Opinion
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 — 9
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
A case for the “Vomit Comet”: the beauty within struggle
I
t’s 2 a.m. on a Friday
night. The streets are
desolate.
The
faint,
distant roar of “Pump It Up”
in the distance slowly fades
away, only to open up a lone-
ly silence. You are alone with
your
thoughts.
Your
mind
races from one topic to the
next, trying to make sense of
the night you just had. Your
voice is gone and your legs are
tired. You want to sit down and
relax but you can’t: you have
to take the bus back to North
Campus. You walk for what
seems like miles and what
feels like a millennium. Sud-
denly, in the distance, a beck-
oning light calls you. It’s the
CCTC, and you’re greeted by
a group of people in the same
position as you. You found that
at that moment you were a bit
excited to see people you had
never met. You find, at 2 a.m.
on a Friday night at a bus stop,
a community.
“Yeah, I live on North” is a
phrase that is often met with
disdain, distaste, mockery or
even just straight pity. “Oh, you
have to take the bus?” “Oh man,
how early do you have to wake
up in the morning?” “Wow,
I’m so glad I live on Central
Campus.” These are all com-
mon responses students use to
respond to the North Campus
assignment. While most people
easily find themselves being
herded into this anti-North
mindset, I was convinced that
there must be something amaz-
ing and unique about North
Campus, and something that
the 20% of the students dorm-
ing on North Campus could
latch onto. I became embold-
ened, energized and motivated
to find this “something.” Little
did I know that I would find it
at the CCTC.
The “Vomit Comet” is the
slang term many students have
used to denote later buses on
weekend nights that go back up
to North Campus. The name,
noticeably, comes from the
sickness, tiredness and nausea
that most students bring back
with them after a wild night
out. Despite its retched nick-
name, it is on those buses that
a University of Michigan stu-
dent will find something more
profound than anything the
Philosophy Department could
teach you.
As my weary legs sought
rest on a Saturday night dur-
ing Welcome Week, I thought
about how much I wanted to go
home. I’m usually not one for
going out, instead opting for a
night that consists of listening
to music and hanging out with
just a few people instead. How-
ever, I found myself overcome
by the opportunistic spirit
of college and I decided to go
against my status quo. With
everything done with and my
desire to go home stronger
than ever, I remembered that
my Mcard and housing card
were both in a friend’s dorm.
On North Campus. I made the
pilgrimage to the CCTC with
my friend and fell onto a cold
bench. All of a sudden, small
groups of people piled in and
I was sitting with and around
at least 20 to 30 other students
making their way up to North
Campus. The silence turned
into a light buzz of conversa-
tion, which only picked up as
we entered the bus. People
who had never met before and
who didn’t have any reason or
excuse to talk to each other,
were. The camaraderie spread
like wildfire across the bus,
and soon everyone was con-
tributing to the conversation.
“That’s what it is,” I thought to
myself, “It’s the community.”
Students taking the bus up
to North Campus, students
trekking through mountains
of snow to get to class and stu-
dents struggling through cal-
culus all have experienced this
phenomenon. As human beings
and as young adults, it’s easy to
focus on how we are different
from one another. Diversity is
very important, especially con-
cerning growth, progress and
the inclusion of unique and
underrepresented groups of
people. However, it is very easy
to get so distracted by what
divides us that we forget how
similar we are. All it takes is a
collective experience to show
us that we are similar enough
to relate to each other, an expe-
rience where a group of people,
small or large, can realize that
their struggles might be more
similar than they think. All of
sudden, either consciously or
unconsciously, if one realizes
that another person also dis-
likes taking the bus, if they also
find calculus hard or if they
also dislike how some custom-
ers treat them at work, then
they realize that they might
not be alone in other struggles.
We all face struggles in our
lives. We all carry weight with
us, some of it is light and some
of it is heavy. Sometimes the
weight we carry is unseen by
other people, either because
we feel like we need to keep it
to and solve it by ourselves, or
because we invalidate our own
feelings and experiences. This
weight only gets heavier. After
a long time, it can feel like
we are alone in our struggles
and that they are something
we will inevitably be crushed
under. These moments though,
moments of relatability, cama-
raderie and connection, can
make a monumental change.
They can destigmatize our
own views about the struggles
that we face. We realize that if
someone also carries the same
small weight that we carry,
then we are not alone in at least
one of our struggles. Knowing
this simple fact can give way
to new bonds, connections and
avenues toward realizing that
we do not have to go through
our lives alone.
