0 Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 5, 1990 eJ Midi4yn Bai1Q EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Viewpoint NOAH FINKEL Editor in Chief DAVID SCHWARTZ Opinion Editor ...AND AMRAI4AS ThcNi SIT Abp-U~-u N :GfT oRTN&5E fWaS E-7SES TDBtfW1MRC4N A~J~oKICK (4 -. 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. University Regents I Tucker and Power outshine other candidates r fr 7! 0 AS ELECTION DAY ONCE AGAIN bears down on the nation, voters statewide must choose two candidates to serve eight-year terms on the University's Board of Regents. Though- the field is less than . exemplary, two candidates distance themselves from their opponents. Donald Tucker, a Southfield lawyer, impressed us with his attention to Uni- versity issues and Lansing inroads, and would prove a worthy addition to the Board. The problem of ever-increasing student tuition was among Tucker's major concerns, and he presented sev- eral concrete suggestions to improve University funding efforts. Primarily, Tucker displayed a grasp for the inner-workings of state gov- ernment politics, a knowledge that may help the University gamer more funds through state appropriations. Tucker may help bridge the widening gap be- tween the University and the state, a move that would benefit both students and the University as a whole. Tucker, a Democrat, also expressed dismay at the regents' recent vote to deputize 24 University police officers, a decision widely criticized by students and student leaders. Though he said the deputization effort is unlikely to be re- versed, he said improving the relation- ship between the University and the Ann Arbor Police Department would have been a wiser course of action. We wholeheartedly agree. Another Democrat, incumbent Re- gent Philip Power, gets our somewhat- nervous support in tomorrow's elec- tion. Power was appointed to the Board after the death of his wife, Sarah Power, in 1987, and owns a string of suburban newspapers. Power's voting record as a regent is troublesome, but recent statements seem to indicate his shift from earlier positions. In 1988, Power voted to approve the University's anti-discrimi- nation policy; that policy, which passed the regents by a 5-2 vote, was later de- clared unconstitutional by a federal judge. Also, Power voted this summer to approve the creation of a University police force. Still, Power has ex- pressed concern over the speed with which the deputization is advancing, and has vowed to closely monitor the transition to a regent-controlled police force. We are also troubled by Power's sudden interest in student concerns, displayed recently in his claims of fix- ing lighting problems on the Diag and elsewhere on campus. If Power were so interested in discovering student problems, why did he wait until now to do something about it? Still, both Power and Tucker far outdistance their challengers. Republi- can Shirley McFee, the mayor of Battle Creek, seemed out of touch with stu- dents and the issues currently envelop- ing campus. And though we did not get a chance to meet Republican Marvin Esch, a former U.S. representative, published reports make us wary of his abilities as a regent. Candidate Jerry Goldberg of the Worker's World Party was astute at pointing out many easily-recognizable problems with the University, but ne- glected to offer any workable solu- tions. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet with the Libertarian candidates. Though none of the candidates for regent stands out as a champion of stu- dents' needs, Democrats DONALD TUCKER and PHILIP POWER are the best choices for the University. Change the system THOUGH WE, LIKE MOST ASTUTE voters, have taken the time to examine the candidates before choosing our preferences, we are nonetheless unhappy with the current system of electing members to the Board of Regents. The Board constists of eight peo- ple, each of whom is elected to an eight-year term. The problem arises in the way these people are chosen. The regents have an enornous power to alter the lives of the tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff who attend or work at the Uni- versity. Yet these people have very little voice in selecting the people who can control their lives. Regents are elected by voters statewide, a practice which neglects the needs of the people they will ul- timately be serving. The current controversy over the new University police force illus- trates the danger inherent in this sys- tem. The new police will serve the regents, who are elected by the state, and not the people whom they will control - namely students and other members of the University commu- nity. As Ann Arbor's state representa- tive, Perry Bullard, told us recently, as long as this system persists, the regents will continue to be unac- countable to the students. ~7~%4 +"w ;/ / ' ( y1 > ' \ /f 1 H5 cFTEg AID WE \/-GOING 1-0 jl. 4FE T GE I Tic) &~4 W!T 