the michigan times, third issue

6
By SIRIUS WELCH Times Senior Reporter Welcome activities on campus include many exciting ways for students to spend their first few weeks at the University of Michigan- Flint. For the week of Sept. 19, students may try out new foods at the International Taste Fest, be a part of a hu- man peace sign during Peace Day, or see a comedy show. All of these events are free. e International Taste Fest is on Sept. 20 and fea- tures not only unique foods from around the world, but also henna tattoos, mu- sic, and clothing try-ons. Students can also see their name written in different languages. Last year, approxi- mately 250 students attend- ed the event. Many of the volunteers at the event are International Students. is event lasts from 4-7 p.m. in the UCEN Lobby. Malin Clark, Program Co- ordinator of the Internation- al Center, says the diversity that the International Taste Fest offers is important. “I think it’s important to know about other people, not just about yourself and your close friends, but also learning about other people,” Clark said. e world-recognized Peace Day is on Sept. 21. Last year, around 75-100 students were photographed on the First Street Resi- dence Lawn making a Peace Sign. Brian Proffer, Student Activities Coordinator from Office of Student Life, was involved in this last year. “I think it went really well,” Proffer said. “We were able to make a pretty nice size peace sign. Hopefully this year, with getting the word out sooner and with it already being the second year we’re doing it, there will be more participants.” is year, the event is dif- ferent since it also involves a flag parade down Saginaw Street and Kearsley Street. Students interested in being a part of the flag parade should meet at the White Building next to the Early Childhood Development Center playground at 12 p.m. Flags will not only be from different countries, but also from local student, cultural, or religious organi- zations. Asinda Gadzama, Coordi- nator of the Office of Study Abroad in the International Center, says the event high- lights how alike people are by working with these dif- ferent units. She also says it is important to know people may have different beliefs than you. “I think appreciating that is a way to overcome some of the fears and barriers people have about people that are different than them,” Gadzama said. “I think this event is a way for people to not just meet and interact, but also a way for them to overcome those fears they may have.” Additionally, Gadzama says it is important for students to appreciate their differences. “I think it’s important for students, both international and domestic, to realize that we are living in one space together and we should ap- preciate our differences and not be afraid of them, but highlight them and highlight how we’re different, but we’re still the same.” At 1:30 p.m., the human peace sign will be formed on First Street Residence Lawn and an aerial photo will be taken. Afterward, participat- ing students may attend a re- ception in the Peace Garden of Willson Park. Finally, the College Hu- mor Comedy Explosion will take place on Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. in the KIVA Auditori- um in the UCEN. Headlin- ing the event will be former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Finesse Mitchell. Opening for him will be Hannibal Buress, who has written for “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock.” is event is expected to last be- tween two and three hours. In addition to the In- ternational Taste Fest, the International Center has many upcoming events like the Oct. 5 Study Abroad Fair and the International Education Week in Novem- ber. e International Center subscribes to “e Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas,” which is free for all students. It helps students gain necessary International skills before they go abroad. e Guide is online at www. workingoverseas.com/um- flint Sirius can be reached at siri- usw@umflint.edu. GET MORE ONLINE! FREE WWW.THEMICHIGANTIMES.COM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 Columnists talk fantasy, college football [4A & 5A] Annual cake race offers exercise, treats - A2 U to host live comedy event - A3 Fine Arts fall line-up - A3 On the set of “e Dark Night Rises” - A3 Blue Bits FIA’s College Town Movie Night preview [4A] More Lex & Leroy [4A] Welcome Back Picnic 2011 By BRITTNEY WALKER Times Senior Reporter e sun was just one of the many guests that flocked to UM-Flint’s annual Welcome Back Picnic on ursday, Sept. 15 from noon to 8 p.m. Kearsley Street and Wilson Park bustled with activity. Students were asked to check in at a welcome tent by presenting their M-Card. ey were then given yellow wrist bands that allowed them full access to all of the picnic’s activities and carnival rides. Some activities included a rock-climbing wall, free airbrush tattoos, and creating customized shutter shades via Spin Art. Students could also ride the Ferris wheel, Gravitron or Swinger, or wander and browse information tables lining Kearsley Street. Jessie Hurse, director of Student Life and chair of the Welcome Back Picnic committee, said that there were about 75 tables pro- viding information about campus organizations, departments and commu- nity organizations. Last year the event took place in McKinnon Plaza and the UCEN. Hurse said that around 1,500 people were estimated to have attended the picnic last year and that the new location and good weather could have enhanced this year’s turn out. “e weather played a part in it because we had to move the event inside last year,” Hurse said. “Luckily we didn’t have that problem this year, and I’m expecting to eclipse that number.” He also said that there was a new system that al- lowed them to keep track of the amount of this year’s attendees. Students were accounted for when they had their M-Card Brittney Walker/Times Photo Students enjoy the sights, sounds and events that were held at the annual Welcome Back Picnic on Thursday, Sept. 15. In addition to free food, information regarding student organizations and t-shirts, students were treated to a carnival-style spread with attractions ranging from mechanical swings to a Ferris wheel. Kerry Daly/Times Photo Brittney Walker/Times Photo Brittney Walker/Times Photo See PICNIC| Page A-3 U plans more welcome activities Annual event features student orgs, carnival rides

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The Michigan Times and M-Times online is the student-run newspaper and website of The University of Michigan-Flint. The print edition is published every Monday during the fall and winter semesters. The online edition is updated as often as possible, with all print editions uploaded each Monday during the fall and winter semesters. Weekly circulation is 2,000 copies distributed through the UM-Flint campus and surrounding downtown area.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The Michigan Times, Third Issue

By SIRIUS WELCHTimes Senior Reporter

Welcome activities on campus include many exciting ways for students to spend their first few weeks at the University of Michigan-Flint. For the week of Sept. 19, students may try out new foods at the International Taste Fest, be a part of a hu-man peace sign during Peace Day, or see a comedy show. All of these events are free.

