I
OPINIoN
Wednesday, February 16, 1983 .
Page 4
The Michigan Dail
LETTERS TO THE DAILY:
Glbe fI~Idpigau za41Q
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Response to ti
Vol. XCIII, No. 113
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial BoardI
SNR cut too steep
HEN THE REPORT from the
V review of the School of Natural
Resources was announced, a top
University official reassured students
"that the administration was committed
to a viable SNR. But if the University's
executive officers accept recommen-
dations that the school's budget be cut
33 percent, they inevitably will
devastate rather than enhance the
school's long tradition of quality.
The school does have some
problems; SNR faculty have admitted
as much. But the Budget Priorities
Committee recommended a 33 percent
cut which would leave the school with
little choice but to follow a subcommit-
tee's plan for implementing the cuts
which has several problems.
A major thrust of the report is that
the school needs to expand its research
effort. In part, the committee is
'correct as state and industry officials
have confirmed that more vigorous
;research is needed. But the committee
;has blindly followed the ad-
ministration in overemphasizing
research at the expense of other
areas.
In its haste to upgrade the school's
research, the report forgets the impor-
tance of the masters level manager.
Here it has recommended cuts in
enrollment when there is vast potential
for a forestry boom in Michigan that
could help spur Michigan's economic
recovery. Such a boom, which the
governor has vowed to encourage, will
need managers and planners at atime
when the school would be cutting back.
Another recommended victim of the
33 percent cut is the school's nationally
recognized integrative approach to its
students' educations. This approach
ensures that all natural resources
graduates are exposed to a com-
prehensive view of problem-solving.
The committee's recommendation
necessarily compacts those areas into
two broad categories, thus weakening
the approach SNR pioneered more
than 30 years ago.
The report is correct, however, in
pointing to the lower quality of natural
resources undergraduates, compared
to other University undergraduates. A
more selective admissions policy could
eliminate that problem rather than the
rigid 400 student cut the committee has
suggested.
The best policy the administration
could follow would be to reduce
significantly the scope of the cuts. The
school's faculty have suggested a 20
percent cut as an alternative to the
drastic measures proposed by the
committee.
No program wants to be under the
knife of the University's budget cut-
ters, but cuts in state aid to the
University have become annual
events. In light of such budget con-
straints selective cuts and reallocation
of funds provide the best mechanism
for the University to maintain its
quality rather than spread itself too
thin.
A smaller cut combined with a
decision to allow the school's faculty to
choose where it should cut back would
allow the School of Natural Resources
greater leeway to maintain the essen-
tial integrity and quality that so-many
have recognized.
To the Daily:
This letter is in response to the
article " 'Japs': Are they fact
or fiction?" (Weekend, Feb. 11)
written by Phillip K. Lawes. I can
only assume that Mr. Lawes in-
tended his article to help hinder
the promulgation of a
meaningless, derogatory
stereotype by alerting his
readers to the vast
generalizations involved in its
formulation, as well as to the
danger and impropriety in
assigning a set of characteristics
to any one group of people.
Unfortunately this article
achieves just the opposite, by
presenting a limited, incomplete
definition, ridiculous
generalizations, undeserved and
restricting labels, and an offen-
sive attitude toward its subject.
The result is to promote the
prejudice and spread the miscon-
ceptions already connected with
this sensitive issue.
As Mr. Lawes himself noted,
the term "Jap" is extremely
broad, suggesting widely dif-
ferent things to different people.
Any definition of the term is stric-
tly subjective. The definition
which Mr. Lawes has chosen to
relate in his article is especially
offensive and limited. He
describes a "Jap" as a "wealthy,
loud, and obnoxiously abrasive,
an unbearable whiner, shallow
and vacuous, yet ruthless and
cunning." To reach this epitome
of human unattractiveness would
be an unmatchable accomplish-
ment!,
The danger exists that some
readers will be misled to accept
this incredible exaggeration,
most probably employed to make
a point, as it is literally stated.
