4 OPINION Page 4 Sunday, October 2, 1983 The Michigan Daily Hey 'U, who forgot to sell the stock4 "Dad?" "Don't disturb me now son. I'm reading the paper." "But dad, I think you forgot to do something you were supposed to do." "Sure, son, sure" (continues to read paper). "Dad!" "Look here kid, I'm trying to relax. I'm trying to get through the paper. The football game's on right after this. What do you want?" "Well, remember last spring when you promised all those students and professors you would sell those stocks in those companies that work in South Africa?" "Not really son (goes back to the paper). Why?" "That's where you've got some growing to do, son. You just don't understand. We want through the whole hassle of a public debate, we held that long special meeting, listened to all those people talk, then we took a public stand against South Africa's bad apartheid. That's all anybody was concerned about, the statement, the words. Nobody cares whether we do it right away or not. And if nobody complains, the bassos usually won't say anything either." "So when are you going to do it then?" "Whenever we get around to it - real soon real soon. Hey, can you flip on that TV for me, son." Union blues There's a new show on television this season. It's called "Lottery." These two guys walk around and hand people millions of dollars. Sound pretty unrealistic? Not really. In fact University administrators seem to be acting the same way. And this year's lucky winner is the Michigan Union: $650,000, just when it needed it most. Just enough to cover its $650,000 deficit. What makes the Ann Arbor version of this series less believable than the prime time show is that the Union, after winning once, is going back for more - $450,000 more. Where is all this money coming from? Either from the University's General Fund or from student fee increases. Translated directly, either case means students pay. Why does the Union need all that money? Union officials claim that costs have risen, but their budget hasn't. University budget books, however, show that the Union budget has shot up 64 percent since last year. Of course expenses at the Union have gone up since last year too, more than 64 percent. So if they want to spend the money they are plan- ning to spend, they are going to have to come up with more. Or presto, they have another big deficit. And we out there in TV land know where the " \ / i . . , , , d i. . }. i .' '' +r y , . :: ;::x said one student who attended President Harold Shapiro's reception this week at the Union. "There were good cookies at his house. Donuts and cider are just not as exciting." "Just not as exciting," is how most of the students who attended the Shapiro party, which was held at the Union instead of the president's house for the first time, reacted to the recep- tion. They liked the cookies at Shapiro's home bet- ter. They liked the formal atmosphere at Shapiro's house better. They missed the grand tour of Shapiro's residence. Sure, they liked Harold and his wife Vivian. One student said Harold seemed like a "smart guy," while another student found Vivian "just like a mom." But most agreed that they would have rather visited the Shapiros at home. Happily though, in a triumph for students, the Shapiros agreed-to move the party back to their house next year. And with that, most students settled back and enjoyed the reception. After all, donuts may not be as exciting as cookies but there is no use in wasting them. Practice studying Superstar freshmen athletes like Anthony Carter or Antoine Joubert may be great for Michigan athletics, but the University has given full support to a proposal that would make athletes like those two ineligible for their freshman year. In fact, the whole Big Ten conference is debating whether to present the proposal to the National Collegiate Athletic Association for national adoption. The proposal, barring freshperson athletes from all varsity competition, is intended to give first year student-athletes more time to hit the books by forcing them to spend less time on the field. "At some schools a kid plays three games before school starts," said University athletic "You remember. You said all that stuff about how bad discrimination is, especially when it shows up as apartheid. Almost made me proud." "Oh, yea. I forgot all about that. What about it?" "Well have you done it yet? After all, it's been five months." m "Haven't gotten around to it just yet - soon though, real soon." "Won't the bosses get mad? And what about all those students and professors who asked you to do it? Some of them worked pretty hard to get you to sell those stocks. Remember a couple of years ago when hundreds of them showed up at that meeting. Got awfully crowded in that stuffy little room, especially when they all started chanting. Won't they all get mad again?" Please deposit another $1 million. The Michigan Union can't seem to keep itself out of debt, but the University keeps coming to the rescue. money to cover deficits comes from. You got it. Students. Union officials are already con- sidering asking for another budget increase. Perhaps that is the biggest difference bet- ween the TV show and reality. You can always turn the TV off. Donuts; no cookies "The food just isn't as good as it used to be," Shapiro: Okay, okay. I'll have the party at m. house next year. director Don Canham. "He doesn't know where