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OPINION

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Page 4 Wednesday, February 11, 1987 The Michigan Dlj

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LETTERS:

Eie Michigan at
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan

Egging undermines protest

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Vol. XCVII, No. 94

420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board
All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily.
Focus on teaching
THE UNIVERSITY ENJOYS A find their way to the closed course
reputation as one of the finest in the board. Most students stoically
world. The University can point adapt, primarily by taking courses
with pride to an excellent library out of logical sequence and by
system, nationally respected faculty filling up their schedules with
members, and innovative research "leftovers" which contribute little to
programs ranging from their educational plans.
investigations into the causes of While other schools go to great
cancer to the compilation of a lengths to adapt course offerings to
Middle English Dictionary. Yet, projected demand so that courses
this great university is giving short rarely close, the University seems
shrift to its most important mission: to have little interest in going the
educating students. extra mile to see supply meet
For years, students and faculty demand.
alike have railed against the At an institution with the high
administration about the poor tuition and enormous resources of
student to faculty ratio and the University, these problems are
resulting excessive class sizes. inexcusable. Relative to students at
Recent complaints by the other state universities, University
economics faculty have served to students pay the highest in-state
highlight the problem but have and the second highest out-of-state
brought about no solutions. More tuition in the nation. The
than ever, lecture classes with University receives one of the
hundreds of students are largest state appropriations of any
commonplace while recitation and U.S. college and has a private
discussion sections far too large for endowment which compares
effective discourse are becoming favorably with many respected
the rule in a growing number of private institutions. The problem,
departments. therefore, is not lack of funds, but
This problem has been mounting a distorted set of priorities.
for years and the University has Tes nseriorenwi
not taken effective action. The size The University should renew its
of the teaching faculty has commitment to teaching. The first
remained fairly constant over the step in this direction must be a
past several years and the substantial increase in the size of
University's plans to admit the the full-time teaching faculty,
largest group of first year students primarily with an eye to reducing
in its history contain no mention of class sizes in the most
proportionate increases in the overcrowded departments and.
number of full-time instructors. increasing offerings of high-
Not only are the classes demand courses.
overcrowded, it can be nearly The state created this institution
impossible to sign up for them. and has supported it generously
CRISP is a sort of computerized over the years primarily so that it
department store fire sale where no can provide a first-class education
customer can leave the store to its students. The 33,000
without a full shopping cart, even students of the University are
if the goods he or she wants are paying some of the highest tuitions
sold out. in the nation with similar
Each semester, the very popular expectations. It's high time they
or widely required classes quickly got their money's worth.
Winter a capitalist plot

To The Daily:
It's good to see that the
spirit of political activism is
alive and well on campus, as
demonstrated by many student
activist groups. It is important
that we, as the future business
people, teachers, administra -
tors, artists, engineers, doctors,
lawyers, and parents of our
state and country, remain
politically aware and involved
in the governmental processes
which give rise to the policies
and laws of our land.
However, we must remember
that along with the power to
make changes in the way our
country is governed comes a
responsibility to use that
power wisely, and to
demonstrate that we deserve
this power.
The protesters outside our Law
Quadrangle on Wednesday,
Feb. 4, were there for a very
good reason: to show public
displeasure towards the
appearance on our campus of
Edwin Meese, the Attorney
General of the United States.
A man who opposed a voting
rights amendment in 1982,
who has repeatedly sought to
repeal the Miranda Rule, who
has suggested that employers
spy on employees suspected of
drug use during non-working
hours, and who has denied the
existence of hungry children in
America, deserves to have his
role in our government
protested, perhaps even
eliminated. Bravo to all those
who showed up to protest.
But to those who hurled
eggs at former-President Gerald
Ford, who has nothing to do
with any of Meese's policies,
and to those who pelted Meese
himself with snowballs, you
have undoubtably hurt your
own cause. Who can respect a
bunch of juveniles who sink to
the level of gradeschool
playground antics? We who
are concerned with the direction
-of American politics and
constitutional law don't need
people like you on our side.
You embarrassed me, and
discredited the protest in the
eyes of many onlookers.
Surely Martin Luther King, Jr.
was rolling over in his grave at
this juvenile violation of his
guidelines for non-violent
protest. Those who
participated in the obscene
chants underneath the windows

of the conference room can stay
home next time, too, as far as
I'm concerned.
To make changes in our
system, we have to behave as
mature, responsible adults;
without the respect of those

with the power to directly
change policies, any cause is
hopeless. I hope next time a
chance comes along to publicly
display our political
preferences, the entire group is
able to handle themselves

responsibly, not sinking below,
the level of those whose
respect and cooperation we..
need.
-Patrick Fetterman
February 9