The International Taste Fest is on Sept. 20 and fea-tures not only unique foods from around the world, but also henna tattoos, mu-sic, and clothing try-ons. Students can also see their name written in different languages. Last year, approxi-mately 250 students attend-ed the event. Many of the volunteers at the event are International Students. This event lasts from 4-7 p.m. in the UCEN Lobby.

Malin Clark, Program Co-ordinator of the Internation-al Center, says the diversity that the International Taste Fest offers is important.

“I think it’s important to know about other people, not just about yourself and your close friends, but also learning about other people,” Clark said.

The world-recognized Peace Day is on Sept. 21. Last year, around 75-100 students were photographed on the First Street Resi-dence Lawn making a Peace Sign. Brian Proffer, Student Activities Coordinator from Office of Student Life, was involved in this last year.

“I think it went really well,” Proffer said. “We were able to make a pretty nice size peace sign. Hopefully this year, with getting the word out sooner and with it already being the second year we’re doing it, there will be more participants.”

This year, the event is dif-ferent since it also involves a flag parade down Saginaw Street and Kearsley Street. Students interested in being a part of the flag parade should meet at the White Building next to the Early Childhood Development Center playground at 12 p.m. Flags will not only be from different countries, but also from local student, cultural, or religious organi-zations.

Asinda Gadzama, Coordi-

nator of the Office of Study Abroad in the International Center, says the event high-lights how alike people are by working with these dif-ferent units. She also says it is important to know people may have different beliefs than you.

“I think appreciating that is a way to overcome some of the fears and barriers people have about people that are different than them,” Gadzama said. “I think this event is a way for people to not just meet and interact, but also a way for them to overcome those fears they may have.”

Additionally, Gadzama says it is important for students to appreciate their differences.

“I think it’s important for students, both international and domestic, to realize that we are living in one space together and we should ap-preciate our differences and not be afraid of them, but highlight them and highlight how we’re different, but we’re still the same.”

At 1:30 p.m., the human peace sign will be formed on First Street Residence Lawn and an aerial photo will be taken. Afterward, participat-ing students may attend a re-ception in the Peace Garden of Willson Park.

Finally, the College Hu-mor Comedy Explosion will take place on Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. in the KIVA Auditori-um in the UCEN. Headlin-ing the event will be former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Finesse Mitchell. Opening for him will be Hannibal Buress, who has written for “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock.” This event is expected to last be-tween two and three hours.

In addition to the In-ternational Taste Fest, the International Center has many upcoming events like the Oct. 5 Study Abroad Fair and the International Education Week in Novem-ber. The International Center subscribes to “The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas,” which is free for all students. It helps students gain necessary International skills before they go abroad. The Guide is online at www.workingoverseas.com/um-flint

Sirius can be reached at [email protected].

GET MORE ONLINE!

FREE WWW.THEMICHIGANTIMES.COM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Columnists talk fantasy, college football [4A & 5A]

• Annual cake race offers exercise, treats - A2• U to host live comedy event - A3• Fine Arts fall line-up - A3• On the set of “The Dark Night Rises” - A3

Blue Bits

FIA’s College Town Movie Night preview [4A]More Lex & Leroy [4A]

Welcome Back Picnic 2011

By BRITTNEYWALKERTimes Senior Reporter

The sun was just one of the many guests that flocked to UM-Flint’s annual Welcome Back Picnic on Thursday, Sept. 15 from noon to 8 p.m. Kearsley Street and Wilson Park bustled with activity.

Students were asked to check in at a welcome tent by presenting their M-Card. They were then

given yellow wrist bands that allowed them full access to all of the picnic’s activities and carnival rides. Some activities included a rock-climbing wall, free airbrush tattoos, and creating customized shutter shades via Spin Art. Students could also ride the Ferris wheel, Gravitron or Swinger, or wander and browse information tables lining Kearsley Street.

Jessie Hurse, director of Student Life and chair of

the Welcome Back Picnic committee, said that there were about 75 tables pro-viding information about campus organizations, departments and commu-nity organizations.

Last year the event took place in McKinnon Plaza and the UCEN. Hurse said that around 1,500 people were estimated to have attended the picnic last year and that the new location and good weather could have enhanced this year’s turn out.

“The weather played a part in it because we had to move the event inside last year,” Hurse said. “Luckily we didn’t have that problem this year, and I’m expecting to eclipse that number.”

He also said that there was a new system that al-lowed them to keep track of the amount of this year’s attendees. Students were accounted for when they had their M-Card

Brittney Walker/Times PhotoStudents enjoy the sights, sounds and events that were held at the annual Welcome Back Picnic on Thursday, Sept. 15. In addition to free food, information regarding student organizations and t-shirts, students were treated to a carnival-style spread with attractions ranging from mechanical swings to a Ferris wheel.

