s Page 4- The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 28, 1992 Wbr £itrtun iailg -: -f* % ffE D fMP /WE: 0 rr a_ 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 :<, 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. ic:,;:vY.- r :" - . - m %w'f"}r,.:nNv "{w""4S PO'.~ i'yrr;;;r{%:SSrr =v:v. rJv. r r. .. r"r"Yr?. .a i" i;S" v er "r ..r.Yr.J rr} iv:rrrr '":. r {ri r. r.r }..}fi.Y.},},N. M S{S. . {4~...."!":4:}":4:s"":i3;:"4{"",}::i:"'r;"r"".. . . .. . ,e'":..,S$ '..C: .{i ..",r.f.$:+ , {}.. f: ~r *.: ,,}.,, r";;% ,%xYr.}S".x ~ .A% .. ,..v r.v " ..: v "r. rv.r:o* xr:* :: r*v}e""{v* '? :}G4}r..fvr?{ % X S r,:/v. "r S } r . %:..f f, ',rv .,.Yrv} . ?% . .{i ""r'." . ' v:"". rvsr .s:vv" o*rJ.. . r .}%"; * j. . .wpA 4'r, :$." : :~":{:v. Y.,< j,.;.,,i:4" { {r fr".:{{S:*.S"S.{r,.Y""" r{4 J: vrJ. t"y. ""SS:S%%4r{}Y;.?'}"'rJ} , .{ v r;Y,.{r;{;::":;:+: r. rr" * ~ . l..% *v;, . ! YrYr" ... , .rr7 . Jror' 4Sri::rnJ":": :r :$S. :4k"r """% .. ;r%5 A ev{r{y{y. ,. o ?J .r.,..o x.4n}.}5., r"{v _Y"r :"vr,"."r:%"S."}:'":::i::$i"S C it'r}.,,"}r'y ta k e s a d u mp , ,}d,.v..' ;. .{i{Sdg "":;'?;C$t{.r""%:::v ,;}; r}.Y {Gfi,.'% Y.Y'r,4. :a ", {}.} i Y:i"{ }}' '4 '''.r..}YrrY 'rrS:"}%:}Y" Proposed wa..rJJ}.r.,,,S.,. ;{ ste site near r{ Ann Arbor. po }se . s "eat:to residentsr rr":v:v:v:::. :v. : . - I . ----ma .. - . = -= 1/ Nobody wants toxic waste in their backyard, and not many people would want it 12 miles south of Ann Arbor. However, this is precisely where Envotech's board of directors proposes to construct the second largest waste dump in the nation. If constructed, this facility would endanger both the environment and the residents of Augusta and adjacent communities. Furthermore, the site would not be nenessary were it not for flawed government reasoning that seeks to import waste for monetary gain. The management of Envotech, a subsidiary of Wayne Disposal, Inc., intends to build this facility just a stone's throw away from campus. Ann Arbor City Councilmember Bob Eckstein (D-5th ward) concluded, "The city of Ann Arbor is well within the range of particulate fallout from the proposed incinerator, other environmental degradations and adverse economic impact." In addition, the two miles of land being consid- ered for the dump has been described by the U.S. Geological Survey as "prime farmland" and in- cludes woodlands and wetlands. Milan, the city closest to and most effected by this dump, obtains its drinking water from nearby underground wells. A toxic waste dump on this site could contaminate that groundwater and poses a threat to the other resources in the area. Even more infuriating than the dangers associ- 'ated with a large toxic waste dump is the fact that the supposed demand for this facility is based on money, not need. There is no state-wide demand for such a facility, nor will there be one in the near future. Michigan handles more than 85 percent of its industrial toxic wastes on site. This percentage is increasing as a result of more efficient waste management. Moreover, this is not our garbage. Currently, over half of Wayne Disposal's waste originates from outside the state. The selfish environmental philosophy "not in my backyard" does not apply to this situation. In the words of Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances (M-CATS), "Michigan must not become a paid toilet for other states' industries." It is unfortunate that economic factors often outweigh safety concerns for individuals and the environment when waste sites are selected. Ac- cording to a variety environmental studies, there is a disturbing pattern whereby toxic wastes are placed in areas where people don't possess the wealth or influence to oppose its construction. No doubt, Augusta's lack of significant wealth is a contributing factor to the proposed site loca- tion. But safety and environmental reasons alone, this is a dump that should not be built. This plan must be scrutinized more carefully, especially in light of this statement from M-CATS: "Experts say toxic waste could be reduced by up to 90 percent through methods such as reformulation, changing production methods, recycling and de- toxification, but it will never happen until we stop the dumping." U. x.""x;r r{rr.,?uea t.+i },a :fr},x* v}a .x.n:r 1Y" : ' ; ni"1:+{1 ° . "° .:O.. t . " s .t'J* 4. .C.'ri~v . 't+. .5% }*. .'"y'':,{ .1 {1 .tJs M . t .}.. '.:... ... .. ... .. ." { .'f.R: t : :. .: ,1 . } t''.i ri ,. ... "} . J r ' . . '.Pr-r f . .1.-P y N;. Gerrymandeig Proposed redistricting plan violates Michigan law I n a move that violates the spirit of democratic principles, theAnnArbor City Council's Demo- cratic majority is backing a redistricting plan which will effectively eliminate Republican opposition on the Council for years to come. While the Daily favors a Democratic City Council majority, en- trenching the majority in this fashion is reprehen- sible for a body of elected officials. The. City Council is employing the time-hon- ored method of "packing" - redrawing district lines so that the opposing party's supporters are concentrated in a few districts, leaving the "pack- ers" a firm majority in the other districts. In this ease, the 2nd and 4th Wards will be made largely Republican, while the solidly Democratic 1st, 3rd and 5th wards will ensure a constant six-to-four majority for the Democrats. It should be noted that "packing," along with its partner,"cracking"-drawing district lines through opposition enclaves to divide and conquer, consti- tute gerrymandering - the drawing of district lines for political benefit, and are thus illegal under state law. There is no doubt that the new district plan is politically motivated. A memo to City Council Democrats from attorney Tom Wieder, co-author of the redistricting