Mr. Lawes also presents a
limited explanation of the term,
re'Jap9
which may also stand for Jewish
American Prince. By excluding
men from its discussion, the ar-
ticle unfairly and incorrectly
assumes that the characteristics
of vanity and materialism are
exclusively female.
Also unjustified in Mr. Lawes'
article are his sweeping
generalizations. To make such
generalizations is careless and
unprofessional. In arguing that a
"Jap" is identified conclusively
by her outwardrappearance,
specifically her make-up,
clothes, and jewelry, Mr. Lawes
groups together all women who
take special care in their ap-
pearance with as similar in
nature and values. He also im-
plies that such concern with ap-
pearance is indicative of a self-
centered vanity, when in ac-
tuality, the desire to be well-
groomed in public can reveal a
concern to please others and
should betviewedswith praise, if
anything. Even worse, he allows
the outward appearance of an in-
dividual to serve as the primary
indication of what lies within.
Personalities and values vary too
widely to be identified by an ex-
pensive new outfit or a pearl
necklace.
Certain issues addressed by
Mr. Lawes are indeed worthy of
mention and concern. The em-
phasis upon materialism and ex-
clusivity, sometimes promoted
by the suburban lifestyle, is cer-
tainly a problem in American
society. However, materialism,
social exclusivity, extreme
"4
article ±
vanity, and wasteful spending
are not and should not be con-
sidered exclusively Jewish traits.
A certain percentage of non-Jews
as well as Jews, of males as well
as females, possess these charac-
teristics. Mr. Lawes has unfairly
assumed these attitudes to be
predominantly Jewish and has
provided no reason for believing
that they exist in a higher percen-
tage of Jews than in any other
ethnic or religious group. Such
restriction of societal problems to..
a single group has dangerous im-
plications and should be avoided
carefully.
Finally, Mr. Lawes' attitude-
toward his subject is superior and
offensive. Bob Student, he writeg
"has learned to identify 'them'
and satirize the silly, annoying
things 'they' do." They "are
merely a source of mirth," ii-
terested only in trapping ##
husband and unworthy of their*
university educations.
To write such things is grossly-
insulting and judgmental, as well,.
as untruthful. Surely this attitude.
of snide superiority is uninten-
tional. Mr. Lawes should be more
careful as to his choice of words.
The article itself is poorly writ-
ten, with its rambling and incon-
clusive style. I hope that in the,
future Mr. Lawes will put his
Michigan education to real use
and undertake a more construe-
tive and objective approach to,
journalism.
j -Sue Wishnick
February 12
Writing on bathroom walls
To the Daily:
When I first saw Phillip Lawes'
article, " 'Japs': Are they fact or
fiction?" it bothered me; yet, I
attempted to shrug it offtas the
same stuff one finds on bathroom
walls all the time.
However, I remained
distressed. This time it was dif-
ferent. I would not write back to a
wall. I am writing back to a
newspaper. I am addressing the
newspaper's readers who all too
often find that they are subjected
to bathroom wall material in
various intellectual media.
In his article, Lawes writes :
"Jewish American Princess. The
term is clearly derogatory,
clearly an ethnic slur." At the
same time, he finds that "reac-
tionary bigots and nice-guy
liberals alike employ it." Jum-
ping on the bandwagon, Lawes
points out that he has no trouble
finding a "Jewish woman" on
campus who fits his blueprint..
Thus he concludes, "Since people,
seldom test a stereotype
exhaustively orat any depth, this
amounts to an automatic
validation of the 'Jap' percep-
tion.''
Friday afternoon, I learned
what can happen when
stereotypes are validated. As I
was waiting in line at the blood
drive, I was enjoying a conver-
sation with a nice guy I met who
was waiting next to me in line.
After about fifteen minutes, I
happened to drop my blood donor
card. Picking it up forme, hhe
noticed I am from Highland
Park, Ill. When asked, I confir-
med that it was "the place where
those Japs come from" that he
read about in the Weekend
magazine he was holding.
