Page 4 -The Michigan Daily- Wednesday, November 20, 1991 be Liciijan 1ailIj 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Edited and Managed by Students at the University of Michigan ANDREW K. GOTTESMAN Editor in Chief STEPHEN HENDERSON Opinion Editor MAN/, LO06K (AT /-/(/ GAN-"/t/rr s ? oH,-- b S-OZtiCIro/v...T -- Mo0,T-H/W'S JyStd1:*r r GANG- 1Ric-r s R'sq A)uc MNE4/ A IFt- J4CksoM C~I VIE~OWN* I O O \ "4 y/ "" +" 1-ii'" G om i ", _ r ( ry w SI ./ 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. * ~. Unio policy Admi itrtio shoul J 1r=:;+ ;{;F.JFrhvef consulted with students earlierr.. ; . ........ Last week a group composed of student leaders and members of the University administration announced changes in the Michigan Union en- trance policy. The policy, which limited entrance to the Union on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to students and one guest, had been criticized for limiting the weekend activities of the Black Greek Association and other student groups that use the facility, and forcreating a situation in which students could bring only one parent into the Union. The proposed changes permit students with identification to bring two guests into the building. Additionally, in response to student concerns sur- rounding the intimidating presence of security guards as door checkers, student monitors will watch Union entrances alongside University se- curity officers. Unfortunately, the proposed changes are benign and fail to address the fundamental problem inherent in the Union policy. The University is a public institution and is paid for in part by the state's taxpayers. This means that the facilities in the Union including the food court, study areas, and the public lounges should be open to the public. Denying students the right to bring more than one or two guests into the Union is simply unfair and betrays the University's mission to serve the public. Despite problems with the revised policy, the University's willingness to involve students in the decision making process is cause for optimism. Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) President James Green, Black Greek Association (BGA) President James Green, and representatives from the University Activities Center (UAC) all took part in the negotiations. This, in a sense, is the first time in at least a year that students and administrators have come to terms over a major University policy. In the past, the University has either chosen to ignore student input on the formulation of policy or has neglected to consult students for their opinion altogether. This was at first the case with the new Union policy. By involving students in the revision of the Union policy, the University has at least admitted that their original decision, made without student input, was rash and ill-conceived. The administration would have done better had it met with representatives of MSA, BGA, and UAC before the school year began. Since most administrative decision greatly effect students, the administration must consult students before implementing new policies. As a general rule, student groups who have an interest in the proposed policy should play a part in the formulation of that policy. i'-i _ ,. t I 1 7- 7L l '. M( A }:ti"}}:ti"} "}T:"T :Y1 :'Th}}}:": :":4} "}T:Y: "T:ti?} ::1':": J:, '}:ti":, ,^. {. Y.}}:' }:ti Y' .till. .T:"}}:ti:' "}}}'"} 4"T:ti"T."} "}5{'}:'Ci" ^. "T}T} ..^::.:"..l":, r:..w:::J " "': J' .:J :..1":.:::.1 :J'.".".'J.'. Jr::'1Y: :r'Y ::.J"1"::'1Y.:r. 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'...Y Danger ahead Deteriorating situation in California should warn Michigan Daily got it right To the Daily: As a scientist who has devoted an important part of his career to studying the planet Venus, I wish to congratulate the Daily for its splendid editorial tribute to the Magellan Mission to Venus in the Nov. 12 issue. The editorial was both accurate and perceptive. I resonated also with its message. Thanks. Thomas M. Donahue Professor of Planetary Science Food for thought To the Daily: I recently learned that the "Food For Thought" column might not be part of the Daily next semester. I was disappointed because I the think the Food column is one of the few enter- taining, useful, and informative columns in the Daily. My friends and I enjoy reading it and learn a lot of practical information about a very impor- tant part of our lives. It's the only article that is aimed specifically at helping students. I know that Dan and Andrew have put a lot of work into the articles and it would be a shame it were wasted. T he California State Government has aban- doned its 30-yearmandate to offer a low-cost, high-quality, college education to every resident who wants one. Under extreme pressure from a struggling economy, the state has reduced educa- tion funding and cut educational services to the brink of disaster. Budget woes have affected every state's educa- tional system, including Michigan, but none as drastically as California. Since 1984, real funding for collegiate education has plummeted by over 50 percent. At San Diego State University, 550 part-time instructors have been fired, 662 classes have been cancelled, and more than 1,300 students could not