plan, states that "the overriding principle which has guided me in drawing these plans is to increase the probability of a continuing Democratic majority. I think this is, far and away, the most important criterion. I have also attempted to produce plans which will look reasonable to the public, the media, and any possible reviewing court." This represents a clear admission of guilt. It is unfortunate that the only City Council member to oppose this blatant opportunism is Kurt Zimmer (D-4th Ward), who, not coincidentally, considers his own re-election to be nearly impos- sible under the proposed plan. Perhaps opportun- ism is the only motivation known to the current City Council members. If the redistricting plan survives Zimmer's chal- lenge and is ruled unconstitutional, Ann Arbor's voters will be left with only one recourse: to show their City Council members how they feel about gerrymandering in the April elections. The other side To the Daily: I hope that most students who read the Daily take it with a grain of salt, as I do, and are not dependent on the newspaper for their knowledge of University issues. The entire point of an editorial is to voice the opinion which the opinion staff holds, hoping to sway popular opinion. However, these are usually filled with "factoids" - facts obviously never checked by the staff. Letters sent in direct conflict with the editorials regarding the University police have not been printed; it seems the opinion staff cares to air no opinions other than its own. The University commu- nity deserves to hear other viewpoints, which are vital to campus debate. The Daily cares only about perpetuating its own side of the "debate." This is also true in regard to other issues, such as the Student Rights Commission (SRC). Today, Michael Warren wrote in a letter, "The Daily has neglected to report on the SRC's activities." Of course it has! If the opinion staff believes the current SRC isn't working for students' rights, why would actual activities be reported? Popular opinion could be swayed in the opposite direction, then! On Jan. 21, the editorials centered around regental power to deputize police officers. I agree that we should hold campus-wide elections to elect the two students who will represent the student population for the oversight committee. Who wouldn't? But the editorials seemed a far cry from debating whys or whats of the real issue. Rather, they sensationalized the entire issue, speaking of "cops with guns gearing up for a war" on students as if a police state were imminent. It was so propa- gandistic and ridiculous that. it was more a campaign speech for the "SRC in exile" and their fact- finding research mission. The things supposedly uncovered have been public knowledge for months, but who would know since the Daily has failed to report anything? The editorials mentioned the police being unresponsive to crime, and the threat of being attacked by "student snipers." They made fun of the police who risk their lives and made the campus sound incredibly safe, but at whose expense? I never saw one thing in the daily about the 23 strong armed robberies last term in and around campus, when some people were beaten so badly they had to be rushed to the hospital. The local NBC affiliate and the Detroit Free Press did report these. The biggest threat to our well being on campus is not "student snipers," but people who are not affiliated with the Univer- sity and have found perfect victims in an uneducated univer- sity population. Where have the actual crime and arrest rates been? Also, the editorials criticized the police for ordering typical weaponry, and made a year's supply of bullets sound like a week's worth. Why was this so necessary? Furthermore, the editorials touched slightly on the public hearings, without mention that they're coming up on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. at the regents' meeting. Why would they fail to announce the whens and wheres? I am guess- ing, so that no one with opposing viewpoints will fill the dockets. Anyone who cares about the future of the University police on this campus can sign up for a five- minute spot at the hearings by going to 2008 Fleming. I myself encourage everybody who supports the police being on this campus, as I know many do, to go and sign up. Don't let the Daily staff speak for everyone. Amy Spade LSA senior Adam and Ernie To the Daily: I thinks that homosexuality is morally wrong and that we as a nation should not give in to their demands for equal treatment. For one thing, homosexuals cannot produce any offspring, unless they adopt (or in the case of lesbians, have artificial insemination). If God wanted us to be homosexuals, He would have created Adam and Ernie instead of Adam and Eve. Also, it is incredible that mankind is the only "animal" on Earth that has homosexual acts within its own species. That truly says a lot for us as the pinnacle of God's creation. We are, indeed, in dire straits. Bennett Seacrist LSA junior MSA not pro-life To the Daily: In response to Mimi Arnstein's allegations against Conservative Coalition using MSA funds in a partisan manner, we would like to clarify some misconceptions she and other students may hold. The Budget Priorities Committee (BPC) of MSA allocated funds to Students For Life for their "Racism and Abortion: A Pro-Life Perspec- tive." However, the committee does not endorse either a pro-life or pro-choice stance. The committee's purpose is to allocate funds to all student groups regardless of their political views. The criteria on which the commit- tee bases its decisions are the amount of student involvement and range of its effects on University students. For all practical purposes, it is the mission of the committee to set aside its political agenda and work to give student money back to the students. Ms. Arnstein also questioned the actions of the Women's Issues Commission. Although it is chaired by a member of the Conservative Coalition, it, too, is non-partisan, and all the students, regardless of political affiliation or gender are encouraged to attend its meetings. To Ms. Arnstein, and other members of the University community who share her concerns, the commis- sion meetings are held on Sundays at 4 p.m. in the MSA chambers. Sejal Mistry BPC Chair Heather Johnston Women's Issues Commission Chair The Daily encourages re- sponses from its readers. The editors reserve the right to edit al letters for style and space. Send all letters to: The Michigan Daily 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, 48109 Or, via MTS to: The Michigan Daily, Letters to the Editor. 