*I Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Tuesday, February 18,1992 (Iitor:in Chief (M~AWIV,,11 s IHO'-ECLINT6N45 15P! e- MAKES ME ~Slick!t I-rHsE -rA S'i De5 E~X ST Sol-Et.y-r a APP-9-45 r- - $IGc k E t-E M ErNTc- of:So CIgE-y/ 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 764 - 0552 MA I'HIEW I).R1ENNIE; Opinion Editors YAEL CITRO GEOFFREY EARLE AMITAVA MAiUMDAR Edited and Managed by Students at the University of Michigan Unsigned editorials represent a majority ref the Dally's Editorial Board. All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. New MW laws aimed at students ollege students drink alcohol. They always ing down the street with a can of beer, a first-time have and always will. This is not an earth- offender may see their driver's license suspended shattering realization, nor does it weaken the infra- for a minimum of 90 days. structure of society, as proponents of a new Minors This brings up the question: Why would one's In Possession of Alcohol (MIP) bill would have us license get suspended for a completely unrelated believe. The new bill, which recently passed in the offense? state Senate and currently on the House floor, This bill was obviously directed toward stu- iposes ridiculously severe penalties for MIP of- dents, a sentiment echoed by State Rep. Perry feses. Bullard (D-Ann Arbor), who is currently lobbying -As if the 21-year old drinking age of this state against the bill, and David Cahill, legal counsel for as not enough, the new bill, penned by Sens. Bullard's House Judiciary Committee. "The main iSes Barcia (D-Bay City), Jack Welborn (R- point of the bill package is to show how terrible Kalamazoo), Joe Conroy (D-Flint), and Arthur young people are and how tough the liquor lobby Adler (D-Warren), calls for enormous increases in is by using unusual methods," Cahill said. Further- flies for even first offenses, from the current $25 more, in a state with a variety of crime problems, tI*a whopping $100. one has to wonder why the Senate is so concerned ff students were concerned at all about MIP with alcohol possession. This is a case of confused livs, the current fines of $25 to $100 would be priorities. Mdre than enough to deter them. The new $100 to At this rate, the penalty for drinking a beer will $$O range will do little more than keep the alcohol soon draw a hefty fine and 90 days without getting btiind closed doors, and will have no effect on the behind the wheel. This law couldn't be more mis- *iflountof alcohol consumed on college campuses. directed. Look out. The next step may be prohibi- In addition, for the catastrophic offense of walk- tion. I~ . L Z Z .. ' -t I- , GOM -. I'2a/ " j u 1" Mc~t~~rt AILY 2. <; /, 7777 .7 I- - --iiiiskiii" :":ti': }. :......1 ...........:......................1. ..1 .....".:.V:.'.".1'::::."::.1 :.... :1.1.1."....1 . :.V: Y::'.:.1:":1".': 1'::. :.1":........ " ".Y:::.:1"i:ti":". 1:ti".".":': 1".1 ".1. 1".1 ::ti"::... ..1 ........... .M: }i:":1 .............1.......1..'...1. ....1 ... " ....... .................... ....."....."................................ ...................... ..............: :'"::.1 :. ................. .................... ........ ...... 1 :...............:..:.::.....:..1111:'::. :.:":......1 .. Jeffries represent n honor of Black History Month, the Black IStudent Union (BSU) is sponsoring Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Jr.; a man who has received much public- ity for making racist and anti-Semitic comments. Jeffries chairs the African-American Studies De- partment at City College in New York. The BSU hag a right to bring any speaker it wishes to campus and Jeffries has a right to say anything he wants. These are not the issues. The real issue is that it is important to see what Jeffries is talking about and how heuses scapegoating techniques as old as time itself. Jeffries has lectured in his classes that people of gropean ancestry, whom he calls "ice