4 OPINION _______ ___Wednesday, September 21, 1988 Don't The Michigan Daily blame econ. By Philip Meguire This is in answer to Mark Greer's editorial of Sept. 19. Regarding the introductory quote from Dean Steiner: while his choice of words is debatable, even perhaps tactless, two fun- damental facts remain. First, not enough American Blacks possess completed doc- torates to allow universities to hire many more Blacks into the tenure 'track than they now have. Second, not that many Blacks apply to graduate schools. This .should change over the next 20 to 40 years, as it has changed for women. An incident Greer omits from his ac- count of the racial composition of the economics faculty is that the American Black Glenn Loury was a promising member of that faculty a few years ago. He no longer is because he had the good fortune receiving an offer from the Kennedy School of Government at Har- vard. In 1954, at the height of McCarthy Philip Meguire is a visiting research investigator in the School of Business. Administration. hysteria, Lawrence Klein was "purged" under orders from the State legislature. Does this incident really shed any light on. conditions here today? Who knows whether Klein would have remained on our faculty until 1980, the year he was awarded the Nobel Prize. That no Nobel laureate in economics has ever been a member of our faculty is not a fair criti- cism of the University. Even after controlling for education and other variables, women appear to earn up to 40 percent less than men. However, this finding may saymore about the qual- ity and relevance of the data and statistical methods used than about any possible economic discrimination against women. For instance, among the many bald facts that empirical studies of sex differences in wages do not take into account is that men hold most of the dangerous and dirty jobs and that such jobs pay a premium. Eco- nomics is still a fair way from a complete understanding of wage levels; Greer's rhetoric does not get us any closer. While Black enrollment in doctoral studies in Economics and allied business disciplines is low, that of women and Asians is much higher than Greer would have us believe. Hence, it is not likely that women and Blacks are discouraged from pursuing graduate studies in these disciplines by the prospect of being sub- jected to the views on racial and gender differences in wages attributed to Gary Becker and Dean Steiner. Such "hard-line" views are not part of any dominant ortho- doxy in labor economics and are irrelevant to the vast majority of courses in other branches of economics and business. I have no information concerning the alleged recent denial of employment of two Blacks by the Economics department other than whathwasscontainedainGreer's editorial. Nonetheless, having a doctorate from MIT or a resume with 40 scholarly publications does not constitute ipso facto grounds for being granted a tenure track appointment at this University. Admit- tedly, to have published repeatedly views like Greer's might well prove an obstacle to receiving such an appointment because such views are not consistent with either received economic theory or data. A jealously guarded prerogative of aca- demic life is the ability to choose and in- teract with one's colleagues because the production of knowledge and the training of the next generation of scholars are col- lective enterprises. Hence, no university that wants to keep talented facu hire new faculty over the objectio department concerned. If Blacks and women are not rec fair shake in academic life due t male elitism, then Black and w universities should be strength places where Blacks and women c and make knowledge grow - s Phallocratic Caucasian Arrogance dept. ulty will cation would be much better spent on a ns of the voucher plan that would allow women and Blacks to choose freely among all univer- sities, including those catering especially ceiving a to them. o white, The offensive quote about alleged racial women's differences in intelligence taken from a ened as textbook co-authored by Steiner would be an study defensible had the adjective "alleged" in afe from fact preceded the phrase "differences in in- The re- telligence." It is a harsh fact of academic If Blacks and women are not receiving a fair shake in academic life due to white, male elitism, then Black and women's univer- sities should be strengthened as places where Blacks and women can study and make knowledge Caucasian Arrogance. grow - safe from Phallocratic sulting academic competition among uni- versities could only have a salutary effect. Such universities would necessarily be private and hence subject to the handicap of not being financed by taxes. Therefore, an increased role for Black and women's universities would necessarily entail hav- ing the government get out of the busi- ness of owning and financing universities. The tax money now spent on higher edu- life that many scientific hypotheses are excluded from investigation not because of the evidence against them but because the prevailing orthodoxy regards entertaining such hypotheses as morally repugnant. Greer's dismissal of Becker's work is pre- cisely what I have in mind. One can be- moan the resulting constriction of aca- demic freedom while having no sympathy for, or agreement with, such hypotheses. 