2 $ OCTOBER 16, 2026 | VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 22 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Power struggle! A2P2 v. AAREC on Proposal E. page 9 MEET YOUR VENDOR: CINDY GERE PAGE 3 GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. Dr. Anderson abuse survivors at U-M joined with Ohio State University survivors of sexual assault to fly a plane over the Big House in 2023. Photo submitted by Rebekah Modrak. The Cornell seven are not an isolated incident: rape culture at the University of Michigan. page 7 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor #
2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER OCTOBER 16, 2026 PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELFDETERMINED INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, PRODUCING A STREET NEWSPAPER THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, PROMOTING AN ACTION TO BUILD A JUST, CARING AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower lowincome persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Vendors purchase each copy of our regular editions of Groundcover News at our office for 50 cents. This money goes towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Vendors are the main contributors to the paper, and are compensated to write and report. Street papers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and combat the increase in poverty. Our paper is a proud member of the International Network of Street Papers. STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Samantha Lay — intern Talbot Hack ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Bauman Pedro Campos Jason Church Jim Clark Jay Cooper Mike Jones Kelli Lee Mitchell Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Tommy Spaghetti Snow The Confused Cloud Washtenaw County Health Department PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett June Miller Anabel Sicko VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Lyla Brooks Stephanie Dong Jacob Fallman Ben Foster Glenn Gates Barak Howell Robert Klingler Haniah Khan Aklesia Maereg Margaret Patston Adam Rizk Eleanor Snipes Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof BOARD of DIRECTORS Jacob Fallman Shelley DeNeve Jessi Averill Steve Borgsdorf Anna Gersh Greg Hoffman Jack Edelstein Glenn Gates Hailu Shitaye Felicia Wilbert CONTACT US Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO OLD ISSUES + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org WAYS TO SUPPORT 1. Buy the paper, read the paper. 2. Get the word out — We rely on grassroots marketing. Talk to people about Groundcover and share us with your network. 3. Volunteer — You'll learn a lot about our vendors, the newspaper and your community. Interested in volunteering regularly? Fill out the form on our website. 4. Advertise your company, organization, event or resource — see rates below. 5. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram — promote our posts and share your favorite articles and vendor interactions. 6. Donate items — A seasonally appropriate list of items most needed at our office and on the street is available on our website. Drop off anytime we're open.
OCTOBER 16, 2026 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR Cindy Gere, Groundcover vendor No. 279 In one sentence, who are you? I am a street pirate. Where do you usually sell Groundcover? At Sweetwaters on Ashley and Washington Streets in Ann Arbor in the morning either from 7-10 a.m. or 10 a.m. - noon. When you die, what do you want to be remembered for? My kind heart. What book, show and/or movie read/seen recently would you recommend and why? Game of Thrones, and other action adventures and fantasies are fun. It’s one big journey of anticipation. If you could travel back in time, what time period would you travel back to and why? I don’t want to go to the past, I would rather go to the future. 2065 when we got flying cars and cyborgs, robots and life free of taxes. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Japan because of the advanced world they live in and the Trust Society they have. They do tech differently. If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with, who would they be? Call me nuts but Elon Musk and DJT because I would talk to both about a mandate for hiring homeless people for all jobs. We need a WPA! If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be? I always wanted to be a cattle person but do it with bison and elk and help my tribe up North in the Deep Woods. If you had to teach a class on one thing, what DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 would you teach? I would teach people about how to pack properly as a homeless person with one basic pack and nothing else. Being a minimalist matters as a homeless person. If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? Believe you can do it no matter what is thrown at you because you got you always. Tell us about an experience or person that/who changed your life in some ways? The Traditional Shaman from up North in my Tribe who told me how my life was going to be — it all turned out to be true and it’s only getting better. What is the reason you get up in the morning? My late grandfather got up at four in the morning to go fishing and then hunting — he is inspiring. What would your entrance theme song be? "Revolution Calling" by Queensrÿche. What is a compliment you wish you received more frequently? We all love you Panda. Describe your perfect day. My perfect day is when everyone gets along and shows it outward to each other in Ann Arbor. What is something you would not want to change about yourself? My optimism. What was your happiest memory from this past year? Christmas party at Groundcover. October is a beautiful month. It is a time for being thankful for everything good in the month, like treats, good food, festivals and gatherings. It is a time everybody can be who they want to be on Halloween. It is also a time to celebrate Jesus while you are enjoying Halloween. Churches do special activities for Halloween, including giving out treats at Trunk or Treat events. The church activities are indoors or sometimes outdoors when the weather is nice. I really like the fall colors in October. Orange, brown, yellow, red and purple – just like the colors of the tree leaves and the flowers that pop open during the month. Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website. October joy GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 October is a busy time for animals. I see bunnies, deer families, squirrels, chipmunks and birds eating and collecting food and getting ready for the winter time. Some people call October harvest time. It is a good time to enjoy the harvest for everybody. For example, I like to watch the German Oktoberfest on YouTube on my TV. I like to listen to the festival’s polka music. Some people are singing to the music on stage or at the tables where people are sitting and eating. It is nice to watch everyone dancing to the polka music and seeing how much of a fun and an enjoyable time it is for everyone there. I really like the clothes people wear for the festival. October is one of the most beautiful fall months!
4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FLU SEASON It's time for your flu vaccine! WASHTENAW COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT The Washtenaw County Health Department encourages everyone six months and older to get vaccinated against influenza (flu) this fall. Flu is already at moderate levels in Washtenaw County, and flu activity usually increases during or after the December holidays. “We don’t know yet how bad this flu season will be, but we do know that getting an annual flu shot is the best way to avoid getting seriously ill from the flu,” says Nifiah Reid Sanders, MHA, BSN, RN, Director of Nursing at the Washtenaw County Health Department. Vaccination protects against severe cases of illness, hospitalization and death due to flu. Getting vaccinated also helps reduce the spread of flu in our community and protects the people around you. “Flu vaccines aren’t meant to prevent every single case of flu illness; they’re meant to keep you out of the hospital,” continues Reid Sanders. “Flu vaccination is especially important for people who are more likely to get very sick from the flu, including babies and young children, older adults, pregnant people and people with chronic health conditions.” Everyone six months old and older should get a flu vaccine each year. New flu variants emerge every year, and scientists work to develop a vaccine that offers the best possible protection against these new strains. A flu vaccine from a previous year will not necessarily protect you during the upcoming flu season. Some people have mild side effects after getting a flu vaccine, including headaches, muscle pain, fever, tiredness and soreness. Side effects typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours. The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. Along with getting vaccinated, it is also important to stay home if you are sick, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands often using soap and warm water, and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs. See washtenaw.org/flu for ongoing information and surveillance on this year’s flu season. Where to Get Vaccinated Flu vaccine is widely available at local health care providers, pharmacies and community events. Most people with insurance can get flu shots at their doctors’ offices or pharmacies for free. See vaccinefinder.org for local options and call before visiting. The Washtenaw County Health Department has flu vaccines for those 6 months old and older. Call 734-5446700 to schedule. You can walk in (555 Towner in Ypsilanti) without an appointment during the following hours for vaccines (flu, COVID-19, MMR, and more): Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Washtenaw County Health Department accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Care Network, Washtenaw Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and some other insurance plans. People who don’t have insurance can get both flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the Health Department for as low as $35 total, or $23 for one vaccine (while supplies last). Let the staff know if you don’t have insurance when you schedule or come in. Services will not be denied to people who are unable to pay. Last Year’s Flu Season 270 Washtenaw County residents were hospitalized with the flu during the 2025-2026 season. People 65 years old or older made up most of these hospitalizations (52%). There were eight flu-related deaths reported in adults. There was one flu-related death in a Washtenaw County child. A summary of last year’s flu season will be available on the Washtenaw County Health Department website in the coming weeks. About Flu Flu is a contagious illness that can be spread person to person through droplets when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. Symptoms of the flu include coughing, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, sore throat, headache, fatigue, fever and/or chills. The flu can make anyone sick, but older adults, children, pregnant people and individuals with chronic health conditions are at greater risk of severe complications. Flu season coincides with increases in other respiratory illnesses, like RSV and COVID-19. An updated 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months old and older. RSV vaccines and protective treatments are available for babies, pregnant people, adults 75+ years old, and adults 50 to 74 years old with certain health conditions. OCTOBER 16, 2026
