Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Thursday, October 22,1992
Oig Mticigau 1taiI-
420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
764-0552
Editor in Chief
MATTHEW 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 of the Daily's Editorial Board.
All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily.
FROM THE DAILY
Mackie for prosecuting attorney
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The race for the prosecutor's office is the one of
the most important county votes that students
will cast. The prosecuting attorney is Washtenaw
County's highest law enforcement officer, decid-
ing how to direct the county's resources and what
crimes should be most vigorously prosecuted. The
Daily endorses Democrat and 13-year assistant
prosecutor BRIAN MACKIE. Mackie's innova-
tive ideas and strong commitment to including
minorities and women in the prosecutor's office is
admirable and make him deserving of the office.
Mackie has proposed creating a sexual assault
unit of the prosecutor's office. This unit would
train prosecutors to deal with sexual assault vic-
tims. In the early stage, a single prosecutor would
be assigned to each victim to guide them through
every stage of the legal process. This unit would be
a welcome step toward asserting the protections
victims have under the legal system.
In addition to the sexual assault unit, Mackie
has been crisscrossing the county, stumping for the
bond issue to fund the new SAFEhouse shelter for
battered women. This further demonstrates
Mackie's long-standing commitment to sexual
assault victims.
Mackie has campaigned to increase the size of
the prosecutor's office. Washtenaw county has 25
percent less assistant prosecutors than do Michi-
gan cities with comparable populations. Mackie
proposes to compensate for this by hiring more
prosecutors.
Mackie called the current makeup of the office
- there are four women and no African Ameri-
cans among the 21 assistant prosecutors - "dis-
graceful." Current Assistant Prosecutor Lynwood
Noah, who has been responsible for the hiring of
minority prosecutors presented no plan to change
the current makeup.
Currently, students are faced with duplicitous
enforcement of the city's noise and open-beverage
ordinances. The city attorney has pandered to the
desires of the Burns Park neighborhood while
often ignoring student interests. This lack of a
student voice has been evident in the prosecutor's
office.
Student issues present a fundamental-difference
in style between the two candidates. While Noah
recounts the days of past glory in prosecuting the
killers of two Bursely students adecade ago, Mackie
addresses the future and real issues facing students.
Instead, he correctly argues that too often the city
is overzealous in its prosecution of noise violators
and open beverage laws. The reforms he proposes
will make the prosecutor's office more account-
able to students and victims.
Brian Mackie represents the best chance to
diversify the prosecuting attorney's office and make
it more effective.
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Native Americans insulted
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To the Daily:
Two of the headlines in the
Oct. 12 issue of the Daily read:
"Amnesty holds petition drive for
rights of indigenous people" and
"MSA votes to rename holiday
Indigenous People's Day."
Pictured on page two was
Adam Fortunate Eagle, the
keynote speaker for the Native
American Student Association's
Friday program. Adam Fortunate
Eagle was incorrectly identified
by your paper as "Adam Eagle."
This was an inexcusable mistake
since a Daily staffer was at the
event and had access not only to
Fortunate Eagle but also to the
handout material. To abbreviate a
Native person's name in this way
shows marginal competence at the
least but possibly abject ignorance
and racism as well.
Adam Fortunate Eagle, a Red
Lake Ojibwe, was one of the
principle organizers of the
occupation of Alcatraz from 1969
to 1971 and his book about those
experiences "Alcatraz! Alcatraz!"
has recently been published.
Later, Fortunate Eagle discovered
Italy.
He is the legally-recognized
discoverer of that land and has
claimed it for Native Americans.
As discoverer, he has generously
agreed to permit the indigenous
people of that land to continue
their ancient way of life and does
not intend to steal any of their
resources to enrich his own
people.
Out of his vivid description of
these historic experiences the
Daily was able to report only
"Keynote speaker Adam Eagle
displays a feather during the
Native American Student Asso-
ciation rally against Columbus."
Even that sentence is an error
since nowhere in our materials or
programs did we describe these
events as being "against Colum-
bus." The purpose of the entire
program was to begin 500 years
of healing rather than look back
at 500 years of devastation.
It was interesting to see the
Daily print a picture of Jason
George, a Native Fancy Dancer
who, among many others,
performed at the Friday event.
Not a word was written about the
substance of the entire series of
events or the accomplishments of
all the well-known Native visitors
who attended.
This series of events was
titled "Discover Native America
on Columbus Day." It was a
milestone occasion for Native
people on this campus and in this,
state.
