Page 4 -The Michigan Daily- Monday, September 14, 1992


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420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 4810)
764 - 0552

Opinion Edilor
YAEL CITRO
GEOFFREY IARI.LE
AMITAVA MAZUMDAR

Edited and Managed
by Students at the
University of Michigan

Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Dail's EdEtorial Board.
All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessa riv represent the opinion of the Daily.
Conduct code survey means little

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01

Eighty-nine percent of the responses to the
survey regarding the University's proposed
c6de of nonacademic conduct were favorable. The
administration has brandished this impressive fig-
ure as a convincing demonstration of student sup-
pqrt for the code. While the figure is not meaning-
less, it does not carry nearly the same weight as a
sioentifically conducted poll.
-,First, the survey was laughably biased. The
questionnaire was included with a letter from Vice
President of Student Affairs Maureen Hartford and
University President James Duderstadt defending
the code. And since the code was newly introduced
in-the letter, students were asked to respond having
no information other than what the administration
provided. The letter made no attempt to provide an
opposing argument. It had no obligation to do so,
of'course, but to pass this off as a fair survey is
dishonest. If the Daily were to include a mail-in
suirvey at the end of an anti-code editorial, which is
tU equivalent of what the administration did, the
roults would likely be just as distorted.
:;Second, many arguments used in the letter
could easily deceive all but the most careful reader.
In particular, the examples of violence on campus
seem designed to scare students into supporting a
cede. The letter rattles off examples of students
assaulting professors and roaming the campus
with guns. The letter then states, "Unlike every
major college and university in the country, the
University has no standing policy or process to
deal with dangerous or destructive behavior by

students or to intervene to protect the victims of
such behavior." True enough. What goes unsaid,
however, is that the Ann Arbor courts have juris-
diction over these crimes. One may argue that the
procedures set out under the code would handle
campus crime more effectively; to imply that the
absence of a code would result in anarchy is, again,
dishonest.
The accuracy (or lack thereof) of the 89-percent
statistic aside, the administration's faith in the
importance of student support for its actions has
been selective. Two years ago, the administration
brushed off an extensive campus poll conducted by
the Daily, the Review and Consider, which demon-
strated student opposition to deputization of Uni-
versity police.
Additionally, the administration disregarded an
MSA referendum conducted last March in which a
vast majority of students expressed opposition to
any code by arguing that codes are designed to
protect minorities, and the opinion of the majority
is therefore irrelevant. They can't have it both
ways.
In truth, both the MSA referendum and the
administration's survey were invalid gauges of
student opinion. Student opinion is important, but
in the end the decision should be based on the
following question: Can a code of nonacademic
conduct deal with campus crime more effectively
than the American legal system? The Daily has
already voiced its opinion. We encourage you to let
the administration hear yours.


10


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What about SAPAC?
To the Daily:
I appreciated Yael Citro's
efforts to bring some much-
needed attention to the issue of
rape ("Before a woman cries out,"
9/10/92).
Unfortunately, her argument
was faulty and negligent, com-
pletely ignoring one of our
strongest campus organizations,
the Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center (SAPAC).
SAPAC, born out of student
demand over a decade ago, is
dedicated to the prevention of
rape as well as assisting survivors.
Each year, SAPAC depends
upon dozens of student volunteers
to lead acquaintance rape work-
shops that teach men and women
what they can do to help stop
rape. Each semester, these
workshops are led for dormitories,
sororities, fraternities, classrooms,
and countless organizations.
Undoubtedly, acquaintance
rape workshops and other SAPAC
services have led to a greater
awareness and discussion of rape
here on campus, and those efforts
deserve to be recognized and
rewarded rather than forgotten.
Jonna Perrillo
SAPA C peer educator
Are you interested in writingfor
the Daily? If so, come to the mass
meeting Thursday, September17 at
8:30. Be there.