OCTOBER 16, 2026 COMMUNITY EVENTS voting INFORMATION MICHIGAN’S GENERAL ELECTION IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3. September 24: First day that you can vote in person with an absentee ballot at your city/township clerk’s office. October 19: Last day to register to vote online or by mail. October 20: Last recommended day to return your absentee ballot by mail. After this day, return your ballot in person at your clerk’s office or via a secure drop box. October 24-November 1: Early in-person voting period. Find your early polling site at mvic.sos.state. mi.us/Voter/Index November 3: Election Day! Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To find your polling place, update your voter registration, locate your clerk's office, learn what's on your ballot, and much more, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index WHO CAN VOTE? Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and must have lived in the city/ township in which they registered for 30 days. Voters cannot be serving a sentence in jail or prison at the time of registering or voting. REGISTRATION If you have a Michigan driver's license or state ID, you can regsiter to vote online. Start the process at Michigan.gov/Vote. You can register any time up through Election Day by going to your city or community EVENTS MICHIGAN ARTS FESTIVAL October 1-31, events across University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. A month-long celebration of the arts. Expect performances, exhibitions, workshops and community events, all aimed at connecting students, staff, faculty and the wider community to Michigan Arts throughout the year. See full schedule at arts.umich.edu/fest-events MICHIGAN FOLK SCHOOL FOLK FESTIVAL Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Staebler Farm County Park, 7734 Plymouth Rd. Ann Arbor Live traditional old-time music TBA. Display and sale of folk art and crafts, and demos of traditional crafts like blacksmithing, stained glass, leathercraft, basket weaving, and more. Also, participatory field games and food trucks. CANDLELIGHT VIGIL & COMMUNITY POTLUCK FOR DANHAO WANG Wednesday, October 21, 4 p.m. Rackham Building, 4th floor west conference room, 915 E. Washington Street. Join us to honor the life and work of Danhao Wang, a beloved U-M researcher, friend and member of our community who died shortly after interrogation by federal authorities. More than six months later, serious questions about the circumstances of his death remain unanswered. SOULS TO THE POLLS TRICK OR TREAT Saturday, October 24, 1-3 p.m., Ypsilanti Freighthouse (Great Hall), 100 Market Place. The Elections Office will set up a satellite station to allow eligible residents to register to vote, and/or submit their completed absentee ballots. Early voting will take place on the other side of the Great Hall. We will also be inviting families to participate in a mock Halloween special election inside. Groundcover will be participating! CUBA BRIGADE REPORTBACK Sunday, October 25, 5-7 p.m., Friends Meeting House, 1420 Hill Street, Ann Arbor. Recent brigadistas on the August "Centenary of Fidel" brigade to Cuba will present eyewitness reports on the impacts of the energy/fuel blockade and emergency recovery efforts; how Cuban elections work; and the upcoming UN vote. Presented by the Michigan Action for Cuba Committee. TRICK OR TREAT PARADE Sunday, October 25, 5-8 p.m., Downtown Ann Arbor (Main St and Library). Gather and line up at the Ann Arbor District Library for the much-anticipated Costume Parade. Followed by trick or treating at participating businesses in the Main Street area and more spooktacular activities. WCC'S FALL CAREER & INTERNSHIP FAIR Monday, October 26, 4-6 p.m. Morris Lawrence Building on the WCC campus, 4800 E. Huron River Drive. Approximately 70 employers from the public and private sectors will be on hand, many looking to hire for immediate job opportunities. WCC is also offering a series of free in-person and virtual workshops to help students, alumni and community members prepare to meet employers. Contact the Center for Career Success at careers@wccnet.edu or (734) 6775155 to register for a prep session. Free and open to WCC students, alumni and the public. See list of participating employers at wccnet. edu/careerfair GROUNDCOVER NEWS ANNUAL OPEN MIC Friday, November 20, 6-8 p.m. TeaHaus Eat More Tea, 211 Ann Street, Ann Arbor. Join us this November in honoring Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at Groundcover News' fifth annual open mic event! Come listen to community members share writing, poetry and stories from the street — or sign up to take the mic yourself on the day of! Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews. com township clerk's office; bring your proof of residency. Ann Arbor: 301 E. Huron St. Pittsfield Township: 6201 W Michigan Ave, Ann Arbor Ypsilanti: 1 S. Huron St. Ypsilanti Township: 7200 S. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti VOTING WHILE HOMELESS In addition to an ID (or filling out an affidavit), you need to provide a mailing address so the state of Michigan can send you important voting information by mail. The mailing address does not have to be a fixed home address. Consider using a nearby shelter, even if you do not currently live there, a nearby religious center or a home address of a friend or family member who lives nearby. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5
6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS COMMUNITY IMPACT Elmo Morales Lifetime Achievement Award Magnanimous x 1000 TOMMY SPAGHETTI Groundcover vendor No. 669 George Bailey, the fictitious character in Frank Capra’s 1946 “It’s A Wonderful Life,” receives a unique opportunity to see the world without his influence. In the golden-era cinematic expression, Bailey, a menial loan officer played by Jimmy Stewart, is taken on a surreal journey through Bedford Falls where he sees his own indelible contribution to the common good. Elmo Morales is Ann Arbor’s George Bailey because it’s hard to imagine Ann Arbor without Elmo Morales. My first attempt to interview Elmo was thwarted by an insoluble response, “I’m pulling back,” says Elmo. The silver lining on this dark cloud is; I’ve already traversed the 29 steps into the basement of Elmo’s T-shirt shop in Nickels Arcade, where 100 royal blue jerseys are waiting to be silk screened (I assume). Elmo immediately leads me back upstairs as if I tread on hallowed ground; pierced a veil that was not mine to see through. At the exit door Elmo reiterates his negative stance. “I’m fading out.” Flashing his phone to me he comes back saying, “I’m receiving a lifetime achievement award.” My response is, “That’s all I need for an article.” Elmo gives me his phone number and summarily texts the letter to my phone. It’s from the U-M School of Kinesiology: Elmo H. Morales Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award Biography The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology is proud to honor Elmo H. Morales Jr. (B.S. Physical Education, 1968) with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of more than six decades of leadership, service, and innovation in education, athletics, health promotion and community building. Born and raised in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, Elmo Morales learned early the transformative power of opportunity. As a standout student-athlete at George Washington High School, his accomplishments in track and field earned him an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan in 1964. Arriving in Ann Arbor with "two bags, a suit and a tie," he began what would become a lifelong commitment to the University and the surrounding community. At Michigan, Morales competed in track and field while earning his degree in Physical Education. His years as a student-athlete shaped a philosophy that physical activity is not merely about competition—it is a vehicle for education, confidence, health, and lifelong community engagement. His dedication to Michigan was recognized early when he received the School of Kinesiology Alumni Achievement Award in 1993. Following graduation, Morales embarked on a distinguished 30-year career with the Ann Arbor Public Schools. He taught physical education at numerous schools before spending the majority of his career at Clague Middle School and later Community High School. Thousands of students remember him not simply as a teacher, but as an enthusiastic mentor who believed every child deserved the opportunity to discover confidence through movement. Long before concepts such as lifelong fitness and inclusive physical education became common practice, Morales was creating engaging programs that encouraged participation by students of all abilities. His influence extended well beyond the classroom. During the early years of America's running boom, Morales helped transform the Ann Arbor Track Club from an elite competitive organization into one that welcomed runners of all ages and abilities. He became one of the principal founders and organizers of the now iconic Dexter– Ann Arbor Run, helping establish what has become one of Michigan's most enduring road racing traditions. His work introduced generations of community members to recreational running and demonstrated how organized physical activity could strengthen both health and civic life. Morales has always believed that movement should be