If we as human beings can
truly realize that we are not
alone in our struggles, small or
large, the world could change.
This isn’t idealized or utopian
speak. Buses, restaurants and
calculus are all microcosms
of
this
very
phenomenon.
Through shared small strug-
gles, larger struggles can be
heard and stronger bonds can
be formed. This is something
that is inherently human to
realize: we are uniquely simi-
lar and that our individual
identity is not invalidated by
a larger, group identity but
instead bolsters us as individu-
als.
While the “Vomit Comet”
and North Campus have their
respective downsides, only in
those places and in other plac-
es of collective struggle will
you find the most human inter-
action. Only in places where
struggle is felt and in turn,
heard, will you find the growth
and progress that moves us
forward as a society. So, next
time you feel like throwing up
on the bus back up to North
because of how many times
you’ve heard “Pump It Up” in
one night, listen to the con-
versations around you. Maybe
even join in. You could change
someone’s life. Or they could
change yours.
ZHANE YAMIN
Opinion Columnist
The cost of inaction:
What to do when school isn’t working
I
n January of 2021, Demo-
crats rode into Washing-
ton and took control of
the White House and both hous-
es of Congress. President Joe
Biden’s approval rating stood at
over 53%, and the nation looked
hopefully to a leader who prom-
ised to restore order and sensi-
bility to American politics. As
Biden took the Oath of Office,
stocks soared to record highs,
investors bullish on a president
they believed would bring sta-
bility to markets in a post-COV-
ID-19 era. The Republican Party
appeared a disgraced organi-
zation, and with the events of
January 6 top of mind, many
contended the Republicans were
facing a lost election cycle, as
they did in the aftermath of Nix-
on’s resignation.
Almost two years later, Amer-
ica faces a very different politi-
cal landscape. As stocks remain
below where they were at Biden’s
inauguration and economists see
a recession as an increasingly
likely scenario, economic senti-
ment has tanked. Biden’s approv-
al rating has dropped more than
10% since taking office and
the Democrats face only a 19%
chance of retaining both houses
of Congress. All of this raises the
question: what happened?
Perhaps the primary cause of
the Democrats’ fall from grace
has been the economy. While
external factors, like the war
in Ukraine, certainly impacted
inflation,
continued
stimulus
spending by Biden after the
economy had already begun to
recover
further
exacerbated
it. While it’s impossible to pin
the blame on any individual,
Democrats soured their public
image by denying federal spend-
ing’s role in boosting inflation,
continuing to propose large
spending packages even as CPI
climbed rapidly.
When
Democrats
finally
decided to act on the impending
economic crisis, they passed the
Inflation Reduction Act, which
despite its name has dubious
impacts on short-term inflation.
Though the core components
of the bill, such as prescription
drug cost reductions and tax
credits, are useful tools in fight-
ing inflation, the $369 billion in
climate spending and $79 billion
in funding for the IRS raised
many eyebrows. The Congres-
sional Budget Office (CBO) has
projected that the Inflation
Reduction Act will have a “neg-
ligible effect” on inflation in the
coming months and years, call-
ing into question its effective-
ness as a policy measure.
Though the Federal Reserve
is the entity primarily respon-
sible for controlling inflation,
the other parts of the federal
government also have an obli-
gation to take actions that aid
the Fed’s objectives. Other than
the flawed Inflation Reduc-
tion Act, however, the Demo-
crats have continued to take
reckless actions that compro-
mise the fight against inflation.
Most recently, the White House
unveiled its plan for student loan
relief, which the Congressional
Budget Office assessed at a cost
of $400 billion.
While high student debt is
certainly an issue, canceling
$400 billion of debt in the midst
of high inflation seems impru-
dent, as it would likely increase
consumer
spending,
further
worsening inflation. Moreover,
doing so has been shown to be a
regressive tax by income, educa-
tion and wealth, meaning that
the plan will further contrib-
ute to disparities in household
wealth between college gradu-
ates, who typically earn higher
salaries, and Americans without
college degrees — enigmatic of
Democrats’ priorities shifting
from their blue collar roots to
the more genteel interests of
urban elites.
While there are many reasons
for the Democratic Party’s fall
in popularity, a large share of
their troubles are rooted in their
detachment from Main Street,
pocketbook, kitchen table issues.
