40
OPINION
Page 4
Monday, November 21, 1988
The Michigan Daily
0
Polic
By Sandra Steingraber
Last night I heard the screaming
Loud voices behind the wall
Another sleepless night for me
It won't do no good to call
The police
Always come late
If they come at all
Tracy Chapman, "Behind the Wall"
The word on the street
Is that the writing's on the wall
And the cop is on the beat
- Michelle Shocked, "Graffiti Limbo"
Women and the police. There are two
schools of thought on the subject. One
sees the police as the protectors of women
- vulnerable members of society victim-
ized by crimes specific to their gender:
rape, domestic violence, sexual harass-
ment. More police, or increased police
,: protectors
"protection," thus means increased "safety" to depend on men to serve as
for women. ers and protectors. Wom
The other world view sees police as the predisposed to see the armedc
enforcers of a patriarchal social order set her neighborhood streets as
up to further male privilege and power at reassurance rather than as an
the expense of women's interests. Poor tential harassment or threat.
women of color fill the prisons of this One of my female students
country; women political dissidents are
prime targets for police brutality; vice
squads harass and arrest prostitutes. k . .
or brutalizers?
their defend-
en are thus
cop patrolling
an image of
image of po-
was recently
It is easy to say that both are true or
that truth lies somewhere at the midpoint
of these two extremes. But we need to un-
derstand exactly how ,and when the police
function as our protectors, if ever, and
how and when law enforcement serves as a
subterfuge for maintaining male power.
Here in the sheltered Disneyland of Ann
Arbor, we are heavily indoctrinated to see
law enforcement as a protective rather than
repressive institution. This is not a diffi-
cult process: women are already socialized
without a passcard.
The creation of a deputized University
police force has been surrounded by a lot
of administrative propaganda about im-
proving "safety" and "protection" for stu-
dents, especially women. This is appeal-
ing bait to swallow. Some conservative
candidates for Michigan Student Assembly
even campaigned on this platform this
year.
Unfortunately, the facts just don't sup-
port the image. Most crimes against
women occur at night when the deputies
are not on duty anyway, and the vast ma-
jority of rapes on campus are committed
not on the street between strangers but
behind closed doors between acquaintances.
So far, the University deputies have done
nothing with their powers of law enforce-
ment except brutalize and threaten students
who are attempting to petition the Uni-
versity administration for a redress of
grievances. Most recently, this has in-
harassed and ticketed by an Ann Arbor po-
lice officer while carrying an empty plastic
cup (completely drained of beer) down the
street late one weekend night. Unable to
produce any form of I.D., she was com-
pletely panicked by his repeated threats of
arrest. She realized much later that (unlike
South Africa or Guatemala) it is perfectly
legal in this country to walk the streets
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
420 Maynard St.
Vol. IC, No.53 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.
No room at the um
KY de
RINGED BY BARBED WIRE, circled
by thousands of scavenging gulls, ex-
uding foul odors over the surrounding
community, the city landfill stands at
the edge of town as a graphic reminder
of what is wrong with how Ann Arbor
deals with its garbage.
Besides that, it is now almost full.
Earlier this month, the Ecology Cen-
ter submitted a proposal for a waste
reduction and recycling ordinance to the
Ann Arbor City Council to relieve the
growing solid waste crisis. The ordi-
nance requires residents to sort their
recyclable materials and place them in
city-provided containers. This simple
gesture would halve the amount of
garbage hauled off to the landfill.
When it comes to garbage, the
United States has a disgraceful national
record. In Japan and almost all Euro-
pean countries, recycling has been an
ititegral part of the waste disposal pro-
cess for years. Fortunately, some im-
provement is forthcoming. Many U.S.
cities now have recycling ordinances
and are achieving participation rates
twice as high as Ann Arbor's voluntary
recycling program.
Recycle Ann Arbor and the Ecology
Center have been using mostly second
hand trucks and inefficient technology.
