Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Friday, February 21, 1992
Ee idioaun&iii
Ediior in Ch'Iief
420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
764 - 0552
MAYTHEW D. RENNIE
Opinion Editors
YAEL CITRO
GEOFFREY EARLE
AMITAVA MAZUMDAR
Edited and Managed
by Students at the
University of Michigan
Unsigned editorials represent a majority Qf the Daily's Editorial Board.
All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily.
Violence has its roce for everyonev.
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SW hether police or protesters threw the first
punches outside yesterday's deputization
hearings makes little difference at this point. Once
the confrontationbegan, it was clear thatboth sides
were shoving, punching and kicking equally and
without discretion.
What's more importanttoday is thatthe Univer-
sity Board of Regents and the student protesters
draw the appropriate conclusions from the melde.
The regents need to understand that their un-
flinching disregard for student concerns undoubt-
edly contributed to the problem.
From day one, the board has refused to address
students' legitimate gripes about deputization on
any terms but its own. Student leaders have consis-
tently been shut out of the process and the broad-
based, prolific demonstrations have been ignored.
Even the spirit of this week's mandated public
hearings was callously violated; on both days, the
regents retreated from public forums to hold the
sessions behind closed doors.
The frustrations students expressed outside the
Fleming Building were the understandable culmi-
nation of years of cold regental neglect of their
needs. If the regents truly want to end the embar-
rassment and danger that accompanies these dis-
ruptions, then they will include students in the
decision-making process.
Students themselves should take the lessons of
yesterday's brawl to heart as well. The leaders of
the anti-deputization movement need to recognize
the implications of using violence as a means to
achieve their goals.
Violence as a means of political expression
often carries a high price; jail time, physical injury
and the alienation of more moderate participants
only begin to describe the potential results.
Moreover, once-the movement takes a violent
turn, the already slim chance for successful nego-
tiaton becomes obsolete. The regents would never
Overlookig the
L ast week, professional boxer Mike Tyson was
convicted of raping Desiree Washington, an
18-year-old Miss Black America contestant. He
now faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in
prison. Upon hearing the conviction, New York
developer Donald Trump suggested that Mike
Tyson receive a more lenient sentence.
In exchange, Trump added, Tyson would do-
nate a large sum of the money generated from
future Tyson fights to Washington and other rape
victims.
Trump is trying to create a double standard
within the U.S. legal system. Trump has helped
promote several of Tyson's fights in the past, hopes
to profit from the boxer in the future.
Tyson was convicted of rape. He should not be
able to buy his way out of punishment because he
is a popular sports figure. The fact that Trump
would even suggest this plan makes it clear that he
fails to acknowledge how barbaric rape truly is.
This same failure occurred in the Washtenaw
Circuit Court last week. Ypsilanti resident Wayne
Renaldo Smith was accused of dragging a woman
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Union must consider rights of non-smokers
BHIAN CANTONI/Daily
even consider leaving the battlefield to come to the
bargaining table.
If the movement's leadership wants to pursue
violent means to its end, then it ought to at least
acknowledge the high risks and potential losses
that come with that decision. There's an undeni-
able possibility that a violent movement won't
serve the long-term desire of ridding the campus of
deputized police.
The fact that students and police came to blows
yesterday is a disturbing reminder of how large and
volatile the rift between students and the regents
has become. We can only hope that both sides learn
something from this unfortunate experience, and
act to ensure that yesterday's mistakes aren't re-
peated in the future.
horror of rape
from a supermarket parking lot to a nearby woods,
and raping her while holding her with a baseball
bat to her throat. Assistant Public Defender Walter
White, Smith's attorney, asked that Smith receive
the minimum sentence of three to six years for the
crime, which was his first offense. He claimed that
this was only a "typical" rape since there was no
apparent psychological or physical injury.
It is outrageous to ever consider anything as
heinous as rape "typical." A weapon was used in
the crime. The defense had the audacity to argue
that the victim was actually relieved that she was
"only raped" because she thought that she was
going to be murdered. This is by no means a
situation in which Smith has any justification to
ask for leniency.