The presentations offered a
wealth of knowledge for Natives
and non-Natives alike and were
hosted by a score of nationally-
recognized leaders. They came
from Detroit, Lansing, Grand
Rapids, South Dakota, Minne-
sota, Ontario, Chicago, New
York and Nevada. The impor-
tance of these events and of the
presenters was totally lost on the
staff of the Daily.
The Daily's inept coverage of
the Native American Student
Association's Columbus Day
activities was an insult to Native
Americans.
The Daily also deprived its
readers of a wealth of information
about the history, culture and
ideals of our indigenous people as
shared by respected Native
speakers.
Dawn DeMarsh
President, Native American
Student Association
Melissa Lopez
former President, Native
American Student Association
IT vote for Clinton
To The Daily:
Yesterday I read Katherine
Metres'column ("Clinton's pro-
Israel bias hurts peace." 10/20/92).
Then I considered the facts. I
think I'll vote for Clinton.
Joshua Freiwald
RC senior
Schroer, 52nd district
To the Daily:
I would like to remind every-
one to pay close attention to the
races for state and local offices. It
is particularly important to
become aware of the campaigns
taking place in our own backyard,
for they involve a variety of issues
that are crucial to us, both as
University students and as young
adults.
Fortunately, Mary Schroer -
the Democratic candidate for State
Representative, 52nd district - is
a candidate students can support
with enthusiasm and confidence.
Serving as Senator Lana.
Pollack's legislative assistant-for
10 years, Mary has the experience
and ability to serve effectively in
the state legislature. As the mother
of three adult daughters, Mary
obviously understands the issues
that matter to University students
such as violence against women,
educational funding, the environ-
ment, human rights, job creation
and retention and reproductive
rights. Supporting Mary Schroer's
campaign for state representative
will help elect a candidate who
will put her 10 years of legislative
experience and common sense to
work for the benefit of University
students and the Ann Arbor
community.
Deborah Schneider
LSA senior
(Letters continued on pg. 5)
Perot was debate savior, not spoiler
The untimely resurrection of Texas billionaire
H. Ross Perot's campaign raised the anxiety
of confident Democrats across the country. When
it came to the presidential debates, many feared
Perot would act as a spoiler and a distraction who
would lower the dialogue with his evasions and
cliches.
Now that the debates are over, a different pic-
ture has emerged. Perot offered spice and humor to
the debates. His very presence created a triangular
discussion - rather than a two-man bout - that
shielded Gov. Bill Clinton from attack. And he was
the only person to raise the crucial, yet neglected
issues of the administration's mysterious policies
leading up to the Persian Gulf War and the forgot-
ten savings and loan scandal. Perot's candidacy
may be an utter mistake, but his debate perfor-
mance should win him an Emmy.
Ironically, even though Perot is infamous for
dodging the issues,. his presence on the stage
helped focus discussion on the issues. When Presi-
dent Bush leveled attacks on Gov. Clinton's char-
acter and his Vietnam draft status, Perot would
often-purposely or not - come to his aid. When
Clinton criticized Bush for not developing a cohe-
sive economic strategy, Perot would join in for a
two-pronged attack. In addition to putting Bush on
the defensive, this tack also added humor to the
debate, as Bush grows increasingly inarticulate
and incomprehensible when he's nervous. "When
I make a mistake, I apologize," Bush said in Rain
Man-like fashion whenever he was backed into a
corner. His answer to the question concerning
womenin key campaign posts included, "Jim Baker
is a man."
While Gov. Clinton often got miredin specifics,
and President Bush dodged the issues in favor of
attacks, Perot made adroit use of analogies. When
the issue of the relevancy of Clinton's experience
as governor was raised, Perot was quick with an
answer.
"I could say that I ran a small grocery store on
the corner, therefore I extrapolate that into the fact
that I could run Walmart; that's not true," he said.
Perot made his other contribution when, in a
heated moment during the third debate, he raised
the issues that all the moderators and panels had
missed before him - the many scandals of the
lawless Bush administration.
"I just object to the fact that we cover up and
hide things, whether it's Iran-contra, Iraqgate or
you name it, it's a serious thing," he said. Perot also
criticized the Bush administration for its role in the
savings and loan scandal.
These may not be specific policy issues, but
ethics is certainly relevant when choosing a presi-
dent. Unfortunately, Bush was never seriously con-
fronted with his fabrications and untruths regard-
ing his role in the Iran-contra affair, and he was not
taken to task for his failure to insist that his attorney
general appoint an independent prosecutor to in-
vestigate the Iraqgate scandal.
But at least the issues were raised during one of
the debates. The credit goes to Ross Perot.