Eggs batter student pride

To The Daily:
After reading the article,
"Protesters rally against
Meese," (Daily, 2/5/87) I felt
ashamed to be a student of the
University of Michigan. I am
usually proud to speak of the
University for taking notice of
all controversial issues in an
intellectual and thoughtful
manner. Even when students
take part in rallies and
demonstrations, they are
normally limited to simple
protest and discussion.
Unfortunately, the actions of
the students on February 4
made me change my opinion,
not only of those protesting
against Edwin Meese and the
Reagan administration, but
also of students in general at
this University. These
students, supposedly intelligent
and well-informed enough to
confront the issues and to
challenge individuals such as
Meese, proved not that they
know what they are talking
about, but that they are
irresponsible, immature, and
ill-informed children that have
to throw eggs because they do
not really know what is going
on.
I am not saying that I want
students at this school to stop
protesting and challenging the
status quo, but, they must
remember that they owe to
themselves and this University
to deal with problems and
issues in a respectful and, at
least, orderly fashion. Whether
I support or do not support the
views of these so called
protesters is irrelevant. Along
with most other students at
this University, I do support
the right for people to protest
in order to bring about change;
it is the basis behind this
country to question norms in
order to bring about a better
society. The actions of the
protesters on Feb. 4 did not
bring about change; they
simply made University

students look like sniveling
youngsters with nothing better
to do than throw eggs at the
former president of the United
States and other dignitaries. It.
is also interesting that many of
these same protesters advocate
nuclear disarmament and a
greater interest in peace. They
certainly did not show their
interest in peace on the night
of Feb. 4.
These individuals proved

nothing except that they still -
need babysitters and that they
need to grow up. If you want'
to prove a point, hold a true
protest, write a letter or sign a
petition. Pelting Gerald Ford
with eggs only makes you and
the rest of the students at this
great University look like
fools.

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-Bruce Byrd
February .

Egg do detriment to dissent

S'

To The Daily:
I have never written the
Daily before as there has been
no need to. However, after the
incident in which our active
left felt it necessary to throw
eggs at former President Ford, I
felt it imperative to address
these people. Let's look at a
few points.
1) In trying desperately to
prevent Ed Meese from "raping
the constitution," our
protesters seem to have taken it
upon themselves to determine
who has the right to appear, let
alone speak in public. This
reeks of policies in Nazi
Germany and South Africa. I
doubt the protesters want to be
associated with these two
countries and their actions.
2) Throwing eggs at Ford is
ridiculous and completely,
uncalled for. Who is he? Only
a man. He is not a figurehead
for the supposed "fascist,
oppressive" Reagan
Government. One would think
our protesters would obey the
law. By disobeying the law, are
not they doing what Meese is
trying to do; change laws to
serve a small group's interests?
Wait, I hear a cry coming
from the far left! It accuses me
of supporting Meese. Sorry
people, this could not be
further from the truth. I
support Roe vs. Wade,
Miranda, Playboy being
allowed to put their magazine
in 7-Elevens, and just about
every other issue Meese is
against.

As I wrote in my apology'
to former President Ford, ort
behalf of the students who find
this type of action inexcusable,
the right to profess different,
beliefs, whether they are social,
political, or religious, is what4
makes this country great. Front,
what I could get from the
Daily's story on the Wayne
State protest of Meese, it was a
peaceful, non-disruptive
protest. One need not be
obnoxious to make a point;
Sheer numbers and signs would:
let Meese know that people do,
not support him. It is a shame-,
that the University of4
Michigan protesters did not
follow Wayne State's example,
It is actions like egging Ford'
that only strengthen the resolve
of people like Mr. Meese.
" Finally, I hope'the, Daily'
will also address this problem
and apologize to Ford. We do
not need one condemning'
Meese. The students at the'
University know what Meese
stands for without an editorial:".
I doubt, however, that many:
(any?) know why Ford was
egged and what purpose it
served. I hope MSA will take~
this opportunity to represent.
the majority of the student:'
population by writing Ford and"
expressing sincere apologies
for the attack on him and his. 4
secret service bodyguards. This
should not be hard since MSA
represents more than just the
overly-vocal, violent left.
-Tom Krause
February 5,

