Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 21, 1992 be IhE1ig3an ttl 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 764-0552 Editor in Chief MATIIIEW D. RENNIE Opinion Editors YAEL CITRO GEOFFREY EARLE AMITAVA MAZUMDAR Edited and Managed by Students at the University of Michigan Unsigned editorials represent a majorit y of the Daily's Editorial Board. All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. Code needs amendment process 'i( K~Qrim -< t ( I- ti t F- I 11 os r IIFPTAN -F V.,,,.IGS-JIN TIS CAMFPAIGI\ 7w fis TRKUT~ t __. _ ' te /1 \\\\j\. \ii t 14 /:... . / j7 t' i "t/ Y I "( r .)\ .7 / / Q / AAl / VV A nti-code activists have used the code drafting process to transform the proposed "State- ment of Student Rights and Responsibilities" into a relatively palatable document. The danger is this: After the initial hulabulo dies down, the administration can amend the code back to the ludicrously regressive document it once was, with no input or protest from students. Robert Van Houweling is attempting to safe- guard the reforms he helped enact in the proposed code, which the regents will vote on next month, by pushing for an amendmentprocedure that would allow the students at least nominal input. The Senate Advisory Committee on University Af- fairs, the Michigan Student Assembly, the admin- istration, as well as individual students would each be allowed to submit amendments. These amend- ments would be put up to a student-wide election. Any amendment which passes such an election would become part of the code, subject to a veto by the University Board of Regents. This would force the administration to gain student approval before enacting any new amendments, at least in theory. The downside of this proposal is that the re- gents are completely exempt from it. In addition to overruling any student-supported amendment, they may "propose and enact amendments without fol- lowing this procedure." This fundamental weakness cannot be avoided. The regents adamantly refuse to abandon their power over the code, and they would never enact a code which subordinates their will to that of the students. Van Houweling's proposal would, at the very least, force the regents to openly veto student amendments which were created and debated in the public sphere. The question now is whether the administration will incorporate this amendment procedure into the code proposal. Even though the procedure would theoretically limit the powers of the admin- istration, some administrators have expressed ten- tative support. "I'm comfortable with that as a process, understanding that the final decision will be made by the regents," said Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford. Asked if an amendment procedure was necessary to safeguard students against administrative manipulation of the code, Hartford said, "It may be that students need some sort of guarantee." If the administration does omit this amendment procedure when it proposes the code to the regents, it would probably be because it is historically. uncomfortable with the concept of a meaningful student vote on University policy. The 1973 "Rules of the University Commu- nity" gave the University Council - a board con- sisting of three students, three staff, and three faculty members -power to veto any amendment. The administration dissolved the Council, and the regents have since held ultimate authority over the enactment or amendment of any code. Preferably, the regents would delegate their veto authority back to some sort of student control, as before. Realistically, this will not happen any time soon. But even though the regents retain their veto power over the code, Van Houweling's pro- posal at least gives students a partial check over the administration and a voice in the process. ,, fr ll 'r , c E /V ' - ;f. r ; ::ii.:i(# c ?i c c i;?i ii i ?> i< i > i c c ' i ? i c c i c t ci; c i'>'. >c > > i t c i' i iz? ci Clinton's idealism woos students A rriving from the campaign's most heated presi- 171 dential debate, Gov. Bill Clinton greeted shiv- ering University students with an enthusiasm and vigor not usually associated with our national leaders. A crowd of thousands of students and community members reached from the podium to past North University Ave. In the end, Clinton would not disappoint the waiting students. His focus on the growing obstacles to higher education brought applause and cheers from students who understood, first-hand, the strain of paying college tuition. The governor's solutions are not only possible and practical, but - as many of Clinton's fellow campaign travelers reminded us - they echo the patriotic sentiment of public service ex- pressed by President John Kennedy 32 years ago. It may take decades to reach Clinton's goal of making college education available to all Ameri- cans. But bringing the costs of higher education under control in the short term is certainly a goal within reach. Clinton proposes making federal college .loans available to all hoping to attend school. Moreover, by establishing a trust fund for every young American, the capital to pay tuition would always be available to those who can't afford to accumulate hefty loans, however low the interest. * Those who would take advantage of the pro- posed trust fund would return to their hometowns after graduation, and serve as teachers, police officers, or other