Kerry Daly/Times Photo

Brittney Walker/Times Photo

Brittney Walker/Times Photo

See PICNIC| Page A-3

U plans morewelcome activities Annual event features student orgs, carnival rides

Page 2: The Michigan Times, Third Issue

Monday, September 19, 2011 A-2 The Michigan Times www.themichigantimes.com

From the editor’s desk...

ONE WEEK ON CAMPUSWhen: Mon., Sept. 19, 6– 7 p.m.What: Captain’s Meeting IM SportsWhere: RecCen Activities Room

When: Mon., Sept. 19, 6 – 10 p.m.What: Monday MannaWhere: UCEN Kiva

When: Mon., Sept. 19, 6:30 – 9 p.m.What: Theta Chi Broom Ball Where: UPAV Rink

When: Mon., Sept. 19, 7-9 p.m.What: Panhellenic Council Recruitment Information Night with ParentsWhere: FH 307

When: Mon., Sept. 19, 7-9:30 p.m.What: Zeta Phi Beta Mix and MingleWhere: UCEN Clint’s Main Stage

When: Tue., Sept. 20, 12:30-2:30 p.m.What: Student Life Regis-tered Student Org. MeetingWhere: UCEN Happenings

When: Tue., Sept. 20, 4-7 p.m.What: International Taste FestWhere: UCEN

When: Tue., Sept. 20, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.What: CAB MeetingWhere: UCEN Alumni

When: Tue., Sept. 20, 5-11 p.m.What: Panhellenic Recruit-ment EventWhere: UCEN Michigan Rooms

When: Tue., Sept. 20, 6 – 7 p.m.What: Captain’s Meeting IM SportsWhere: RecCen Activities Room

When: Tue., Sept. 20, 6:30-9 p.m.What: Theta Chi Information NightWhere: FH 307

When: Wed., Sept. 21, 7a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.What: Smart Commute EventWhere: UM-Flint Campus

When: Wed., Sept. 21, 1:45-2:30 p.m.What: Muslim Student As-sociation MeetingWhere: UCEN Ontario

When: Wed. Sept. 21, 2-3 p.m.What: Stand for Peace ReceptionWhere: Outside Area Willson Park

When: Sat., Sept. 24, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.What: Debate TournamentWhere: French Hall

When: Sat., Sept. 24, 12-4 p.m.What: AIDS WalkWhere: UCEN

Send your information to Campus Editor Beth Leblanc at [email protected].

While The Michigan Times strives to provide the most timely, accurate information possible, occasionally errors may appear in the paper. If you spot one, let us know at [email protected] or 810-762-3475, and we will print a correction.

Corrections

The Michigan TimesThe Michigan Times has been produced independently by the

students of the University of Michigan-Flint since 1959.

Editorial Staff(810)762-3475

Lacee-Starr Horton.......Editor-in-ChiefAaron Burch................Managing EditorBeth Leblanc..................Campus EditorKerry Daly..........................Photo EditorKevin Chambers............Web Content & Social Media EditorDr. Mike Lewis...............Faculty Adviser

Staff: Austin Bailey, Brittney Walker, Chris Jones, Justin Shanlian, Kurtis Banks, Sirius Welch.

Submissions to The Michigan Times become property of The Michigan Times unless material is syndicated. The Michigan Times reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, length and content.

The Michigan Times is available in full format online and on your mobile

device at www.themichigantimes.com.

Business Staff(810)762-0919

Joseph Patterson....Advertising ManagerAvailable...............Distribution ManagerAvailable...............Distribution AssistantAvailable.....................Graphic Designer

The Michigan Times is published on stan-dard broadsheet newsprint on a weekly basis by The Pioneer Group.

The Michigan Times offers discounted ad rates to university groups. The Michigan Times reserves the right to refuse any ad-vertisement deemed offensive, distasteful or deceptive.

To contact us, send inquiries to:

The Michigan TimesUniversity of Michigan-Flint

381 UCEN303 E. Kearsley St.

Flint, MI 48502

Fax: (810)762-3023

What a kick-off to the new school year! This years Welcome Back Pic-nic was one of the largest I have ever been to since my time here on campus.Free food and t-shirts aside, this years annual event came complete with carnival rides and tons of activities. I hope you all had a chance to check out the student organization tables and at least grab

your t-shirt and a hot dog.Be sure to also check

out this weeks events, International Taste Fest, Peace Day and College Humor Comedy Explo-sion.

Hopefully you are all following our M-Times Social feature. Don’t forget to tweet with the #umflint or #mtimes hashtag for a chance at being published. We are

also introducing an advice column by our Photo Edi-tor, Kerry Daly.

Once again, The Michi-gan Times loves mail, if you have an issue or a story idea you’d like to see in the paper leave us a comment on Facebook or send us an email. GO BLUE!

Lacee-Starr [email protected]

ASK KERRYCan’t decide on a major? Don’t know how to approach that hottie in biology? Trouble adjusting to dorm life? Don’t know where to party downtown? Then ASK KERRY! She may not hold a bachelor degree, but she’s definitely been attending college long enough to have at least a Ph.D. in being awesome.

Send your questions to Kerry at [email protected]. You won’t be sorry.

