafficking and establishing
that the company took over
management of the hotel
in 2013 after the alleged
events occurred.
“We
take
human
trafficking
with
the
utmost seriousness and are
committed to the training
and engagement of our hotel
teams … All Fairfield Inn
Ann Arbor employees have
successfully completed the
required Marriott training
on
preventing
human
trafficking,” the statement
reads.
In an email to The Daily,
IHG spokesperson Jacob
Hawkins wrote that he is
not able to comment on
pending
litigation,
but
that IHG is committed
to
combatting
human
trafficking
in
their
properties.
“We
condemn
human
trafficking in all forms and
are committed to working
with hotel owners to fight
human trafficking across
our industry and in local
communities,”
Hawkins
wrote. “As part of this, we
provide mandatory human
trafficking
prevention
training
for
all
IHG-
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Friday, February 7, 2020 — 3
INCARCERATED
From Page 1
but decades down the line,
it’s wise to save and plan
ahead, which is what we
now do,” McLittle said. “It’s
part and parcel of caring for
these spaces.”
One of the lounges set to
be renovated this summer
is Abeng Lounge, located
in East Quad. It is named
after
the
abeng
musical
instrument
of
the
Akan
people of Ghana, and it was
created
in
1971,
making
it the first multicultural
lounge on campus. Besides
the redesign, the lounge will
move from the basement to
the first floor, where it will
be taking the place of the
Madrigal Lounge.
As current co-chairs of
East Quad’s multicultural
council,
LSA
freshmen
Gabriella Dias and Janna
Girotto are in Abeng Lounge
often,
both
for
council
meetings and socializing.
They said they hope the
lounge’s
relocation
will
bring more attention to the
space. However, with the
increased foot traffic, they
said they had some worries
the meaning of the space
would be lost.
“It’s not just a lounge
area,
it’s
an
area
that
is
commemorating
important
history,”
Dias
said. “It’s meant to be the
multicultural area, not just
a place where there are
couches.”
In an effort to maintain
the
space’s
historical
significance,
Girotto
suggested that they place
a plaque in the lounge’s
original spot in the basement
after
they
complete
the
renovation, similar to the
current plaque in the lounge
that
defines
abeng
and
talks about the heritage
represented in the space.
“It will be nice to move
us into a more modernized
space but still keeping that
history, and also moving
us
somewhere
more
accessible,” Girotto said. “I
am definitely on board with
that.”
LSA junior Mya Gibson is
the Diversity Peer Educator
for South Quad, where the
Yuri Kochiyama Lounge is
housed on the first floor.
Due to its proximity to the
front doors of South Quad
and the dining hall, it is more
used than the Abeng Lounge
is in East Quad. Gibson said
she believes the renovations
will be more focused on
aesthetic
changes
rather
than functionality.
“(Yuri
Kochiyama)
is
an
incredible
woman,”
Gibson said. “She’s done
a lot of work for Asian
Americans, so there’s a lot
of information that you can
read on that. I hope they’re
able to push that more
because currently, it’s kind
of put in the background.
You don’t really notice it
unless you’re looking for
it, whereas other lounges
such as the Afro American
(Lounge) in the basement
of South Quad, they have a
lot of paintings and murals
to celebrate and to discuss
Afro American history, so I
think that would be cool to
see.”
In previous years, some of
the multicultural lounges,
such as the Afro American
Lounge, have only been
open
to
residents
who
completed an orientation
about the lounge’s history
and
rules.
Engineering
sophomore
Thomas
Oscar,
vice
president
of
Residence Halls Association
Executive,
hoped
the
renovations would continue
to bring safe spaces that are
inclusive to all students. He
added that opening up the
spaces to all students makes
them more accessible.
“If
they
don’t
have
knowledge of the room and
its history, being in the
room can allow them to get
that knowledge,” Oscar said.
“The fact that attention
is being brought to them
through
renovations
will
allow people to come and
learn about the purpose of
those rooms and what they
originally stood for.”
