0 Page 4-The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 27, 1991 9 Q i } i i' c e itti tgttn ttYl 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Edited and Managed by Students at the University of Michigan ANDREW K. GOTESMAN Editor in Chief STEPHEN HENDERSON Opinion Editor 1 'I 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. .. ~ fir' . Fi. l.. .. v }. . ::"..". . . :.. :"...:..:......:X'":W."Y::"""}"{:........ "... .. .".r. . .".".V .f}"."":.:"::"..J. .}d.,.. ... . .. r i:.....J..... .F:":.... r .}. ...... r..... v." : .:"::" " *.- :...... .fL" rt.: %%y:w.v D e a th p e n a ltyv" " "':::::. :rt:,",:"V.VVJ .1:{ l*- rr..~.F~"" {,r.r J::rx:rr:r",;"r':S%:: S?5;. C.v. J:L. :?"". ...nL"':r F"" .r"F rimeil'spro os l m sg ied :,"}"""{inapp":'"""::'" rp" "rate.}.};Fv~~.r:rL:."r.r:."::.Jrv""".: ". Q 6g&-rAr 'jyo/n v 1I- S'A 4fr(tboo=SN7" l1&MoR Z> boM S--'rC /S5'4E-S if FE P qp 4/-AF S nv +w. r 1 {{ Y 1Y~A r} V ; KJ 1:Av, [r , 5.,ata:ylr~rcrtr> ~~hw>rm,~ Y*c°1rr,{ w ..A.. i{"''.1 " .'V '--4 : {1 !4'1-J1 ' : "", h.hy" " ''1} -, ,- } ~'}":J''V.'V:,.,.,.'.f ..''{} V:".}},},.,Vf } Y }{1}:' ,{A - -A}. -Y!.}. . ",'"' "1:A M ~ll"" "Y"V:1.' .h,.1. .y .A~""". .1 A.A., h{{..1... h1t':'. . .. - . l. h.' "}{' ,1 ' :, ,'' . A ~'..-'"',S- ,1,.'.:::1 1M"~~:-hVVV'- 1: .V"VY'- :.""'~, - _ ': :A...... J!"1": .YA:J?=.A hh ..::11.r ... v.}. .v : .1a,"l.4' e . .1.:}Z:""1v.Y.1:': . -: -J A' "'A::1 1."V ':"r"1~J .- : ~.V fV1 '.. lN ". .,. "} ,{V{'"": :i4 ': .{}'{::::""::"{:::"VV'}:1:"1:A.A; "fJf ::.~:1A"J - "{..x"... ..J....y~y1 y 1 A ..L bM11. .,.1 J"'{ :"l l yLMVA1V"':{:{J{r"""""1":A:"..}":}:'.::1 -}{"'""y .1J"V1". "{, . {i1",::"{""""":::"V .1'i':::}}V"" 'x' '""1 "{ J .~"::'}..1:. ..'.. , .A.:1:'{}J V+"J} 1:v ""}":'r " C:-"'" ." "A': 1L1fV. .."NV }}" v :Y*"'.a*. '11A 1'";{ 111V 1V :L f+1'"..V 1 ~J}..: : ;:i{{{":{{{"1YV.A ,h. .. .'1Y."}":. .,:" {} A'}. .''}.:Y"''} 1',1,1'., .:5 . .J0.11}, {. 1:4~:S. 1 Jh:Ll :.A. . .v:": . J. A....'"..1 .: " .A.... A A... 1 .x0. . vx . .":"" .".vNA:.A":: .;V";{}:;}:}::1i}...'"v.: h1'" .1J .h" .h 1. . . . 1Y ,1'1111V'". ":" :.V~ :.V:;'. :' .: .. . ::i3": J1. .t""":".:. .1.1.. 1A "":.^.:.,.,{. '"4 ''"'": '4.": ;..:".:."{r.. ", J'.. "",YN:."..1,. JA AV111.. 1."''V11:. -: ' 4' 1 1 '.1.'N}V:4.1'.1 ."{}4::i":".1: L{"}''J ,A: :.h'.V''4"1YC :YAv lA~J:V'V "":"l :W:1'"" "' + "'i' 4 ": VAI "'4" fAY.g."J'4J: ."5 JhJ. l{'{1{{:V"'{:.';if ..1. k f....r. .x. ..1 . .1 1."..{. SSS} W+,5W.}1'+_'. .555S5 :. { . '4;' t'r,.."l"}":"".::.rV""'..h.' }:. .S.."~{""'.A'..J .... :"1: "Ji':}:f '. h" 1{y{::1V : '.{h}}': 55Ns'V,{,"i'111 V"l1:: r. 4:4:4t:1 5 + '}:Y4. 5'..... 1lllh^:1~i.rIJJ T his fall, Congress will seek to increase use of capital punishment by expanding the number of crimes punishable by death and stream-lining the conviction and appeal process leading to the :chair. Despite clear evidence showing .the death penalty's ineffectiveness and misuse, legislators are doing their best to avoid addressing serious economic problems and controversial civil rights issues' by playing up the importance of the death penalty in the crime bill. Proponents of capital punishment assert that people who commit capital crimes do not deserve to live, and that fear of execution is an effective deterrent to potential criminals. Whether capital offenders deserve to live is debatable, but because our criminal justice system is fallible, it should not take the chance of meting out a punishment that is irreversible. Over the last century, states that employ the death penalty have executed 100 people who were posthumously found innocent. Moreover, 400 people have sat on death row who were later found not guilty through the process of appeals. Capital punishment is ineffective because states which have the death penalty' have higher or equivalent crime rates to those states without the death penalty. Furthermore, the death penalty procedure is expensive and the capital process costs the govern- Dr. euss. His work, wisdom will be misse "I know some good games we could play," Said the cat.. "I know some tricks, Said the Cat in the Hat. E "A lot of good tricks. I will show them to you. Your mother Will not mind at all if I do." And he did, and she didn't. Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, died Tuesday night at the age of 87. Although Dr. Seuss is known for "children's literature" - whole sections of bookstores are seemingly devoted to cats in hats - he was an important voice for American culture as a whole. From feet to teeth, to the environment, Dr. Seuss stimulated minds, both young and old.. He taught us how to count, which colors are which, always to say "thank you" and to keep an open mind to new ideas.' When we got a little bit older, he told us to protect the Truffula Trees and to take life's bumps - with-its pleasures. "Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. ment more than life prison terms. Capital punishment is subject to arbitrary prejudice; minorities, specifically Blacks, aremore likely to receive the death penalty than are whites, especially for interracial crimes. More than half of those on death row did not have enough to pay for an attorney, and the ones assigned were so hopelessly incompetent that capital punishment was all but assured. There is no systematicway of administering the death penalty. This fall, the Congress will conclude action on the Senate Crime Bill. Among the provisions are proposals to extend the federal death penalty to include: murder in a national park, murder of a federal poultry inspector, robbery with a handgun, and other similar crimes. In addition, the bill strikes court precedent and severely limits the right to appeal a conviction. This coming term, the Supreme' Court will hear arguments on death penalty cases that extend the rights .of the. states. If these provisions are imposed, the death penalty will extend to new crimes, and -the laws will greater restrict the appeals process, making it difficult for new challenges. Capital punishment has no place in a civilized society and we must take action to abolish further legislation. Without the involvement ofconcerned citizens, we will inevitably sentence thousands of innocent people to death. d Every day from here to there, funny things.are everywhere." He taught us to hate the Grinch (well, maybe like him just a little) and to love each other like the Sneetches. Once done with those lessons, we started to understand his messages as they pertain to adults. Most of us will never forget them. In fact, the Lorax left us with a warning not to. "...UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." And while Dr. Seuss gave his gifts to the young, so many of us have learned from him that nearly every American knows the Cat in the Hat. And do we- dare tell mom? "Should we tell her about it? Now, what should we do? r Well... What would you do' If your mother asked you?". What's a family? To the Daily: I am writing to ask that all members of the University community take a moment to reflecton comments made by Karen Braun, a resident of - - University "family" housing, as reported in the Daily on Sept. 23 ("Regents give Duderstadt 5.5% raise"). She uses the phrase "simply becausepeople wish to call themselves a family." I believe Braun is operating under the misguided notion that people actually chose to live in non- traditional married heterosexual units. In reality, a minority of people in the United States today live in the "American dream" family of dad, mom, 2.5 kids and a few pets. Many more people live in a variety of other combinations, including single parents, non-wed heterosexual couples and same- sex unions. Given that our society functions with the family as a. basic unit, are these people then not allowed to consider them- selves a family?? Who defines the word "family" anyway?? Why do people insist on buying into the false notion that anyone not in the "traditional" family must somehow be an aberration?? I believe that Braun and those who agree with her position are actually suffering as a result. By asking that "family" housing be closed to all but the few who happen to fit her model of} "family," she prevents herself from meeting many wonderful people and misses the experience of diverse lifestyles and opinions that accurately reflect the country we live in today. In the final analysis, I do not