Throughout the remaining twen-
ty minutes in line, the only words
he spoke to me were a few mum-
bled responses to my futile at-
tempts to rekindle our conver-
sation.
Remember first grade? We all
learned that it's wrong to dislike
other people because of their
race, religion, or because of any
other group they might be part of.
However, as we "grow up," we
find that it can be amusing to say
and hear things that are
derogatory towards other people.
Imagine what might happen if
we all followed what we learned
in first grade. We'd soon see that
even the 'bathroom walls would
be clean. Of course, now we have
to worry about making it in the
"real world," and it's hard to
remember stuff we learned when
we were only seven years old.
Maybe we need to try harder.
-Bruce Pomeranz
February 12
An insightful' article
To the Daily:
I am writing in response to
your recent article about Japs. I
must commend you on your in-
teresting piece. I found it to be
quite insightful and well-written.
The one point I must make is
that Japs tend to promote anti-
Semitism through their actions,
not through their Jewishress. I
too was once Jewish, but have
since given up' that 'religion in
small part because through being
Jewish I too was considered a
Jap (Jewish American Prince).
Having grown up near Highland
Park, Ill. (their national capital),
I was forced to deal with them
and their idiotsyncracies (sic) It
certainly was nice to see an ar-
ticle on this "social
phenomenon" and I was pleas'ed
and gratified to see this issje
dealt with in such a straightfor-
ward manner.
- Jeff Berkwits
February, 12
Sullivan' s empty principles
0
NOTHER LOUD cry went up telling
A the University to sell off its in-
vestments in companies with holdings
in racist South Africa when faculty
members voted overwhelmingly Mon-
day to ask the Regents to divest. The
Senate Assembly, the faculty's gover-
ning body, finally recognized that the
University's -current guidelines for in-
vesting in South Africa will not result
in any positive changes in the apar-
theid nation. Nonetheless, it is unlikely
the Regents will listen to them after
having ignored to date students, in-
dividual faculty members, and even
state lawmakers.
The assembly's vote, the faculty's
first action as a group on the subject,
comes as part of a growing national
movement pushing divestment. Many
other universities, municipalities, and
pension funds have moved to sell off
holdings in the apartheid nation. These
groups are all aware that the Sullivan
Principles - guidelines for
progressive employment practices in
South Africa - don't work.
The principles, which the Regents
approved as a basis for maintaining
University investments in South
Africa, are nice in theory, but wor-
thless in practice. Companies that
have endorsed the guidelines are
flaunting them. Other companies sim-
ply ignore them.
The University's own commitment
to the principles also is feeble. There is
only one University administrator
keeping track of progress among com-
panies in which the University invests.
Other institutions have whole commit-
tees pursuing information about their
holdings. Companies like Carnation
Co., INA Corp., and Motorola, Inc.
have refused to give the University in-
formation on their South African em-
ployment policies. To top that off, the
University recently invested in Dunn
and Bradstreet without checking their
South African status.
While divestment would be largely
symbolic, it would still be a direct
move on behalf of human rights. The
University would be signalling a deep
concern for the blacks in South Africa.
Faculty members have voted to af-
firm that concern, putting human
rights above profits. It remains to be
seen if the Regents can be bold enough
to do the same.
Reinforced stereotypes
Interview deceitful
To the Daily:
Having been approached for an
interview on "Jewish women on
campus," I found it disturbing to
read my words in the article
"Japs: Are they fact or fiction?"
If an interviewer feels he must be
deceitful in order to obtain an in-
terview, perhaps there is
something wrong with the actual
subject matter of the article. I
remain unconvinced that Jewish
women and Japs are synonymous
and believe that this lack of jour-
nalistic ethics should not be sup-
ported by the Daily.
- Margo Pernick
Hillel Program Director
February 15
To the Daily:
I applaud the technical ef-
ficiency and effort that Phillip
Lawes has instilled in his article,
"'Japs': Are they fact or fic-
tion?" His assumptions are
assumedly correct and tend to
portray the stereotypical "Jap"
in an accurate if not flattering
context.