public service jobs. "Today, I want to create a peace corps here at home," Clinton said. "If every person went home to serve the cduntry, we could solve the problems from the grass roots up." The optimism and sense of per- soal responsibility that pervaded Clinton's ad- dress was a welcome departure from the racial divisiveness and the class warfare that often riddles political stump speeches. Clinton, and all the speakers preceding him, also dealt with another issue close to students' hearts: women's right to choose. The threat the Reagan-Bush Supreme Court and federal judiciary poses to abortion rights has mobilized young vot- ers with the governor and against the Republican party. Following a slew officials expressing similar views, Clinton had little problem reiterating his commitment to protect abortion rights. The size of the crowd waiting to catch a glimpse of a politician was indicative of the campaign rush many college students are now feeling. This excite- ment can be explained by Clinton's attempts to address student issues. But, to the governor's credit, many also appre- ciate the Kennedy-esque appeal that, in the eyes of young Americans, returns a certain respectability to public service. Fight for choice To the Daily: I am not here to tell you why you should be pro-choice. I am not here to recapitulate all the reasons why women should have control over their reproduc- tion. I am not here to explain to you again why criminalizing abortion is a misogynistic act of control, and is illegal under the Constitu- tion. If you are anti-choice, you have already made up your mind that your religious beliefs should govern the land. I am not here to argue about what you can or can't believe. I am here to tell you that the rest of us, the pro-choice majority, will not allow you to control women's reproductive lives. I am also here to speak to that majority, the millions of women and men who are pro-choice. There is no more room for silence, or inactivity. With the restrictions now allowed by the Supreme Court's ruling on the Casey case, Roe vs. Wade will not secure the right to an abortion. In fact, Roe vs. Wade will be completely overturned, should one more anti-choice judge be appointed. You know what that means. We must have a president who is pro-choice, and we must have a pro-choice Congress. I am here to appeal to you, the pro-choice majority, and to activate your sense of duty. Abortion rights are more in danger now than they have ever been. Have the courage to fight. for what you know is right, and take your fight to the polls. Your most important action this fall will be to vote, and to vote for pro-choice candidates. I am here to tell you that if we, the women and men who are pro- choice, choose to fight for choice, we will win. Beverly Aist LSA senior Give Columbus To the Daily: It is regrettable that the Michigan Student Assembly might offend many in the community by passing a resolu- tion to change the name given to Oct. 12 from Columbus Day to "Indigenous People's Day." This action is offensive both in its disregard of history and in the danger posed in the alternation of history. The 1990 book "Conquest of Paradise" by Kirkpatrick Sale is regarded as the first in recent reinterpretations of Columbus and his effect upon our hemi- sphere. This was the first main- stream work to portray Columbus as lost, and it was only after the publication of this book that the current Columbus-bashing was born. While she does bring Columbus down to a mortal level, Sale gives the reader a good deal of information about civilization in Edrope before 1492, and the way in which Europe treated this hemisphere after that year. Before Columbus set sail from Spain, Europe was in a "tense" state, and, according to Sale, it some credit was in dire need of more space. To illustrate the turmoil in that continent, recall that 1492 was also the year in which Jews were expelled from Spain. It was European governments which colonized the Americas, and who financed the many voyages around the world. It was these govern- ments who massacred the Incas, the Mayans and the Native Americans of North America as well. The actions of the United States and Canada are small in comparison with the massacres of these European nations. Our nation was founded as an experiment in democracy, and the experiment is still going. Yet no such experiment could have been given a chance without the geographical independence from England which we enjoyed in 1776 - that which led the Pilgrims here, that which allowed us to win the War of Independence. Nothing that we have, either in our past or in our future, could exist without Columbus and the (relatively) New World which he discovered. 