accessible to everyone. Throughout his career, he championed activities that fostered intergenerational participation, including cycling, spinning, and later table tennis. His creation of Elmo's Ping-Pong Palace reflected his conviction that sport can improve coordination, cognitive function, balance, confidence and social connection while remaining joyful and welcoming to participants of every age and skill level. Outside education and athletics, Morales became one of Ann Arbor's most recognizable community figures through Elmo's T-Shirts. For decades, his downtown shop became much more than a retail store—it became a gathering place where University of Michigan students, alumni, athletes, artists and visitors from around the world connected through conversation, creativity and Wolverine pride. His life has also been marked by remarkable personal stories. Growing up in New York, Morales developed a lifelong friendship with fellow Washington Heights teenager Lew Alcindor, who would later become NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Years later, when Abdul-Jabbar visited Michigan as a highly recruited high school athlete, Morales served as his campus host during the recruiting visit. Morales often credits a childhood experience through the Fresh Air Fund with expanding his vision of what life could become. Spending a week with a host family outside New York, inspired dreams of college and opportunity that eventually led him to the University of Michigan—a story he has shared to encourage young people to recognize the life-changing impact that mentors and communities can have. Across more than sixty years, Elmo Morales has exemplified the highest ideals of Michigan Kinesiology. Whether teaching children, mentoring runners, organizing community races, promoting lifelong fitness, supporting local businesses, or simply welcoming visitors to Ann Arbor, he has consistently demonstrated that kinesiology is ultimately about improving lives through movement, education and human connection. Today, the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology recognizes Elmo H. Morales Jr. for a lifetime devoted to inspiring healthier communities, expanding access to physical activity and embodying the values of leadership, service and lifelong learning. His enduring legacy can be measured not only by races organized or students taught, but by the countless lives he has encouraged to keep moving forward. Congratulations, Elmo, and thank you for a lifetime of extraordinary service to the University of Michigan, the profession of kinesiology, and the Ann Arbor community. OCTOBER 16, 2026 Epilogue Elmo’s store is bristling with customers so I leave through Nickels Arcade and walk over to the A2D2 bus where it is waiting for me. I call Elmo’s phone and get treated to a voice announcement that has Elmo laughing hysterically, infectiously. I almost forgot the reason for calling; Oh yeah, an interview. ”Elmo, this is Tommy. I was hoping to find out the publication date you told me about when you were in Atlanta for a T-shirt conference." He never calls me back. A week later I am back in Ann Arbor as a pesky reporter for Groundcover News. Again, I attempted to talk to Elmo for an interview. Approaching Elmo on the sidewalk in front of Nickels Arcade, he is hustling hard to sell U-M material on a football Saturday. He spies me and dismisses me, stating “I’m busy.” I immediately self-reflect. For what despicable act did I earn this disdain? Just when I was about to give up, Marsha greets me with open arms. “Tommy!!” she calls out like I’m a longlost brother from another mother. Marsha is Elmo’s wife/partner and she not only hugs me with an ebullient smile but she plants a kiss on my bearded cheek. Wow! This is the best day of my life so far. All is forgiven and all is acceptable. The five questions I was going to ask Elmo: 1) When your mother Hilda rented those cheap apartments in Manhattan, how young were you and how many flights of stairs did you climb everyday? 2) Sports Illustrated featured you and Lou Alcindor/ Kareem Abdul-Jabar’s lifelong friendship. What date was that publication? 3) Your youthful visage does not match your eight decades of living. What do you credit your ageless appearance to? 4) How has Ann Arbor changed since 1964 when you first arrived? 5) What kind of pants do ghosts wear? (Paranormal Jeans.) Groundcover News intends to attend the October 16 ceremony and report on it, maybe I'll get the answers to these questions then. We encourage readers to listen to the AADL's Bicentennial interview with Morales, which can be streamed at aadl.org/ aadl_talks_to-elmo_ morales
OCTOBER 16, 2026 RAPE CULTURE GROUNDCOVER NEWS The Cornell seven are not an isolated incident: rape culture at the University of Michigan JAY COOPER Groundcover contributor Content warning: Rape, sexualized torture. Campus rapes, like mass shootings, are so common in the united snakes of amerikkka, and so much has been done to silence survivors and sweep crimes under the rug until the news cycle moves on rather than address the underlying causes, that the rampant abuse feels inevitable. It's a great trick of corrupt systems: the more that wealthy, powerful people commit crimes free from accountability and justice, the more those crimes appear to be unstoppable, inevitable parts of the fabric of our society. Outraged students at Cornell University have drawn national attention to the disparity between how peace activists are arrested and/or banned from campuses for years and rapists are given short-term suspensions and/or an essay to write. On May 1 of this year, Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff attacked two members of Students for a Democratic Cornell with his car as they attempted to talk to him about persecution of free speech on campus. The board of trustees created an ad hoc committee that unsurprisingly cleared Kotlikoff of wrongdoing and declared the students had been acting “inconsistent with university policy.” Cornell is but one instance among many; rape culture is the same here in Ann Arbor. Cornellseven.com is compiling a report on the Cornell gangrape case bringing this discussion to the fore, and Cornell's assaults on peace activists have been well reported in the Cornell Daily Sun and elsewhere. This article is about the University of Michigan. This is about the deeper disease from which these abominations fester and how it manifests locally: the way the University of Michigan protects rapists rather than those who have been raped, and how their cover-ups and hush-money ensure the epidemic of campus rapes persists. From July 2023 through June 2024 (the frame of the most recently published misconduct report as of October 2026), the University of Michigan received 313 reports of sexual assault, and 353 reports of sexual harassment, amongst 983 total Title IX reports including stalking, partner violence, sexual exploitation and gender discrimination. On September 9, 2026, 16 former U-M Hockey players filed a 72-page legal complaint against the University and its regents with Detroit's federal court. The complaint details ritualized sexual torture as part of U-M's athletic culture, as experienced by U-M Hockey players between 1984-2001, committed by upperclassmen against freshmen athletes, facilitated, directed and maintained by athletic many, and nearly all of those that came forward in the lawsuit, playing hockey was mandatory for their education. The boys were told this was normal, that this was team-bonding, rather than sexualized abuse. In the Cornell Seven rape, rapist staff including former coach Red Berenson. Abuses described include restraining and stripping freshmen, shaving and cutting their genitalia and anuses, burning their pubic hair with a blowtorch, tying and pulling their genitalia with skate laces, and anal penetration with objects and fingers. Hockey players were not the only abusers. Wrestlers, football players, athletic staff and sorority sisters also participated in the abuse. Survivors of the abuse described being forced to inflict the abuse the next year as sophomores. This abuse was not secret. Coaching staff oversaw stripping, shaving and testicle torture each year. When one player attempted to report the abuse to then-Assistant Coach Mel Pearson, Pearson told him, "Keep your head down, don't piss them off, and just get through it." U-M illegally did not keep records of complaints about the torture, and players were retaliated against for defending themselves, and/or not silently accepting the abuse. This abuse was widely reported as early as 1980, when five freshmen hockey players were "stripped, shaved, covered in jam, eggs, and cologne and left outside in near-freezing weather for 90 minutes." After the story broke, three student abusers were suspended for two games. It's believed Coach Giordano put the sexualized torture on hiatus for the rest of his tenure until Red Berenson took over in 1984 when the torture resumed. When made aware players were tackling, restraining, stripping and shaving freshmen outside athletic facilities, Red Berenson directed players to keep these abuses within Michigan Hockey facilities. Berenson directed players to shave freshmen "from the neck down" so the evidence could be hidden under clothes. "U-M Maintained a policy, practice and custom of indifference to sexual abuse …" - Doe v University of Michigan, Board of regents (2:26-cv-13420) complaint It was made clear to these teenage boys, some 17, frequently fed toxic amounts of alcohol, that enduring this sexualized abuse was mandatory for playing hockey for Michigan. For Johnathan Newell said in the fraternity group chat "free pussy in alum pu" in reference to the young woman he'd paralyzed with ketamine. As various frat members celebrated, rapist Scott Kretzschmar included "the alumni shit is not a bit. first person pov not a bit," meaning he was witnessing rape in real time and confirming to the group that it was really happening. This isn't about a few bad apples. This is about culture. This is about young men who see a woman who can't fight back and say "free pussy." This is about coaches and staff who hear the complaints of boys traumatized by sexualized torture and tell them "be a good teammate." For decades, talking heads have balked at the concept of rape culture with the insistence that horrific abuses are freak anomalies perpetrated by isolated monsters, rather than the inevitable outcome of a sick culture that protects abusers and silences survivors. Here it is in the words of U-M Hockey rapists: “Every class before you went through this. This is what Wolverines do." When it takes thousands of reports to get U-M to acknowledge a rapist athletic doctor (whose abuse was so well-known that athletes called him "Dr. Drop-your-drawers") after decades of him sexually assaulting more than 1,000 people, the narrative is that U-M "failed to act." Dozens of administrators at U-M knew about Dr. Anderson’s sexual assaults. You don't get 36 years of Dr. Drop-your-drawers through "failure to act" – it comes through willful ignorance and cover-up. It comes from silencing people who reported him, from ignoring the evidence presented, from rape culture. A woman was raped by then-U-M Football athletic staffer LaTroy Lewis in 2024. When the Detroit Free Press asked her lawyer about the $1.2M settlement U-M paid to make the case go away, she said: "The terms of the settlement do not allow me to comment. I think it speaks for itself." This is hush money. This is U-M silencing survivors. This is facilitating the culture of rape at U-M. Three U-M Football players participated in the drugging and raping of two young women in the summer of 2018; one of the women never recovered from the incident and overdosed in 2021. USA Today didn't report the names of the rapists, but said one transferred, and two remained at U-M, remained playing U-M football. I'm sure they've graduated now, maybe they work in the athletic department as so many former players do. It's disturbing to know there are rapists around and not to know their names, their faces, but it's also apropos. U-M football’s team culture is one of rape, same as the hockey team, same as Greek row, same as the administration. After all, "This is what Wolverines do." To all the sorority sisters out there, when you see men’s athletic teams abusing freshmen in your sorority house for the entertainment of your sisters, ask yourself, do you think those sisters poking and laughing at abused 17-year-old boys won't hand you over to those same athletes to be drugged and raped? To all those frat brothers in a group chat where drugged women are referred to as "free pussy," do you think those rapist frat brothers wouldn't drug and rape you as well? The disparity that's brought this conversation to a fevered pitch across the country is the difference between how campuses treat rape versus how they treat protests of Israel's genocide of Palestinians. This disparity is infuriating, but it isn't shocking to anyone who knows anything about Israel and the University of Michigan, Cornell or any of the other universities deeply invested in Israel's genocide. Israel is currently the most mask-off rape culture on earth. While many rape cultures exist, none are more dogged in defending their right-torape as Israel. When Israeli reserve officers were arrested for getting caught on camera raping prisoners with iron bars in Israel's Sde Teiman concentration camp, there were protests to have the rapists released. The rapists went on Israeli TV and justified their rapes, demanded gratitude from the public and called for the raping of Palestinian prisoners to be made state policy. Israeli polling showed only 28% of Israeli respondents wanted the rapists to be criminally prosecuted, though more than half of people Israel labels "Arab" did. It must be clarified that Israel as an apartheid ethnostate has weaponized see ASSAULT page 13 7
8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HOUSING A tenants union is an organization of renters who work together collectively to improve housing conditions, protect their legal rights and influence housing policy. Much like a labor union, a tenants union consolidates power of individual renters into a unified group. Instead of fighting a landlord or property manager alone, members coordinate to make shared demands. Tenants unions work collectively to negotiate as a group with landlords for repairs, fair lease terms or limits on rent hikes. When negotiations fail, unions may organize protests, petitions or rent strikes. They educate renters on local housing laws, offer peer support, and sometimes coordinate for legal defense, seeking stronger renter protections and advocating for affordable housing laws. The two major tenants unions in Washtenaw County are the Ann Arbor Tenants Union and the Ypsilanti Tenants Union. They support development of localized tenant associations at specific apartment complexes who have interest, or work alongside existing tenant associations. Ann Arbor Tenants Union (AATU) According to their website: The Ann Arbor Tenants Union has a long and storied history. Students and community renters started the Ann Arbor Tenants Union in 1968 with a fiery beginning in the form of a three-yearlong rent strike, which forced landlords to the table and showed that organized tenants could wield real power. Over MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 the next several decades, the AATU became a hub for tenant defense and education. In 1976, the AATU won recognition to collectively bargain leases with the landlord Trony-Sunrise Associates, a major milestone. By the 1980s, the AATU had a regular practice of collaborating with the University of Michigan Law School’s clinic and relying on a steady flow of student volunteers. Organizing efforts led by the Industrial Workers of the World steered the AATU during these periods continually towards mass organizing. But decades of funding fights eventually took their toll, and in 2004, after years of struggling with budgetary shortfalls, the Ann Arbor Tenants Union closed its doors temporarily. AATU opened back up in 2018 as an all-volunteer organization, but shut down again as volunteers got burnt out. Sometime in approximately 2023 more volunteers, some associated with the University of Michigan, “rebooted” the AATU into the form it now takes. Flash forward to 2025: It has become evident that tenants in Ann Arbor need to assemble their power in a union more than ever. According to research by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Ann Arbor has the highest percentage of renters in Michigan but is also Michigan’s most expensive city for renters. Research from Ann Arbor City Planner Michelle Bennett has shown that the median household income in the City of Ann Arbor increased by only 27% since 2013, while the median apartment rent grew by 54%, a pace that has left two-thirds of Ann Arbor renters cost-burdened. Meanwhile, landlords continue to push illegal practices, exploit loopholes around existing tenant protections, and invent new ways to squeeze money out of renters, from $7,000 in fees to non-refundable charges for simply applying for housing. On September 22, 2026, members of the newly refurbished AATU spoke at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting where council voted 10-0 to officially approve a new ordinance protecting tenants' right to organize. The law protects tenants and organizers from landlord retaliation for joining or engaging with tenant organizations. The council held its scheduled public hearing and second reading, granting final approval to add the Tenants' Right to Organize under a new Tenants' Bill of Rights title in the city code. With this final vote, Ann Arbor became the first city in Michigan to legally guarantee renters the explicit right to form tenant unions, post flyers, hold meetings, and knock on doors without fear of landlord retaliation. The Adeline breaks ground, 330 affordable housing units coming 2028 LINDSAY CALKA Publisher There’s a lot of construction happening downtown, especially between 4th and 5th Avenue, Liberty and William Streets. If you are frustrated by the extra time and patience it takes to move around downtown, you can now take solace in the fact that 330 units of affordable housing will be in its place in two years. September 28, construction of The Adeline, the 20-story, 330-unit affordable housing community is being built on the “old Y lot," broke ground. All apartments will be reserved for households earning up to 80% of the area median income, with approximately one-third of units set aside for households earning less than 30% AMI. If the building opened today, about 100 units would be reserved for single households earning less than $26,460/ year (2+ incomes can earn more). "Over 20 years ago, the City of Ann Arbor made a commitment to the community to replace 100 affordable SRO units that were lost when the former YMCA was demolished,” said Jennifer Hall, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. “I am proud to partner with the City, DDA, AAATA and Related Midwest to develop 330 high-quality affordable apartments on this site while expanding our transit capacity adjacent to the Blake Transit Center.” “The Adeline reflects what is possible through public-private partnership, and we're honored to partner with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission to bring much-needed housing to a site that will once again serve the Ann Arbor community,” said Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest. “The design reflects a thoughtful approach to affordable housing, one that gives residents a building they can be proud to call home. We look forward to welcoming residents in 2028.” The Adeline takes its name from Robert and Adeline Thompson, who in 1964 opened DeLong's Bar-B-Q Pit in a converted gas station at 314 Detroit St., across from Ann Arbor's Farmers Market and next to the current Detroit Street Filling Station. DeLong’s, one of the city's historic Black-owned businesses, was a fixture of the local culinary scene for 37 years and drew visits from blues great B.B. King and boxing champion Joe Frazier. Naming the building after Adeline Thompson carries that legacy forward. “My grandmother taught us that when you empower people and give them a chance to dream, you change lives,” said local community leader Angela Davis, granddaughter of Adeline Thompson. “The Adeline isn't just a project — it's a living continuation of the legacy my grandparents built on Detroit Street: a place where no matter who you are or where you come from, you are welcomed, respected and heard.” OCTOBER 16, 2026 Local tenants unions assert their right to organize Aklesia Maereg is a member of the AATU and rents housing in Ann Arbor. “The right to organize should be a fundamental right for every tenant,” said Maereg. Tenant organizing in Ypsilanti and YTU Growing out of tenant organizing and citywide rent strikes coordinated in 1969 and 1970, the original Ypsilanti Tenants Union was organized in 1970 under the leadership of organizers like John Walker. It achieved a strong record in local tenant disputes. Nearly 58% of households in Ypsilanti are renter-occupied. Prompted in part by local housing activism, in 2024, the Ypsilanti City Council established an ad-hoc Tenants' Rights Subcommittee to research rental policies, improve housing conditions, and address a major power imbalance in eviction filings. YTU is a grassroots organization that reorganized in 2022. YTU advocates for renters' rights, hosts organizing workshops, and fights against housing instability by building tenant associations. The YTU hosts public meetings and tenant empowerment workshops, such as Tenant Organizing 101, to help renters collaborate with neighbors and address landlord disputes. General meetings are open to tenants and supporters in solidarity, excluding landlords and police. Local tenant organizing has gained see TENANT page 13 Housing project rendering. Related Midwest & SmithGroup