Currently, there are only enough trucks
and staff to do curbside pickup once a
month for Ann Arbor residents.
Meanwhile, studies have shown that
40% of the waste is readily recyclable.
Unfortunately, other urban centers
faced with overflowing landfills have
chosen a more dangerous alternative:
incineration. Burning municipal solid
waste introduces dioxins, heavy metals
and other dangerous pollutants into the
atmosphere, even with the best pollu-
tion control devices.
Recycling and incineration are not
compatible. Incinerators are extremely
expensive and are mostly efficient for
reducing the volumes of materials that
could otherwise be recycled or com-
posted. With a serious recycling pro-
gram, many of the materials, such as
paper and cardboard are no longer
available for fuel. This greatly reduces
the volume and therefore the efficiency
and economic feasibility of incinera-
tion.
The City Council must adopt this or-
dinance or a plan similar to it. Recy-
cling programs are the only logical and
responsible strategy to solve real and
immediate problems facing the people
of Ann Arbor. Anyone who has any
doubt should drive out to the dump and
spend an hour smelling the air and
watching the garbage-eaters circle our
waste.
By the Kappa Sigma Fraternity
In their November 11 th column, mem-
bers of the University of Michigan Asian
Student Coalition (UMASC), the United
Coalition Against Racism, People Orga-
nized for Women, Equality and Rights, the
Free South Africa Coordinating Commit-
tee, Indian-Pakistani American Student
Council, Asian American Law Students'
Association, and Delro Harris, accused the
Kappa Sigma fraternity of being racist.
This was a complete departure from what
representatives from these organizations
told members of Kappa Sigma on a per-
sonal level, and from what Kappa Sigma
and UMASC had agreed upon during me-
diation held to resolve the situation.
This representation of the racial incident
that occurred at Kappa Sigma was a
collection of misquotes, twisted facts, and
blatant untruths.
First we would like to present the inci-
dent as it actually occurred. Supporting
facts have been agreed upon in mediation
by members of the Kappa Sigma Frater-
nity, representatives from UMASC, and
Susan Rhee - a victim of the incident.
These are the true substantiated facts, and
they vary greatly from the unconfirmed
rumors that provided the basis for their
column.
The incident occurred at a Kappa Sigma
Party that was attended by non-members
of the fraternity, including the Asian
American students who were victims of
the incident and who were there by invita-
tion. An individual who was not a mem-
ber of the fraternity, nor a student of the
University of Michigan, made a racist re-
mark as the Asian guests were leaving the
house. This remark was entirely uncalled
for and at no time did any member of the
house condone his behavior or attempt to
protect the individual.
The victims of the incidents left the
house, and then returned and demanded that
Editor's Note: The Daily received the
column to which Kappa Sigma refers on
1119188, prior to any mediation between
the two parties.
,nies ch
the offender apologize for his behavior.
Brothers within the house honored their
request and did search for the man in order
to obtain a personal apology. The man
clearly could not be found. In mediation
conducted by the University, members of
UMASC were in complete agreement with
the facts as presented above. It was only in
the column that the facts were intention-
ally distorted.
- Despite known facts, the authors of
the editorial implied that the offender may
have been a member of Kappa Sigma.
This was a blatant distortion of the truth.
The offender was a non-member. He had
no affiliation with the house whatsoever,
nor was he a member of the University of
Michigan.
- In mediation, members of UMASC
agreed that Kappa Sigmas did conduct a
search for the offender. The colum'n de-
parted from this known fact and claimed
that "members of Kapipa Sigma refused to
look for him," for the simple purpose of
discrediting the fraternity.
- In a letter sent to Kappa Sigma fol-
lowing the incident, members of UMASC
threatened the house by saying that they
should cooperate "Unless Kappa Sigma
wishes to be known as a haven for racist
pigs." The threat made by members of
UMASC is a clear indication of their in-
tention to discredit the fraternity.