1 __ _ Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Vol. I C No,10420 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. Stop serving grapes Wasserman COUG&r;SSMW .J- ?oLuTM CAJ. AI4 COMITES EYou LOTS Of NMONEY AND 'T rEC o~r.ct VNG~ IN Re up i (SWT 'C41AT- TAE CAME r -I % .4 t MI I yv THIK o 11AS U5? f z 1 OIf Q QA4 - S x 4. -4 4 - QdMAWQ6 LtM - I fl 0 B -XV I I I 'U' ignores Latino ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1000 students at the University of California at Berkeley marched on a Safeway supermarket protesting its sale of California table grapes. On Sept. 7, University of Michigan Food Services began serving California table grapes in all the dorms, but Michigan students were silent. The California march was the latest effort in the four year California Table Grape Boycott led by Cdsar Chavez and the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) to end the spraying of toxic pesticides on California grapes. A government study showed that over 300,000 workers are poisoned by pesticides yearly. In the San Joaquin Valley - a center of grape production in California - the cancer rate among children is 600 times the national norm. The spraying of these pesticides en- dangers the lives of migrant workers and residents of surrounding commu- nities and their residues threaten con- sumers nationwide. Because these pesticides are absorbed by table grapes, they cannot be washed off. Since UFW President Cdsar Chavez ended his 36 day hunger strike on Au- gust 21, fasting chains have started across the country and many campuses have taken up the cause. Cornell and the University of Massachusetts are continuing their boycotts from last year and the University of Colorado joined them. Yale, UCLA, and Stanford are staging protests and demanding boy- cotts from their food service programs. Local action is vital to this movement. Here in Ann Arbor, the movement is surprisingly limited. Although the Ann Arbor food co-ops are boycotting Cali- fornia grapes and selling Michigan grapes approved by the UFW, local supermarket chains and University Food Services continue to provide Cal- ifornia grapes. Dave Foulke, the associate director of Food Services, told the Daily that the University is aware of the boycott, but is required by state law to purchase the cheapest grapes available. Foulke said the University participated in the UFW lettuce boycott in the early 80s after dorm residents petitioned Food Services; however there has not been a similar petition to boycott grapes. This lack of interest and activism is deplorable, particularly on an issue in which grassroots action is essential and effective. The UFW encourages peo- ple to boycott any supermarket in their area selling California grapes. Kroger and Farmer Jack are guilty of profiting off the sale of California table grapes. Although Farmer Jack adver- tises pesticide-free grapes, a represen- tative of the chain told the Daily that the grapes were indeed from California. The UFW requests that all table grapes from California be included in the boycott, so Farmer Jack should be in- cluded. As a major consumer, Food Services contributes to the grape-growers' abuses. Thus the most important action for University students is to petition Food Services to stop serving Califor- nia table grapes. It is important not only to be aware of this issue but also to take action against the culprits who are nearest at hand. By Anne Martinez Demographers have predicted that by 2010, Latinos will be the largest ethnic minority in the United States. Under these circumstances, there is no doubt Latinos are interested in President Duderstadt's plans for the 21st century. But what about now? It is easier for me to think about the last four years, the time I've been at the University of Michigan, than the next 100 years. In 1984, after several years of voiced concerns for an academic programs about Latinos in the U.S., the Latino Studies Program was born. A year later, the Uni- versity started to undo the Program. In 1985, Latino Studies was granted a 3-year probationary period as a program in LSA. Imagine declaring a major in a program that might not exist when you graduate., In 1986, the Latino Studies director posi- tion was changed from one assistant pro- fessor to half an assistant professor. The University's second-rate treatment of Latinos is not limited to Latino Stud- ies. Four years