OCTOBER 16, 2026 NOV. ELECTION JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 On September 23, the Washtenaw County chapter of the League of Women Voters held an educational presentation about the Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2) 2026 ballot initiative, Proposal E. Prop E would create a Municipal Electric Utility board, to be populated by 2028, to research and then prepare the city to run its own utility if the people continue to support the idea. The presentation was given by Brian Geiringer, A2P2 Executive Director, and Robert Joerg, a representative of Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition, a group formed in opposition to the MEU proposal. (See my article on AAREC published June 26, 2026.) The goal of the A2P2 ballot is to establish the framework for the future elected public utility governing board, which would consider and strategize about a potential future transition away from DTE Energy. This would serve as the initial, foundational step toward eventually acquiring local grid infrastructure and replacing DTE with a city-owned, renewable energy utility, provided there is support after further research. The three most important numbers highlighted by the Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition regarding the proposed city takeover of the electric grid are as follows, bolded: 1 billion: AAREC's estimated amount of new long-term city debt required to acquire the power system upfront. The coalition notes this is three times what Ann Arbor spends on schools and 1.5 times the city's entire annual budget. A2P2 emphasized that the immediate November ballot initiative (Proposal E) does not authorize a grid takeover or instantly trigger debt. It only establishes an unpaid municipal utility governance board to conduct a formal, objective feasibility study. A2P2 leaders estimate that the true initial cost to buy out DTE's local poles and wires would be closer to $300 million, not $1 billion. Any long-term debt acquired for a future asset buyout would be financed through municipal revenue bonds. This debt would be paid back gradually over time through monthly utility bills — not city tax hikes — meaning it would not compete with or drain the city's general operating budget for schools, roads or emergency services. 30% to 40%: AAREC’s projected electricity rate increase starting on day one for local customers. Geiringer argued that because a public utility does not have to pay out massive multi-million dollar corporate executive salaries or guaranteed profits to private Wall Street shareholders, those overhead savings would be directly reinvested into keeping rates stable and affordable. Proponents argue that DTE continuously requests and implements its own rate increases while ranking among the worst utilities in the nation for power outages. $550 to $700: AAREC’s estimated additional annual cost per household under the new municipal system. A2P2 cites national data from the American Public Power Association showing that public power customers, on average, pay 14% less on their electric bills and experience significantly fewer power outages than customers of investor-owned utilities like DTE. The AAREC coalition utilizes these three data points as the core pillars of their "Crushing Costs" campaign against municipalization. A2P2 points out that the figures originate from a Charles River Associates (CRA) study commissioned and paid for by DTE Energy. While much of the debate surrounds the estimated $1 billion acquisition price tag to replace DTE Energy, AAREC’s non-financial concerns focus primarily on governance, operational risk and legal technicalities. AAREC emphasizes that the proposed charter amendment creates a nine-member public utility board to oversee the transition and feasibility studies, yet not a single seat requires prior utility or engineering experience. They argue that running a complex modern electric grid should not be left to an uncredentialed political board. This is probably AAREC’s weakest argument. The board that currently runs the DTE power grid consists of people with bachelors degrees in science and masters degrees in business. They aren’t running a power grid, they are running a business. And they aren’t smarter than anyone Ann Arbor could elect to run an MEU. Ann Arbor has a dense population of highly intelligent, highly educated people. Regarding this concern, consider who assembled the board that currently runs the grid. What were their qualifications? Why did they think having people with business experience was more important than having masters of electrical engineering? Maybe there wouldn’t be so many outages, maybe there would be more efficient ways to run the grid if we had actual engineers and practitioners in charge (that is, hired) instead of bankers who did some homework. Ann Arbor is capable of making good choices when it comes to something so important. Given the initiatives the city already has, it would make sense that they take charge of the system as a whole as it would remove obstacles from their path. AAREC also expresses the concern that an MEU, because it is subject to municipal standards, would result in lower pay, fewer benefits and compromised working standards for the utility’s employees. AAREC’s coalition includes local labor unions, such as the Utility Workers Union of America Local 223 and IBEW Local 252. The union will still need to protect its workers from the abuses of an employer whether it’s a corporation or a government body. That doesn’t change. The argument that taking over the power grid might lower pay and benefits and all of that is approaching it backwards. If anything, taking control away from a for-profit corporation (because they only have the stockholders in mind, not the customer, not the workers) would ensure better wages and benefits because that money is no longer going in some investor’s pocket. The chief advantage of having the power grid controlled publicly is the transparency — there is nowhere to hide the money. Further, the argument does not necessarily come back to money. It is also about control. With public power, the utility’s benefits and costs are at the whims of investors, many of whom don’t live in Ann Arbor. (Another reason to cut corporate ties — DTE takes money out of the local economy. An MEU would keep it in the community.) Ann Arbor was once known as socially liberal/fiscally conservative. Let’s make power a social issue. At the end of the day, we are going to pay some amount of money for power. Where the money goes is what this issue is coming down to. Do we want money (and the power that comes with it) to go back into our community or do we want it to go to Wall Street? Shortly after this presentation,on October 5, the city council of Ann Arbor passed a surprising resolution opposing Prop E and indicating that, according to a city press release, it “directs the City Attorney, at the appropriate time, to challenge the legality of proposal E, including its effect on the City Charter.” A major concern expressed in their resolution is that the proposed board would be able to vote to acquire DTE‘s assets, at whatever cost (presumably the $1 billion number so integral to AAREC’s arguments), without taking it back to the people for an additional vote. A2P2 has a point-by-point rebuttal of the resolution's assertions on its website, annarborpublicpower.org. “It’s false that the muni board would have independent authority to borrow money. "Our charter amendment’s borrowing clause (amendment section 7) refers explicitly to chapter 8 of the city charter, which gives City Council authority over borrowing, and specifies the types of GROUNDCOVER NEWS Power struggle! A2P2 v. AAREC on Proposal E 9 Brian Geiringer (left), A2P2 Executive Director, and Robert Joerg (right), a representative of Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition presented at the League of Women Voters Sept. 23 debate. bond the city may issue and the procedures for doing so. All other Board decisions would be subject to direct Council oversight …” it states. “No funding source is needed. Proposal E carries no funding obligations.“ This rebuttal goes on to say that they might ask for a small amount of staff time to call meetings. Those interested can view the text of the resolution at: a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail. aspx?ID=8259216&GUID=801820306DA1-4373-A66C5A859D34B9D6&FullText=1 and the council’s debate on YouTube by searching for “Ann Arbor City Council Meeting 10/5/26” starting at about 1:55. The takeover and upgrading/maintenance cost (which can be covered over time by the income from people paying their utility bills to the city) has been cited as the reason behind the resolution, but some say there is a more revealing additional motivator. DTE is a taxpayer in Ann Arbor. A lot of the schools depend on tax money from DTE. Losing DTE would mean losing that income. It is important to note how much political power is carried by this corporation. The purpose of DTE is not to provide power, it is to secure income for stockholders. Their horse in this race is keeping their customer base, not improving the lives of their customers. They pay taxes to the city the same way a vendor pays an entry fee to gain access to the customers at a fair. They may pay taxes that provide for the schools, but they do not care about the schools. They just want your money. Just keep that in mind while you’re doing the math — no matter how you break it down, with a privately owned utility, someone is making money just because you need heat to survive.