While the RHA has not
yet been requested to give
input on the spaces, Oscar
said they would be open
and willing to give their
feedback.
“We find this to be an
important
moment
of
the
University
and
the
Housing’s history,” Oscar
said.
“I
just
hope
that
there can be a merger of
functionality and usability
while
maintaining
the
history.”
grads, it was really up to every
independent school to make their
own decision … I did some research
and put together some information,
and when we had the meeting with
the dean, we presented this and the
dean okayed the new policy to ‘ban
the box,’ as some people call it.”
Welch
was
involved
with UMich Behind Bars and has
touched on their work at Regents
meetings, including the February
2019 meeting.
Since
Welch
mostly
works with people who are inter-
ested in fighting the stigma sur-
rounding
incarceration
and
improving conditions for those who
are currently incarcerated, he said
he doesn’t feel racially discrimi-
nated against on a daily basis but is
still affected by “smaller” aspects of
discrimination.
“It’s
strange,
right?”
Welch said. “Because for me, my
background and my story is so
much of my work that I don’t nec-
essarily every day face the kind of
prejudices that I know other people
have. I have a friend who is also a
(formerly incarcerated person)
and works at a technology firm
and his experience has been so
different from (mine) on the
micro level. Macro, we’ve kind
of had the same experience,
but on a micro level, day to day
interactions, at the workplace,
his has been completely differ-
ent from mine.”
LSA senior Hannah
Agnew, president of the stu-
dent executive committee for
PCAP, said she feels strongly
about finding ways to eliminate
the discrimination and social
stigma surrounding those who
return after being incarcerated.
Agnew also spoke on
the value of making Ann Arbor
an inviting place for those of various
backgrounds. During her time as a
sociology major with a crime and
justice minor, she said she has seen
powerful insights directly from
those who come from that back-
ground, rather than just reading
about it.
“I think it’s really impor-
tant to elevate the voices of folks
who’ve experienced (incarceration)
and know what the system is like,”
Agnew said. “And in my personal
experience, it is so important to have
folks on campus that have been pre-
viously incarcerated because there’s
nobody better to learn from.”
Welch said he worries
about his future career at the Uni-
versity as the school hesitates to
hire those previously convicted of a
felony. He pointed to the story of his
friend Asia Johnson, who was not
hired despite being highly qualified
for a job. The position entailed shar-
ing her own story of incarceration
and working with students to fur-
ther the de-stigmatization of incar-
ceration.
Johnson attended the
University before she was con-
victed. She wasn’t able to speak
to The Daily in time for publi-
cation, but she is continuing to
pursue a career in reform and
works as a bail disruptor for The
Bail Project.
In an email to The Daily,
University spokesperson Rick
Fitzgerald said the University
does not turn away students due
solely to their previous conduct,
but that it is taken into account.
“The University does not
reject an applicant for admission
solely because they answered
‘yes’ to a conduct question, nor
does it determine applicant eli-
gibility based on past conduct
history,” Fitzgerald said. “Con-
duct is only reviewed after an appli-
cant is determined to be admissible
to the university based on a holistic
review process.”
Welch is involved in mul-
tiple communities working to sup-
port those in Ann Arbor who have
been previously incarcerated. A pre-
viously incarcerated person is still a
person, Welch said.
“This favorite quote of
mine, ‘Education is the only thing
given that cannot be taken,’” Welch
said. “Oftentimes, we assume that
just means like collegiate education
and things like that, but really, any
type of learning or growing. Spaces
that (cultivate learning and grow-
ing) have to be created more in Ann
Arbor because what I found from
my own personal experience is that
once someone learns who I am, is
that I’m just a person, too.”
He said it is important
to focus on the humanity of those
affected by incarceration while
highlighting their struggles.
I get sad, and you’d be
surprised at the things that we have
in common, but once you know that,
‘Oh my God, here’s this person that
grew up completely different from
me, but we have these things in
common because we’re both peo-
ple,’” Welch said.
