A OPINION Page 4 Monday, September 9, 1985 The Michigan Daily I Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan 'Greening' the University 0 Vol. XCVI, No. 3 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board Strategic sanctions N AN ATTEMPT to head off even stronger measures, President Reagan has finally agreed to approve certain mild economic sanctions against the apartheid policies of the South African government. Support for stern economic measures against South Africa has grown at an unprecedented rate ,since Reagan's reelection. Spurred by repeated reports of excessive violence by the white minority government in South Africa again- st its black and non-white citizens as well as increased agitation in the United States calling for action against apartheid, legislators from both political parties currently support sanctions. Although Reagan could veto any Congressional sanctions, it is no longer clear that Republicans would be able to sustain such a veto; and if the veto were overrid- den it would deal a blow to the president known for working well with Congress. Therefore Reagan's decision to support mild sanctions makes sen- se as a deft political move. Unfortunately, it isn't enough. South Africa is a country on the brink of an enduring and bloody civil conflict. By treating "colored," people of mixed racial parentage, as second class citizens and denying that blacks are citizens at all, the white minority is widening the gulf between the cultures. With Prime Minister Pieter Botha's current show of in- transigence, blacks are rapidly losing all hope of a political solution and are turning increasingly to violent means of protest. So long as all out revolution has not begun, there is still some hope for a negotiated transfer of power to a government that represents all Shop COLUMNIST IN the New York Times recently iden- tified shopping as a nationally emerging California-culture ethic: a wave of consumerism rushing eastward to fast engulf the con- tinent. There's plenty of stuff to buy in Ann Arbor already: our gentrifying mid-western college town seems to be spontaneously generating chic international boutiques and croissant shops at unprecedented rate. Indeed, most things money can buy can be found at Ann Arbor establishments. When the community offers free of charge, however, is perhaps the most precious stuff available. Yes, tuition rates are ever-climbing and financial aid is less readily available, but ideas are always free. As bewildered freshmen explore campus for the first time, crum- pled CRISP print-outs in hand, un- doubtedly a few "wrong" turns will be made. Who among us has not actually arrived at what we thought was the right room only to endure an hour long lecture on Ugandan tribal yam-eating prac- tices to avoid the embarrassment of "slipping out quietly" all the while silently enraged at the "wasted" time. Unfortunately, learning those living in South Africa. That hope can be fanned by outside countries if they bring to bear all means of pressure on the South African government. The chief argument against economic sanctions has been the claim that the blacks themselves will suffer most in an economy that goes sour. However, with violence escalating, an improved South African economy can be nothing more than a short term good; something that would be torn usun- der once the inevitable conflict begins. Reagan has specifically proposed banning sales of com- puter equipment to government agencies which enforce apartheid and loans to financial institutions which discriminate against blacks. Neither measure looks as if it will affect the country any time soon. The bill currently before Congress calls for the same two sanctions, as well as a ban on U.S. bank loans to any South African construction beyond new facilities for non-whites and bans all imports of Krugerrands, the South African currency. Of those additional sanctions, the ban on Krugerrands is expected to have the most immediate impact, threatening to do away with the $485 million the government made on their sale last year. Sanctions cannot be effective unless they are felt. Reagan's proposal doesn't go far enough, and fails to apply the heavy pressure that is necessary to effect real change in the South African politics. His decision may be based on good politics, but it certainly isn't for the best. Reagan's new call for mild sanctions does not in any way diminish the need for strong, effective sanctions. around something one hasn't formally set out to learn is too often mis-cast as a hassle. It's a sad mistake. The University and community offer countless hours of lecture and discussion on an endless variety of topics. Just because the computer hasn't scheduled your presence, don't be afraid to show up. Particularly at the beginning of the term, diligence and curiosity can reward good shoppers with the most interesting and challenging courses. Don't just work hard and party hard. Go to a few lectures which might lead to an exciting class. Sit-in on a friend's Shakespeare lecture or check-out a speaker listed in the Daily "Happenings" column. One day last spring each Ann Arborite had the opportunity to attend a lecture on the "Com- parative Appendicular ' Myology of the Kingbirds and their Allies and Its Evolutionary Achievement" or a talk on "Women and Achievement: Deficit or Choice Models"; but how: many of us fit the extra hour of thought into our schedules? The most important stuff to be "bought" is an investment of the intellectual sort: spend your time here generously and thoughtfully. By Robert Honigman Second in a Series1 Academic involvement produces one of the most unusual patterns of effects on student outcomes....Being heavily in- volved academically tends to retard changes in personality and behavior that normally result from college attendan- ce.... The only personality change accen- tuated by academic involvement is status needs, which are strengthened. -AlexanderAstin, Four Critical Years, 1977. Sometimes it helps to do what physicists do by giving colorful names to things that other- wise seem dry and lifeless. For example, if we call the academic personality a "green'' personality, the social