4 OPINION Page 4 Wednesday, February 19, 1986 The Michigan Daily q Gi 3~idpgan ai1g Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan LETTERS: Food cooperative counters criticism Vol. XCVI, No. 99 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board Re-evaluate shelters THE ANN ARBOR Shelter Association deserves com- mendation for opening a new daytime facility for the homeless. It is simple decency to provide these unfortunates with com- panionship and a warm bed, especially during Michigan's har- shest winter months. It would be ignoring reality, however, to pretend that such shelters deal with the underlying causes of the homeless problem. Rather than institutionalizing shelters, public officials need to concentrate on securing low-cost housing and improving mental health programs. Necessary as they are for stopgap accommodation, the Huron Street and Arbor Haven facilities can mask the insidious socio-political origins of homelessness. They also may discourage guests from entering mainstream society. Those who need harboring, face a chronic lack of low-cost housing. The city claims to be working on the problem. But progress is slow- for political reasons. The city helped to create the homeless problems was increased in 1983 by the condemnation of the Downtown Club, a privately owned building which had become a 68- room street people denizen. For- mer mayor Louis Belcher and his fellow investors helped to renovate the structure into office space. Though they were asked to develop low cost housing by represen- tatives Lowell Peterson and Larry Hunter (D-1st Ward), they found the project overly expensive. Destruction of single-room oc- cupancies mirrors a recent national trend. Cities began restoring their neighborhoods and median rent increased twice as fast as income in the 1970's. The Ann Arbor City Council's Af- fordable Housing Task Force finally acknowledged the low-cost crunch here last year. When it came to funding new locations, however, the city bent to political pressure from citizens who oppose flophouses and shelters. Councilman Lowell Peterson, who has trumpeted his housing initiatives, notes that the Huron Street shelter is in his ward. It is the same shelter that neighbors despise, however,. Other council members also seem wary of offen- ding community sentiment. Politicking thus prevents a potential solution. Another root cause of homelessness is a failed mental health system. For 30 years in- stitutions have been releasing patients judged as unthreatening to society. Unfortunately, up to 60 percent of them live with delusions and cannot function independently. Promised government support programs have not materialized. Shelter officials estimate that 60 percent of their guests are men- tally ill - and the flow from neigh- boring Ypsilanti State Mental Hospital never stops. Mental health treatment has been yet another casualty of the Reagan Administration. Stricter welfare requirements have also hurt, creating what some term a "new poor." Clearly, shelter advocates must push for more mental treatment programs such as therapy and support groups. Spokesmen for the Coalition for Unmet Needs, a homeless support group, mention legislative pressure, but they seem apathetic. Instead, they pursue the well-intentioned but short-sighted path of homeless shelters. It's time to re-evaluate decades of court decisions. And it's time for city officals to start listening and opening their treasuries. Only then can the homeless problem be solved and shelters rendered un- necesssary. To the Daily: We have read your article of Wednesday, February 5 entitled "Food Co-op to Remove Un- sanitary Wooden Bins" which referred to our organization, People's Food Cooperative. Normally, we welcome publicity, but we felt that Kristin Pope's ar- ticle provided little benefit to People's Food Co-op, to the community, or to The Daily. I would like to address several misleading impressions readers may derive from the article, as well as correct several errors: " People's Food Co-op offers organic and commercial food. Organically grown and chemically-fertilized foods may be similar nutritionally, as stated in the article. However, we suggest that it may be to the con- sumers' advantage to eat organic foods, not only to avoid ingesting toxins, but to draw support away from those producers of pesticides and insecticides which contribute to environmental pollution and damage. " Insect control is a concern of the entire food industry. The eggs of grain beetles and other insects existhin most grain, and arrive with most shipmen- ts-unless, of course, the grain has been treated with poison or irradiated. According to William Casello, Horticulture Agent with Washtenaw County Cooperative Extension Service, "Grain from the field and after processing also contains contaminants. The government tells us what amount of contaminants are acceptable and not dangerous to health. More contaminants probably arrive with the grain than from insects which may enter after stocking the grain. Obviously, the longer a food is stored, the greater the chance of more con- tamination." (The stock of PFC grain turns over often.) Casello, who is a degree biologist, also stated that there is very little dangertwith the storage of dry grain; it is when