Annual cake race of-fers exercise, treats

Chris Jones/Times PhotoStudents who crossed the finish line in the Cake Race were allowed their pick of several dozen cakes, pies, cookies, and other baked goods in the University Theater. The race began at the intersection of Wallenburg and Kearsley, adjacent to the Theater. The route was restricted to within UM-Flint campus property for safety reasons. The race was set up and managed by Gary Parr, Associate Director of Recreational Services. "I've been participating since its beginning." Parr said. "It's about having fun, encouraging people to get out and move and get physical, enjoy the day and get some cake afterwards." The Cake Race started at 11 a.m. and ended thirty minutes later. The event was a part of the Welcome Back Picnic.

Chris Jones/Times PhotoParticipants who finished the Cake Race early were given the possibility of several dozen baked goods to chose from. The "trophies" consisted of German chocolate, pumpkin spice, coffee cakes, double-chocolate chip cakes, Louisiana crunch cake, and multi-cheese cake as well as chocolate chip cookies, brownies with sprinkles and pecan pie bars. The race began at the intersection of Wallenburg and Kearsley, adjacent to the Theater. The route was restricted to within UM-Flint campus property for safety reasons. It began at 11. Thirty minutes later, most of the participants were inside the Theater selecting their prize.

JEFF KAROUBAssociated Press

ADRIAN, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man suspected of killing his three young sons, who have been missing since visiting his home on Thanksgiving, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on Thursday — a punishment that will keep him behind bars while police pursue murder charges.

Before hearing her sentence, John Skelton told Lenawee Circuit Court Judge Margaret Noe that he has cried every day since he last saw his sons. He and his ex-wife were going through a bitter divorce and she had been granted sole custody of the boys, and Skelton insists he gave them to a group to protect them from their mother, although he has refused to identify the group.

Skelton told Noe that he would have acted differently had the system not failed him.

If he was hoping for sympathy, he didn’t get it. Noe sentenced him to 10 to 15 years in prison, a stiffer penalty than the 4 to 12 years the state recommends for the unlawful imprisonment charge he pleaded no contest to in July. She called Skelton’s version of events “ridiculous,” and admonished him for put-ting his ex-wife and the com-munity through the agony of not knowing what befell the children.

“For months I have asked you to return Andrew, Alex-ander and Tanner. You have refused to answer me truth-

fully,” she said. “I have asked you to tell me where the children are located. You have refused, telling one conflicting story after another to explain their circumstances since they were last seen.

Skelton was led out of the courtroom in shackles and was not made available to comment. His lawyer, John Glaser, had objected to the severity of the sentence, tell-ing Noe there was no cause for exceeding the guidelines because there was “nothing here to conclude a person was injured or killed.”

“My client is not here on a murder charge,” he said.

Skelton maintains that he didn’t harm the children, and he agreed to the no contest plea, which is not an admis-sion of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes, in exchange for prosecutors dropping a charge of parental kidnapping.

Skelton hasn’t been charged with murder, but police said early on they sus-pected he killed his children. After Thursday’s hearing, Larry Weeks, the police chief in Skelton’s hometown of Morenci, said he’s pursuing murder charges.

“We want resolution now ... but it’s a marathon, not a sprint. ... I believe that John Skelton murdered those boys,” Weeks said.

Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton were 9, 7, and 5 years old, respectively, when they went to spend Thanks-giving at their father’s home in Morenci, about 70 miles southwest of Detroit near the Ohio state line. The boys’

mother, Tanya Zuvers, had exclusive custody of them, but agreed to let them visit their father if he returned them the next day.

When Skelton didn’t return them, Zuvers notified police, who arrested Skelton and launched what became a massive search effort over the next few weeks. Cell phone records indicated Skelton left home the day after Thanks-giving and drove at least as far as Holiday City, Ohio, about 20 miles southwest, before returning home. Despite the help of hundreds of volun-teers, the search produced nothing.

The unlawful imprison-ment charge pertains to Skelton’s failure to return the boys to Zuvers the day after Thanksgiving. Skelton says he doesn’t know what happened to his children after he handed them over to the unidentified group.

Zuvers has denied ever mistreating her sons.

In a prepared statement she read in court Thursday, Zu-vers accused her ex-husband of lying and said her sons’ disappearance has been her “worst nightmare come true.”

Zuvers said the start of the school year has been par-ticularly painful for her. The boys loved playing soccer, but Andrew was going to switch to football this year.

“I see his friends going to practice and know that he should be here to enjoy this new experience.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

Mich. father of 3 missing boys gets 10-15 years

Page 3: The Michigan Times, Third Issue

The Michigan Times www.themichigantimes.com Monday, September 19, 2011 A-3

PICNICFrom Page A-1

By SIRIUS WELCHTimes Senior Reporter

There’s something funny about UM-Flint. At least there will be when it hosts the College Humor Com-edy Explosion on Sept. 22. The event will feature two stand-up comedians as well as a host.

Jessie Hurse, direc-tor of Student Life, set up this event after being approached by Jonathon Green, a junior majoring in theatre.

“When I realized his seriousness and his dedica-tion, I asked that he help me in putting the event together,” Hurse said. “He and I worked together to find a headlining artist and subsequently, the opening artist for the event.”

The headliner is Finesse Mitchell, a former repertory player on “Saturday Night Live.” You might recog-nize him from the movies “Who’s Your Caddy?” and “Mad Money.” Mitchell also has been a panelist on “Chelsea Lately” and a columnist for ESSENCE magazine. On top of all that, he wrote the book, “Your Girlfriends Only Know so Much,” which won the 2008 African-American Literary Award for Best Comedy Book.