LOUNGES
From Page 1
“Our focus is on the social
roots of sexual assault.”
Hirsch
and
Khan
said
their study aims to make
sexual assault a less common
feature of college life.
Khan
discussed
ways
to reduce campus sexual
assault:
starting
sexual
education
from
a
young
age
and
acknowledging
gender dynamics so that
people will know what to
expect as they mature and
contacting policymakers and
demanding
comprehensive
sexual education.
“Those
silences
around
sex are the kinds of things
we want to focus on,” Khan
said. “Refusing sex can be
awkward, but it’s a teachable
skill.”
Khan shared a story about
another Columbia student
who
said
that
“having
unwanted sex felt easier
than
having
a
difficult
conversation.” He explained
only 5 percent of sexual
assault cases on campuses
are reported, which is likely
because most victims are
assaulted by people they
know.
Throughout
the
event,
students
were
visibly
nodding
their
heads
in
agreement as the speakers
described
their
efforts.
Students were also able to
text questions to the panel so
the speakers could elaborate
on ideas during the event.
El-Sayed spoke on the
panel and said he grew up
in a culture where sex was
considered “fundamentally
taboo.”
“I
have
a
2-year-old
daughter … and I think a lot
about the world she’s going
to grow up in,” El-Sayed said.
“I’m walking into parenting
without being parented (on
this issue).”
Khan concluded the event
with a positive outlook on
the issue at hand.
“We wanted to give you a
sense of empathy and hope,”
he said.
TRAFFICKING
From Page 1
ASSAULT
From Page 1
If you come to Ann Arbor, you’re Black
before you even get to whether or not you
actually have a felony, right?And if you walk
down the street in Ann Arbor, you will see
you don’t belong, because you don’t see
anybody that looks like you. The only time
you see somebody else that looks like you is
in the reflection or a storefront.
player is a woman, a person
of color or part of the LGBTQ+
community. Christian Sandvig,
a faculty member in the School
of Information, spoke about this
commonality in his introduction of
Washko.
“All you have to do is turn on
the audio and wait,” Sandvig said.
“I know that there are gamers in
the audience and I think you know
what happens next. I mean it’s
reliable, it only takes a couple of
minutes before you hear something
horrific. It is disturbing, offensive,
it could be racist, it could be sexist,
homophobic,
Islamaphobic.
It
really thinks of something that
bothers you and It’s likely to come
up if you wait long enough.”
To combat the prevalence of
hate speech, Washko would host
public
meetings
in
populous
towns within World of Warcraft.
Her project gained large scale
attention in World of Warcraft and
an intentional inclusive in-game
guild was created as a part of
these discussions. Washko’s work
was displayed in galleries though
large-scale projections of these
conversations, as well as in writing.
While this wasn’t the first time
Washko promoted feminism in
her pieces, this project became a
baseline for future works.
The second project Washko
spoke about was an online video
game titled The Game: The Game.
A play on words of the book “The
Game: Penetrating the Secret
Society of Pickup Artists” by Neil
Strauss, The Game: The Game
players navigate the world of
“Pickup Artist Gurus,” featuring
real-life gurus, who approach
players using the tactics the gurus
market as successful in on their
websites, online modules, books
and lectures.
The Game: The Game is based
on Washko’s research in the
community, which she called
misogynistic
alt-right
or
the
Manosphere. In The Game: The
Game, players have to interact with
“pickup artists” who aim to seduce
the player, blurring the lines of
consent and manipulating women
into sleeping with them.
Washko was able to get an online
Skype interview with “pickup
artist” Guru Roosh V, a notorious
figure in the Manosphere, as part
of her research, but she said she
had to act submissive and ditzy
and cater to what Roosh wanted
to talk about to keep the interview
running smoothly.
“If you don’t feel like a creep
you’re not pushing hard enough,”
Washko read from one of Roosh’s
books. “You must always be making
the first move. You must always be
pushing. If you’re scared that she’s
going to think you’re a creep, that
means you’re on the right path.”