moisture is in- troduced that organisms may develop which cause health problems. We welcome the Health Depar- tment or Department of Agriculture to inspect our bins at any time. " People's Food Co-op is not soliciting funds from its mem- bers for the sole purpose of replacing our Packard store's wooden bins, as stated in the ar- ticle. A member share proposal will be voted on by the member- ship in March, which is designed to build a solid capital base for store improvements and operations, and enhance the member's feeling of ownership. " Membership fees were inac- curately and incompletely cited. Annual membership fees at PFC are $10 per household, plus $2 for every individual member of the household over 16. Four and eight-month memberships are available; however, 99 percent of our members choose a 12-month membership. " Red meat is not carried at either of our stores; we do carry chicken and fish at our Packard store. Although the nutritionist quoted in the article cautioned against dropping red meat from one's diet, it is common knowledge in the United States today that cutting down on con- sumption of red meat may be beneficial to one's health. As you stated in your article, the eight essential amino acids can be ob- tained from grains, beans, and dairy products. " A major characteristic of People's Food Cooperative missing from Ms. Pope's article is that it is a cooperative-a business owned by its members, which exists to serve its mem- bers (not to maximize profit). Many people choose to shop at PFC because it is a cooperative, not just to buy cheap cheese. What was the purpose of the ar- ticle? To create a controversy where none exists? To educate the student community about PFC? The article was a con- fusing array of statements which made no particular point. If Ms. Pope's purpose was to inform, she failed to meet her goal. Several points are touched upon, but no topic was adequately ad- dressed. We are somewhat mystified that the article focused on a set of wooden bins. Is there not something more useful to write about the PFC to benefit The Daily's readers? Regardless of her mission in writing about the Co-op, we had hoped that Ms. Pope at least present accurate information. As PFC's public relations staff per- son, I emphasize accurate representation of People's Food Co-op to the community. The amount of misinformation this article contains is alarming. My request to proofread the article before it went to press was denied. We are very disappointed in the quality of your article; it lacked focus and contained many errors and misleading statements. Responsible journalism is the duty of The Daily's editors and reporters. -Kirsten Jensen Member Services Director For People's Food Cooperative February 10 I I Realism lacking in evaluation of U.S. To the Daily: Congratulations. Once again, I'm utterly amazed at the Daily's ability at verbal diarrhea when it comes to espousing a knee-jerk liberal viewpoint. Why does the Daily feel that it is incumbent on them to support every left of cen- ter cause that rolls on by? I refer specifically to Henry Park's editorial entitled "U.S. Gover- nment Leads Terror," which takes the Daily's rabid ravings to a new low. Come on, Henry, don't you think you're getting a bit on the hackneyed side here? This recurring theme of the US being the perpetual bad guy keeps cropping up, and let's not forget the obligatory swipe at those nasties at the CIA. Everyone knows those boys roast babies on spits, or at least that's what the locals (MSA, LASC) would have us believe. Frankly I'm getting a little tired of this. When are you people going to get your heads out of your hankies and see what the world is all about? I think a little realism is in order here. The U.S. is guilty of a lot of things, but these poor little "Third World" nations aren't exactly bastions of in- nocence either. You all sob and moan about the oppressed masses, when a lot of them are more involved in "terrorism" than we are. What I'm trying to say is that there are no innocents in this game. You can't just lay blame on the large nations of the world for every bit of violence that exists. for a lot of people who think we Every country on this planet has disgusted with it. Do us a fav some history of violence against surprise us one of these days a civilians whether a large country quit blaming the US for all was involved or not. This one- world's problems without ind sided bull that continues to spew ting the rest of the guilty parti forth from 420 Maynard is typical Thomas Go of the Daily, and I think I speak February In defense of Mr. Norris To the Daily: As many other Univer I write in response to articles students, Mr. Norris has e printed very recently regarding ployment through College W Mr. Lawrence Norris, chair of Study. It is not fair for anyone the Michigan Student Assembly's assume that because of his e Minority Affairs Committee. It ployment, he would ever co appears that much concern has prms hspiniys rc abe ive MrNori psit promise his principles or cc been given to Mr. Norris' position mitment and be "bought out," with MSA and his College Work one MSA official suggests. Si Study employment with Vice- because Mr. Norris h President Niara Sudarkasa. One ply wonerswhy Wh shuldMSA agreed with Vice-Presid4 