C
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Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Vol. XCV, No. 154.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board
The new MSA
W ITH SPRING each year at the
University comes a new group of
students vying for seats on the
Michigan Student Assembly. And with
the results of the most recent MSA
elections released, it looks as though
next year's assembly has the potential
to develop a strong, active, and effec-
tive student government.
Heading the new body of students is
VOICE presidential candidate Paul
Josephson. Josephson will also have
the support of his party next year,
which took 17 of the 39 available seats.
In this election, VOICE was clearly the
most competent and representative of
the three parties in the race, and now
these representatives will have the
chance to put into effect the policies
that won them the election.
The Moderates of the University of
Michigan party also fared well in the
election, taking 12 seats, despite
defeated presidential candidate Kevin
Michaels' promise to take a more con-
servative approach to student gover-
nment. Michaels called for closer ties
with the University, a more moderate
and representative assembly, and less
MSA involvement in national and in-
ternational politics. Although this ap-
proach may have cost Michaels the
presidential post, the diversity of
opinions that the 12 MUM represen-
tatives will likely bring to the assem-
bly will be a welcome asset to the
student community.
Alex Diana, the presidential can-
didate for the Make our Votes Effec-
tive party, was the third place conten-
der in the presidential race. Although
MOVE did not manage to gain any
seats on the assembly, their presence
in the election was not fruitless.
Diana's approach to the contest was
admirable, seeking to tap the 87 per-
cent of the student body who donot
vote in MSA elections. Whether or not
it was a result of MOVE's platform, the
fact is voter turnout was unusually
high this year.
Josephson and the entire MSA have
an enormous responsibility to the
students in the coming year. And as far
as anyone can tell, the 39 students elec-
ted are ready to take on that respon-
sibility. Perhaps MSA's top priority
next year will be the same as that of
Scott Page's assembly: the code. MSA
will have to work with the ad-
ministration to provide a set of univer-
sity rules which addresses the
problems on campus and is above all
beneficial to students. Hopefully, the
diversity and experience provided by
this year's victorious candidates will
translate into effective and responsible
student government for the coming
year.
)PINION
Saturday, April 13, 1985 The Michigan Daily
Co eegeP ess Sevce
. Ii k o t * 6,
WOO cTHE 51l't o WE iRE HAVE RWA A 1Z"WINNRL :
CAMPUS OBSERVATIONS
The University students.,subtle bigo try
By Lily EngAnybody can go to the UGLi and the
Three years at Michigan has taught me well. My biggest lesson from Graduate Library and see that
the University is learning that no matter how intelligent everyone is prejudice is not a small subject mat
supposed to be here, there are some people who are ignorant. Ignoran-
ce has a name here in particular and it is prejudice. Prejudice is ugly ter. Swastikas and various slogans
and the fact that it exists in the University makes the University lessfo
attractive. for different ethnics and religions
Like so many other minorities before me, I hear demeaning are frequently part of the graffiti.
remarks about my race from some fellow students. If I get an A on a
paper, some students would whisper, "Of course she got an A, she's a
chink. All they do is study 24 hours a day." If I get a D, their remarks realize why I get a chill down my spine. There are no words to describe
are no more encouraging. "If she can't write English, why the'hell is how it feels to be called a name just because you are a certain type of
she here anyhow?" person. It is anger, humiliation, and frustration all at once.
I ask other minority students if they encounter the same kind of How many of you are guilty of changing what you say and do when
treatment. Their answer is usually an unhesitated yes. I know a black you meet a person of different race or a person who has a different
student who shares a room with two practicing Hitlerites. Her conver- religion or beliefs. Some people do not realize they are prejudicial.
sations with them consist of yes, no, and hello. That's on a good day. They smile and give extra sweet encouragement to a black because
On a bad day, they ignore her completely. Sometimes that hurts more they think he needs special treatment. They say a black is a nigger, a
than any remark in the world. To be ignored is like being invisible. Jewish person is a Jap, or a Spanish person is a PR when they get
Anybody can go to the UGLi and the Graduate Library and see that mad at them. Or they are gentle bigots and whisper quietly to their
prejudice is not a small subject matter. Swastikas and various slogans friends. "Hey, John Doe isn't so bad, even though he's Jewish."
for different ethnics and religions are frequently part of the graffiti. I have seen prejudice practically all my life. It isn't different here 4J
There's no lack of imagination there. When you read, "Nigger, go home the University. Yes, the remarks are more sly, the smiles are a little
to Africa," or "Hitler was right" a couple of times, I'm sure you wide, and the slogans and swastikas are etched ever so carefully fit
blend evenly with other graffiti. But prejudice exists here and it stil
Eng, a junior in LSA, is a Daily staff writer. hurts all the same.
The up seof Um ilita ryreseac
By Mike Tia Military research will continue to occur-whether :
Military research on campus-is it it is at a university, or at some other facility. If'a
necessary? Is military research needed in a selection had to be made, the obvious and
time of uncontrollable nuclear buildup here in,
the U.S. and in the Soviet Union? With con- beneficial choice would be to select a univer-
tinued debate surrounding the issue, it is time we
looked closely to the subject of military sity
research on campus.