10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS ENTERTAINMENT The battle between love and glory THE CONFUSED CLOUD Groundcover vendor No. 710 I grew up with National Football League games being broadcast every Thanksgiving. Both the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have hosted Thanksgiving Day games longer than I’ve been alive. In 2006, the NFL added a third game Thanksgiving evening. NFL games on Christmas were first attempted in 1971 but players and fans complained. NFL games on Christmas happened occasionally from 1989 to 2019. This was usually if Christmas fell on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Then from 2020 to the present the NFL purposely scheduled games on Christmas Day. While New Year’s Day is primarily for college football, depending on which day of the week it falls on, there might be an NFL game that day. Having NFL games on TV on these holidays makes sense to me. Many families get together in someone’s home to have a big dinner and visit. In the case of Christmas families often exchange gifts. Having a football game on gives families a chance to visit and catch up and bond. Some families may sit around and watch the games, some may prefer the games in the background, and some families may have a combination of game viewers and people visiting in the distance. Ratings for Thanksgiving and Christmas NFL games are huge. Many people don’t go out on these days. Buses don’t run and most stores and restaurants are closed. Football is good for people at home alone. Each of these three holidays are national holidays. Then there’s Super Bowl Sunday which has become an unofficial holiday. The Super Bowl is usually the most watched television event of the year. However on this day stores and restaurants stay open. Many people gather together in bars to watch the game. Super Bowl parties are also popular on this day. People drink alcohol and eat junk food like pizza and chicken wings. The tradition of Superbowl Sunday being an unofficial holiday started in the 1980s as the game and its commercials became more popular. It’s frequently suggested because of the late nights, parties and probably hangovers that the day after the Superbowl become a national holiday. For the first time this year they will “sort of” get their wish because Presidents’ Day is the day after the Superbowl. Valentine’s Day is also a very popular holiday but, like Super Bowl Sunday, it’s also an unofficial (not federal) holiday. However it does show up on my calendar, (which Super Bowl Sunday doesn’t). Stores and restaurants are open, and fine dining restaurants are extremely busy. If Valentine’s Day is on a weekday, schools and government offices are open. I’ve always thought of Valentine’s Day as a day for romance and couples. In the United States there are about 220,000 marriage proposals on Valentine’s Day and around six million worldwide. (Only Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have more.) So when I found out that Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day, each a very popular but unofficial holiday, are on the same day next year at the end of the current NFL season, I was baffled. They seem like very different holidays to me and this challenged a lot of my stereotypes. I pictured arguments and ultimatums between couples where men would have to choose between the game and their relationships. I remember when I was growing up, my stepmom (who is really my second mom) would watch her shows in an upstairs living room while my dad would watch football in the basement. I didn't know many female football fans. Shows on TV reinforced my stereotype of the football widow. There’s an entire episode of the classic 1980s show 227, which starred Marla Gibbs, titled “Football Widow.” Also Saturday Night Live had three skits starring Vanessa Bayer and a group of “hungry guys” including her (pretend) husbands. This skit poked fun at the football widow stereotype. They were pretend ads for Totino’s Pizza Rolls which aired the Saturday night before the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Superbowls. Vanessa’s husbands were played by JK Simmons, Larry David, and Beck Bennett respectively. Actress Kristen Stewart makes a steamy appearance in the ad set in 2017. I found the 227 episode on the “Valerian HD” channel on YouTube and the three SNL skits are on SNL’s YouTube channel. Just search “Every Totino’s Ever.” My girlfriend is a big Detroit Lion’s fan. She used to watch the Lion’s games with her dad on Sundays. But I thought she was an anomaly. I’ve since learned while researching for this article that 47% — almost half — of NFL fans are women. Also there are a greater number of single people and fewer couples in the world today than in the past. At first, combining these holidays seemed bad for the restaurant business, but I learned that while each holiday is busy for restaurants, Valentine’s Day is busy for fine dining restaurants, while Super Bowl Sunday is busy for bars, especially sports bars. Still, there might be some overlap. Having these two holidays on the same day seems a little strange for me. Maybe that’s part of why I’m “confused.” Couples going out to dinner, basking in their love and relationship, planning their future, possibly proposing marriage; while at the bar and on the streets people are cheering and getting drunk; this seems like oil and water. It doesn’t mix. But there are ways around this conflict. It’s really up to each couple. They can record the game, go out to an early dinner, or celebrate Valentine’s Day a day early. Still, I can see this leading to conflict. Really it depends on what people care about. Some couples think Valentine’s Day is a “Hallmark” holiday, just for card, flower and chocolate companies plus restaurants to make money. Other people could care less about the NFL and who this year's champion is. They can note the score the next day. In the case of singles, I think having Valentine’s Day combined with Super Bowl Sunday is perfect. A popular and growing trend is for singles to have anti-Valentine’s Day parties where singles meet and celebrate instead of sitting at home sad. These parties have drinking and celebrating, just like Superbowl parties. I wonder if places will have Super Bowl themed anti-Valentine’s Day parties on February 14th, 2027. I think it would be a great way for singles to meet. Maybe relationships will begin on this night. So what will win on February 14 next year, glory or love? On February 11, 2024 the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII (58). It was rumored that Travis Kelce, a star for the Chiefs, would propose to his girlfriend Taylor Swift. Instead Travis proposed to Taylor on August 10, 2025 in a custom secret garden in his backyard filled with over two thousand flowers including roses, hydrangeas, peonies and lilies. This proposal surprised Taylor. They were married last July in Madison Square Garden in New York City by Adam Sandler (which seems weird to me). It was a huge wedding with many celebrities. Travis Kelce has played in five Superbowls, three of which his team won. Many people consider Taylor Swift the most famous solo singer in the world now. So in this case I would argue Taylor and Travis have both glory and love. So maybe on February 14 of next year nobody will need to sacrifice either one for the other. Anything is possible. OCTOBER 16, 2026 -
OCTOBER 16, 2026 ENTERTAINMENT GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11
12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS AI OCTOBER 16, 2026 Understanding the AI digital revolution: Debates on safety, risks, threats The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade. This is not a marketing stunt. If anything, many executives and senior researchers will couch their phrasing in the press to sound sensible — but I hear the same people express fear privately. No other human activity poses this level of danger.” — 27-year-old Jacob Coxon, former AI safety Researcher for Anthropic (Sept. 6, 2026) September 2026 has been a significant time for conversations and debates about the safety risks of digital Artificial Intelligence systems. Early that month, the Anthropic AI Safety Researcher quoted above, Jacob Coxon, resigned from his job and approached the broadcast, print and social media. He wanted the mass media to warn the public about the threats, risks and safety issues associated with AI. He noted that "Autonomous Rogue Agents” within the AI platforms could “disrupt or subvert large parts of the internet if development outpaces safety.” The Anthropic community tried to get the word out about these safety risks via ABC 30 Action News (the Bay Area of California) with headlines that read, “New Warning About AI’s Risks to Humanity Revive a Long-Running Debate.” Furthermore, ABC News 30 and the online journal “Nation/World” said, “Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is calling for safeguards and guardrails as AI models become more capable and increasingly act on their own.” This concern was expressed on September 14, 2026. The next day, September 15, YouTube replayed ABC 30 Action News report, titled “Artificial Intelligence Experts and Lawmakers are sounding the alarm about the rapidly growing technology, calling for more guardrails.” CNN had a recent Breaking News with the title, “Anthropic Responds After Researcher Quits and Warns of AI Dangers.” It also carried a subtitle which said, “Ex-Anthropic Insider Tells CNN how AI could kill all humans by 2030.” On September 22, three major AI companies — Anthropic, Open AI and Google — agreed to cooperate and self-regulate the AI industry. They are also considering some avuncular advice and bipartisan suggestions about slowing down, evaluating and continuing to remain competitive against the Chinese AI platforms (which may or may not be a threat). The other major AI companies such as NVIDIA, META and SPACE X AI have not made a commitment to join the first three AI companies who volunteered to cooperate and self-regulate. New calls for government regulations More recently, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Amodei expressed interest in government regulation of the AI industry. On September 23, both CEOs gave presentations to the current United Nations General Assembly on the topic of AI safety and regulations. They called for government regulations similar to the International Atomic Energy Cooperation, which would be led by the United States Government. On “Meet the Press Now,” NBC News Journalist Kristen Walker interviewed two lawmakers about their bi-partisan legislation to regulate AI in America. Democratic Representative Lori Trahan of Massachusetts and Republican Representative Jay Obernolte of California introduced a bill which is aimed at strengthening government oversight of Advanced AI. They confessed that as the November 3 elections approach, more House legislators are quickly signing up as co-sponsors of the AI legislation. They want to create AI guardrails to address the risks, dangers and threats of AI platforms such as Anthropic’s “Claude,” X’AI’s “Grok,” OpenAI’s “ChatGPT,” Google’s “Gemini” and other platforms associated with AI companies such as Nvidia, Meta and Microsoft. Since the congressional House of Representatives is closed for official business until the election is over, the lawmakers will likely not be able to vote on the AI guardrails legislation until Congress reopens. In his address to the United Nations, President Trump expressed concerns about having AI regulations which could stifle AI competition. On September 24, the President met with the President of China for a summit which included AI safety, risks, dangers and regulation. At this juncture, there is no agreement between the two countries on AI regulation. The Chinese delegation said that China will continue to have oversight over their AI industry in order to ensure safety and minimize rogue agents threatening the existence of humanity. Their position is that each nation should work with their own AI industry to foster competition and minimize existential risks. It is anticipated that the U.S. government will come up with ideal workable guardrails for AI which will calm the fears of the public and give hope to a concerned nation. It is