0 Slow pokes My grandparents could clean the streets faster This is what winter is supposed to be: frolick- ing through the enchanting snowy terrain, brisk walks in the clear night, building snowpeople on the front lawn, and nailing your neighbors with slushballs the second they step outside. This is what winter in Ann Arbor is: trudging through inhospitable terrain in a hopeless quest to reach your first class before it ends, rivers of mucous rolling down your face, into your mouth - with no Kleenex at hand and the next public bathroom six blocks away - slipping on icy side- walks and fracturing some or all of your bones and being left to die in the freezing tundra as attractive members of the opposite sex or appropriate sexual orientation walk by laughing. Ann Arbor is a winter city, but one would never guess it from the lack of winter activity facilities here. Students without cars have no outdoor op- tions. The nearest ski hills are hours away, and the only decent sledding hills are in the Arboretum, where armed police conduct anti-sledding sting operations. Probably the worst aspect of Ann Arbor win- ters, aside from the lack of snow-related activities, is the city's inadequate snow removal system for streets and sidewalks:Wheras other northern cities have aggressive and efficient plowing departments which hit the streets early and stay out all night until every flake is gone, the Ann Arbor depart- ment, responsible for keeping our streets clean and who's motto could be que sera, sera, has a more mellow, laid back attitude. After last Monday's snow storm, the city snow plowing administration decided to save money by delaying removal of the nine inches of snow on the streets because they were expecting more snow two days later. This is like a fire department declining to put out a house fire because they expect the entire block to catch fire soon. Meanwhile, the city lost countless dollars as the town was virtually immo- bilized. Even more than a week after the big storm, many AnnArbor streets remain unplowed, and city sidewalks areoften more hazardous than the streets. Property owners are legally obligated to clear adjacent sidewalks of snow and ice by noon the day after a snowfall. For each subsequent failure to clear the sidewalks, the city can charge property owners up to $500. Although the snow removal from the streets is slow and inadequate, and the enforcement of the sidewalk ordinance is lax, there are two telephone numbers to call if you are frustrated by the slush and ice. To report unplowed streets call 994-2359, and to report unshoveled sidewalks call 994-2818. Looking beyond Martin Luther King. b~ Mn dd an M Au Dy lVIO lassiI rvi. P%1l Among the many cries for freedom and equality that have rung in the American auditorium, one man's voice still seems to survive, echoing in the American mind and leaving its unalterable impression on our national community. Yet, this voice that so moved the nation was never an emotional outburst of frustration or revenge, but rather a very simplistic plea to human reason and universal ethics. It was the voice of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. What this man wanted America to do was to purge itself from the very prejudices and dogmas that had established and legalized the doctrine of social discrimination and racial inequal- ity. He asked for his people to be recognized as a part of humanity, of Black equality. Rather, it transcends any particular cause or categorization and serves more as an emblematic resistance against the injustices that exist within society. Without the firing of a single bullet, Rev. King was able to publish the fallacy in the white man's belief that the Black race was somehow inferior. His own life was a manifest paradox: here was a Black man who was more talented, educated and civilized than many whites. But more importantly than this specific achievement, Rev. King showed the nation that there was a way to bring about change, to alter for the benefit of mankind, and that this way didn't include violence and revolution, but peace, love and reason. I feel that what America now when it considers pornography a form of art. Why not also then consider theft, murder, and fraud as different types of art and legalize them all? Who are we to say that an unborn baby is not a human being and thus does not have human rights? Isn't the fact that unborn baby is God's creation enough to deter us from its slaughter? America has indeed come a long way. From the years of slavery to the time when this University sets a day apart to commemorate the life and deeds of a Black man, the progress has been incredible. But, the nation still has a little more to go. Today, more and more people are getting involved, taking sides and fighting for what they believe is the right thins to do. Nuts and Bolts Nr T.MURK.HATs UTK. E.P57, T71//F/ A Q( I I. by Judd Winick fM A CAOICO~s,-