4
OPINION
Thursday, February 19, 1987
Page 4
The Michigan Daily
The Michiaan Daily
Markley
vote
LETTERS:
By Dan Rosenberg
VOTE EARLY! AVOID STANDING
IN LINE! proclaimed the election day
poster Monday in Mary Markley. This
was a slight exaggeration. Granted
Markley is a large dorm, and many
students are registered to vote there (one
thousand and fifty), but what did this
poster accomplish when not even one
person voted between noon and 5:30PM?
What is considered a bad turnout? I
thought a 25 percent turnout was
pathetic. At 8PM when polls closed, I
was able to observe the election results at
Markley. A grand total of eight people
voted! That translates to a whopping
turnout of 0.76 percent. Those
commercials that say "Every vote is
important" really make you think when
yours is worth over ten percent of the
whole polling place..
Let's consider another aspect of this
turnout: money. Three poeple were hired
to work for 14 hours and were paid
approximately 60 dollars each. This
means that just for those three people's
work, $22.50 was spent on each vote.
This doesn't take into account the cost of
the machines, paperwork, labor for
moving the machines.or vote counting
costs.
In case you wondered, it didn't take
long to tally the results for this election
in the Second Ward. This ward, a largely
Republican area (including the dorm
itself, which is the home of many young
Republicans from Long Island), had one
race where there was more than one
candidate. This was for an important
position--mayor. In Markley, Republican
Pual Jensen edged out Gerald Jernigan
three votes to none. I have a feeling that
some of those votes may have been a
Democratic crossover to vote for a less
formidable opposing candidate.
The unopposed candidates received a
few votes also. Democratic mayoral
candidate Edward Pierce received one
important vote, as did the city council
candidate Mary Reilly. The Republican
city council candidate M. Terry Martin
received a grand total of three votes.
I still have one other problem here.
There were no write-in votes cast at
Markley, and I voted for candidates in
both the city council and mayor elections.
When you subtract my two votes, that
leaves six votes, but when you subtract
me from the eight people who voted, it
leaves seven voters. But what can you
expect when eight voters show up in 14
hours, or a voter every 105 minutes?
Don't limit MSA to
campus.
To The Daily:
What should be the role of
MSA in evaluating issues that
do not directly affect the
University community? This
question has recently become
an issue of great concern on
our campus. Unfortunately, it
has been plagued by a great
deal of misinformation.
The initial premise, that
there are certain issues that are
of no concern to students and
therefore should not be
discussed by the Michigan
Student Assembly, is one that
I have difficulty accepting. I
cannot delineate between what
falls into the realm of student
issues, and what is superfluous
and hence taboo.
Should MSA draw the line
between University issues and
local issues? Should we pretend
that rape and robbery are issues
that do not fall within our
jurisdiction? Should MSA not
advocate improved
streetlighting in Ann Arbor
because there are local
representatives of the City
Council that will represent the
student body as. Ann Arbor
residents? Further, should the
assembly ignore the housing
crunch and the inflated prices in
off campus housing in Ann
Arbor? Should we appeal only
to the University to improve
conditions? In am inclined to
believe that these are just the
issues with which a student
assembly should be involved.
Perhaps we should draw the
line between local affairs and
state affairs. The assemble
should not represent University
students in Lansing. MSA
should not applaud Governor
Blanchard when he delegates
increasing funds to the
University. Nor should we
campaign for students rights,
freedom of speech or the
freedom to protest. Rather, the
assembly should watch idly.
Remember, we elected
representatives in November,
in state elections, to champion
our causes in Lansing.
Should MSA remove itself
from national affairs? Are
issues such as abortion and
separation of church and state
clearly inappropriate for our
student government to
evaluate, as they do not reflect
what members of the assembly
were elected to consider? These
very issues are of immediate
concern to every student at
Michigan. Articulating and
defending the rights of our
student body is the
responsibility of its student
government. It is well within
the duties of MSA to express
distaste for an administration
that continuously attempts to
worsen the plight of our
constituents by proposing Assembly is the appropri
reductions in already forum for these issues to
unacceptably low levels of discussed. MSA is thet
financial aid to students. opportunity that students
Finally, should MSA our University commun
remove from issues of have to speak in a strong, f
international concern? Should and united voice. If
MSA stray away from question is one of cli
Nicaragua because there is no consensus among the stud
clear consensus of student body, then students should
opinion on this issue? made aware of the politi
(Students were not affected by inclinations of th
the administration's decision prospective representati
about Vietnam in the 1960's.) during elections.