When considering military research on and more sophisticated weaponry, it is essen- buy instruments which most universities
campus, we must consider two major tial that we continue to research and develop already contain. Money would be wasted o
issues-whether military research itself is weapons which will replace the older and on expensive instruments which would only
justifiable, and if so, whether research should more vulnerable ones. All weapons, no matter be used for one particular application,;
be conducted at a university, how invincible they may seem at the time of whereas if the same instruments were pur-
Most opponents to nuclear arms are also development, eventually become obsolete to chased for research at a university, these i-
opposed to any type of defense related newer, more sophisticated weapons. One struments would have many uses not
research. Opponents equate nuclear research exarmple is the submarine. The submarine at necessarily for military applications.
to nuclear buildup. To some, it may seem that one time was conidered invlunerable to The benefits of military research on cani-
the United States' military arnsenal is so enemy detection. Now submarines can be pus in the scientific aspect may. be even
great that it would be impossible for all of located through the use of various sonar greater than that of the economic aspect. In
them to become obsolete; anymore research devices. many cases of military research, th
would just add to the buildup. Nuclear Military research will continue to oc- discoveries. of an experiment usually have
research, in fact, does not necessarily lead to cur - whether it is at a university, or at some more than just military applications. These
build-up. Military research is just other facility. If a selection'had to be made, discoveries could be useful in many scientifit
that-research of possible alternatives in the theobvious and beneficial choice would be to areas which ray vastly-improve the quality
development of military weaponry. The select a university; it would be beneficial of human lie; whereas if thesame beneficial
leaders. of our country should use their both economically and scientifically. discoveries were made at an outside facility,
discretion in choosing which experiments ' If military research were to be held at some it would not be passed along to the rest of the
should be expanded on. specially built facility, it would cost the tax- scientific community. Researching for
With the continued development of more payer more money than if it were to be held at military purposes at a university provides a
a university. Millions of dollars would have to mutual relationship where information may
Tia is afreshman in LSA. be used for the development of these be shared to benefit both the military and
facilities. Money would have to be spent to scientific fields.
A lesson In why- andhow-to smnile
By Charles La Via -
Until recently I was quite con- If we are not allowing our facial muscles to relax we must
tented with walkingaround cam- all be tense . . . The problem is convincing all you uptight
pus with a smile on my face, with
a greeting to my friends. Times people to loosen up.
change and so do feelings. At
present, I am quite discontented
walkingaround campus and WRONGO! Upon consulting my dless state of depression or First week: Sunday-Saturday
looking at all the anguish that medical expert, Dr. M.A. Tillson, unhappiness?" I answer: "No, at (That's right-7 days a week!)
radiates from people's faces. from the University of Chicago, I times I am unhappy, but I don't Try to smile a bit more than you
When I see these looks of learned that smiling-letting the let that get me down for a have in the past. (You know-the
seriousness, anger or despair, I face appear happy in general-is prolonged length of time." So I unhappy past you would like to
wonder: "Who died?" much easier as it is just allowing challenge each one of you who forget.) Say "Hi" to one person
Of course the answer in 99.9 most facial muscles to relax. reads this essay to ask yourself per day that you don't know.
percent of these cases is Conclusion: If we are not the same question. Then after
"Nobody"-yet the fact remains allowing our facial muscles to you've done so, go out and smile.
that a large percentage of people relax we must all be tense. Say: "HI" to strangers and be Second week and on: Now that
I see on campus seem to be AHA-I've found the solution. as outgoing as possible. you have the basics down the rest
unhappy. Why? I wonder. The problem is convincing all you Really-life is not that bad. In should be easy. Mix smiles with
Perhaps it is the weather. uptight people to loosen up. fact, if you relax a bit, you might hellos-use your judgement, I am
Yes-of course it's the I ask myself-"Charles, is even find that you enjoy living. quite confident that I am writing
weather! Nobody feels like anything here at school really so To help out, I have included my to an intelligent crowd, so this
smiling when it's constantly grey bad that it buries you in an en- easy to follow training schedule: should not be a problem.
and damp outside. WRONGO!
Last Sunday as I sat on my porch
with six icy LaBatt's, talking to BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed
Kumar Savundra, I noticed that
in spite of the good weather, 90R{5 " 7 ly e
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Admirable activism
A CTIVISM IS an important thing.
With it, people are able to call at-
tention to a problem that afflicts some
part ofthe world. Through it, people
become organized enough to create a
strong and centralized campaign
against whatever it may be that they
are fighting.
Everything starts from the small
few who take chances early and over-,
come the laziness that usually dam-
pers student involvement. On Thur-
sday, students at Ann Arbor's Pioneer
High School participated in a day-long
boycott of classes that protested the
forced resignation of a twelth grade
advisor. Given that we're not facing an
issue which touches everybody's life as
would a war in Vietnam, or a potential
one in Central America, we are still
dealing with a conflict that merits
proper resolution, and no issue is too
small to be disqualified from set-
tlement by any means other than even-
handed justice.
While the school's spokesman from
the superintendent's office, Wiley
Browrrlee, actually went so far as to
recognize the students' campaign as
an educational experience, it is
unlikely that the students' decision to
set their schoolwork back one day will
in any way force the reinstatement of
the advisor. By doing what they did,
however, they managed to muster
together enough attention to make
newspaper headlines and garner up
support for afi issue which would
otherwise have died an early death.
Hopefully, enough people will now be
involved to oversee any further in-
vestigatons that the school system
might conduct.
It is always easier to learn when
you're having fun, and good
student/faculty relationships are im-
portant in insuring that pupils gain
respect. for the right people and seek
advice in the right places. If students
feel so strongly about the dismissal of a
faculty member that they go truant for a
day to protest, then maybe the case
demands further attention.
The students at Pioneer High School
deserve applause for their actions.
Being a day behind in one's pursuits of
knowledge in the arts and sciences is
certainly less atrocious a thought than
the idea of a possibily unjust dismissal
for a valuable faculty member.
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