4W Tic 1WC1 1N c4~~Ap~jN i/ Nude swimming, and its impact on the '90 Campaign ,U [Note: this article contains nudity and sexual situations.] As a responsible journalist dedicated to keeping the public abreast (No, that's not the sexual part) about significant issues of the day, I feel compelled to confront an alarming development in this year's election campaign. Jon Grunseth for some time refused to quit the Minnesota gubernatorial race despite his open admittance of the fact that he swam nude with teenage women in 1981. Of course you realize the dangerous consequences of his being elected had he decided in the end to run. He'd probably have run off to go skinny-dipping when he was supposed to be performing crucial gubernatorial duties such as. .well, actually, I can't think of any off hand. According to John Engler's campaign ads, the only thing Governor Blanchard does here in Michigan is raise taxes and fly the state jet around at our expense. Blanchard's ads respond that if Engler were elected governor, he would never show up. So in comparison, having a governor who does nothing but swim nude with teenage girls all day might not be so bad. Think about it. His opponent wouldn't distort his record in misleading ads. In fact, the entire campaign would be more honest: "Hi, I'm Jon Grunseth. If I'm elected governor, I promise not to drown." Chait is an LSA first-year student. Actually, the real reason behind my sympathy for Grunseth is that I too have a skinny-dipping skeleton in my closet. When I was ten at summer camp, I went on a co-ed canoeing trip. Some of the 11 and 12 year-old boys suggested that ev- eryone swim nude in the river, displaying a remarkable level of horniness. The girls consented, provided that the boys go in first. All the boys agreed except for myself, who was silently praying for a sudden strike of instantaneous puberty. As soon as we all waded out into the river, the girls informed us that not only would they not be joining us, but they had our clothing back on shore. (One key lesson here is that as far as factors affecting the decisions of adolescent boys it?" Somehow forgetting that my arms were temporarily performing the much more important function of concealing my pre-pubescent genitalia, I stood up, looked at my Sports Illustrated waterproof watch, and said, "one o'clock." That summer I was asked for the time a lot. I realize that by printing this, I am forfeiting any future chance to run for political office: "CHAIT TRIED TO LURE TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRLS TO SWIM NUDE! They refused, he exposed himself." Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "That's it? That's the So in comparison, having a governor who does nothing but swim nude with teenage girls all day might not be so bad. Think about it. His opponent wouldn't distort his record in misleading ads. go, common sense ranks far, far below sex drive) So we had no choice but to make our way back onto shore, crouching as we walked, with our arms covering our private parts. My arms were able to cover my parts very thoroughly, if you get my drift. I was almost in reach of my towel when someone said, "Jon, what time is sexual situation that I read through this entire article just to get to? And what does* this have to do with developments in this year's campaign?" Since both Blanchard and Engler have conspicuously avoided taking any stance on on the issue of co-ed nude gubernatorial swimming, send a strong message to both candidates when you vote tomorrow. Vote naked. Unions -strike back Daily News dispute gives AT ONE TIME, UNIONS COULD call strikes to procure adequate working conditions and benefits for their members. But the past decade has witnessed both a continuing decline in the number of union workers - now 16 percent - and an increasingly hos- tile environment for workers, unions and strikes. The current strike of nine unions at the New Ybrk Daily News is a clear example of both the aggressive com- pany tactics that have forged this envi- ronment and the creative union tactics now necessary to resist it. In addition to exacting overwhelm- ing concessions and dangerously ldose work rules from unions, management now habitually hires scabs as perma- nent replacements for workers who dare to resist such abuses and strike. Terrified of losing their jobs, work- ers have grown accustomed to accept- ing these abuses rather than fighting them. As a result, there were fewer strikes in the 1980s than in any decade since the 1920s. The Daily News strike is significant not just because it demonstrates a break new life to labor Group prepared for a strike at the News by amassing a scab work force. After deliberately provoking the com- pany's regular drivers, these scabs conveniently arrived at the plant in an out-of-state bus within the hour. But all the scabs in the world, how- ever successful they might be in pro- ducing a paper, cannot