ago, when I came to Michigan, one of the first places I went was Minority Student Service (MSS), Anne Martinez is a senior in Anthro- pology and Latino Studies. where I found no Hispanic Representative, and no precise idea of when one would be hired. Somewhat discouraged, I did not return to MSS for almost a year. Now, we find history repeating itself. The His- panic Representative position at MSS has been vacant since July 1, and might be filled by the middle of October. As one of issues than a supplement for Latino faculty.: This underrepresentation is true of staff positions, as well. In fact' underrepresentation of Latinos is found in every segment of this University EX- CEPT the custodial ranks, where Latinos have consistently been overrepresented. With all this in mind, it is not difficult to' I' In 1985, Latino Studies was granted a 3-year probationary pe- riod as a program in LSA. Imagine declaring a major in a pro- gram that might not exist when you graduate. the best offices for resources and support for Latinos, the University's obvious lack of concern for the MSS position is not encouraging for new students. And it is especially troubling to find that this is the second time in four years that the position has been neglected. This lack of concern is demonstrated not only in MSS, but throughout the Univer- sity. The Latino student population, pre- dominantly Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans, has NO Chicano professors, and perhaps a handful of Puerto Rican and Cuban professors to serve as role models and mentors. The University seems to be using the King/Chavez/Parks Visiting Scholar Program as a replacement rather believe that Latinos have the lowest grad- uation rate of all groups at Michigan. The University's most recent solution to all our problems is the Office of Minority Affairs (OMA). Unfortunately, OMA has not provided the vital leader- ship, mentors, or support that Latinos at Michigan need. Latinos need commitment from the University, not concessions President Duderstadt, we need to effect change for next year, for next term. Not for the next century! If the University cannot effectively re- cruit and retain Latinos in this, the Decade of the Hispanic, what hope is there for Latinos at Michigan in the 21st cen- tury? Letters tot . t , :"r.": r ; Police attack UFW Nazi. rights defended To the Daily: Your editorial of 9/16, "No Nazi Rights," was a two-edged sword. It raised the issue of a dilemma in our society: a conflict between the wrong of racism and religious prejudice on the one hand and the right of free speech on the other. One can hate the philosophy of the Nazis but, as Americans, they have a constitutional right to express that philosophy. And when threatened by physical violence as a result of that philosophy, they have a right to police protection. I assume that if the Nazis attacked people at their place of worship, the police would protect the worshippers and arrest the Nazis. What bothered me was your than restriction of their freedom which, after all, is what they advocate. Perhaps we could try the expression popular during the Viet Nam war: suppose they gave a war and nobody came? Just think of the victory of the Nazis coming to Ann Arbor in full armor, marching with goose- stepping police protection with no one to watch them, scream at them, fight with them. I don't think they would bother to return. - Robert E. Beyer September 16 Position overstated To the Daily: Since my recent opinion piece "Econ. dept. fosters elitism" (Daily, 9/19/88), it has come to my attention that m~rticnlar 'sentence ireferringr to nomics, instructors in these course do not advocate such an explanation. By no means did I mean to imply that these in- structors themselves may be- lieve in the inferiority of mi- norities or women. However the mainstream theory, which forms the core of these courses, as well as the entire discipline, logically im- plies that women and minori- ties earn less than white males because of the lower productivity of the former. --Mark Greer September 19 ANYONE WHO THINKS that cam- paign violence went out of fashion with the 1968 Chicago convention should go visit Delores Huerta in her hospital bed in San Francisco. Last Wednesday, Huerta, vice-president and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW), was brutalized by San Francisco police outside of a hotel where George Bush was making a campaign appearance. to protect farm workers and consumers from poisonous pesticides sprayed on our fruits and vegetables. Why does George Bush offer other than more empty rhetoric? Mr. Bush's statement against the UFW demonstrates, again, that he is wealthy, comfortable and in- sensitive to the struggles of working people in our country. It also reveals his ignorance of the pesticide threat to our environment and our people." If I ;t JFR77 1 F,