people" are Ouidamentally materialistic, greedy and intent on f1ltination. He claims that people of African de- coit, "sun people," are essentially humanistic and communal. This same connection between climate and character was made by slave owners who ch1pimed that the African climate made Blacks less intelligent than whites, but made them well equipped to work in hot cotton fields. These com- ments have no historical or scientific credence at At the Black Arts Festival in Albany, N.Y., on :,ily 20, 1991, Jeffries attacked Diane Ravitch, an asistant education secretary, whom he referred to is "The ultimate, supreme, sophisticated, debo- nair racist." Later he referred to her as the "Texas Je V" In that same speech, Jeffries spoke of the con- s hate and racism spiracy "planned, plotted and programmed out of Hollywood," by people with names like "Greenberg and Weisberg and Trigliani," which intended to portray Blacks negatively in the movies. He also said that, "Russian Jewry had a particular control over the movies, and their financial partners, the Mafia, put together a financial system of destruc- tion of Black people." Although supporters of Jeffries say that he is targeted by the media and his comments are taken out of context, there is no context under which these blatant lies could be viewed as anything other than purely anti-Semitic. The BSU has invited Jeffries to speak in spite of the fact that Jeffries has been criticized for being a race-baiter by Hazel Dukes, the president of the New York Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). What is really scary is that those people who have not studied history for themselves listen to Jeffries as an expert on Black history. Jeffries is not an expert on history, Black or otherwise. Jeffries has said, "It is not about anti-Semitism, anti-gay or anti-white. It's about the truth." The truth is that Dr. Leonard Jeffries is a man who is trying to scapegoat Jews and distort the facts. He uses hate and stereotypes - something that Black people have been struggling against for centuries. Dr. Leonard Jeffries Jr. has sunk to the level of those people he professes to be against. He embod- ies the very racism he claims to hate. Obsessed women To The Daily: I want the first sentence of this letter to get across the idea that I believe that men and women should have the same opportuni- ties in life, and for all intents and purposes are equal. However, there are some women who have become so obsessed with the idea of letting men "hear their voice" that their voice is no longer effective. I cite three experiences. When talking after class one day last week, I overheard a woman say, "The problem with men is that they are too quick to stereotype." A tad hypocritical, wouldn't you say? Another time, I was speaking with a woman who complained about the lack of publicity and attendance for U-M women's sporting events. I offered a theory based on the idea that the men's basketball team is a better team than the women's, so there is a bigger demand to see it play. For this I am a "sexist pig." Yeah how dare me? Does she really believe that Trish Andrew could beat Chris Webber in one- on-one? (See - how many of you even had heard of Trish Andrew)? I asked a very good female friend of mine if she wanted to do dinner. Neither of us had money, so I asked her if she could make this great dish she makes. A passerby decided that our conver- sation was her conversation, and deemed me "no better than a primitive hunter who kept his wife in the cave." Doesn't she realize that she is doing the stereotyping in that case? Why do some women (or womyn should I say? Nah - I won't even touch that ridiculous idea) believe that it is an insult to be a good cook? Or to be told that they have cleaned the place up nicely? Why do some women seemingly want only to be labeled good at something men are stereotypically good at? I have many more complaints, but this is