Hurse said that he relied heavily on Green’s expertise

in selecting the perform-ers. Mitchell was chosen after Green showed Hurse YouTube clips of Mitchell performing.

“I thought that his com-edy bits would resonate well with our current students and that he would bridge between all racial and ethnic gaps and barriers, and that he wouldn't be offensive. So, those were the things that I loved about his comedy routine,” Hurse said.

Opening for Mitchell will be Hannibal Buress, who has written for “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock.” He said that performing at this show for money seemed like a good deal and that he does not describe his comedy.

“I never really describe my comedy. I just do it. It's a collection of words that I put together that I find somewhat humorous. I say them into a microphone and hope that other people feel the same way,” Buress said via email interview.

Hurse selected Buress after viewing a performance of him from the company that represents Mitchell. He also read reviews of his work.

“After I read some of his reviews from artists like Chris Rock, Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld, I thought that he would be a great addition to this program,”

Hurse said.The host of the event will

be J.J. Green, aka Jonathon Green. In his experience, Green has been in 10 films, a few commercials, and many plays. He has interest in both acting and comedy.

“I have always wanted to act and from what I’ve been told, I’m funny,” Green said via email interview. “I dove right in with taking it seri-ously as a career after high school.”

Green said that he hasn’t had contact with either comic, but hopes he can after the event.

“Maybe [Mitchell] will introduce me to his agent and be somewhat of a men-tor for me in this industry,” Green said.

Hurse said students should attend the event as a way to relax and have fun.

“I think that it's great to just laugh. Laughter is one of those expressions that really helps soothe the soul and tear down any stressful barriers that we may have,” Hurse said.

This event is free and will be held in the KIVA Audi-torium in the UCEN at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22.

Finesse Mitchell could not be reached for com-ment.

Sirius can be reached at

[email protected].

swiped at the welcome tent.“Whether you’re a gradu-

ate student, a senior, a junior, sophomore, freshman, new student, transfer student, dual – enrollee, Genesee Early College student, I just want an event where you can come, you can feel welcome, and you can have fun,” Hurse said.

Nick Dean, a senior psychology major, helped to promote his fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau, at the picnic.

“I believe that [the event]

is actually pretty important,” Dean said. “It allows [stu-dents] to see how active the campus life is and can be. If they just want to participate, all they have to do is walk up and talk to someone and find out what’s going on.”

Many students approved of the new location for the picnic.

Melanie Hayes, a senior secondary education major, said that this was her fourth year attending the Welcome Back Picnic.

“I think it brings a lot more people, actually. Before it was kind of crammed and people weren’t really getting around as well, but now

everyone can walk around more and do more activi-ties,” Hayes said.“Actually, I think it’s awe-some. Keeping everybody outdoors. The rides are great and everybody’s outside. That’s the best part,” said sophomore business major Lucas Polk.Hurse said that he is always willing to take suggestions for next year’s picnic.“I hope that individuals who participate in this event feel welcome, that they feel that they are at home here on this campus,” Hurse said.

Brittney can be reached at [email protected].

Kerry Daly/Times PhotoThis year’s Welcome Back Picnic featured carnival rides like the one pictured here. Stu-dents were treated to free admission, free food and free UM-Flint t-shirts. Another new addition this year was the placement of the carnival along the Kearsley Street corridor.

By JESSICA STRACHANASSOCIATED PRESS

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — If you ask most people about Flint, chances are you'll hear horror stories of a battered city with a broken past.

A recent Google search of "Flint, Michigan," pro-duced a photo in the search results that said "God, help us save Flint," and a top related search of "Flint crime."

But if you ask a group of locals who have their minds on a new movement sweep-ing the city, they'll tell you that they are the city of Flint.

"My goal is ... to give

naysayers a glimpse of the reality that is Flint: the people," said Cathy Lan-caster, 33. "Flint has such a strong community of activ-ists, artists and culture. We are not just a factory town down on its luck, but a city reinventing itself through the work of its people."

Lancaster, a local chil-dren's librarian and the president of the Flint Club Board, is one of the people leading the way in shat-tering the national media's labels and the widespread stereotypes that engulf Flint's reputation. One way they're doing that is through a video project entitled "I am Flint," a documentary exploring the city's diverse people and

lifestyles.They hope to release the

video on the Flint Club website in early fall.

"My hope is the original piece of work will begin a dialogue within the com-munity that Flint Club will continue to expand upon through programming and social networks throughout the year," said Lancaster, a Flint Club member for 10 years.

"I also have great hopes that this project will be a window for those across the country to look into the heart of Flint."

Lancaster and the others who are filming and being filmed in the project believe that the crime and struggles the city face are only part of

Flint — and certainly not the most important part.

"I am Flint" is their way to present a more in-depth picture of what Flint is and who makes up the city, beyond the negative news. These interviews will give a look into the true faces and feelings of Flint.

"I feel the reputation of Flint is changing for the better," said Lancaster, a Flint native.

"I credit the people of Flint and Flint natives for continuously battling the stereotypes and sharing the positive news and events with their families, friends and networks. We also have some very hardwork-ing, pro-Flint activists in various political offices that

have fought hard to bring national attention and sup-port right here to the local level."

Lancaster says she hopes the video also will rekindle a hometown pride for Flint expats to "share with their communities the strength and ingenuity the city they came from truly has."