guarantee its distribution. So rather than simply walking an orderly picket line as scab drivers pull in and out of the main Brooklyn plant, the striking unions are doing everything they can - legally and illegally - to halt delivery, impede sales and discourage advertisers. If the News unions are resorting to "illegal" tactics, it is because the legal structure implemented during the New Deal to protect them no longer does so. During the last decade, the National Labor Relations Board, supposedly established as a neutral arbitrator be-, tween management and the unions, has ruled more often for management than at any time in its history. Meanwhile, local courts slap countless injunctions on striking workers, ordering them back to work. What about Michigan? To the Daily: Victors, perhaps, but not quite saints. The Daily's editorial "Hail to the Vic- tors?" (10/15'90), concentrating on the un- ruly behavior of Michigan State fans, ad- dressed no comments to the behavior of Michigan fans. As a Wolverine, I was embarrassed by our extremely inhospitable attitude toward the visiting team. Even before the game started, the herd of "Fuck State" shirts had filed into the stadium. In the student sec- tions, this catchy phrase developed into the chant, "Fuck State! Fuck State!" Since the Spartans have a history of "harassing the Wolverine players and band," we retaliated by tossing the infamous marshmallows at State tubas. After all, we wouldn't want to let them get one up on us. But in the process of discrediting State's band, we ignored our own; the marshmallow hurling reached its height during the Michigan Marching Band's halftime performance. The rivalry between Michigan State and Michigan is based on a tradition of ex- cellence that both schools should be proud of. Both schools have a history of aca- demic and athletic success that has spanned over the years. Both schools have produced legends that live in our memories. Both schools graduate fine young men and women that go on to become successful, contributing members of society. Let's not compromise our integrity to degrade State, for by doing that we only degrade ourselves. Heather E. Henderson LSA first-year student so it was with great enthusiasm that I read your piece in which you detail how you took a stand and did not tolerate such irre- sponsibility in one of your reporters. Jeff Cameron was representing the Daily and the University as a whole while playing that football game against the State News so he should have known better than to embarrass himself and the U by showing up intoxicated. I felt that Gill was entirely, justified in reprimanding him by suspend- ing him from work and docking his pay. As a product of a fine Jesuit secondary education we were taught to'appreciate al- cohol, but also respect it like our instruc- tors did. We were also taught a strict moral code. Jeff Cameron evidently and knowingly broke Mike Gill's trust and his teammates' so it was your moral duty to punish him. Thus, I can appreciate and commend you for taking a moral stand and defending what is right and good. I know that I can sleep better at night knowing that you, sports editors, have the moral courage to not let such blatant dis- respect for the institutions that he (Jeff Cameron) was supposedly representing go unpunished. Mike Gill, I salute you for standing by your principles, and I recom- mend that you should start random drug testing of your staffers and punish any, more offenders with banishment from the Daily so such a scandal would never again tarnish the fine reputation of the Daily. Frank C. De Guire, Jr.. LSA senior Nuts & Bolts humors 'U' community life To the Daily: It's obvious - some people have no sense of humor. It is hard to believe that anyone could take offense of the Nuts & Bolts strip in which Levon physically abuses a bicyclist. Voices in this column somehow managed to imply that the con- tents in extrapolation promote insensitivity towards lesbians, gay males and minori- ties. Gimme a break! Okay, Nuts & Bolts is not the funniest strip in the world but it has found its niche as it relates to life on our campus. (I loved the "Bo, come back" sequence last year!) It would be utterly pointless to replace it with another mass-produced, commercial cartoon. The Free Press will give you tons of those and more for only a quarter. I per- sonally like the characters in Nuts & Bolts, and the stories unraveling keep me looking forward to my daily Daily. Kristofer Skaug Engineering senior The Daily encourages letters from its readers. Letters can be mailed to 420 Maynard St., or sent via MTS to "Michigan Daily." Please be brief- the Daily reserves the right to cut all letters. i ENDORSEMENT GUIDE -- L L--U -- 0 I ............. -.*-*-*-*-.*.-*,.....--.......,.....-.-...,.,.........,....-........-.......-..---.-----,-, .-,...-..-,..."..-,e-,-,......-.e . ................. - - ------ -------- . . ..... .......