0 Avram Mack LSA junior Wait, you're on candid camera To the Daily: I understand the University implementing rules for Michigan football games but I believe they have gone way overboard. During the Oct. 3 game vs. Iowa, I observed a plain-clothes police officer in the far north corner of the press box with a 35mm camera and telephoto lens viewing the crowd. If by chance he spotted someone with a can (pop or beer) he would put down the camera, pick up a video camera and get them on film. He would then get on his two-way radio and direct his "buddies" to the offenders and have the offenders "escorted" from the stadium. My husband and I have been season-ticket holders for 25 years and I have never seen anything so wrong in the stadium as to warrant this style of security. Students in the north end zone, if you are approached by a cop during the game, it is because the "press-box spy" has you on video camera long before you are approached. By then it is too late, he already has evidence on you! If Michigan stadium officials really want to eliminate problems, get rid of pizza sales in the stadium - the box bottoms thrown as frisbees are dangerous when they hit someone in the head or eye. Diane Voss Saline, Mich. 0 0 *1 a J iJ U: F- Y) COMITY INSIGHT. Students with disabilities: the truth Save the Lafayette clinic B y closing down the Lafayette Clinic, Gover- nor John Engler has proven once again that he cares more about cutting the state's spending than looking after its citizens. Lafayette Clinic is a nationally renowned clinic for thementally ill. Not oily does it care for 90 patients, it is a world renowned mental health research facility. As if closing the clinic were not enough, the tactless way in which employees and patients were treated fuirther shames the Engler Administration. In July the state legislature approved $17.5 iillion to keep Lafayette open through most of 1993. Governor Engler vetoed the appropriation, and no money was available for the clinic in the 1993 state budget. Despite claims that community mental health agencies are not equipped to handle more patients, those receiving treatment at Lafayette were moved to other hospitals around $3.8 million to continue mental-health research at Wayne State University. But this is a typical Engler gesture of too little, too late. If Engler wants to continue the world-renowned research, he should leave the clinic open to treat its patients. A state appeals panel extended a Wayne County circuit judge's restraining order which left the clinic open for an extra day. Patients were told to pack their belongings only 24 hours before they were forced to load buses taking them to their new homes. Many were taken to facilities which were ill- prepared to receive them. An employee representa- tive at the clinic said that some patients were taken to hospitals without available beds. Mass confu- sion prevailed as patients were shuffled out of the clinic. As the patients were pushed out, family and friends were not allowed to see the patients as they by Donna Rose I am currently the only blind student who is enrolled in a Ph.D. program here at the University. After reading the article of Oct. 16th ("U- M works to comply with ADA.") on how the University is working toward compliance with the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), I thought it was time that I come forward and remind people about a few facts. Although it is true that the Uni- versity has been looking at program and architectural compliance with the ADA, there is previous legisla- tion, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, that has been mostly ignored by the University. This legislation man- dates that the University assist stu- dents with disabilities who are "oth- erwise qualified" despite of their disability by providing "reasonable accommodations" so that these stu- dents can achieve equity with their non-disabled peers. I find it difficult to accept that after nearly 20 years one of the best schools in the country doesn't have its programs for students with dis- abilities better wired. First and foremo_ neonle who have been able to contact my in- structors one month in advance so that I can find out what books and coursepack materials she/he will be using in order to find a reader who will begin the process of read- ing the materials. Generally it is difficult to pin professors down as to which materials they will be us- ing. So, on day one I am over- whelmed with tons of papers that need to be read and I will be behind other students by the following week. ing students with disabilities seri- ously and start looking at the spirit of the law as well as its intent. Stu- dents who are blind or visually im- paired only recently had a trained person available to them to teach them the campus layout. This per- son was doing an internship, but the University doesn't feel it would be necessary to have such a person available for us on a full-time basis. Also, Braille on many elevators is incorrect. Most areas on campus where I attend courses to earn my How can we compete? We are set up to fail, thus perpetuating the myth that we are "less able." 0 6 6 The current reader system here at the University is a volunteer pro- gram. So, we are given a list and must hunt down people to do our reading. Sometimes this process takes hours, even days. In the mean- time, should I find a reader (usually each student needs four to six people), it will take that individual a long time (sometimes a few weeks) to read the material onto cassette tape and return it to me. Some students who are blind get so far. h n rhi nti . nt n ttt a n joint degree do nothave room mark- ings that I can read. As a matter of fact the numbers are painted on the doors. This means I must ask strang- ers when I need to find specific room numbers (I feel like a kinder- gartner). The University currently pro- vides three computers which are adapted with speech. One is a MAC and the others IBM compatible. These three computers are segre- gated, so that if I have a lab at any rnmrni.. cite n rnmmne Iam ,m-