Marcie Hemgesberg, 27, of Flint Township is one of the project's videogra-phers. The political science student at University of Michigan-Flint has been a Flint Club member for two years now, but never forgets the time she chose not to be part of the solution.

"I was a person who was a believer in the stereo-types. I didn't go into the city much and was trying to get away from Flint," Hemgesberg explained. "Then one day I volun-teered in the city for an extra-credit assignment and stayed on well past the time I needed for the credit. I found I replaced the people I encountered in the com-munities with their stories and faces to combat the stereotypes, and now I care a lot about the city."

Hemgesberg even has plans to move into the city center after graduation.

"It's important to show that Flint is not full of dan-gerous, murderous citizens, but actual people who are a part of the community."

Her biggest hope is for the people of Flint to feel empowered through the project.

"I hope 'I am Flint' cre-ates pride in those who live and work in Flint to stand up for it."

___

Online:

http://www.flintclub.org

___

Information from: The Flint Journal, http://www.mlive.com/flint

Copyright 2011 The Associ-ated Press.

'I am Flint' project explores city's diversity

U to host live comedy event

Page 4: The Michigan Times, Third Issue

Monday, September 19, 2011 A-4 The Michigan Times www.themichigantimes.com

Sports Movies Music Books Culture Food

Stay tuned to the

M-Times for more Exploits with Lex & Leroy

M2

LEX & LEROY | By KURTIS BANKS Staff Cartoonist

By SIRIUS WELCHTimes Senior Reporter

There are a lot of performances to look forward to this fall in the theatre, dance, and music depart-ments.

There will be special event performances of the play “Animals Out of Paper” in the UM-Flint Black Box from Sept. 22-25. The play, written by Rajiv Joseph, follows the personal lives of three origami artists.

The theatre depart-ment will also present two main stage plays this fall. “The Women of Lockerbie” will be per-formed from Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 5, 11 and 13. This play takes place seven years after the crash of Pan Am Flight 103 in Lockerbie, Scotland, and is about a mother trying to find the remains of her son. It has mature emo-tional content and is considered by the the-atre department to be appropriate for ages 14 and older. On Nov. 13, Deborah Brevoort, the writer of the play, will be on campus for a post-show talkback

session.The other main stage

show this fall is “Our Lady of 121st Street,” which will be pre-sented on November 4, 6, 12, 18, 19 and 20. Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, the play is a series of raw, yet hu-morous vignettes that take place amongst old friends who have gathered at a funeral home to visit their old teacher whose body has been stolen.

The music depart-ment has many dif-ferent shows lined up for fall. First, on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m., students may see MusiCol-lage for $10, which will be used to benefit the Music Equipment Fund. On Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m., there will be voice recitals in 164 French Hall, which are free admission. On Nov.16 at 7:30 p.m. there will be a Wind Symphony concert and on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., there will be a Jazz Ensemble concert in the UM-Flint Theatre.

Lois Alexander, as-sociate professor of music and department chair, looks forward to

the fall music season.“We are pleased

to offer an array of inspiring, intellectually appealing, and highly artistic performances to both the campus and greater Flint com-munities,” Alexander said.

The Student Dance Organization also has a lot in store for the fall season. Chief among their offerings, the SDO has a free dance class from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The dance classes include instruction on dance styles, choreography and techniques. The first free dance class begins on Sept. 21.

The Fall 2011 Student Dance concert will be on Dec. 2, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

For students, general admission to musicals at the UM-Flint Theatre is $10, while non-musi-cals are $8. Students, alumni, faculty, or se-nior citizens may buy a 2011-2012 Season Pass for $25.

Sirius can be reached at [email protected].

By BETH LEBLANCCampus Editor

Sept. 22 kicks off the third year of College Town Movie Night at the Flint Institute of Arts. College Town Movie Night is an event at the FIA that includes a free movie every Thursday night at the FIA theatre for students with a Col-lege Town Membership ID.

“We’re the only location for films within walking distance of campus,” Janice Henry, FIA Marketing and Pro-grams Consultant, said in a phone interview.

This Thursday, the FIA will be showing “Super 8” by director J.J. Abrams at 9 p.m. at the FIA. FIA Associ-ate Curator of Film Ed Bradley said that while the movie night is open to the community, they hope to receive many

college students as well.“We try to program

films with younger audi-ences in mind,” Bradley said.

Bradley said that a student advisory com-mittee to the College Town program helps to decide the movies for each Thursday. The student advisory com-mittee is made up of students from all five of the colleges and universities in Flint – UM-Flint, Kettering University, Mott Community Col-lege, Baker College and Davenport University.

Cade Surface, a junior at UM-Flint ma-joring in urban design, has been part of the student advisory com-mittee since it was first formed.

“We’re very lucky in this community that we have such an incred-ible museum so close,” Surface said in a phone

interview. Bradley said that the

College Town Movie Night was created to help college students get to know the mu-seum better. Thanks to input from the student advisory committee, the FIA now stays open later on Thursdays to accommodate college students’ schedules.

“We do it Thursday nights because it’s most convenient for college students,” Bradley said. “The museum hours are later on Thursday until 9 p.m. so if you’d like to get here early you can.”

According to Bradley, horror and sci-fi films have been most popu-lar in the past, includ-ing films like “The Hu-man Centipede” from the Netherlands and “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

According to Henry,

the College Town Mem-bership began as a discussion between the FIA and the presidents of some of the Flint uni-versities.