Don't look a gift cabbage in the teeth
Booze, drugs and EntrLee' Plus
Keeping substance-free halls drug-free
While alcohol and illegal drugs are prohibited
in University dorms, they tend to pop up
nonetheless - even, on occasion, in substance-
free halls. Substance-free halls were created for
students who feel uncomfortable in a substance-
full situation, either because of a previous alcohol
or drug dependency, a problem in the home, reli-
gious reasons, or just personal choice.Once signed
up, these students have an obligation to comply
with the rules and respect those who have made the
same decision. Unfortunately, residents aren't al-
ways so cooperative.
Many students complain that they did not even
choose to be in a substance-free hall - that their
parents signed them up without their knowledge
- and have no responsibility to uphold the rules.
If so, those preferring a freer environment ought to
transfer. Spots in these halls are in demand. This
vanr the rAaninr fnr nhotnre-free halle vnr-
substances, that's their business. But, out of cour-
tesy to those trying to live healthier lives, they
should do it somewhere other than substance-free
halls.
U' is right to make student ID versatile
There was atime when Entree Plus only allowed
to students to eat at the MUG, without having
to visit the money machine. However, since its
introduction, the uses for Entree Plus have greatly
expanded, to the benefit of both students and the
University.
Students can use Entree Plus to buy food in the
Union, purchase textbooks, get snacks from vend-
ing machines, and do laundry. Quarter-saving, once
a popular pastime on campus, is now an anachro-
nism. Many students have voiced their apprecia-
tion of the ever-expanding Entree Plus program.
Parents may not be as grateful, though, now that
their children can nurchase $700 of Entree Plus
If the United States can effec-
tively compete with Japan and Eu-
rope in the global economy, it is
important that today's youth learn
to speak a foreign language, such as
Latin.
This isrwhy we have a foreign
language requirement at the Uni-
versity. For instance, let's say that
you are entering into a deal to pur-
chase widgets fromaJapanesecom-
pany. If you had no foreign lan-
g u age
b ack -
ground,
you would ,JNA1AN
have to
communi- C HA T
cate with
them in En-
glish,-
which vir-
tually everybody in the world
speaks.
But if you were fluent in a for-
eign language - say, French --
you could speak to him in that lan-
guage, which he probably wouldn't
understand. He would nix the deal
with you, and go sell widgets to
somebody who will speak to him in
English, which is the language that
he probably spent his whole life
studying.
Because after all, wny would
you want to purchc.:, apanese wid-
gets? If anything, you should be
_ .. A. . . . i
Romance languages: Roman,
Greek
Languages spoken by coun-
tries that hate the United States:
Spanish,Canadian, Mexican, Latin,
Cuban,
Languages spoken by coun-
tries that hate the United States,
even though if it weren't for us,
they would be speaking German:
French
Languages spoken by coun-
tries that feel sorry for the United
States: German, Japanese
My dad took six years of Span-
ish, and the only phrase he can
remember is "el burro es muerto."
(Literally: "the donkey is dead.")
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not
suggesting that those six years were
a waste of time. If he everatries to
purchase a donkey in a Hispanic
country, and the dealer tries to
swindle him by giving him a dead
donkey, this particular phrase would
be absolutely crucial. Without this
phrase, he could conceivably end
up having to lug a donkey carcass
up the Andes Mountains, for in-
stance.
I was not so lucky. I took three
and a half years of Spanish, and
came away remembering only how
to say, "entre col y col; lechuga,"
which means, "[something] cab-
bage and cabbage, lettuce."
NmwT T i-ru u;mg mhrbt he.Qh1
ish in high school, I tried taking
Hebrew during my first year at
Michigan.I flunkedout, but Ilearned
this fascinating fact: Hebrew has the
same word for "beer" and "capital
city." (Beera.) I suspect that Israel
captured Jerusalem by accident, af
ter an Israeli, general said, "Hey,
let's go get some beer."
After this fiasco, I decided to try
for a foreign language exemption.
This is a very specific procedure.
First you have to fail several foreign
language classes. Then you take a
test to see whether you lack the
aptitude to learn foreign languages.
Then you take to a counselor who
determines whether or not you're
simply an idiot who doesn't have
the aptitude to succeed in anything.
Finally, an academic board decides
whether or not to grant you the ex-
emption.,
After I scored in the 20th per-
centile, the counselor realized that I
am truly language impaired, and
recommended an exemption. How-
ever, I was turned down, on the
grounds that I hadn't failed enough
languages yet.Really. They told me
that if I failed a couple more lan-
guages, they would give me the ex-
emption.
So I decided to major in General
Studies, which has no foreign lan-
guage requirement. In fact, I'm not
sure that it has any requirements at
6