I OPINION Page 4 Wednesday, March 4, 1987 The Michigan Daily Se 541Mcbdgan UaQlV Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Vol. XCVII, tJo. 104 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Wasserman 'T$15 SARNS 'mTi ONE S9OUp MAK~ES Up A MANJO91TY of WEFAE RECIPIE.NTS 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. Offensive THE AIRING OF RACIST JOKES ON campus radio station WJJX has brought much publicity and attention to the problem of racism on campus. Television, University administrators, and state legislators have been quick to condemn what was a most blatant and repugnant act of racism. University President Harold Shapiro issued a special statement saying that he was, "appalled to discover that in the midst of all the exciting thirngs that have been going on at the University, several incidents of overt racism have also occurred." That's fine; moral condemnations from the top are necessary and expected, (although they were conspicuously absent immediately after the Couzens incident). But what is perhaps more appalling is the low enrollment of black students on campus (5.3 percent this year), a full 17 years after the administration promised to attain ten percent enrollment. What is appalling is that the administration has moved at a snail's pace in naming a replacement for Associate Vice- President in charge of minority affairs, Niara Sudarkasa, who announced her leaving in October. Only recently has a search committee been formed. The inadequacy of financial, academic, and social support services for minority students is appalling. The University did admit a record number of black freshpersons this year, but this does no good if ineffective retention efforts force most of these students to leave the University. Forty percent of the 1979 black "freshperson class had left the 1University without degrees as of 1985, compared to the 22.4 percent 'mark for majority students. And where is the report on undergraduate retention that the wAdministration promised by 1985? Certainly the Administration cannot directly control some racial and economic obstacles. For example, rigid federal guidelines determine the allocation of aid. Still, students can not help but wonder if funds within the University could not be systematically reallocated to attack this problem, especially in light of all the "exciting things that have been going on at the University." Granted, the University has a number of programs and offices like the Comprehensive Studies Opportunity Program and the Office of Minority Student Services which have been working jokes igently to assist minority dents. But the poor retention e and incidents of overt racism icate that these programs need to expanded and improved. k major step in the right ection is the administration's ent announcement of the one- lion dollar minority initiative, igned to remedy racial and tural problems at the University. t only a few programs within the :iative, namely the staff training >gram on identifying and tering open cultural and racial tudes, have gone beyond the -a stage. The administration has llenged students to submit ideas I suggestions for the initiative, I while student input is vital (and ming), ultimately it is the ministration which must approve Simplement such policies. Significantly, the administration depending upon the Senate visory Committee on University fairs (SACUA) to submit ideas m the faculty, but none of the SACUA members are black. The decisions made by the ninistration of the University atly affect the student life of the npus, so we have to ask where 'the University agenda do tural, racial, and gender ersity lie? We often hear that se values are foremost in the nds of the administration, but ardless of good intentions and tivations, actions speak louder n words. Perhaps the Office of the sident simply does not VEY'QE DEMM DtNf ... THEY'RE DEE=WVSNT,,., Q J .. t sQ T t7J A i c i.. 1 4 r i AND 25 PERCENT OF 1I1N#K LIVE 1IN POVERTY WAO .~GROUP OF LOAM125 s TM~T ? \ G "li"."'" A "f"'" "" A.. rroilrnnl ""-71 M "" ..//r " r/r- - i.l--". "r.:( '1 I // varp ! a// "f - LETTERS: ,w ., ra Sevransk regrts WJJ racist program P Pre understand the complexities of the problem and perhaps the disc jockey at WJJX did not understand the ramifications of his actions, but ignorance has always been a poor excuse for racism. It is much too early to tell how effective this new initiative will be, but it is easy to see what the problems and possible solutions are right now - they have existed here and in the entire society for many years. Many social scientists, including many of the University's own people, have studied the problems minority college students experience. It's time for action now - a concrete, systematic commitment, rather than a short-term, placating response. For more than 200 years this country spent considerable time, money, and energy to repress its minority citizens; we must put an equal amount of financial and human resources to correct the mistakes of our not too distant past. To the Daily: I sincerely apologize for the racial jokes I allowed to be made on the Tenacious Slack radio show of February 4, broadcast over WJJX. I recognize now that it was my poor judgment and poor