- Contrary to what was stated in the
column, no member of the fraternity
laughed at the racist comment. By saying
that members of Kappa Sigma "laughed
at" the racist comment, the authors at-
tempted to perpetuate an artificial story,
again for the sole purpose of discrediting
innocent members of the fraternity.
- There was also a gentlemen's agree-
ment to print no further columns relating
to this incident while mediation was in
progress. By honoring this, Kappa Sigma
willingly forfeited the right to defend
themselves publicly. During mediation,
UMASC violated this agreement and pub-
lished the column, which they knew
through the proceedings to be false and
slanderous.
- In mediation following the publication
cluded locking students in the stairwell of,,
the Fleming Building.
Any time physical and verbal ha
rassment, brutality, or tactics of intimi-
dation are leveled by police against po-
litical protesters, women will, as a group,
risk suffering more physical and psycho
logical harm than men. The image of po,
lice as brutalizers of women is incarnate
on the startling self-portrait that graces the
cover of political songwriter Michelle;
Shocked's most recent album (lyrics,
quoted above): Two huge San Francisco
police officers - slung with gunsl:
expressions of indifference on their fleshyl
faces - grip the singer by the throat a
she falls, screaming in pain, into sub
mission. This photo is so startling in party%
because is stands out as the stark antitherf
sis to the popular image of the burly city
cop as the defender of the weak and
vulnerable. These are images we need to
internalize.
arges
of the column, members of UMASC ad-
mitted that the column was unfair. The
also agree -to correct the factual inaccura-
cies in the column as well as apologize t'
Ron Bauer and David Wigler for unjustly
accusing th.em of racism. It was also
agreed that UMASC would listen to a
speaker, lecturing on the unjust an
unethical use of the press.
- Following this agreement, represent4
tives of UMASC withdrew fromthe sam
mediations that they had originally inti-
ated, without giving substantial reason or
sufficient explanation.
- Finally, it should be made clear thaV1
Kappa Sigma was under no obligation to
attend mediation regulated by the Univer
sity, and their willingness to do so voluP
tarily indicates a 'true effort on their part 4
combat the problem of racism on campu,
and ensure that such incidents do not occu
in the future. :1
The members of the Kappa Sigma Fr-Z
ternity wish to stress the fact that our
primary purpose in writing this column IF'
not to discredit the organizations involvedr
in any way demean their importance on
campus but only to clear our name whic '
was unjustly tarnished. We hope that our
actions will help prevent such misfortunes
from occurring in the future. Such occur-
rences are unfortunate and serve only to do.
unnecessary damage to all parties in-
volved. Minority groups have consistently
been a positive force on our often troubled
campus and it is our most sincere desire
that they will remain so in the future.
The Kappa Sigma Fraternity deplores l
racism of any kind, and prides itself in the
racially diverse membership it has been
able to enjoy over the years. The members
of Kappa Sigma are very proud to be a
part of a brotherhood that includes people
from a variety of ethnic and religious a
backgrounds, including Asian Americans,
Indian Americans, Hispanic Americans,
Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Christians.
This diversity has helped the fraternity to
thrive throughout the years. The column
labelled all of these gentlemen as racists
- an accusation which is ironic and ab-
surd.
Iromise
representative of his attitude during the
Minority Affairs Committee meeting.
UMASC agrees that not every single
member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity can
be held responsible for the negative and ;
resistant response received by the Asian ;
American students at their house on the
night of October 7. Yet, if Kappa Sigma R
allows men such as Wigler and Bauer to
continue in their positions of leadership A
and influence, then the house effectively is
stating that Wigler and Bauer have done an
accurate job of representing the house and
its views.
We have attempted informal mediation
and the process has failed. Part of the pur-
pose of mediation is to ensure that all
parties be satisfied, a goal which mandates
compromise. UMASC does not believe
that compromise is appropriate in a case
involving racism. We do not believe that
victims of racism should have to sacrifice r
their principles to achieve justice.