enroll in any of their requested courses. The Uni- versity of California has raised student tuition by 40 percent, forced early retirement on to 3,500 employees, and plans to cut enrollment by 5,500 students. California's master plan of 1960 envisioned a state where all who strive to attend a high quality college can do so regardless of their economic standing. But, now the suffering that those wanting an education in California must endure, will not stay within California's borders. The new admin- istration in Lansing has begun taking steps very similar to those taken by our counterparts in the West. The University's tuition has been hiked up a painful 10 percent yearly. Surely, this pattern can't continue. California's cuts make for a somber backdrop to the national education crisis at hand. Through- out the country, as in California, education is too often first on the chopping block when it comes to budget cuts. If the country is to maintain its com- petitive status in the 21st century, education must be made a priority. California's education cuts mirror a negative national trend that must be re- versed. if not, how he can defend the printing of the Holocaust Contro- versy. His answer was that his truth is different from my truth, that he does not feel it is his place to judge opinions submitted to him, and that such ideas should be put into the public forum to be shot down there. I do not agree. Of course an African- American's experience of the Holocaust differs from that of a descendent of European Jews. However, that does not change the fact that the Nazis tried to exterminate the Jews of Europe. If the evidence does not prove beyond any doubt that the Holocaust occured, then no claims can be made for the validity of any event in all of recorded history. History itself becomes a meaningless discipline under such terms. Lies have no place in any debate. The deliberate misrepre- sentation of facts does not improve education and does not enhance liberty. There can be no worthwhile education, no freedom deserving of the name, no human dignity, if there is no repect for the truth. Beth Frenkel LSA senior Think twice To the Daily: I was inspired to write after seeing the front page photograph of a model that ran in your Nov. 14 issue. The model was part of a fashion show sponsored by Hudson's and Cafe Fino and organized by UAC. There are a few things I recently learned about Hudson's that I would like to share with your readership, as well as UAC. First, there is a boycott called against Hudson's for Thanksgiv- ing weekend. This boycott has been called by Hudson's workers who are attempting to unionize with the help of the UAW. Hudson's workers make a very convincing argument for the need to unionize. Among their reasons are: unreasonable sales quotas, which when not met are grounds for dismissal; a miserly pension plan ($150 a month for one who works 38 years); and low wages for store employees while top Hudson's executives draw multi- million dollar salaries. In response to employee organizing efforts, Hudson's has hired outside union-busters and is harassing union supporters. At the Hudson's Westland store, workers voted to join the UAW in May 1990. However, in violation of U.S. law, Hudson's is refusing to bargain. Thus, I hope that students think twice about shopping at Hudson's, andthat UAC thinks twice about coordinating activities with Hudson's in the future. For more information on the Hudson's organizing campaign write: Anyplace But Hudson's Coordinating Committe, 9650 S. Telegraph, Taylor, MI 48180. 0s Phillis Engelbert GEO organizer 01 Jennie Choi LSA junior Masking Apartheid Soviets and world community must not repeal sanctions The white supremacist government of South Africa is looking to re-establish diplomatic ties with the struggling government of the crum- bling Soviet Union. Although the Soviet Union was the main financial supporter of the African National Congress (ANC)-lead guerilla war against the South African government, which ended in 1990, they are considering South Africa's request. South Africa would have countries like the Soviet Union believe thatApartheid, South Africa's racist legal system, is over. Some countries, like the United States, have accepted South Africa's token gestures as genuine efforts towards true democracy. Last July, President Bush lifted federal sanctions on South Africa, completely undermin- ing the efforts of the democratic movement in South Africa to punish the minority government through world-wide economic pressure. However, anyone who examines South Africa's actions over the past few years can easily see that the white South African government has no in- tention of abolishing Apartheid. Although many progressive steps have been taken inside South Africa, such as the legalization of anti-Apartheid political organizations and the release of many political prisoners, including ANC leaders Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, South Africa has a long way to go before sanctions should be dropped. South Africa is currently enlarging the oppres- sive townships where most Blacks live. Blacks still cannot vote. De Klerk's proposal for the new South African constitution would allow the racist political