Clinton on a brighter future
To the Daily: called, "Putting People First" and
I learned something when I you can find it in your local
was in collewhich I have never library or bookstore.
wasin olleewhich Ihavae never I want you to know that
forgotten and which motivates together we will change America
me to this day. I had a professor again. We will fight for what
who taught that American's Americans deserve. The right to
greatness is based on two ideas: Aoro for college. A good job.
that tomorrow can be better than bo Affordable, quality health care. A
today, and that each of us has a clean, safe environment. Choice.
personal responsibility to make it A government that works together
s for the American people.
I stilltbelieve that and I hope You have a lot more at stake in
youahin gton has done so little this election than I do. You have
rshngt has one so hiktle to worry about paying for your
for so long that you may think the education. You have to hope that
President can't make a difference you'll be able to find a decent job
in yourlives. Don't believe it. after school. You have to worry
Franklin Roosevelt put millions that you'll fall in love with
of Americans to work during the someone who is HIV positive.
Great Depression. Harry Truman And you have to hope that one
sent millions of Americans to more Supreme Court Justice won't
college with the G.I. Bill. Martin take away your right to choose.
Luther King Jr. and millions with I hope you will join me in a
him pushed the president to great effort to unite Americans, to
transform our laws and guarantee create a community where people
civil rights. look out for each other, not only
What we need is a detailed for themselves. It will be an
plan which invests in the future, America where we all have a
not a president who talks mock- chance and we all stand together
while attem ti stodeci t - whatever our race, religion or
whilesxua atteptigttodecmat
student aid and cut taxes on the sexual orientation.
rich. We are the only industrial- Your voices must be heard and
ized country without a national I intend to continue listening. Join
health care plan, a national our effort, register and vote.
education plan, and a strategy for Together we can change America.
the future. Gov. Bill Clinton
Al Gore and I have a plan. It's 1992 Presidential Candidate

Bush 'Agenda' ignores reality

President Bush finally revealed his plans for
economic recovery and growth in a speech at
the Detroit Economic Club. Months after the close
of the primary season and Gov. Bill Clinton's
release of his economic agenda, "Putting People
Fist," the president felt the time was ripe to ad-
dress the central issue of the 1992 presidential
campaign. The package, called the "Agenda for
American Renewal," is a collection of old ideas,
inadequate solutions and cosmetic changes.
The Agendarehashes thepresident's inadequate

should remind r
the "failed poli
your mind, Mr.
Since the be
dent has been u
ment is a prof
questioned, Bu
longest period c
directed by Ro
dent conceded
uttered the wor

health-care proposal, offering vouchers and tax record on this
breaks to those who cannot afford
health insurance. The plan would
only allow a fraction of the 35 mil-=
lion Americans now uninsured to-
purchase a basic plan, leaving mil- -
lions still uninsured and health-care
costs still spiralling upward. The
Agenda simply fails to address the-
fundamental problem underlying
our health-care system - its in- ~
creasing unaffordability for all
Americans.
As expected, the Agenda focuses
on the importance of educating ourNu
children. Few can disagree with TAF
suchasentiment. Unfortunately, the --
president insists on centering his
program on the idea of school T
choice. Choice would introduce
free-market philosophy into public C
schools, forcing competition between schools by he has not offe
allowing parents to select where to send their cuts is irrespons
children. On the surface, this may seem a fair plan. president no lo
In practice, however, parents would send their themselves -
children to a few good schools, leaving the poorer Reaganomics.
neighborhood schools unable to compete for funds The presider
and good students. ing until some
Interestingly, the president touts his 127-per- light on his eco
cent increase for Head Start funding and his $240 sible.
million increase in funding for the Women, Infants Moreover, t]
and Children Nutrition Assistance program. Cer- dent wants to ga
tainly the president isn't wrong in funding worth- he had betterc
while programs, but maybe his family-valued, increase their s
conservative, pass-the-buck Republican friends ing the wool ov
-.
Is ainable?
L ast week the University's Sexual Assault Pre- sent a shift in S/
vention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) se- ing.
Ideted a replacement for the recently resigned Certainly bo
director, Julie Steiner. General confusion followed fled. Cain come
the announcement that Debra Cain would be the director of Help
new director instead of Kata Issari - a counselor (HAVEN) in C
who served as SAPAC director during the interim experience behi
period, and the candidate recommended by the nity. Moreover,
SAPAC Search Committee. Debate over the issue of a committee
focused on whether SAPAC should focus its re- Student Affairs
en-)1I-'n tAn Ann or on rine couneling. It is dents.