Tyson is scheduled to be sentenced on March
27, and Smith will spend eight to 15 years in prison.
Jack Simms, assistant prosecutor in the Smith
case, claims that "we have lost our capacity to be
horrified by what people can do." If these two
cases are any sort of example, sadly he may be
right.
To the Daily:
I was shocked and annoyed by
your article regarding the smoking
policy in the MUG. I am outraged
by the current steps our society is
taking toward a total smoking ban.
As a smoker, I am constantly
subjected to the pretentious coughs
and unjust stereotypes that non-
smokers love to place on us.
It is a question of rights - I
have a right to smoke, just as every
non-smoker has a right to not be
exposed to this smoke.
When the two rights conflict
with each other, as they so often
do, the finding is invariably for the
non-smokers.
I do not feel that the Union has
This Bush is not for us
To the Daily:
The 1992 election year has
arrived. We think it is important
that students have the following
facts at hand. Four years ago, the
president promised the American
public that he would create 30
million new jobs. Since that time,
less than one million new jobs
have been created.
This does not include the
hundreds of thousands of jobs lost
during his term. In the last four
years, the United States has
experienced the slowest economic
growth, the smallest economic
gains, and the fewest number of
jobs created since the Hoover
Administration.
Ten years ago, the American
workers had the world's highest
wages, while today, the United
States is ranked tenth. Perhaps it
is time that we consider the
economic policy that our presi-
dent has mapped out.
As we witness the continuing
erosion of the middle class, we
believe it is time for American
voters to take a closer look at how
well off they are as compared to
four years ago.
Do you really want to go
through another four years of
false promises and trickle down
economics? However, maybe if
you are into extended recessions,
this Bush is for you.
Dan Friedenzohn
LSA junior
William Kolakowski
Engineering junior
thoroughly thought out the
smoking issue. The placement of
the smoking areas in the MUG is
such that a non-smoker can
distance him or herself from the
smoke while eating.
I almost agree that the
placement of the first smoking
section in the area where food is
purchased may be wrong, but
why not change it instead of
banning it? What about the Tap
Room? This room could be
changed into a smoking area,
isolating it even further from the
non-smoking sections.
Go to the MUG sometime
during lunch or dinner. The
smoking sections are invariably
full. I, as well as a vast majority of
my fellow smokers, will no longer
patronize the businesses of the
MUG ifI am no longer allowed to
smoke there.
I cannot believe that the
Union would allow such a large
proportion of their consumers to
go because of a few hyper-
sensitive anti-smokers.
It is time for smokers to unite
against their oppression instead of
passively allowing events such as
this to happen.
We need to respect each others
rights - smokers and non-
smokers alike.
Thomas Shelton
RC sophomore
University must help homeless
To the Daily:
In response to the Daily
editorial on the homeless (2/4/92),
I agree that the University is
being distinctly uncaring toward
the less fortunate. I know that the
University is actively involved in
community service, and the
efforts of the students in this area
have not been meager. I commend
the University for its excellent
community service program.
However, I think that when it
comes to the homeless, or other
people huddled on sidewalks, we
all tend to look away.
This tendency of human
beings to sometimes pretend other
human beings lying on the
sidewalk don't exist has been
evident on campus, not to a great
degree. But there is one example
that stares us in the face every
day. At the front of East Quad-
rangle, there is one spot with
benches and a heat vent built into
the concrete and brick. A group of
"homeless regulars" meets there.
There are different people at
different times in that spot, but
they have one thing in common:
they are all homeless.
I don't know who these
people are, or where they go when
evening comes. They always
leave that spot vacant in the
evenings. But in broad daylight
they are there, and try though we
might to ignore them, they are
there.
It should be noted that this
letter is not directed at anyone in
East Quad. I myself am a resident,
and I share in this indirect
contribution to the ongoing plight
of the homeless.
With the economy as poor as
it is, anyone could find them-
selves homeless. We students are
more fortunate than we know to
live the way we do.
Perhaps that's why we are
uncomfortable in the presence of
these people. When the problem
looks us directly in the eye, we as
humans sometimes shy away. We
can't change human nature, but
we can do something to help
other humans.