It is the business of a body Jurisdiction should not
elected to represent students to the question. The assem
advocate policies consistent speaks for the student body
with the best interests of the we do not take a stand
students. A government that protect our own rights, not
feels compelled to further the else will defend us.
cause of democracy throughout
the world must be reminded -Gary Perlm
that it is not acceptable to do LSA Representat
so at the cost of our education. February
The Michigan Student
Co-rrecting errors
iate
be
one
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irm
the,
ear,
dent
Lbo
ical
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be
bly
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ive
154
Rosenberg
is an LSA junior.
.4
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Vol. XCVII, No. 100
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.
Save 'U
TdDAY THE REGENTS GIVE THEIR
final say on the 'U' Terrace
housing issue. Students should
attend the 12:00-5:00 p.m. regents
meeting in the Fleming Building to
pressure the regents against tearing
down existing student housing.
The 'U' Terrace, which is
located near the Arboretum, is a
group of University housing units
which serve mostly married
students. Last December, the
regents approved the replacement
of two units at the 'U' Terrace
complex with a parking structure if
the hospital were unable to find
alternative sites for parking.
No one denies that there is
currently an estimated 800-1000
parking space shortage at the
hospital. According to the residents
of 'U' Terrace, there are adequate
sites to build new structures near
the Childrens' Psychiatric Hospital
and behind the Catherine Street
parking lot. In addition, the Glen
street parking structure, which is
currently under construction,
should take care of the immediate
parking shortage by providing
1000 spaces. Since the Glen
' Terrace
structure will take care of the
immediate problem, the University
should study the effects of the
elimination of the 'U' Terrace on
the off-campus housing crunch
before making a decision.
Even if the other sites do not pan
out the University is showing a
great deal of insensitivity to the
housing crisis on campus by
moving so quickly and callously to
eliminate the 'U' Terrace. While
the 50 people who would have to
leave 'U' Terrace if the regents
approve its destruction have been
promised housing on North
Campus, this only means that a
different 50 people - who would
have been able to live on North
Campus - will not be able to next
year if the regents approve the
hospital's plan. Though 50 is not a
significant number of people in
relation the rental market as a
whole, it will undoubtedly have an
effect; if only because the vacancy
rate rate is below one percent in
local rental housing units.
If students should express their
displeasure at today's regents'
meeting, the destruction of the 'U'
Terrace can be prevented.
aa
RossEN "17
Right to
lifers stereotyped
To The Daily:
Once again, our journalistic
miscarriage known as the
Michigan Daily has struck out
in its feeble attempt at "Greek-
bashing." It is painfully
obviously that little or no
research went into the editorial
"Greeks of the U' Unite"
(Daily, 2/16/87). Not one
executive officer of the
Interfraternity Council, Pan-
hellenic Association, Black
Greek Association, or the order
of Omega Executive Board was
contacted before the editorial
was published.
It is true that racial barriers
do divide the University on
many levels, but your editorial
only adds fuel to the fire. You
claim that Alpha Phi Alpha is
a "social affiliate." What is a
"social affiliate" - we would
like to know: The correct term
is "affiliate member," according
to the constitution of the
Interfraternity Council. Affili-
ate members are those groups
who choose to utilize their
own membership selection
process. Currently, Alpha Phi
Alpha and Evans Scholars are
affiliate members of the
Interfraternity Council, en-
joying full voting privileges,
except for for those matters
involving membership selec-
tion processes that they chose
not to participate in. These
groups must follow a mem-
bership recruitment procedure
that is mandated by their
national organizations.
The affiliate status was
created to protect the differences
in the membership selection
process, while attempting to
integrate the Greek system at
the same time. The University
chapter of the Order of Omega,
the national Greek honor
society, currently includes
members from Greek organi-
zations on campus, including
the major Black Greek letter
organizations.