Unfortunately, he is unable to
reach beyond his own preconcep-
tions and prejudices to the essen-
tial matter which this article in-
timates: Our society latches on to
stereotypes and by definition ap-
plies them to vast cross-sections
of people.
It is unfortunate that at a
sophisticated school as the
University, students are unable
to rise above the fallacies and
ignorance of which, stereotypes
are made. In an institution of
some 40,000 people, it is inex-
cusable for students to believe
that Jews have horns, Poles are
stupid, or Irishmen are big
drinkers.
To the credit of its author, this
article did an excellent job of'
illustrating the phenomenon of
the Count of Antipasto on a Thur-
sday evening. However, instead
of making a statement which
might serve to enlighten the
reader in regard to the conflicts
among different "groups," the
article concludes with a
meaningless quote from an
anonymous woman on campus.
Lawes, an obvious outsider,
picked a controversial and per-
sonal issue on which to hone his
writing skills. Will a sequel ap-
pear next week entitled,
"Blacks: Watch them boogie?,"
The Daily has an extensive
student readership and the op-
portunity to make us more aware
of the world around us. Instead of
stirring up various groups on
campus, and aiding in the
already unbased prejudices Of
ignorant students, why not take,a
more responsible role and teach
us of the fallacies of these
stereotypes. To denigrate a group
is easy; making an experience
from which we can all learn is the
missing element of such an ar-
ticle.
- Scott Schnell
February 15
Reprehensible journalismh'
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To the Daily:
I was in disbelief after having
read Phillip K. Lawes' invidious
article "Japs: Are they fact or
fiction?" It is beyond my powers
of comprehension as to how that
piece of reprehensible journalism
was approved for publication in
this intellectually vigorous com-
munity.
Mr. Lawes failed to inform
readers about the truth of the
matter, which is that wearing
trendy clothes and being ob-
sessed with material concerns is
characteristic of economic class
rather than religious affiliation.
The experiences I have had
during my four years at the
University have led me to believe
that there are many non-Jewish
women from Grosse Pointe,
Wilmette, Ill., and Stamford,
Conn. who dress and act in a
manner that is analogous to that
of their Jewish counterparts from
West Bloomfield, Highland Park,
Ill., and Roslyn, N.Y.
Furthermore, I am convinced
that the overwhelming majority
of Jewish women do not conform
to the stereotype that Mr. Lawes
implies is the norm for allJewish
women. Even if the majority of
such women on this campus are
obsessed with material concerns
one must not extrapolate from
this limited and homogeneous
group to society-at-large, as the
University is an anomaly of
society.
The Jewish people have had a
long, proud, and tumultuous
history throughout which they
have devoted copious energies to
discounting aspersions similar to
those in the article. The fact that
a reporter on a "progressive"
college newspaper presented a
subject with the potential for
serious consideration in an
irresponsible manner is a sad
commentary on the state of anti-
Semitism in our society.
- Todd Miller
February 13
To the Daily:
Congratulations Mr. Phillip K.
Lawes. You've succeeded in
writing a piece of propaganda on
the level of your Nazi
predecessors and passing it off on
your editors as responsible and
objective journalism. What
possible rationale can you offer
for using your influence to
manipulate public sentiment with
such blatant prejudice? Was it
really necessary to seclude
a minority and maliciously
reduce them with superficial,
pseudo-intellectual and sexist ob-
servations? Your article was in-
sulting and inflammatory, and an
example of anti-Semitism you
would probably hope to veil under
the cover of journalistic in-
tegrity.
In line with your style of repor-
ting, here are some topics forW
you to explore in future articles:
"Do niggers really have natural
rhythm?", "Are pollacks really
dumber than the rest of us?", and
"Are ignorant goyim
everywhere?" You have lost your
credibility.
- Richard Wolk
February 12
Nazi propaganda
Japs not representative
To the Daily:
These people comprise a very
small proportion of the Jewish
hirlrrirnm irn't Trinin.Aocc'
1ff I A .
ANJ