WITH ANN ARBOR'S beautiful
autumn days a fading memory and
with Spring Break still weeks
away, we are all certain of one fact:
WINTER' SUCKS. While we all
have our own personal reasons for
despising this most miserable of
seasons at a University located all
too near the Arctic Circle, few of
us recognize that Winter is just one
more institution in this world that
discriminates in favor of the rich
and powerful.
Think about it. How much does
this disgusting season affect the
everyday lives of the very rich?
Imagine how the Winter day of an
average millionaire industrialist
begins. He steps from his warm,
lavish house into a heated garage
where an already started and
warmed up chauffeur driven limo
awaits him. Then, while the
liveried driver negotiates the icy
roads, our millionaire sips hot
coffee from a monogrammed spill-
proof mug, reads the Wall Street
Journal, and chats on his cellular
phone.
Meanwhile, the University
student begins his Winter days
with an ordeal fit more for Nanook
of the North than for a scholar. To
begin with, he probably doesn't
even have a car, much less a stretch
limo, and must walk to class or to a

variation on the Michigan Daily
Lottery when he turns the key and
wonders whether the chilled battery
will start the snow and ice-covered
vehicle.
Not only is our millionaire
scarcely affected by the bitter
climate, he can go to Florida or
Hawaii at the drop of a hat to
escape a season whose full brunt
he need never experience. In his
designer bathing suit, he frolics in
tropical seas and tans in the sun's
warm rays, letting lapse his weekly
appointments at the local tanning
salon.
The student, on the other hand,
wistfully watches Florida and
Hawaii tourism commercials on TV
while snow falls outside and his
teeth chatter.
Winter's discriminatory effect is
best seen in the realm of Winter
Sports. At the first significant
snowfall of the season, our
millionaire jets to Vail or the Alps
for the best skiing and exclusive
company at luxurious resorts.
The student must content iimself
with rented skis, crowded slopes,
and badly mixed rum toddies. As a
result, what little pleasure students
get from Winter Sports doesn't
nearly outweigh the miseries which
this season imposes upon us. On

Abortion should be illegal

To The Daily:
Given the Daily's need to
run biweekly pro-choice
editorials, it is not surprising
that eventually you would out
of credible material. You claim
that "the majority of voters
support the right for people
(men too?) to have abortions."
On what do you base this
claim? On referenda? The last
referendum onthe legality of
abortion was held in Michigan
in 1972. The pro-choice side
lost, big. Do you base your
claims on polls? You're
right-polls do indicate that a
complete ban on abortion is
supported by a minority,
roughly 25 percent. These
same polls show that the Roe
v. Wade position (pro-choice
with third trimester
restrictions) is supported by
about 25 percent of the people
(Gallup).
The rest of the people are
somewhere in be -
tween-supporting abortion in
some instances, opposing it in
others. On specific related
issues, majorities believe that
1) life begins at conception or
quickening, 2) abortion should

be illegal after the third month,
3) abortion should be illegal
without the husband's consent,
and 4) abortion should be legal
in cases of deformity but
illegal if the baby is merely
unwanted (Gallup, cited by
Burtchaell). There is no
evidence that the American
people support abortion rights
as defined by Roe v. Wade and
subsequent Supreme Court
decisions.
Even if your faulty claim
that people support abortion
was true, that is no reason for
Ronald Reagan or any other
politician to support abortion,
as you urge. Let's look at your
logic. If the majority of the
people support abortion than
Ronald Reagan should support
abortion or shut up. If the
majority of people support SDI
then the Democrats should
support abortion or shut up. If
a majority of people supported
slavery than Abe Lincoln
should have shut up.
Your editorial would have
been hilarious if it weren't
written so seriously.
-Steve Angelotti
January 28

Republican popularity solid

To The Daily:
I am writing in response to
your "Issues Versus Popularity"
editorial (Daily / /86). In the
article you state that "the
Democrats certainly did not win
[control of the Senate] on the
strength of their stands on the
issues, but because they are the
only alternative to the
Republicans." That is an
interesting, as well as irre -
sponsible, assumption. If the
Republicans and their policies
are so unpopular, then how do
you explain their gain of 8
governorships? Historically, in
non-presidential elections, the
party in power has lost as many

as 50 seats in the U.S.-
Congress. This year, the
Republicans lost a mere 7 seats.'
Taking into consideration all of
the results of this year's?
elections, there seems not to be
the total disapproval of the
Republican Party that the Daily
suggests. In the future, I hope
that the Daily editors would
make realistic and thorough,
examinations of voter attitudes
before making assumptions.
This would ensure that th..
editors would not show theitL
political biases within theit
invalid assumptions.
-David J. Owsiany
November 7+

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The Opinion page is looking for
investigative researchers to have their own
watchdog columns on particular local
subjects, such as Ann Arbor housing,
police and the court system. Call 747-
2814 and askfor Karen or Henry.

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