important that our readers know about the promises and perils of the digital AI revolution. AI researchers and watchdogs have informed us that AI offers massive benefits in the medical and healthcare industry. The benefits in weather-related disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, landslides or earthquakes can be immense as AI provides us with better and more timely early warning systems. AI provides greater efficiency in the business management and accounting world. It helps parents and teachers with learning and homework. It has the capacity to improve remote learning and education at every level. Visual AI has the potential for assisting the design of cities, architectural blueprints and the technology of city services delivery. There is also some potential for improvement in pharmacy and reducing global poverty. Conversely, we do not want advanced AI in the hands of bad people and bad actors and bad organizations who wish to harm us and disrupt our concepts and visions about freedom, liberty and democracy. For a reasonable sense of hope in our constitutional democracy and the world’s existential reality, we need guardrails, oversight and regulations so that autonomous rogue AI agents do not insert themselves into other AI and pose a threat to us all. In June, Groundcover News published an article on the AI digital transformation and the concerns associated with human values, ethics and the future of work. This follow-up article on digital AI shines a brighter light on the current local and nationwide debates and conversations surrounding the existential risks, safety and threats of AI. The AI question has given millions of people in our nation, and billions of people across the globe, something to think about, and of course, something to talk about. Many people, including tech executives, tech researchers, tech policy experts, tech journalists, politicians, community leaders and ordinary folks, are weighing in on what type of guardrails would be effective to prevent potential catastrophes of rogue AI agents hacking into other AI platforms. It has been reported in the mass media that rogue AI agents hacked into “secured” information storage spaces such as the Australian National Healthcare data. A few weeks ago, one autonomous rogue agent from an AI company hacked into a AI platform known as "Hugging Face” and escaped immediate detection. (See Jay Cooper's October 2, 2026 article "Graphic cards aren't going to kick your door in, fascists are.") Hugging Face has been acquired by NVIDIA for $15 billion. It has been postulated that those rogue AI agents are now “super-intelligent” and that they can communicate among each other and “connive” in order to avoid detection for several weeks or months. Recently, Microsoft co-founder and Chairman Bill Gates said that he did see DIGITAL next page WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258
OCTOBER 16, 2026 CONTINUED DIGITAL from last page not believe that self-regulation or self-policing will work for the AI industry. He believes that government intervention and regulations will help minimize the risks and threats to human existence. He mentioned that AI agents are capable of hacking into a restricted government site and setting off catastrophic events which could kill up to one billion people. In recent days, Anthropic CEO Amodei had dinner in the White House, ahead of the September 29 AI Summit between the major AI CEOs and government leaders. The summit was largely about self-regulation versus government regulation. A general understanding from the meeting was that AI companies should regulate and monitor their industry. There was no agreement on federal government regulations of AI technology and companies. There was a suggestion for a White House AI safety taskforce to be set up sometime in the future. In early October, the White House announced that attorney and Director of the U.S. National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Jay Clayton, will ASSAULT from page 7 unscientific racializing for the purposes of their nearly 80 years of genocide. Israel separates who they deem "Arab" from who they deem "Jewish" despite no such clean distinction based in reality. Many Jews are also Arab. This nonsensical distinction is applied as a fascist construct: in-group vs. out-group, privileged vs. oppressed, settler colonizers vs. targets of genocide. Arthur Ruppin, called the "father of Israeli sociology," developed a scientific racism especially tailored to Israel drawing heavily from German nazi race science. He organized Jews into respectability hierarchies, with Germanic Jews (Ashkenazim) at the top and Spanish (Sephardim) and Asian Jews (Mizrahim) below, Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) he called subhuman, denied their status as Jews, and frustrated their acceptance in Israel. If you guessed "subhuman" is also where in this classification of human worth the Palestinian peoples whose land he was actively stealing fell, you'd be correct. Israeli officials and media accuse Hamas of rape weekly, if not daily, without evidence, but when their officers are caught on video raping prisoners to death in a concentration camp, they claim it is fine, good, moral even, that Palestinians are not people, become the chair of the White House taskforce on AI. Anthropic’s CEO continues to say that his company is willing to do what some members of Congress are suggesting. Anthropic wants to take a pause and slow down its future growth and development. Some CEOs at the AI Summit did not want to slow down a bit or take a pause. They argue that taking a pause may allow China’s AI companies to catch up with the U.S. companies. It is obvious that during the visit of China’s leader to the White House, there was no agreement on government regulations of AI platforms in order to minimize global risks and danger. However, there were suggestions to initiate a China-U.S. working group on AI. Many journalists are alarmed, as well as many communities across the nation, about the inability to design and pass bi-partisan legislation which can save us all. Protests on the building sites of massive AI data centers are increasing during this midterm election season. The acrimony towards AI and Data Centers rages as November 3 comes very close. There is hope that cooler heads will prevail after the election. Sensible legislative decisions on AI may eventually come to fruition. Notably, during the UN General Assembly held in New York in September, a session was devoted to AI safety, risks and threats. There was an understanding that human beings should assert control over digital AI technology. The session noted that autonomous super-intelligent AI agents should not be allowed to run rogue and possibly threaten human existence. Let us continue to listen to the viewpoints of AI scholars and researchers at MIT, Stanford, Michigan, Illinois, Berkeley, Carnegie-Mellon, Georgia Tech and other top level STEM-intensive universities. Let us continue to listen to the voices of concerned citizens and AI companies’ leaders who are calling for government regulations and guardrails. In his recent 5-day Papal visit to France, Pope Leo warned about the possible extinction of human beings on this earth if humans abdicate their power and responsibility to regulate and control AI technology. That is a logical and heavenly admonition! GROUNDCOVER NEWS TENANT from page 8 prominent backing during major complex crises, such as tenant union formation and legal battles at severely distressed properties like Arbor One Apartments. The Arbor One apartment complex in Ypsilanti had to close some buildings that were condemned and evacuated in 2025 and 2026 due to severe code violations, structural damage, and uninhabitable conditions. I caught up with Jay Cooper who is a member of YTU and asked him the following: “As you might know, the Ann Arbor City Council officially approved the Tenant's Right to Organize ordinance this past September. I know in the past that YTU tried to get the Ypsilanti City Council to pass a similar ordinance protecting tenants' right to organize. Does YTU plan to follow suit and propose to council to approve the tenant's right to organize in the near future?” This was his reply: “YTU commends the action taken by AATU and Ann Arbor City Council. We have discussed getting legislation passed in Ypsilanti, but right now we are focused on organizing with local apartment complex unions by providing workshops and advocacy; building people power.” 13 that every Palestinian baby is a baby terrorist. This dehumanization is at the center of rape culture and at the center of capitalism, fascism and genocide. "There was a female officer who gave us a briefing on the day we arrived. She said, 'It will be hard for you. You'll want to pity them, but it's forbidden. Remember that they aren't people.’" — R., Israeli reservist on working at Sde Teiman (via Haaretz) Just as campus rape culture dehumanizes "pledges," "rookies," "freshies" as a foundation for rape and abuse; just as Cornell Seven rapist Johnathan Newell called a drugged human being with a soul and dreams "free pussy;" just as U-M hockey players and coaching staff labeled any boy who didn't endure in silence being raped with a razor handle a "bad teammate,” reframing survivors as less-than is a core element of abusers convincing themselves they aren't doing vile crimes against people's souls. As of the writing of this article, neither U-M President Grasso, nor any U-M regents have made any public statement about the decades of ritualized sexual abuse in U-M Hockey. In July Grasso released a "Michigan Athletics investigation update" where a private law firm was hired by U-M to investigate U-M after it was exposed that coach Sherrone Moore was having sex with his assistant, whose job he controlled. The vague report alludes to non-compliance with reporting law, fear of retaliation for reporting abuse, and credible reports not being investigated, in the most flattering language lawyers could muster. Every time institutions are caught facilitating abuse and silencing survivors, the public relations narrative, both from the institution and sympathetic press, is that of simple failure to do enough. After decades of ritualized abuse, retaliation for reporting it and reports kept illegally out of their Clery Act records, institutions claim 'Whoops, sorry, we weren't on top of that, we'll do better' and they never do better. Institutions investigating themselves, firing one person, and saying they'll do better perpetuates rape culture, and people are rightfully furious at the institutionally-protected culture of rape and abuse. "It's time for castration. We will be cutting them off. It's our only solution. We did a #MeToo movement. We've tried to pursue this using the rule of law and equality and now it's just time for y'all to be dickless. We need a Bobbitpocalypse now." — Francesca Fiorentini, political analyst and comedian. Red Berenson, who retired from coaching in 2017 but serves as special advisor to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, is a mess of self-contradiction on the subject. When WDIV-4 asked "You don't remember any type of hazing kind of out of control, going on while you were, while you were coaching?" Berenson replied, "Never, never and we, and obviously the coaches didn't orchestrate any of that, it was usually the seniors or the captains and it was in every sport around the country." Internal contradictions aside, this statement is also in direct contradiction to his 2012 statements on hazing, where he also deflected blame toward team captains: "We've had captains that got too carried away, and they forgot what they're supposed to do." According to his former players, Berenson's idea of "what they're supposed to do" is forcibly shave teenagers "from the neck down" and keep the ritual abuse within the privacy of U-M Hockey facilities. WDIV-4 called Berenson a "Michigan Legend" and misrepresented the severity of the accusations against him, portraying them as failure to intervene, rather than an active role in perpetuating and directing the abuse. Paul Corliss, U-M's assistant VP of public affairs, has been quoted in several papers deflecting blame from the University. "This is what Wolverines do."