Though the Democrats of the
mid-to-late 20th century were
perceived as a blue-collar party
in support of working class vot-
ers, modern Democrats have
struggled to escape their image
as an elitist institution.
While it may be easy to dis-
miss Trump voters as racist or
uninformed, the populist move-
ment he created was incredibly
powerful. In flipping Blue Wall
states like Michigan, Wisconsin
and Pennsylvania in 2016, he
swayed traditionally Democratic
voters who felt neglected by a
party that had left them behind.
Though Biden’s uniting message
as a traditional blue-collar Dem-
ocrat helped the party win back
many states in 2020, his rampant
spending and perceived pander-
ing to the left wing of his party
has reverted the Democrats
to the same elitist image he’d
hoped to avoid.
In order to regain the image
of competency and moderation
that Biden embodied upon enter-
ing the White House, Democrats
need to immediately pivot their
strategies behind policy and
messaging. The first step they
must take is being honest about
the state of our economic prob-
lems. By first presenting infla-
tion as “transitory” then pinning
it on Russian President Vladi-
mir Putin and corporate greed,
and now claiming inflation will
worsen if Republicans take con-
trol of Congress, Biden has lost
the trust of the American people
and sabotaged opportunities for
future bipartisan collaboration.
As we likely head into a reces-
sion, Americans must be able to
look to their president for sup-
port in bringing our nation back
to a healthy economic state. By
refusing to acknowledge his
own party’s role in furthering
inflation, however, Biden risks
continued Democratic runaway
spending stalling his ability to
curtail inflation.
In addition, Biden needs to
exert his authority within the
party to rein in the left wing
and unite leadership around
core policies. As opposed to the
GOP, which during the Trump
administration voted famously
monolithically, Democrats have
struggled to keep their agenda
reasonable due to the high levels
of disagreement between the left
and centrist sects of the party.
While the Infrastructure Bill
was a bipartisan victory, poli-
cies like student loan forgiveness
have angered many middle-class
voters and left the Democrats
seeming out of touch.
Finally,
Democrats
must
adjust their messaging to high-
light
the
policy
successes
they’ve had and the ways in
which they’ve bolstered the
long-term health of the econo-
my. When asked about how the
Democrats could regain their
credibility with the American
people, Charles Shipan, a profes-
sor of political science and the
co-author of “The United States
Congress,” said that although
the “Democratic-led Congress
and President Biden have been
unusually successful at passing
laws, including many that are at
the top of their agenda … Demo-
crats talk about them in terms of
how much money they’ve allo-
cated to address problems.”
He continued by arguing that
Democrats should instead “talk
about policies they’ve enacted
to help the middle class and …
focus on the actual content of
the policies and how (they) will
help people and stabilize the
economy.” Though the Demo-
crats have a significant amount
of work to do in order to restruc-
ture their party’s priorities,
they have succeeded in imple-
menting many policies that help
average Americans. By shifting
their core messaging toward
these achievements, Democrats
can not only regain the trust of
Americans, but also rebrand
their image nationally as they
refocus on everyday issues.
Ultimately, while the Demo-
cratic Party has lost the trust
of many Americans, it remains
more redeemable than the GOP.
Though their policies have been
divisive thus far in Biden’s term,
there still remain many Demo-
crats, including the president,
who support the party’s tradi-
tional working-class identity. If
the Democrats can learn to ele-
vate those voices, they might just
have a fighting chance at bring-
ing stability to their party and
America as a whole.
Is the Democratic party out of
touch with Americans
NIKHIL SHARMA
Opinion Columnist
T
his semester’s honey-
moon period is quickly
coming to an end. When
the calendar flips to October
and midterms start rolling
in, quantities of caffeine con-
sumption and sleep trend in
opposite directions. For some,
the early signs of burnout crop
up in the ever-lengthening
shadows of the ever-shorter,
cloudier, colder fall days. The
source of this feeling of con-
stant exhaustion could be any
or all of grades, mental or
physical health, overcommit-
ment, career anxiety or finan-
cial concerns. While symptoms
may vary, a general theme is
that it all feels like too much.
In some quiet moments doubt
starts to creep in, “What am I
really doing here? What am I
toiling like this for?”
For many — hopefully most
— having established healthy
routines keeps this struggle
mostly theoretical. For others,
these feelings can be pushed
aside for another day and busi-
ness continues as usual, with a
quiet hum of discontent under-
girding an otherwise produc-
tive routine. Maybe the week
in, week out is more painful
than enjoyable, but morale and
output remain more or less sta-
ble. For others still, my previ-
ous self included, the pressure
of the career expectations,
impending
paper
deadlines
and utter exhaustion outweigh
the ability to lead a sustainable
existence.