already long enough, and there's a White Sox feature on cable soon, so that's it. Joel Shapiro LSA sophomore Abortion rights To the Daily: I concur with your editorial ("Back Alleys or Safe Clinics," 2/ 11/92) about the pressing threat to a woman's right to an abortion. The public should know that the Michigan Legislature will be voting on House Bill 4280 later this week, which includes the mandatory 24-hour waiting period and misinformation act. These laws are built on the premise that women are not capable of making autonomous decisions about their own bodies and lives. If passed, every woman who chooses to have an abortion would be forced to endure an unnecessary waiting period. Medical professionals would be forced to read an anti-choice script detailing unverified health and emotional complications from an abortion and to show women fetal pictures. Low-income women are entitled to the same comprehensive care as wealthy women. The way the Michigan House now stands, a majority of our representatives are allied with the anti-choice stance. People can call Speaker Lewis Dodack (D-86th District) at 517-373-0837 or their representative to oppose the passing of this bill. A woman's body must remain her own property, not that of the church or the state. 0 01 Mimi Arnstein LSA sophomore Feature could have been better To the Daily: In response to Ms. Vines' piece on men in the Feb. 6th edition of "Weekend, etc.": When I opened the Daily the other day to find an article about men, frankly I was excited. I am one of the male students in the Sociology class called "Men and Masculin- ity" (and I know Vines is as well). As I read through the article, though, I found myself increas- ingly annoyed. First, the central graphic, a collage in the form of the sign for male, was predomi- nantly images of beer and condoms. Army figures and a man reading a Playboy were also included. I'm sorry, if that's all you think men represent. I do like beer and sports, and I do practice safe sex, but what about music and books and dance?... oh yes, those are only for women and gay men. Seriously, this kind of limited, stereotypical portrayal of men is just as bad as some men's sexist remarks about women being barefoot and pregnant. If both sexes don't stop stereotyp- ing, we aren't going to get anywhere. The article seemed to portray the men's movement as a bunch of whiners. Well, could you sincerely say that some feminists in the world don't whine? I'm in no way implying that all men in the "men's movement" are doing positive things. Some don't recognize the power they hold and some do some real whining, but why belittle a group of men who are potentially, constructively and critically thinking about their power and identity in a sexist, homophobic and racist society? It's articles like yours that provoke the very backlash that you seem so afraid of. Kyle Macdonald LSA junior 0 : a '"a "z '.9 :+ M i +! ; i i r ai b 4 : d; Y, 'H t i tfy ' Y, 0 !1 i M 1 we1.aIs#*t~r~p~ri b et........saJ fin~f~~ 1Jyx e~~ euwt4f.Wt hycot~e ihte ~n fOp~akn ~ uii wabp I 4yrn~~ti wrh ~ oeute~Su4n~f10-Sfr ~u .y(S R sy ; ; ( o( ' f r. . . .... df i ~ ~ t t~ :;';;':': ::ty. m::rntm:idaton w t:'Itliepotester&..........; dnstrt. "i.nseut 4 :: '} li4 M>::"::":p ?:":: }::C :": .:; ... ..wih ..e. s f"ty vrn rn "T.W "{I de 414 S4^u .".l ."RHF."+1: btJnurath '00.Caiie~m~~n n ~Dep~e p~tstatasedbystuens tatth th Mii~ R~v~w d~ite a ~4~ I(' t .W~Wrnt1 i~~ bAwe avtg, ie ~gesi~ ea~u~~ ~nias.~10. .ORt - ~*e ~ he ssu a thir unemetin. Tey ut~Uo .: A 2-pr" th# TSR ::. :: :: .. d!Q ........ ................ n.stration wa .. 4~ Jumped ' CY ./ '^j " ' 7 + '}. ", wi: }"h ] ' ii ' W"( ;}w " " "S .Ffis.Dep ." its:67 7i :i ~ ti!Yhe . : :R: J hi' 0 " x :"::'.~ep ni " t' Th yd o et e c hti .°{"r recv y}:;}"}:ny:: j ::':{$? i :{: "r,:::1:{: J: i: r:?: ;with L::$ :k'r; .:;;He$:}::i y' i kecti :i th ..,}gt.:''1..;":::.':;:i . ce&4 lt! .......that ' ". ~ :i40i '! i Wifa~ :7if~k .ii:F <#k.: ju"uit nbl c 20ws:sedb"h hedp akr uis wp ote ~iriy .: tFe~ 1 . ."1" is'tl !: 1!i: F .. M . . ion ..',,, W,.t;ns Rd Ie .r Y.F?'i."". ":: ...... ! ."