“We wanted to cre-ate an environment outside of campus that was in line with the kind of educational experi-ence students should have,” Henry said.

Henry said that after their meeting, the FIA applied for funding and was able to underwrite the cost of student memberships. Last year, close to 2,000 students obtained College Town Memberships. Member-ships are for students of good standing free ad-

mission to the FIA and the College Town Movie Night, as well as dis-counts at the Café and the Museum Shop at the FIA. Other activities organized by the FIA for College Town include the Intercollegiate Lego Competition that was held last September. With over 900 atten-dants at the last Lego Competition, Henry said that they plan on hold-ing another competition in February.

College Town Mem-bership is free for univer-sity students and fac-ulty. To obtain a College Town Membership good through August 31, 2012, UM-Flint students

and faculty can visit www.flintarts.org. After clicking on the college town membership icon, students must enter “umflint” as their user ID and use the password “wolverine11.” Students can also enroll for the College Town Member-ship by calling the FIA or visiting the service desk at the FIA.

Bradley hopes for a big student turn out at the “Super 8” showing on Thursday. Future Col-lege Town Movie Nights will include films like “I’m Still Here,” “Junebug” and “Midnight in Paris.”

Beth can be reached at [email protected].

Fine Arts fall line-up

By JOSEPH PATTERSONSports Columnist & Advertising Manager

Finally, everything makes sense again. I am back on schedule, getting up early and being ef-ficient at work (my editor might have different ideas about that one). Finally, ESPN is watchable again and that cable sports package that I pay for all year is actually worth it. Finally, finally, finally, it’s time for football!

So here we are two weeks into the season, some of you are feel-ing very good about your draft and some others, well, not so much. I wouldn’t start making any assumptions about your teams at least until after week three. Patience, grasshopper. Many one-sided trades have been made due to early season panic. Resist the urge to dismantle your team, it is a long season and far too early to determine between trends and a couple bad weeks.

In a league I am in this year a desperation trade has already occurred after a bad start. A stronger owner dangled Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson to a team with Rodgers and not much else. What did the strong owner get for his two weakest players? Dwayne Bowe and Marshawn Lynch. A true starting running back and a true number one receiver for Driver and Nelson. Now, Nelson does have a lot of potential but that is limited by the Packers’ distribution of the ball. Driver may still have some crucial catches this season and will certainly help the Packers win, but as a fantasy option he should only be owned in the deepest leagues. Adding Bowe and Lynch to the bench of a strong team is a shrewd move by an owner who is in it for the

long haul and has planned for injuries and dry spells.

Do your homework before you get trigger-happy. At the end of the year it all balances out. Run-ning backs will get their carries, wideouts will get their yards and all the kickers will look the same. Don’t make your bad start worse by selling low and buying high.

Last but not least, let’s continue with our personality profile. This week, the troublemaker. The trou-blemaker goes by many names, most of which are not accept-able in print. Nonetheless, you know who he or she is. The one owner who is incessantly com-plaining about the rules, the scor-ing system, your keeper league guidelines and just about every-thing else. These owners have their own special place in the hearts of every league’s commis-sioner. We can only take so much of their whining. If only they could understand that we don’t care. This is the owner who wants to change a rule or the point value of a forced fumble to change the outcome of their match-up. And, just like clockwork, within a week of their tantrum begins the, “I’m done with this league,” or “I’m really busy at work and such and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep playing.”

These guys want to do every-thing to win except actually doing the work and watching the games. You cannot whine, legis-late or annoy your opponents to a championship.

At the end of the day, all you can say is “deal with the scor-ing and that horrible team you drafted, and just shut up.”

Joseph can be reached at [email protected]

Fantasy Football personality profile: the troublemaker

College Town Movie Night kicks off with “Super 8”

Page 5: The Michigan Times, Third Issue

The Michigan Times www.themichigantimes.com Monday, September 19, 2011 A-5

“Donkeys” of a different colorIn the house of Maize & Blue By SIRIUS WELCH

Times Senior Reporter

This is the first al-bum I've heard from The Donkeys, but I can already tell that they are a unique band. It's fitting that the first song on this album is “Don't Know Who We Are” as sometimes when something is unique, it is hard to explain it, or know it. Likewise, it is difficult to define The Donkeys. How-ever, I would identify them as a Blues-in-fluenced indie rock band. Their indie rock influence becomes clear throughout “I Like the Way You Walk,” which is remi-niscent of early Mod-est Mouse.

There are also songs that are more influenced by the blues like “Ceiling Tan,” and “New Blue Stockings.” Admit-tedly, even the songs that may at first seem to clearly fall un-der one genre may surprise you. “Bullfrog Blues,” for example, falls more into the band’s indie rock tone.

My favorite song on the album is “Kaleidoscope,” a very spacey song with simple repeated lyrics like “Jupiter is

on the right.” The titular song, “Born with Stripes,” is also catchy with a very up-tempo beat.

If the band weren't unique enough already, they also included two ragas complete with sitar. These two songs work well to complement the other songs on the album without being too obtrusive or out of place.

Besides being a pleasant listening

experience, “Born with Stripes” is also visually appealing. It features a great album cover by Tony Millionaire, creator of Drinky Crow.