taste alone that were to blame for this offensive incident. I deeply regret not hanging up on the phone-in callers when they began their racial slurs. I should not have become a party to their racism by encouraging them. Again, however, I claim Expel Slack To The Daily: As a recent University of Michigan graduate, I must commend WJJX for firing Ted Sevransky, the ex-student employee responsible for racist jokes being aired on February 4. However, more direct action should be taken against Mr. Sevransky himself, not against WJJX. WJJX, which has enjoyed a respectable reputation up until now, should not have to suffer because of the actions of one racist employee. Instead of indefinitely closing WJJX, Ted should be expelled from the University of Michigan. This way, University officials would be making a stronger statement that overt racism on the University campus will not be tolerated. Expulsion from a fine university is a much more serious consequence than being fired from a student job. If Ted Sevransky is expelled, maybe other racist students will think twice before distributing racist fliers, airing racist jokes, or performing any other type of racist acts on University property. -Adrienne Collins February 20 Confront racism To The Daily: I think in view of the tragic racial incidents that have been occurring on the campus of the University of Michigan, something should be done to let the perpetrators know this is absolutely unacceptable. Their anti-black activities are too serious to he ignored hv responsibility for my actions and regret that they have exacerbated the serious problem of racism that exists on campus and in society. The comments that were made on the show offended many people - they should have offended everyone. I recognize the hypocrisy in my urging others to be more sensitive to racism, yet all I can do now is encourage campus leaders to fight racism with all the means at their disposal. I hope that students and administrators are able to educate community members to prevent such instances from recurring. WJJX itself does not deserve the blame for my mistakes. The station never expected that I would do a show like the one that was broadcast. Had they known, they would have fired me sooner. WJJX should not take the responsibility for the Non-campus issues should concern MSAA mistakes that I, as an individual, committed. I understand that some people in the University community have called for me- to be severely punished. TO them I can only say that I aim very, very sorry. I have learned much about myself and about racial attitudes from this incident. I know that I will be more sensitive to racism in afl its forms in the future. -Ted Sevransk* March 2 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, 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 reductions in already unacceptably low levels of financial aid to students. Finally, should MS A remove from issues of international concern? Should MSA stray away from Nicaragua because there is no clear consensus of student opinion on this issue? (Students were not affected by the administration's decision about Vietnam in the 1960's.) It is the business of a body elected to represent students to advocate policies consistent with the best interests of the students. A government that feels compelled to further the cause of democracy throughout the world must be reminded that it is not acceptable to # o so at the cost of our education The Michigan Student Assembly is the appropriate forum for these issues to be discussed. MSA is the one opportunity that students of our University community have to speak in a strong, firm and united voice. If the question is one of clear consensus among the student body, then students should be made aware of the political inclinations of their , prospective representatives during elections. Jurisdiction should not be the question. The assembly speaks for the student body. If we do not take a stand to protect our own rights, no one else will defend us. -Gary Perlman LSA Representative February 15 ---mown" r ,... i+r!r w+we, eat -- + I i i rv A 9 . , :! s ti Winter editorial wastes ink I___ -- p 9 j s c 0 (((t To the Daily: I am a sophomore and have been reading the Daily for the past two years. While I often disagree with the editorials published, I have never been ashamed of them. On February 11, 1987 I was appalled. The editorial entitled "Winter a Capitalist Plot" was one of the most ridiculous attempts at journalism I have come across. To suggest that Winter is an "institution" is absurd. If this piece was an attempt at satire, I can't help but feel ashamed to be associated with the same University from which your teachers told me that if I did not have anything relevant to add to a conversation, I should; remain quiet. Perhaps you should heed this advice. If your' Editorial Board cannot find anything worth printing, then4 perhaps you could sell the space to an advertiser. In this particular issue, I noticed that six of the nine pages were: devoted almost exclusively fore that purpose. I realize that: criticizing the Reagan ad, ministration's policies every- day can be exhausting, however I'm sure you could find something more worthwhile to. r- t ~I~l'~ .