him that both programs date back to
cies of the Great Society." Make up
President.
ginning of the campaign, the presi-
unwilling to admit that unemploy-
lem that needs attention. When
sh resorted to reminding us of the
of peace-time economic expansion
nald Reagan. In August, the presi-
that a problem existed and finally
rds "job training." The president's
issue is dismal. When given the
opportunity to formulate an ef-
fective conversion program to
retrain those let-off by the mili-
tary, the president submitted an
anemic $1 million program to
Congress.
To compound his many er-
rors, the president promises an
across-the-board tax cut to all
Americans, and promises not to
give in to Congress on the tax
issue again, "ever, ever." That
sounds like aread-my-lips prom-
ise. Bush also promises spend-
ing cuts to compensate his tax
cut. The president would prob-
ably target such necessary pro-
grams as Medicare, Medicaid,
AFDC and other such programs
he deems expendable, although
red specifics. While promising tax
sible, it is refreshing to hear that the
nger believes that tax-cuts pay for
- the guiding principle of
nt's program is long over-due. Wait-
50 days before the election to shed
onomic plan was frankly irrespon-
he wait wasn't worth it. If the presi-
ain the trust of the American people
come up with a plan that would
tandard of living, rather than pull-
ver their eyes.

Date rape victim tells personal story

The following letter was sent to
the Daily. and to a fraternity on
campus. It is addressed to the presi
dent of that fraternity. Upon the
request of the author and due to the
sensitive nature of the issues dis-
cussed, the names of the author, the
man to whom she refers and the
fraternity have all been omitted
I was raped at a fraternity. I was
19 and a virgin.
By the end of my sophomore
year I had grown tired of the Greek
system and what it had to offer
socially. But, my roommate at the
time was dating a man in this par-
ticular frat and he had told us we
could rent a room in the frat house
for $100 a month during the sum-
mer. This is when I was raped.
I know how prevalent rapes, es-
pecially ones like mine, are among
college campuses. People need to
be educated to exactly what rape is
and how it affects its victims. No
means no.
I have struggled for two years
wondering whether I really was
raped and if it could have been my
fault in any way. I have come to the
conclusion that it was definitely rape
and it was definitely not my fault. I
came to this conclusion with no
help from my school, friends or
family.
Unfortunately, rape is something
that very few people understand.
Rape is not always violent or bru-
tal. With this letter I hope to educate
at least a few more people about
rape so that their chances of being
raped are lessened.
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing because I would
like to make you aware of some-

you said were offensive. You start
to question your behavior. This, for
me, led to self doubt and worry
which still control me today. I find
myself caught in a cycle of wanting
people to take care of me, but not
trusting them enough to touch me.
I am afraid of people, mostly men,
and it is not until now that I realize
what an influence fraternities and
the Greek system in general had on
the circumstances of my rape.
This letter is my justice. What
happened to me was date rape. No
court will ever prosecute a little

this ordeal. When I discuss what
happened to me with other people, I
find myself questioning the events
that took place. Technically, it was
date rape ( I said no and we dis-
cussed why I didn't want to have
sex, but he did it anyway). But, I
know that others will feel that the
events sound questionable -espe-
cially to a man. My dilemma is
probably not unlike what Anita Hill
had to deal with when she faced an
all-male judge and jury.
I, like Hill, am asking you, a
group of men, to believe me and

0
0

I am a little frustrated, but mostly saddened
at the realization that I must ask your permis-
sion for the little justice I want served. I now
realize the reality of what others perceive my
place in society to be.

APAC's focus away from counsel-
ath candidates are eminently quali-
es to the University after 15 years as
p Against Violent Encounters Now
)akland county. Issari has years of
ind her in the University commu-
, she received the recommendation
e composed of Vice President of
s Maureen Hartford and three stu-

boy that went too far. My rape
wasn't violent or brutal and that is
why I had such a hard time believ-
ing it was actually rape. I had tried
to stay away from (name) in the
beginning by telling him that I
wasn't interested in having a boy-
friend. Since we had already "got-
ten together" a few times, I didn't
think it could.be considered rape.
After he raped me the first time,
I didn't think it was appropriate to
say no to sex anymore - we had
already done it once, so what harm
could it do, right? It did cause a lot
of psychological damage. I became
very submissive and uncomfort-
able around (name). I didn't know
what to do after he raped me. We
kept having sex for months after-
wards. Since we were having sex, I
tried to convince myself that it was
what I wanted. I tried to convince

take action so that incidents like
mine don't happen again. I am a
little frustrated, butmostly saddened
at the realization that I must ask
your permission for the little justice
I want served. I now realize the
reality of what others perceive my
place in society to be.
Please also consider: the way
women are treated and referred to
(as sluts, cunts, bitches, chicks,
etc...). It all contributes to and con-
dones oppression and rape of
women.
Women, all women, need to be
respected. Our society creates an
attitude where women are seen
mostly as sex objects. Many women
know that their only access to power
is through white men. This leads
women to be quite competitive and
seemingly superficial. Women who
chose to reject the conventions of

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