understand how the University can claim to follow its own affirmative action clause of not discriminating on the basis of marital status when this housing is so restricted. Never mind that the current housing policy is clearly discriminatory against both unwed heterosexual couples and same-sex couples. All types of couples who consider them- selves "family" deserve access to this housing! Ann Geiger Graduate student School of Public Health 'U' ignores gay/lesbian reality To the Daily: What President Duderstadt seems to not realize is the fact that one-tenthnof the student popula- tion of the University of Michigan is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. He would not dare discrimi- nate against any other group this large, and yet, because of societal pressures upon the people themselves, and because of- religious or moral objections from people like Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor), many members of this group are still "in the closet," and so do not join in the fight for equal rights for all people, not just those whose minority status is visible. Anthony Glassman LSA sophomore Homosexuals aren't minorities To the Daily: I think the turn of events in the gay/lesbian community is absurd. Have their own lounges? Kick out the R.O.T.C.? "Minority" rights? For one thing, gays and lesbians aren't minorities because they choose their way of life; most handicapped and ethnic minorities don't choose to be that way. Sexual preference does not make a person a minority. For another thing, gays and lesbians don't want "equal rights," they want "special privileges." Having homosexual and heterosexual lounges would only hamper the University's goal of "diversity" by creating sexually segregated environments. And why kick R.O.T.C. off campus because the Federal Defense Department doesn't employ homosexuals? You can't kick every person who doesn't like homosexuals off campus; we are all entitled to our own opinions, even if the opinion of the Defense Department isn't very favorable. I consider myself a liberal in social issues, but gays and lesbians aren't being liberal, they are being asinine. Elizabeth Bakunovich LSA first-year student New 'U' administrator? S To the Daily: I am glad to know that the University is going to create yet another top-level administrative post ("Regents give Duderstadt 5.5% raise," Daily, Sept. 23, 1991). Wife of the President will probably rank near the top of the pecking order, as it were. All 42 vice-provosts will have to be demoted to make room for him or.' her. When will the job be adver- tised? What will be the qualifica- tions? As the University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employee, the job will have to be posted. Anne Duderstadt, of course, won't be interested in the job. Her husband already makes too much money, way more than they need. Nobody needs $180,385 a year - and a free house! Not in a decent society like ours. So some thoughtful underpaid person who likes travel, entertain- ment, and fund-raising activities should soon be appointed Wife of the President. May the best man or woman win! Bert Hornback Professor of English 0 Sudan :Greater U.S. aid needed to prevent starvation T he Sudan continues to'suffer under the two- tiered oppression of civil war and drought, which has caused great famine and hunger. - Cur- rently, the people of that nation are near the brink of starvation and the little U.S. humanitarian aid they receive is not reaching the truly needy. The State Department estimates $132.3 million were allocated to Sudanese aid during the 1991 fiscal year. One of the main reasons more aid was not allocated is a provisional law forbidding aid to nations whose duly elected governments have been overthrown or are in civil war. The U.N. aid has been estimated to be one-third of the total aid needed to ward off disaster. But according to the United Nations, at least $716 million in U.S. aid would be necessary to fully meet the need. Part of the unmet need is being met by the European Community, the United Kingdom and. private groups under the auspices of the United Nations. One conservative estimate places nine million