system to continue by granting a white-dominated chamber of government veto power over all gov- ernment policy. Such superficial reforms indicate that the white supremacist government of South Africa cannot be trusted to abolish Apartheid. In October, a conference of 90 organizations, including the ANC and the Pan African Congress, established the Patriotic Front, which outlined a strategy for abolishing Apartheid and establishing a genuinely democratic South Africa. The Patriotic Front is calling for the establishment of an interim government to run the country during its transition to democracy and for a new constitution to be drawn up by a constituent assembly elected by all South Africans on a non-racial basis. Not surprisingly, the current South African government has opposed both an interim govern- ment and an elected constituent assembly. However, the growing strength of the democratic movement in South Africa was made clear by the workers' strike two weeks ago, which opposed the new food tax imposed by the minority government. The four million Black workers who stayed away from work for two days cost the South African govern- ment $800 million. The Soviet Union should continue to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on South Af- rica. Aid to the Soviets will come from countries like Japan and the United States to help it deal with the tough times that lie ahead. The ANC has called for economic sanctions to continue at least until an interim government has been established. Surely any country interested in seeing a democracy es- tablished in South Africa can hear this request. The problem is that countries like the United States, Japan, and Israel are listening to the white minority government of de Klerk which represents racism instead of listening to the voices of organizations like the ANC which have a true interest in seeing a democratic South Africa. Truth is truth To the Daily: At the panel "Free Speech, Hate Speech, and PC," I asked Opinion page editor Steve Henderson if he dismissed historical validity as a factor in deciding what letters to print, and |h|||||N:"JYhJ.- r J~r ~: lrrJ "N:":.J. ." ."Y . . . . . . . " " " " : : : . } { " :i } " : } " ' : } i c : : : : : " " } } " : " : S } " : 4 . . . . . . . r " . . . " " " . : " . . : : " . : " : : : : : : ; . . . . . . . . " :r. . . . " . " . J . " . . . : " " " ".: .:.:.|"":::J"J1J J.:|".:: r.":: .'.|iV: ...."...r P:: a ..".".,r. e s t :.... ."." 1 -n..""""r"r an.. .r"r".r " n ~r: r r." d"!::{::"}:p1."..r.re.nd e n c e.r....:"... ....r...." by Jon Van Camp This past Nov. 15, the people of Palestine celebrated the third anniversary of their Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, this independence has been one of spirit only, for an independent Palestinian state has yet to be realized and a majority of Palestinians are forbidden even to set foot in their homeland. Those that have remained suffer the tortured life of a people under military occupation, having to withstand arbitrary arrests, deportations, beatings, gassings, house demolitions and death at the hands of the "security" and "defense" forces of Israel. Although the issue of Palestine and Israel is one which has produced a wealth of journalism and complex analysis by Middle East "experts," all the discussions and debate on the topic can be reduced to one incontrovertible fact: Israel is forcibly subjecting another people to their rule. These legitimate representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization. Yet, Israel seeks not only to deny Palestinians their self- determination, but to eliminate them as a people. Through a series of economic measures which take away Palestinian land, water and jobs, Israel seeks to much talk of the prospects for peace because of the recent conference in Madrid. Unfortu- nately, I doubt this conference will lead to peace. I hope I am wrong, but I believe that Israel will not give up any of its occupied territory at this juncture because it has no incentive to do 0 Yet, Israel seeks not only to deny Palestinians their self-determination, but to eliminate them as a people. strangle the Palestinians in such a way that they must leave their homeland out of economic necessity. The blame for this atrocious situation lies not only with Israel, but with the funder of the Occu- pation, the United States. Our government gives Israel $5 billion a year, roughly $700 for every man, woman and child in that country. Israel then uses this money to take away Palestinian land and SO. Unlike South Africa, Israel has not suffered from severe eco- nomic pressures because of its repression. In fact, the United States continues to give Israel billions of dollars in aid despite its weak protestations over Israeli settlement policy. I dare not hope that the United States government will ever realize the immorality of its funding of the Occupation or its moral duty to support Palestinian 0 Nuts and Bolts HE DID WHAT? ANIMALS fftM THE CJRCOS."HE AN ,T1EAtM L. YEAI. W ELL, NO ACMALLY, ELEPHANT BY( MISTAKE . NAM-1.~ RSTOF~rE A-IL-IS AM EHIDDENAL. OVER 'THE COUN7RY Y NOW'~A. WHAT AgE. HE'( EOIN6 TO POC tWrIT+ ABeY E.L- r? by Judd Winick BAD E SOY,BAD BoY! IN -iE $AND) SOX , IN 7HE SAM BOX!"