Following her vocal criticism of
Roosh, his online community began
harassing Washko on social media
platforms, though direct messages,
in comments in new stories and
across the internet. Washko noted
the difference in reactions between
the World of Warcraft community
and the Manosphere was related
to her personal position within the
communities.
“In WoW, I was recognizable as
a long term, a high-level member
of the community with high-level
gear only obtained through years of
commitment to the game,” Washko
said. “Clearly a participant in that
space and not outside. By virtue of
just being myself, a woman, a self-
identified feminist, a person with a
job, I would always be an outsider
in the manosphere.”
Washko played videos from the
creators as part of the lecture.
Art & Design senior Elizabeth
Doyle commented on the impact of
those videos.
“I found a lot of it difficult to
watch and disturbing,” Doyle said.
“A lot of the men she was focusing
on in the beginning were really,
really disturbing and hard to
watch.”
While the content of The
Game: The Game is in some cases
disturbing,
Washko
said
she
didn’t create it to unsettle players.
Instead, she said she wanted to
create a platform where players
can better understand what it feels
like to be a target of these target
techniques.
Washko also commented on the
personal impact of delving into
the Manosphere and this online
community and spoke about how
her current project is almost a polar
opposite of what she has worked on
in the past.
Washko finished the lecture
with a bold outlook at what she
wants to do with her art.
“I have had a commitment to
examining the cultural byproducts
of
media
and
entertainment,
not only in an effort to rethink
them and create hopefully future
cultural objects that are more
inclusive in a wide range of ways
that we choose as humans to
perform and present, live and
love,” Washko said. “And I hope
to continue to tell what I think is
complex, underrepresented and
unconventional
stories
about
the media that we consume
from
unusual
perspectives
using a wide range of forms and
distribution strategies.”
GAMING
From Page 1
“The standard for surviving a
motion to dismiss is incredibly
low,” Deutsch said. “To beat a
motion to dismiss, a plaintiff
basically
just
needs
to
have stated in their initial
complaint the elements of
each legal claim and facts
backing them up. The facts
don’t even need to turn out to
be true.”
Deutsch
explained
the
discovery
will
be
a
long,
expensive
and
resource-
intensive process that could
last several months. He said
he anticipates the defendants
will then move to summary
judgment.
“On summary judgment, the
judge is asked to decide the case
without a trial if he feels that
there are no facts in legitimate
dispute,” Deutsch said. “This
will be tougher for the AFLC to
overcome, because at that point,
the AFLC will need to have a
case backed by evidence that a
jury could plausibly believe.”
Muise
denies
allegations
of criminal activity. He said
the AFLC’s reputation as well
as
financial
contributions
have suffered as a result of
being designated a hate group
by the SPLC, and expressed
frustration with government
officials legitimizing the report.
“We’ve been fighting the
credibility of this … spending
a lot of time and resources
to launch press releases, to
get in the media, to counter
the media’s reliance on the
Southern Poverty Law Center,
because it does harm us,”
Muise said. “And now all of a
sudden you have the Michigan
attorney general, the state’s top
law enforcement office, saying,
‘Oh no, this is a legitimate
list.’ It’s just raised this to
another level ... it’s given the
state’s endorsement to it, it has
dedicated state’s resources to it
— this is horrific.”
Nessel and Arbulu’s press
release defines a “hate and
bias incident” as one which
“an
action
does
not
rise
to the level of a crime or a
civil
infraction,”
including
actions protected by the First
Amendment. According to the
press release, the database
initiative is intended to educate
the community about such
incidents and combat them.
Muise believes this initiative
infringes
on
constitutional
rights.
“No attorney general should
weaponize
their
office
to
go after political opponents
and even threaten to go after
political opponents, because it
obviously has a chilling effect
on the right to freedom of
speech,” Muise said.
SPLC
From Page 2