I was very im-pressed when I first heard this album and their songs have not diminished in value with subsequent listening sessions. This is the type of band that can't be pegged into just one musical genre and I

think that proves to be a positive. Maybe the reason why this is such a good album is that they aren't trying to conform to one genre. They're simply making good music. Perhaps that is their genre - good music.

Verdict: A Sirius can be reached at [email protected].

By AUSTIN BAILEYSports Columnist

After letting the emotions settle from Michigan’s historic night game, one thing is clear, Michi-gan Athletic Direc-tor David Brandon got it right. The first night game in the Big House couldn’t have been scripted any better for Brandon and the Wolverines.

The night started with a tribute to Michigan legend Desmond Howard and ended with the birth of another leg-end, Denard Robin-son. Robinson’s two touchdown passes in the game’s final min-ute left Notre Dame stunned once again.

For the third year in a row against Notre Dame, Michigan has scored the game-winning touchdown within the final 30 seconds, each time resulting in a four-point victory. For Denard, it’s his sec-ond consecutive win against the Irish.

Notre Dame con-trolled most of the game, however. After three quarters, Michigan trailed by 17. The Wolverines never even had a

drive of more than five plays. But four fourth quarter touch-downs, starting with Robinson recovering a Stephen Hopkins fumble and ending with a pass to Roy Roundtree with two seconds remaining, earned Michigan their second win of the season.

Aside from an annual night game in the Big House, Brandon is start-ing a new tradition. Brandon plans on honoring former Michigan greats by designating them a “Michigan Football Legend.” Howard is the first to receive this honor. Instead of retiring the player’s number, a special patch will be placed on the jersey of the player who is cur-rently wearing that number.

A new challenge for Brandon is to rec-reate the excitement level from this game in future games un-der the lights.

Austin can be con-tacted at [email protected]

College Town Movies

FREE every Thursday @ 9:00p

Watch edgy independent fi lms at the FIAFREE admission with college ID or FIA College Town membership card

Flint Institute of Arts1120 E Kearsley St • Flint • 810.234.1695 • fl intarts.org

Phase 710/6This horror fi lm from Argentina concerns a virus epidemic that renders its victims into a zombie-like state. Rated R

Junebug10/13Amy Adams scored an early movie gig —and earned her fi rst Oscar nomination—in this indie comedy-drama. Rated R

Midnight in Paris 10/20Kate McAdams and Owen Wilson co-star in Woody Allen’s comedy-fantasy about a young couple. Rated PG-13

Ringu 10/27Japan’s all-time box offi ce horror hit, this fi lm spawned the American remake The Ring, but it’s even better. Not Rated

By JUSTIN SHANLIANTimes Staff Writer

The first weekend of August this past sum-mer, I was delighted to take my girlfriend on an overnight trip into the City of Steel, Pitts-burgh. Filming was to take place in this city for a day scene in the upcoming movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Many weeks prior to heading to Pittsburgh, I had filled out an online applica-tion to be a part of this film. It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to be part of a Batman film. I never thought in a million years I would be a part of such an event, let alone participate in a Christopher Nolan Bat-man film.

Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the locale for the day of filming. After a six-hour drive, my girlfriend and I finally arrived in Pittsburgh and we only had an hour to get to the stadium. Ev-ery street and road that was leading toward the buses had a mile-long traffic jam. My anxiety level rose significantly as I saw the vast expanse of cars waiting to find the bus. The bridge that was to take us to where we needed was closed for construction. After a quick detour to a park-ing garage, my girlfriend and I walked in through the humid morning air onto the buses that

raced us from one part of Pittsburgh to Heinz Field.

Walking into the stadi-um was incredible. Real-izing a childhood dream had just come to fruition made me smile from ear to ear. Not only was I in Heinz Field, home of my favorite team, but I was also going to be in a Batman movie. What could be better than that? Instead of seeing the Pittsburgh Steel-ers logo everywhere, I was looking at a huge Gotham Rogues sym-bol in the middle of the field and the team was decked out in Rogues uniforms. The morning filming consisted of a lengthy shoot, which was very surprising con-sidering the short scene that was being filmed.

After filming had wrapped, the rain be-gan to fall. Of course I had forgotten to bring an umbrella, so get-ting wet was something I would just have to endure. Filming was sus-pended for about thirty minutes and then after that the sun came out bringing with it unbear-able heat and humidity. Heat was a problem not only for the people in the stands but for the film crew and actors as well.

In between filming, the football players were revealed to us. Major Pittsburgh Steel-ers players are in the film disguised as Rogues

players; Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace, Troy Polamalu and even former Steel-ers’ coach Bill Cowher were part of the film-ing. Special guests like Cowher raffled off prizes ranging from iPods to new cars.

It was a surreal day for me. Not only were some of my favorite football players there, but I was able to see my favorite director, Christopher No-lan, at work. Seeing him at work on “The Dark Knight Rises” was a real treat. Nolan’s demeanor was calm, cool and col-

lected, which is surpris-ing considering Nolan has the monumental task of topping “The Dark Knight” – a daunt-ing task for any trilogy.

This experience has changed my life. Know-ing the grand scale of action that will take place, I am convinced this movie is going to set the bar higher than “The Dark Knight”.

“The Dark Knight Rises” opens in theatres in July 2012.

Justin can be reached at [email protected].

On the set of “The Dark Knight Rises”

Page 6: The Michigan Times, Third Issue

Monday, September 19, 2011 A-6 The Michigan Times www.themichigantimes.com