The University of Michigan’s Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a public address event titled “More Than Four” Tuesday evening. Members at the event presented the organization’s four-point platform that aims to support and advocate for Black students at the University. The platform’s four points call on the University to increase Black student admission, combat anti-Blackness, improve DEI policies and to help make K-12 education more equitable. Later Tuesday night, hours after the “More Than Four” address, BSU members found flyers they had posted around central campus torn down. These posters were promoting the “More Than Four” platform, leaving members of BSU and the campus community frustrated with a “continued disregard for the needs of Black students.” The first point of the platform is increasing Black student enrollment. Currently, less than 4.2% of the University’s undergraduate student population was Black in 2021, which BSU said has not changed significantly from the percentage of Black students in 1970. The BSU has continuously demanded the percentage be proportional to the demographics of the state, where 14% of residents are Black. Public Policy senior Kayla Tate stressed the importance of increasing enrollment of Black students and pointed to the University’s lack of support for Black students. “It is the University’s strategy to present itself as a powerless victim to a racist and unjust society,” Tate said. “We know, however, that this institution is not a victim … At the hands of the University, Black students are harmed daily.” The second point of the platform demands the University to be transparent about the specific steps they are taking as an institution to combat anti- Blackness on campus. At the rally, Business senior Taylor Smith, co-community outreach chair at the BSU, said the University continues to neglect the fact that all Black students have unique experiences with racism on campus and that the University has historically neglected their specific needs. “Everybody else can sit here and just focus on their academics,” Smith said. “(Black students) have so many other things that we are dealing with, but the University focuses on it as ‘all minorities need the same thing.’” The third point of the platform urges the University to rectify flaws in its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) plan, which Black students have previously expressed disappointment for the plan not adequately addressing anti-Blackness on campus. In their platform, BSU said they believe DEI initiatives are not effective because they do not sufficiently allow for Black students’ input to influence the development of University programs. In October 2016, the University launched a five-year DEI plan — which was an $85 million investment — aimed at increasing enrollment of minority students and supporting socioeconomic diversity. During DEI 1.0, however, students questioned the effectiveness of the plan after multiple instances of hate acts occurred targeting Black and Jewish students on campus. Following the initial plan, the University announced they will launch a new DEI plan in fall 2023, nicknamed DEI 2.0. Until then, the University is in a “transitional” phase between the two plans during which the U-M administration is evaluating the first plan and developing the next DEI strategic plan. LSA sophomore Princess- J’Maria Mboup said DEI needs to be created alongside students in order to fully address the needs of Black students. “DEI is structurally top-down,” Mboup said. “That is exclusive to students, especially Black students. When the needs of Black students are not explicitly centered, they tend to be neglected.” The fourth point of the platform calls on the University to work with local and state government officials to invest in addressing inequalities in public K-12 education, and to help close the opportunity gap for Black students in the K-12 educational system. LSA junior Brooklyn Blevins said the BSU has sent their platform to U-M administrative officials, including University President Santa Ono and the Board of Regents. Blevins said BSU is requesting the U-M administration to meet with the organization. “We expect a response in the form of a public statement as well as a scheduled meeting with the aforementioned parties and the Black Student Union to establish a strategic plan and subsequent measures of accountability,” Blevins said. University of Michigan students rallied on the Diag Tuesday afternoon in support of reproductive rights and against sexual violence. Students gathered in front of the Hatcher Graduate Library to listen and participate in discussions with members of Roe v. Rape, the student organization that hosted the event. Founded by U-M alum Emma Sandberg in 2019, Roe v. Rape advocates for reproductive rights on campus and assists survivors of sexual violence. Business junior Aditi Jain is one of the co-presidents of Roe v. Rape. She told The Michigan Daily that Sandberg launched the organization after having a bad experience filing a complaint with another university’s Title IX office in 2019 when she learned that pursuant to University policy, complainants at the University of Michigan were required to be cross-examined by her perpetrator. Effective Oct. 2021, University policy states cross-examination processes must now be mediated by an advisor from both the respondent and complainant, but cross- examination is still required by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Michigan. “When a survivor was hearing their case, their perpetrator could cross-examine them,” Jain said. “That means a victim would have to be interrogated by their rapist which is completely traumatizing and not okay at all. So (Sandberg) formed this to have a demand against that.” During the rally, members of Roe v. Rape spoke about why they believe overturning Roe v. Wade has been harmful to a huge portion of the American population. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade, effectively revoking the constitutional right to abortion and enabling abortion bans to take place. Andrew Panter, Engineering senior and co-president of Roe v. Rape, spoke at the rally about how a lack of access to abortion care combined with sexual violence can create dangerous home life situations for many women and children, specifically. “Roe v. Rape is focused on sexual violence, but it’s all too clear how reproductive coercion can stack with these problems to not only oppress people, but further entrench them in their situation,” Panter said. LSA sophomore Cory Plotzke, a member of Roe v. Rape, spoke about how the government took away reproductive rights from students by overturning Roe v. Wade and urged students to vote for candidates who will prioritize reproductive rights in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. The ballot includes Proposal 3, which restores reproductive freedom and prevents the prosecution of doctors for providing abortion care in Michigan. Plotzke congratulated attendees for embracing political activism by coming to the rally. “I want to outline the absolute importance there is in this upcoming election when it comes to securing our reproductive rights,” Plotzke said. “Let your political action begin (with) voting, volunteering and getting involved with events like this one.” After the rally, Panter told The Daily how Roe v. Rape has worked to promote reproductive rights and combat sexual violence over the last couple of years. One of the organization’s biggest