." .... ,"~nt wx:ea oe o~etz s w oie iildn OO0~t4 fh1o-ipdbJes .C: X {td~ Ieatnen il t- 1urpst !;nd9n nt ; wsotdee xx};( llt " ". it74h ? : "", :::Tt :iti:: :t: % ;:" i}" 'i::"1 ty:iv ' P *~i :v S + :: =AtJhJ a; nSoato ; ;. ( .( Hlt4! £vets ha headlisyaln a pt4str'l inplrIesdn ~rt~tsp i. W L"(1::tr J:n . Att J: h p az rd m nn r w t n m h .~t ~ ~ ei s ,, ..' ...}.n .:iYi t s ::: V:" :: i:'':'':,, ,......f, ..i.n..... .... r.l '.:n g Y':::'.";":: T: :;: :"::":::::"y "'i$ ,g b ji: ":f":":":" ': : :"::: m A ~ ~ e ~ offr n~v~~sty tuent a naTcbu'.e t^b .} .".. ......14 v;:f e ; 1 ': . ah . :"':{}."'.:J : '.'L1":J ": ::t :":J :..a..,.... ..r ..:::;"4,..':..:. .:. ": ':.': Deptiztin pblc harigswil b hed ednsdsyFeb 1, fom t 6 y m inth MicigayLegueBalrom ad o TursayFeb , from 4 "'to\.:p:.1J1m. in the .1.Michian nio Ballroom.":R : 1 A plea to those who can reshape MSA Dear Michigan Students, As you know, a big, bold, proud "M," in blue and maize, makes for an appropriate symbol of the Uni- versity of Michigan. The Univer- sity has many big things to be proud of and bold about. For example, even if you're a student with no athletic interests, youprobably still take pride in the successofMichi-, gan football. Even if you de- spise the University's role. in America's by Ma tt military-indus- Adler trial complex, A and think that pocket-protector pen holders are abit unfashionable, you can still take pride in the cutting- edge, gear-grinding, scientific re- search thatcomes outofNorth Cam- pus. And, believe it or not, even if you disapprove of the editorial poli- cies of the Daily, you can still be proud of the paper's one-hundred- that has traditionally brought little but humiliation to this campus is the Michigan Student Assembly. It is utterly remarkable that one of the most renowned universities in the world could produce, as its prin- ciple student organization, the three- ring circus that is MSA. I am not writing about MSA to produce more scathing criticism of the impotent body for the pages of this paper. Rather, Iam writing about MSA because I have faith in the students of this school. This col- umn is a plea. It's a plea to you students out there who are gifted with the leadership ability and com- petence necessary to reshape MSA into an effective student govern- ment, to get off your asses and run in the next MSA election. I know you're out there. I en- counter you every day. I see you making insightful comments in class. I hear you talking about bold research projects and complex hon- ors theses. Where do you hide when it comes time to run for MSA? And, there have been a small number of highly qualified individuals who have served on MSA. In general, these students have been Progres- sive Party members or indepen- dents. Getting back to the topic athand, the majority of the current MSA representatives are, in a word, em- barrassing. You have to go to an MSA meeting to really understand what I'm talking about. Most of these guys look as if they spent their high-school years with the epithet "kick me" taped to their buttocks. And these people are your leaders! What's more, they have the gall to refer to you as their constituents. For those of you who don't al- ready know, MSA and the Conser- vative Coalition have turned into some sort of pathetic social club for John Engler wanna-bes who could never win a real elected office in this era of high-profile, televised campaigning, in which voters actu- ally have the opportunity to associ- ate names with faces. It pains me to be so brutally rl wrirw v v " r _ t Nuts and Bolts M? Ai rWRS~C*% 5. OEOi3Q( " INRMED" Himl OF HIS IM~.DING Gf1AD -14tIN AD~tS!#.4cOF1rTURiE SIMILAR. C Pr LOMM WAN'.T E.VEN CHOSEW A MAJOR~. by Judd Winick YEP. NO MACR .HE'IS UNDER HFS BED IN A FAL1osiinoN T 'dONE