I have spoken once to one of
the people who meets there every
day. She spoke to me first and
asked me for money so she could
get medication to help her fight
alcoholism. She said she didn't
want to live this way anymore.
What could I do? I gave her some
small change.
I'm not mentioning this so
that others will praise me. I'm
only mentioning how close to
home an issue can sometimes be.
I remember that woman's words
too well. I think that to some
extent it's their choice to live this
way, but society is also respon-
sible. It's time we began taking a
different kind of attitude toward
the homeless. Students at the
University protest.
Don't let this situation go on.
You may have limited power to
change it, but you can still make
a difference.
Kristin Johnson
LSA first-year student
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Schools miss chance to feed youth
tudy after study has shown that young children parents work. Schools must pick up the slack
in the United States have not been receiving where parents leave off. All too often children get
adequate nourishment. Children come to school left by the wayside.
hungry and are often unable to function or learn Schools that choose not to offer the breakfast
because their parents can't afford or don't have the program cite the logistical problems as reasons for
time to fix them a decent breakfast. not implementing it. School administrators claim
Often times, the obstacle to solving the prob- that bus scheduling, breakfast supervision, and
lems of hunger is a lack of resources or funding. increased staffing necessary for an extra meal
However, this is not the case for children in make the program not feasible. But these minor
Michigan's public schools. More than half of the bureaucratic obstacles can be easily overcome if
public schools across the nation have passed up made a priority. These are not acceptable reasons
federal funds available for a school breakfast pro- for passing up an opportunity to feed needy chil-
gram. Michigan ranked among states with the dren. Even if the program costs the statein the short
lowest participation in the program. Only four run, the federal subsidies will help produce along-
states were ranked lower nationwide. Allowing the lasting solution to a very serious problem.
opportunity to improve the health of children to Public school administrators definitely need to
escape is an inexcusable move. reassess their priorities. If the choice is between
Children from low-income families would rearranging bus schedules and providing the nutri-
qualify for the program which would provide a tion which could improve the quality of life for
nutritional breakfast before each school day. Un- many low-income children in Michigan, many of
fortunately, many children in this country would them have obviously chosen incorrectly.
otherwise start the school day on an empty stom- When facing a grave social ill such as hunger,
ach. Decent nutrition is a minimal requirement for a solution seems elusive. But in this case, there is
children to be able to learn. It is unfortunate that no reason for schoolchildren to be hungry. It is
such a responsibility must fall on schools. But, even more pathetic that children go needlessly
today's economy frequently demands that both hungry, when the funds are available to feed them.
"Nuts and Bolts by Judd Winick
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U adminstration just doesn't get it
by Jeff Sheran problem - there needn't be a risk of inciting already-angry
If you missed all the fireworks public hearing to debate this students by ignoring them further?
surrounding the deputization statement. So if these well- Then they heard those who had
hearings yesterday or Wednesday, educated, elected officials know signed up in advance to speak at
don't worry - there will be more they have such a problem, why the hearings - the majority of
issues, more protests, and more must they persist at befuddling whom argued in favor of
absolute frustration soon enough. every controversial decision they deputization. Do they really
The location may be different, as make? believe they heard an accurate mix
may be the coalitions and chants,
but one thing will remain con-
stant.
The regents will have acted in
the most counterproductive way
possible.
The issue of deputization is a
heated one, both its proponents
and adversaries make strong
arguments. But I challenge
anyone to make a strong argument
for the way the regents have
handled the hearings.
If there were 10 ways to carry
out these hearings, they picked
If there were 10 ways to carry out these
hearings, they picked the 10th best way.
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President Duderstadt is no
exception. Ever since his appoint-.
ment - yet another regental
snafu - this chief executive has
implemented his policies with
such little regard, not only for
how the students will receive
them, but for how they will
receive him.
Duderstadt and the regents
of viewpoints of those who
wished to speak?
What the regents must recog-
nize is that genuinely listening to
students can only help.
If, as the regents claim, the
transfer of deputization authority
is such a good idea, then the result
of open debate will still be the
transfer of deputization authority.
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