officials be concerned with the Sudarkasa on some issues do offiialsbe oncenedwiththenot dictate that she has in a employment'of a fellow MSA of- way threatened his employmei ficial? Why should a student Vice-President Sudarkasa is publication contain malapropos excellent an administrator articles about the same? too sincere a person to ei Lawrence Norris has been ac- suggest that one would lose aj tive in minority affairs for quite because she/he did not act acc some time. His position in MSA ding to her requisitions; 1 shows that he is qualified to per- would rather prompt a person form well, and for the best in- act on her/his own thinking. A terest of minorities. He is looked if Mr. Norris' CWS job with a upon as one of the best minority employer was threatened, leaders at this university and is there not hundreds of other C1 also noted as a person with strong jobs available on this caml principles and values. Mr. Norris each semester? has stressed on more than one It is a sadstate of affairs w occasion that his first priority is working to obtain his goals of people, who are workingest acadmic ucces an secndlyturn and focus their attention working to fulfill histcommitment the personal interests of t and responsibility to minorities peersonhi alitre ssuofts and the position which he holds. peers. This paltry issue is wrvthv tn be so misleada~in 're or: and the dic- es. uld y11 4 sity em- ork m- om- as ha ent oes any nt. too and ver job or- but n to And any are ws pus hen to ust on heir not gfly Comp. teachers accessible To the Daily: Alatn Paul's article "Why Does RC Dominate Hopwoods?" (1/30/86) contains several false assumptions. The Residential College's success at the Hopwood Awards results largely from that college's emphasis on creative writing. Most students in LSA do not take creative writing classes; the college requirement is a course in composition, a discipline which includes more than artistic expression. Com- position classes teach skills other than fiction writing, and prepare the student to write in a variety of modes across the curriculum. Warren Hecht's assertion-that the teachers of LSA composition classes "don't have as much time or interest tospend with their students" is incorrect. Though most teachers of composition at the University of Michigan are graduate students, we care very much about our students and are readily accessible to them in class, conferences, office hours, and by telephone. We, like Hecht, work hard to "teach the kids." -Elizabeth Young February-3 Young is a graduate student who teaches composition. w uy wL10 uacuagy highlighted. It is even more distressing when one reads that the Michigan Daily's Editorial Board suggest that Mr. Norris resign from his position and that he has an "anti-MSA stance."h This view is repugnant. The board (nor MSA officials) has not clearly shown that Mr. Norris has not always acted in the best in- terest of minorities. Neither has sufficient evidence been provided that would prove that he has or ever will adhere to threatening circumstance. As MSA Vice-President Philip Cole said in one of the articles, "The people who make a big deal out of this have nothing else to do with their time."-Michael Nelson February 7 Loyalty to the Lady THE STATUE of Liberty has long been a symbol of hope to the millions of people who have come to the United States in search of a better life. To commemorate the statue's upcoming one hun- dredth anniversary, a massive campaign has been undertaken to restore both the statue and Ellis Island, the processing center where millions of immigrants first set foot on American soil. The firing of Lee Iacocca from the government advisory com- mission on the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island raised the question of whether the development of the island will in any way reflect the experiences of those immigrants. Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel claims that the fact that Iacocca was simultaneously head of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island fundraising foundation and a member of the advisory commission constituted a conflict of interest. Iacocca, hnva ar i.nci t. 4c, h i fi, r~ icti not convincing. If he truly felt that Iacocca's holding office on more than one commission constituted a conflict of interest he could have simply refused to reappoint Iacoc- ca last fall. Besides, if having a hand in both the raising and spen- ding of funds constitutes a conflict of interest all of our legislators would be disqualified from office. Iacocca's charge that the Secretary of the Interior wants a luxury hotel and conference center built on the two-thirds of the island not restored to its original state is disturbing, particularly since this policy would be consistent with the department's policy of commer- cializing and privatizing national parks. Despite what Hodel may think, most immigrants did not stay at a Hyatt Regency upon landing at Ellis Island. A better way of reflec- ting the immigrant experience would be a park that would celebrate the ethnic heritages and 1 ivac~ o~f imigrntsTnfand.ofn Wasserman CRARp&s or-F Au IN 1T 4NLPPINF 1ELEC.T~oN5D.. BUTr T T~i.NV WE No IUL-D EM IZE TIR Wo-PARTY -- . AQUINC A HAS e M A12(,05R A BASE 0 F A~ND WE NAVE oU~ Bt6RbE I U A