All
assignments
start to feel like tasks, innu-
merable in quantity and insur-
mountable in scope. Sometime
into the semester, external cir-
cumstances begin to feel like
too much to cope with.
There is data to back this up.
Take one of our peer institu-
tions: The Ohio State Univer-
sity. According to Bernadette
Melnyk, the chief wellness
officer at OSU, 71% of OSU’s
students were facing burnout
in April 2021. Outside of OSU,
it is well documented that
mental health suffered dur-
ing the pandemic, as isolated
students were deprived of ade-
quate social interaction. And
yet, day after day, month after
month, this exhausting ritual
continues. Maybe grades are
maintained, maybe they are
not, but one thing is certain:
the status quo is not working.
While the stigma around seek-
ing help is being eroded, more
serious action remains taboo.
Herein lies the problem with
the grinding routine of college
burnout: Inaction is a silent
killer. The status quo has a
subtle ability to disguise itself
as safety because it is viciously
familiar. Alternatives to the
default are largely ignored by
fear and uncertainty. For a
select few, though, it is worth
considering whether college
is the right setting in which
to move forward. While it may
seem difficult to consider, I
suggest taking time away from
school, as it can be a viable
option, even if it feels daunt-
ing.
When one leaves school
without graduating they “drop
out” rather than “move on,”
or some other positive phrase.
This may be a mere semantic
difference, but it speaks to a
deeply-held
cultural
belief:
that shifting from the estab-
lished achievement track is a
deviation rather than an act of
creation. In a gap year, students
can travel, volunteer, learn a
skill or pursue a career inter-
est. Off-season internships are
often less competitive than the
highly sought-after summer
gigs. Most importantly, the
clock counting down to gradu-
ation is temporarily paused
while one can explore curiosi-
ties with more latitude.
The idea of graduating “late”
is scary, but ultimately mean-
ingless. Afterall, what is the
difference between the classes
of 2022 and 2024? When the
weight of each passing week
in the few fleeting months
that make up a semester feels
overwhelming, thinking on a
timeline of years feels radical.
Taking the time to step away
and reorient oneself within
a life that can be expected to
continue for decades is a mere
course correction.
At the very least, whether
remaining on campus or not,
university students may ben-
efit from broadening their
perspective of what counts
as a beneficial experience. In
two years I moved to a new
city, worked in a new indus-
try, traveled internationally
and refocused my goals for my
return to school. These were
formative experiences, made
available outside of the con-
text of the four-year college
path.
On the other hand, I also
attended the graduation of my
friends that I entered college
with, having completed just
half of the credits required to
cross that very stage. Many of
these friends were also able to
explore career opportunities,
study abroad and invest in
formative growth experiences
without having left school.
The harsh reality for those
feeling “behind” is that time
does not stand still, whether
in school or not. This is all the
more reason to exert agency
over one’s limited time, rather
than trudge toward an unsat-
isfying future. The terms of
improvement, and responsi-
bility for growth, are more
fully shifted onto the student.
Admittedly, a kind of expe-
rience relativism can be naive
depending on the ends that the
student is pursuing. If the goal
is to ultimately grow in some
meaningful way it clearly mat-
ters how the time is spent. I
am only advocating for tak-
ing time away from school if
there is a direct plan of action
to best use it. It should also be
clear that there is immense
value in having completed a
college education in terms of
the professional and personal
freedoms it can afford. Much
of the time, gritting something
out for practicality’s sake may
pay dividends.
I also recognize that this is,
of course, not a path available
to many. Having strong famil-
ial support behind making the
decisions to leave and return
to school when I did is far
from guaranteed, and I do not
take that blessing for granted.
There are myriad financial
and logistical reasons why up
and leaving school for a couple
of years is not feasible. Do not
let the reason be fear. Fear of
judgment, fear of career pros-
pects or something even more
trivial keep you from thinking
about what might be most ben-
eficial, as radical as it might
seem.
When the long nights of the
soul come for some of you this
semester, consider what the
risk of taking bold action is.
Then consider what the risk
of not taking bold action is, if
only for a moment.
WILL COVEYOU
Opinion Columnist
Design by Emma Sortor