At this time, no further option is avail-
able for redress. Under current University
policy, no formal complaint can be filed.
regarding incidents occurring on Greek.
system property. UMASC, with the sup-
nort of UCAR _the Knrean Ctnipnt
w
.
'U' neglects Asians
UMASC: no comr
ALTHOUGH THE University has
recently increased the number of
programs designed for minorities, it
has continued to neglect the needs of
Asian students. Inadequate though they
are, minority programs do exist in
orientation, counseling, housing,
lecture series, faculty hiring and
curriculum. But in each of these
programs, Asian concerns are
dxcluded.
The Minority Spring Visitation Pro-
gram is an orientation program for in-
coming minorities. Because program
hosts are arranged through minority
douncils which are predominantly
llack, the program has failed to recruit
Asians.
-'Asian groups on campus could help
find Asian hosts, and could also sug-
gest issues of concern to prospective
Asian students. The University has ig-
nored this obvious resource.
Until this year, there has not been an
Asian counselor at Counseling Ser-
vices.. Now that one has been hired,
Asian students can finally talk with
someone who will understand the
nressures unique to them.
This year the University of Michigan
Asian Student Coalition (UMASC) has
established their own lecture series,
which has been well attended.
The program "Target of Opportu-
nity," which is supposed to attract mi-
nority faculty, does not include Asians.
Currently, none of the money can be
allocated for Asian faculty.
Although there are very few Asian
professors in the humanities, the ad-
ministration argues that the number of
Asian faculty is not unrepresentative.
University Asian history and political
science courses are not taught by
Asians.
The University's curriculum marginal-
izes the culture and languages of Asian
Americans. Although there is a well-
developed Center for Afro-American
Studies, there is none for Asian Ameri-
can studies. Every year dozens of
students are turned away from the class
"The Asian American Experience," but
the University has not responded with
more faculty or funding to create a
comprehensive Asian American Studies
program.
The Korean langna not nffered-
By UMASC
The University of Michigan Asian Stu-
dent Coalition (UMASC) is writing to
clarify our stance as well as certain factual
statements that were made in an article
authored by UMASC, the United Coali-
tion Against Racism (UCAR), People
Organized for Women, Equality and
Rights (POWER), the Free South Africa
Coordinating Committee (FSACC), the
Indian and Pakistani American Student
Coalition, the Asian American Law
Students Association, and Delro Harris
(Daily, 11/11/88), regarding the October 7
incident at the Kappa Sigma fraternity
house.
UMASC wants to make it clear that we
do not hold the entire Kappa Sigma house
directly responsible for the racist act that
occurred at the fraternity house. We ac-
knowledge that not all members of Kappa.
Sigma were present at the party.
Additionally, it was discovered by both
UMASC and Kappa Sigma that two
members who were personal friends of the
victims took their own initiative and did
look for the offender. However, it was not
until after the incident that people were
informed of this search. Additionally, the
- At the party on October 7, Wigler
laughed at one of the victims when she
mistakenly confronted the wrong man
with making the racist comment.
- Both Wigler and Bauer claimed that
the letter written by one of the victims re-
questing an apology from the house was
offensive and therefore justified their re-
fusal to give an apology.
- On October 30, Bauer acted as repre-
sentative for Kappa Sigma by cutting off
all communications between UMASC and
Kappa Sigma. It was discovered during
mediation that Ron Bauer was not present
on the night of the incident and did not
know the facts.
- On November 7, at the Minority Af-
fairs Committee meeting, Wigler deliber-
ately tried to misrepresent the situation by
attempting to speak for Susan Rhee, one
of the victims of the racist remark. Susan
Rhee was not present at the meeting to
speak for herself.
Bauer's and Wigler's attitudes through-
out this entire incident have been ones of
strong resistance to dealing with the issue.
While Ron Bauer did not revoke previous
verbal apologies that had been offered to
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