the library is, but he's playing in front of 100,000 people. That's ludicrous. Football can't be that important. That's tough for a 17 year-old kid to hack." Despite Canham's, and the rest of the University athletic board's enthusiasm, some have doubted the proposal would be all that ef- fective. Norm Betts, a former football player an4 current student representative to the athletic board, said that the proposal would cut out very little practice time, which comprises most of an athlete's timecommitment. Currently the proposal is doing the rounds in the Big Ten seeking support. If the proposal is presented at this month's Big Ten conference meeting and is passed by member schools, it will be presented at this year's NCAA conven- tion. The Week in Review wasicompiled by Dail Opinion Page Editor Bill Spindle and Daily staff writer Sharon Silbar. t e Itrgau ail Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Laban Vol. XCIV- No. 22 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, Ml148109 F r Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board . , . rssn. - w - , 1 ... f t 7 ,i _ .era: .1.... _ __ TAs should take 'U's offer WHILE THE PROPOSED contract for the Graduate Employee Organization is worth approving, teaching assistants should understand that the majority of its benefits come not from the strength of GEO negotiators, but from a state univer- sity on the rebound from economic hard times. Past contract proposals did not give TAs the benefits they needed and deserved. Up until this current proposal, the University hadn't recognized the drain tuition placed on a TA's finances. GEO bargainers were unable to impress upon administrators the importance of giving its members tuition breaks. After rejecting the last tentative con- tract, union members were so upset with their leaders they restructured the bargaining team, bringing in many fresh faces. GEO's new leaders were supposed to be more in tune with the needs of the average TA, which" would generate more interest in the union, thus strengthen GEO's bargaining position. The results of the move are mixed at UTOPIA best. To the union negotiators' credit, they did get the University to agree to a one year pact, which means the University will have to negotiate another contract again next year. If the economy and the union are stronger next year, GEO can push for more benefits, including ones it could- n' t get this time around. Otherwise, the contract appears to be one molded to the wishes of ad- ministrators. The University is getting more money from the state, so it can and did recognize the need to give TAs a tuition break and a raise. The tuition break gives the average TA $62 per term, while the raise pushes up his or her salary $117 per term. GEO negotiators also failed to get a limit on class size or a recognition of affirmativeaction goals in the proposed contract. Yes, this contract for University TAs is a marked improvement over past proposals. It deserves approval as a first step toward a future when GEO is strong enough to bargain with the University, instead of being obliged to accept what administrators offer. - - <~; -. Wfjjj AL... ,JaRst Is JUST 'AL LL oaks LjcE ?HE ABav7' ©V R, ti ' ..te x 1e r" --4 1 a "at1 w S " K GR R ° ts Qpt60." * _ t La - 14?r I LETTERS TO THE DAILY: Hidden racism taken out of context 4 : .s:": .__:.s . ..:*sii?.. ;s. .:.s.. . Ar; ::i~« i} r."??:?":."s?=??" ? :?is=??s::''?; s.;s . : . ?u:::.;;::?;:: ;~1 : ?;. s*,:. ;? . ."? sii .;.:?:?:.~~:F?..:;??i: t. : . ?. ., ".;:; s . 4i~: .:? .s:".. .:s:. "s'2?:r :: ?i ::.:.,. ";,:: ':::;. ?F :".s ???....."..su ;; "s * s .: ? s;:;s:; i;.r.: _:.?.... ::...,.:...?Fs; To the Daily: I'm writing in direct response to your editorial on hidden racism at the University ("An accidental peek at campus racism," Daily, September 27). I agree with your point that preconceived notions concerning the races are prevalent among incoming freshpersons, however, your means of obtaining material leaves something to be desired. Publishing private mail is an obvious violation of privacy and does little to enhance your credibility as a newspaper editor. Can we as students, trust a paper that is willing to do anything, even infringe on someone'e right to privacy, in order to get a story? Perhaps this paper and its editor should re-evaluate their qualifications to sit in judgment of others in light of their past record of anti-semitism. I also wonder about the absence of minority staff members at the Daily; what possible reason could there be for this lack of in- ter of the author of the letter, based on your interpretation of someone else's mail. Your ignorance concerning the nature of the relationship between the parties involved in the correspondence, may have led you to mistake personal jokes for racist comments. In any event, your violation of private property, evident hypocrisy and your perhaps, un- fortunate misinterpretation of what you read may sadly result in an ended friendship between roommates. I feel obligated to suggest that in the future, creditable means are employed in obtaining material and the interpretation of this material does not reflect the projection of ideas and prejudices of any level staff member. The author of this letter is the student ,referred to in the editorial. He asked that his name be withheld. 11111 -1 1 1 1 11 ABOUT RE.AL( T 1 0 11 1 1 1 I li i I F I I1 ! 1 I 1 i I !I