of the 26 million Sudanese at risk of. starvation. from civil war or drought. Many people are iso- lated from the major distribution centers of sup-. plies and-relief workers are often separated by civil unrest. The government is eager .to avoid bad* publicity, so it holds up critical relief supplies. These refugees, especially inthe south, are without food, water or medical care. - Aid is many times intercepted by soldiers, or held up in transport centers, due to a lack of trucks, airplanes or ships. This is something the United States tries to avoid because it only fuels the pending civil war. The issue is whether the United States will provide the aid and provide the necessary trans- portation to move that aid into the hands of those that really need it. The United States must provide the equivalent of 27,000 tons of food to ward off the impending crisis. According'to law, the United Nations cannot ask for more humanitarian aid, and considering the drought and ongoing strife, it may be too late. But at the same time,-we must also provide long term assistance in the ability of the Sudan to provide for itself. Without this, Sudan will never be able to pro- vide for itself. The United States must increase its commitment to the Sudanese in the 1992 budget, because when the lives of human beings are at stake, the money has to be found to stave off mass tragedy. :r{" "}X ivpt'Si'k S ' . ^P140.5 "1 .}}Y "v"^;r~1 "y i 7 1 :::~ i{";""l.;}:r lx'1"r'riGr''?"riN:Ly?,' :7r? :P ::}:i;:; .'"r 41 ; ;';snt~Y,}{} }41i' 1r '~rr ~ :...1r;".;:; N: i:",,x.r vNr. 0"ri1}V: J ie i ,v, }. : } y1 : r:" .,'y, y }'{i:.. 4 1".kr 'a Y ":: r. .1 . s ,. c~1;"'"." i ~" . r " ,r ,~vr J r a .:1. "r,.lv"{1'."N"r'd ",i}ii':i{. r:?r'iv"J ''J'"y{:$~i~rrg, i;:,: .; r.. .. }i 7'""d 1 fi r " 1 v : ry.,d, yi}''"Sid '"},'y' '" J r ,31d{},".v,. v:e::,.rr".v..".vv1i.1}:: :5r.:B:y6.. :'::"ii1 y y .{,i A iU'Y}4abuses its policer powers:;1:.:} '':1* L{. " } {y . .. by Jeff Hinte and Todd Ochoa Ten months ago, Kelly Goodman resigned from the Department of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) when she overheard officers fantasizing about gassing and gunning down student rights activists. These activists, working with the Michigan Student Assembly's (MSA) Student Rights Commis- sion (SRC), were advocating for campus.community input into the formation and continued oversight of the DPSS and the growing campus police force. Last week, campus police officers used their weapons for the first time. On Dec. 4, 1990 the SRC requested information pertaining to the "guidelines for the carrying nf dadl ueannne and the me nf include references to the campus police manual on this issue. It stated that police "carry weapons only for self defense or to protect others under immediate threat of death or serious injury and only if there is no apparent alternative and if the safety of bystanders willnot be unreasonably jeopar- dized." Last week, campus police directed their guns towards an unarmed man as he lay on the ground, while many students looked on in shock. A recent University statement claims that "policies and procedures were followed." Either the University. lied in its previous documents or the University is lying now - and if it is now.telling the truth, is the campus community made. safer by deDloving police who are ment, a circumstance that exists because the University's armed officers are deputized under the authority .of the Washtenaw County Sheriff. The University's past and present arrogance and duplicity regarding the campus police force points to another question: Why hasn't the University used Public 0 Act 120 of 1990, which enables the University to deputize its own police officers? The only differ- ence between using this legisla- tion and having the county sheriff deputize the officers is that the legislation mandates that the University must hold public hearings regarding the constitu- tion of the police force and establish a "Public Safety Oversight Board" comprised of students. faculty and staff who are Nuts and Bolts z- by Judd Winick WHIEWR OR 1 TO 10TOP CF-T1 4Gg MUvtTANT~ N I NJA -3R .F 4 IiW1 .STOP rl mg ZAa ? A 1'UTZ . f i i