projects has been helping to draft Senate Bill No. 497, which was introduced in the Michigan Legislature by state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, in June 2021 and is currently in the legislative process. The bill would expand the Michigan penal code’s definition of “mentally incapacitated” to include people who willingly ingested mind- altering substances like alcohol. “We think it doesn’t matter if you drink the alcohol on your own or someone (forces you to), you’re still mentally incapacitated,” Panter said. “So our proposed bill revises that definition to include more survivors of sexual assault and protect them.” Panter said he feels the University’s current policies involving sexual violence are not enough to protect its students. He added that he is hopeful new University President Santa Ono will support survivors and work to prevent sexual violence on campus. At the Board of Regents meeting last month, Ono pledged to create a central ethics, integrity and compliance office to help address sexual misconduct complaints. GOT A NEWS TIP? E-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. INDEX Vol. CXXXII, No. 99 ©2022 The Michigan Daily NEWS............................1 A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 M I C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1 michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit Follow The Daily on Instagram, @michigandaily michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Wednesday, November 9, 2022 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Roe v. Rape holds protest in support of reproductive rights Undergrads organize for increased support from ‘U’ in cases of sexual violence CAMPUS LIFE BSU calls on UMich to increase support for Black students at Diag rally Union demands University combat anti-Blackness, fund K-12 education to increase diversity Read more at MichiganDaily.com LILA TURNER/Daily RACHEL MINTZ & CAROLINE WANG Daily Staff Reporters On Monday at 2 p.m., Ulrich’s shut its doors for the last time. For 88 years, Ulrich’s was the go-to place for University of Michigan students in need of textbooks, school supplies and campus memorabilia. Located at the corner of South University and East University Avenues, the Ann Arbor small business has a history dating back to 1934. Now, the shelves are vacant, empty cardboard boxes are scattered around the floor and the bookstore’s final customers have taken home the last heavily-discounted remnants of a literary empire. Usually, at this time of year, students would be frantically dashing in and out of the store all afternoon, snagging a Blue Book for an upcoming midterm exam or scrounging the basement for a copy of the history textbook they hadn’t realized they needed. But this October, the atmosphere at Ulrich’s is somber. Patrons walk aimless laps around the inside of the store, knowing this is the last time they will ever be able to. The sign on the outside of the door reads, “After 88 years, Ulrich’s will be closing its doors on October 31, 2022 … Go Blue Forever.” It is not clear why the store is closing. Ulrich’s representatives, including store manager Tracy Buse, told The Michigan Daily they were unable to comment about the store closing. Ulrich’s has also declined to speak with other local media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press and MLive, about the reason the store has decided not to renew its lease, which ends on Nov. 14, according to MLive. The Daily spoke to several employees working their last shift at Ulrich’s on Monday and all of them expressed a shared sentiment of sadness and nostalgia. Still, they said they were not allowed to comment on the store’s closing. The only public communication from the company about Ulrich’s shutting its doors has been on social media. About five weeks ago, Ulrich’s shared the news in an Instagram post. “Ulrich’s Bookstore has seen many changes over 88 years and we have helped many young people start their educational journey each and every semester,” the post read. “You’ve all been a part of our Ulrich’s story: past and present.” Leann Fowler is the vice president of Follett Higher Education, a developer that purchases and operates campus bookstores across the U.S., which acquired Ulrich’s in 2015. Fowler wrote in an email to The Daily that she has been grateful to collaborate with Ulrich’s over the years. “Follett is grateful to have been a part of Ulrich’s story, and we’re thankful for the support from the University of Michigan campus community over the past seven years,” Fowler wrote. Fowler said she was unable to respond to any further questions about the store. Former President Barack Obama rallied for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democratic candidates running for office in Michigan at Renaissance High School in Detroit Saturday afternoon. At the event, titled “Get Out the Vote”, Obama delivered remarks for roughly an hour, talking primarily about the importance of electing Democrats and calling on the few thousand attendees to encourage their friends and family to go to the polls. “These days, just about every Republican politician seems obsessed with two things: owning the libs … and getting Donald Trump’s approval,” Obama said. “They are not interested in actually solving problems.” Former President Donald Trump visited Macomb Michigan earlier this month to campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and other Republican candidates. He criticized Whitmer for her policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and her stance on crime and abortion. Two hecklers attempted to interrupt Obama’s speech, the first shouting at him while he spoke about the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Paul Pelosi underwent surgery in San Francisco for a skull fracture and injuries to his arm. Another protester yelled in response to Obama’s discussion of rising inflation throughout the country. Both hecklers were escorted out by event staff. Following the first interruption, Obama spoke about how it is important to remain focused on issues that matter to voters and to avoid getting distracted by partisan spectacles or becoming apathetic about politics, no matter how tempting it might be. “We get distracted instead of focusing on what’s important,” Obama said. “I understand why people are anxious. I understand why you might be worried about the course of the country. I understand why sometimes it’s tempting just to tune out, watch football, watch ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ But I’m here to tell you that tuning out is not an option.” ‘Go Blue Forever’: Ulrich’s closes for good after 88 years in Ann Arbor Obama rallies for Whitmer, Michigan Democrats candidates in Detroit Campus community express sadness, nostalgia while closing reason remains unknown Left-wing politicians advocate for getting out to vote, abortion rights Read more at MichiganDaily.com Read more at MichiganDaily.com CAMPUS LIFE NEWS CAMPUS LIFE IRENA LI Daily Staff Reporter LSA Senior and Black Student Union speaker Kayla Tate speaks at the “More than Four: the 4 Point Platform” rally Tuesday evening on the Diag. Former President Barack Obama greets supporters with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after the Michigan Democrats’ Get Out the Vote Rally in Detroit Saturday afternoon. JULIANNE YOON/Daily JOEY LIN Daily Staff Reporter Read more at MichiganDaily.com RONI KANE , SEJAL PATIL & RILEY HODDER Daily News Editor & Daily Staff Reporters