The Panhellenic Association
has stated repeatedly that an
affiliate membership status
would be desirable in inte-
grating the system.
In 1982, the Interfraternity
Council President Bob Palffy
initiated negotiations with
Alpha Phi Alpha-the idea of
integration is not new.
All of our efforts have been
greatly diminished as a result
of the poor journalism - if we,
can call it journalism - 4,f
your paper. We learned a long
time ago, on our junior high.
school newspaper staffs, that
responsible journalism requires.
responsible research - some-;
thing that the Daily has not
demonstrated time and time*
1
4
Efforts this summer, under
the 1986/87 Interfraternity
Council Executive Board,
included a preliminary lun-
cheon at which officers from
both IFC and Black Greek
presidents met and discussed
both short-term and long-term
goals to further integrate the
entire Greek community.
Meetings on an individual
basis and another open forum
also took place last term.
To The Daily:
The letter "Pro-lifers are No
Longer Convincing" by
Timothy West (Daily 1/23/87)
certainly did not convince me of
anything. As I read it, a chill
ran up my spine, and the hair on
the back of my neck stood on
end. My eyes bulged from their
sockets, and my shin dropped so
low that it rested on my collar
bone. I sat in disbelief. I
support "Right to Life," and was
so appalled bygMr. West, that I
have to set things straight.
First of all, the supporters of
the pro-life movement do not
refuse to recognize war, nuclear
weapons, rampant poverty, Third
World hunger, racism, sexism,
or child abuse, as Mr. West
claims. The movement is
concentrated on the issue of
abortion. There are many
problems in the world, to be
sure, but is impossible to focus
on all of them at once.
However, in a survey of 2400
participants at the 1983 Right to
Life of Michigan convention, a
high percentage of people were
involved in community and
charitable activities. Thirty five
percent were volunteer workers
at hospitals, nursing homes,
clinics, or involved in hospice
programs. Another forty eight
percent helped with aiding
alcoholics, tutoring students,
youth drug abuse, suicide
prevention, or Meals on Wheels
programs. Furthermore. fifty
weeks, it has all of the
physiological characteristics of a
human being; therefore, it has
all of the rights of one. Killing
it is homicide.
Mr. West's claim that "It
[pro-life] is a mythology that is
based on the superiority of the
United States of America and the
white race" is purely from his
imagination. The law would
save the lives of all infants, all
races, creeds, and colors. The
law is universal. Also, the
movement does not stop at
birth. Such organizations as the
Mother Theresa of Calcutta
mission sponsor infant homes,
hospitals, and schools to support
the babies after birth.
Lastly, Mr. West's statement;
"But as long as the evidence for
their compassion is outweighed
by their callousness toward the
world's most serious problems, I
cannot support them!" Isn't
human life the most important
thing on this planet? And, isn't
its preservation the most serious
problem? After all, where would
the world be without human
life? A human mind is a terrible
thing to waste. Among all of
the abortions, there could be a
Plato, an Albert Einstein, or a
Mikhail Baryshnikov that world
would have benefitted from, had
he lived.
Abortions should not be
allowed to continue senselessly
wasting human lives. As
President Reagan said "We shall
again.
Before the Daily states,,
"The IFC and Panhel need to
make an important first step to.
try to remove the barriers ...,"
the Daily needs to make an.
important first step by fully
investigating our past efforts,,
instead of relying on inaccurate
sources.
-Denny Kavanagh
IFC Presiden,j
Julius Turman
IFC Vice President
Phil Cole
1983/84 IFC
Executive Vice President
1984/85 Order of,
Omega Vice Presiden'.
Allan Lutesf
Order of Omega
Presidertt
1985/86 IFC President
February 18
Error:
The editorial "Greeks of the 'U'
unite" (2/16/87), misstated the
voting disadvantages of "social
affiliates" which are called
affiliate members in the 4
Interfraternity Council. Afiliate
members are allowed to vote
on all IFC matters other than
rush issues, and are barred from
this only because they do not
participate in the mainstream
rush process.The Daily
apologizes for the error and
hopes that current efforts being
made to bring the two systems
closer together are not
damaged
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