outgoing personality a "red" -personality, the emotionally mature personality a "blue" personality, and a creative personality an "orange" per- sonality, then perhaps we can discuss some of the impact of the modern university on young people. I seem to be alone in thinking that the modern university is a negative experience for young people - that it poisons them and cripples their mental and emotional faculties. :Perhaps I take education for granted, like the water and air, and am merely speaking of polluted water or air, an impure version of something which is really pure and wholesome. The problem with the modern university is, that it is composed of "green" men and women who think of themselves as the salt of the earth, the model of what every young per- son (who is above average) ought to be. Our whole education system is designed to create, sustain and reward "green" people. Innumerable studies have shown that there is no correlation between academic success Honigman is an attorney in Sterling Heights. and success in one's career - assuming one possesses the minimum abilities to learn a profession. The lawyer or doctor or scientist, who had mediocre grades is as likely to be a superstar in his or her profession as the one who graduated at the top of the class. In the{ real world, it is not the "green" personalities who predominate. That's not to say that "green" personality isn't a component in a healthy and successful person's life, but rather that it is not a critical component, and that an educational system designed to produce and encourage only "green" personalities is mistaken and out of sync with reality. The tragedy of our educational system is that it acts like a giant filter, letting only those with "green" personalities through, and pretending that those with the "greenest" personalities are the best and most likely to succeed. It's an enormous lie that persuades millions of young people to sacrifice the development of their "red," "blue," and "orange" personalities in order tobe more "green." The Nerd personality is the popular rendition of the academic or "green" mind- frame, but I've found a far more dangerous example to be the smarmy and efficient technocrat - a cold, ambitious intellect un- swayed by emotions or personal feelings. In a sense, our schools and universities practice an insidious kind of discrimination, promoting "green" people whenever and wherever possible - penalizing and ridiculing all other colors of the personality, or giving them patronizing lip service while ignoring them. And since minority groups, blacks, hispanics, American Indians, etc. lack a cultural background of "greenness"' they are effectively kept out of the system and positions of power and affluence. Keep in mind that "greenness' isn't related to the genetic capacity of majority or minority groups. I submit as evidence for this assertion the fact that SAT scores fell in ab- solute numbers between 1972 and 1982. In 1972 over 53,000 students scored above 650 on the verbal test. In 1982, only a little more than 29,000 did so. Assuming the genetic population of the U.S. hasn't changed in this decade, clearly something else in our culture lowered the academic abilities of young people. In my view, it is the failure of our educational system to meaningfully relate to young people that makes them feel that developing "greenness" isn't worth the ef- fort. (Since minorities score lower on SATs than whites, something in our system is discouraging them even more.) It's as if our major universities have a sign at their en- trances which says, "unless you are one of the few who knows what you want, abandon all hope of finding'anyone to guide or help you in here." I can understand why "green" people, run- ning "green" institutions, honestly believe that "greenness" is the highest attribute of a human being and the one attribute that an educational system should focus on and develop above all others. We all tend to be egocentric and take our own personalities as the model of ideal human behavior. But there's no reason why students entering and living in a "green" institution during the for- mative years of their life, should become such narrow and self-deluding people. I am a "green" person too, shaped by enormous pressures - but I live in the world outside the university where being "green" has no special advantage, and where I frequently envy people with "red," "orange" and "blue" personalities. I have no in- stitutional means of making myself impor- tant or advancing my "green" interests. So when I warn you against "greenness" please don't think that I want you to neglect that part of your personality. I only want to warn you not to make it the center of your personality -rin an institution that applies powerful pressures to convince you that being green is the most important thing of all. :! S Tomorrow: Academic Elitism Cramer r an TUEL V IS , 19579 6 2 T E Nr', 190 RA, 1985? EaTL lel 6". f / jA18 ww198 ..3.. Awmmmw ri LETTERS Daily should answer sports questions To the Daily: I enjoy The Michigan Daily very much. I take it primarily for, the sports information. I am an out of town subscriber and my local paper does not give me enough information on sports. I do have a few suggestions or requests. First of all I see that Mike Hammerstein is listed as a defensive tackle. According to my records he has played four seasons and therefore should have completed his eligibility. It would be nice if you could run a story explaining why he is still eligible. We all know of course about Steve Howe and his problems but there are others. Is Steve Perry still in the Los Angeles chain? If he is,, how is he doing? And how about Chris Sabo, Rich Stall, Dave Kopf, Tony Evans, Jeff Jacobson, Steve Ontiveros or any other former Michigan players in organised ball. Any of this information would make your paper even more in- teresting than you for your these subjects. it is now. Thank, consideration of -Chester Belt September 5 r The Michigan Daily encourages input from our readers. Letters should be typed, triple spaced, and sent to the Daily Opinion Page, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109. " " ' i : ' £:y . ." " . ,;