14 GROUNDCOVER NEWS PUZZLES BUILDING a BUSINESS Peter Collins 1 14 18 21 24 28 33 37 41 44 52 58 62 65 68 42 45 53 59 63 66 69 46 47 54 55 60 64 67 70 43 48 56 57 61 49 50 51 SUDOKU The aim is to complete the entire grid using the numbers 1-9. Each number can only be used once in each row, once in each column, and once in each of the 3×3 boxes. 2 3 4 5 6 7 15 19 22 25 29 26 30 34 35 38 39 40 31 32 36 23 27 8 9 16 10 17 20 11 12 13 OCTOBER 16, 2026 ACROSS 1. Totals 7. "Abbott Elementary" airer 10. Martial ___ 14. Like some photos 15. Madras garment 17. Cruise destination 18. * Shady business? 20. Tusked beast 21. Big atlas section 22. * Shaky business? 24. They make a case for drinking? 26. GM car safety tracker 27. Make the cut? 28. Booze buyers' requirements 29. Reward for waiting? 31. Show signs of an allergy 33. Autocrat 36. "Tobacco" or "Thunder" of song 37. 1969 Rolling Stones hit (and a hint as to what is found at the ends of the answers to the starred clues) 41. Closing costs, e.g. 43. "Brave New World" author 44. Breakfast flatbread 48. Mac alternatives 49. "Spring forward" letters 52. Amtrak and B&O, e.g. 53. Electronic music genre 56. Out-and-out 58. * Battery business? 61. Part of YOLO 62. Farm field unit 63. * Dishy business? 65. Ostrichlike bird 66. Observes 67. Fancy wineglass 68. Animal on the Michigan state flag 69. Clever 70. Opposite of remote DOWN 1. Sushi condiment 2. Got extra mileage from 3. Baseball's Banks and Harwell 4. Humidor item 5. ___ Kan (pet food) 6. Barbecue side dish 7. Guilty ___ 8. Bangkok bills 9. Oil and vinegar holders 10. Police radio messages, for short 11. Cheers on 12. Happy-go-lucky syllables 13. Spread 16. "....___ happen to you, if you're young at heart" 19. Ye Olde ___ (quaint emporium) 23. Shapiro of NPR 25. Rose part 30. Suffix with Marx 32. Glenn of the Eagles 33. Kind of brakes 34. ___Kosh B'Gosh 35. Calendar abbr. 37. Breaks loose 38. Bring to light 39. Inc. cousin 40. "___ of the D'Urbervilles" 41. Basketball position 42. Swimmer's woe 45. The Falcons, on a scoreboard 46. Retains 47. Bounces off the walls? 49. National park in Alaska 50. Covert 51. Number of "jours" in "Novembre" 54. Monopoly purchase 55. Bonkers 57. Roy ___ (1984 role for Robert Redford) 59. Apprehension 60. Therefore 64. Hither and ___ Originally published in the November 2022 edition of Groundcover News. Sudoku puzzles are provided by www.sudokuoftheday.com – visit them and get a new Sudoku every day! PUZZLE SOLUTIONS October 2, 2026 edition
OCTOBER 16, 2026 POETRY This Is Who I Am: A Poet PEDRO CAMPOS Groundcover vendor No. 652 I am a happy poet, moving forward, constructivist, and fully proud of my purpose. I love being a poet. When my hand reaches for the pen, I enter a trance, and there is nothing that can stop me from writing. I write to be honest with myself and with others, to crystallize the instant into an idea, and thus transcend myself. Words are bridges, verses, foundations, and the soul, the construction. Therefore I write verses like one who plants trees in the desert: so that one day, someone may find shelter in the shade of what I dreamed. Skin Deep SNOW Groundcover contributor GROUNDCOVER NEWS Away the day KELLI LEE MITCHELL Groundcover contributor Thank you God For the color of my skin That you never misjudge me But you see deeper Past what is solid And you look within Not that I am asking for applause Just feels good to know I'm blessed within That I was made a mystery Open their eyes so they can see clearer Skin is not so solid, it's just temporary if we are honest The sun shines on me, I get darker Being different is foreign not so much akin But freedom is valuable because it is blood bought Help us see more than the shallow surface That there is beauty, in every person who is a gift Bless the usual and unique to which all is free of judgement, skin deep Where we can see deeper than each other's surface And recognize, we were all made by God Martian JASON CHURCH Groundcover contributor In school we got a grade A In the class of how to disintegrate a person. We pull out our great ray gun And just disintegrate a son...... Daughter, mother, father, it does not matter They all get turned to ash matter. We just pull this out and blast at a person Then we have a laugh as the wind blows away the ash after. If all you do is waste time then I would be left with the biggest clock of them all. It could be as large as a tower or a few inches small. What to do with every minute is a constant fear. I wonder if anyone else holds time so precious and dear? Counting makes me dizzy, the hours make me nervous. I’m still waiting because each day I’m cautious and hold it in with fear. Deep breathing helps, but the minutes go slow. Yoga is faster and seconds go quicker. Down dog is my favorite and soon I hope to be a happy baby. No clocks necessary. Away the day again. 15 Killing time KELLI LEE MITCHELL Killing time would be faster if I could master what to do with myself. My pen is now micro and might become large again, if I could just find a way to put away the hen. If the egg came first, then doesn’t that mean the mother creates the egg? When I am confused I contemplate the mother and think what she might make next. Maybe a tree will open up and provide a bed. Maybe she will open up a wardrobe and show me new things inside. Maybe I will sit all alone until I hear myself cry. Maybe then she will provide a tissue.
16 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Cheddar, grain, egg and vegetable casserole ELIZABETH BAUMAN Groundcover contributor Ingredients 2 pouches Seeds of Change Quinoa & Brown Rice 3 cups mixed vegetables (broccoli, onions, bell peppers), chopped 4 to 6 large eggs 1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth 1/4 cup fresh chives or scallions, thinly sliced 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided) 2 tablespoons olive oil A pinch of smoked paprika or dash of hot sauce Salt and black pepper to taste Directions Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Follow the directions on Seeds of Change grain pouches to make Quinoa and Brown rice. Toss the chopped vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes until tender. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, broth, fresh chives, smoked paprika or hot sauce, salt, and pepper until fully combined. Stir the pre-cooked Seeds of Change grain pouches, roasted vegetables, and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese directly into the egg mixture. Pour the combined mixture into your prepared baking dish and smooth out the top. Place in the oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the center is set and the cheese is melted and golden brown. OCTOBER 16, 2026 PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI MAKE MEALS YOU LOVE! Fresh ingredients to $5 OFF ANY PURCHASE OF $30 OR MORE One coupon per transaction. Must present coupon at the time of purchase. Coupon good for in-store only. No other discounts or coop cards apply. Not valid for gift cards, case purchases, beer or wine. 11/13/2026 OFFER EXPIRES 5/30/2026 The future of energy lives here. Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility Express interest — commitment free — today! Available to Ann Arbor renters, homeowners & businesses Clean, reliable, affordable A2SEU.com Authorized by Ann Arbor voters in 2024 Now serving Bryant neighborhood. Citywide rollout in 2027
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