The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 22, 1992- Page 5 (Letters continued from pg. 4) DPS justified at football games To the Daily: I read with amusement your editorial condemning the attempts of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to control student drinking at football games ("Is DPS Watching You?" 10/14/92). Characterizing the actions of DPS as a violation of students' rights is ridiculous. When one purchases a ticket to a Michigan football game (or any public event, for that matter), one agrees to abide by certain condi- tions in return for the privilege of attending the event. "Rights" play no part here; by purchasing the ticket, one agrees to follow the rules laid out by the ticket seller. Take a look at the back of your football tickets and read the fine print: "Alcoholic beverages are not to be brought into the stadium." "Management reserves the right to refuse admission or to eject any person whose conduct Management deems disorderly, obnoxious, or unbecoming." Why should anyone object to enforcement of rules that have been clearly stated again and again? It is interesting that you claim that DPS's activities distract the attention of fans from the football game. Having bought student football tickets for eight years, I have found the actions of people who are drunk, throwing marshmal- lows, or "passing up" people far more distracting than the officers trying to remove these offenders so the rest of us can watch the game. Purchasing a ticket to a football games does not give someone the right to act in any manner they choose. Jim Huggins Rackham graduate student Bust student drinkers at games To the Daily: Your editorial criticizing the presence of plain-clothes officers at University football games ("Is DPS watching you?" 10/14/92) was illogical and juvenile. You argue that "trying to eliminate student drinking will be an uphill battle - one not worth fighting." Following this line of reason- ing, we should not try to prevent theft, rape or murder either. After all, people will still try to commit those crimes. You also assert that student drinkers "usually keep to them- selves" and do not present behavioral problems. Does this justify the fact that they are violating University policy (and state law if they are under age)? You whine that DPS officials are spoiling student fun by curbing marshmallow fights. Perhaps students at one of country's top universities should not engage in such sophomoric highjinks, particularly when it may be seen on national television. Most sickening was your indignation at the "violation" of students' rights. You claim that students "should not have to worry about dodging 'Big Brother" at the games. Get real! Maybe students are just afraid they will get caught. If they are following the rules, they should have nothing to hide. It's time these University students grew up and started behaving like law-abiding adults. Then DPS could stay at home. Linda Wolfgang Rackham graduate student Thanks for Festifall Open letter to the University Community: We would like to thank the University community for its participation in the most success- ful Festifall student organization fair to date. Students were able to speak with representatives from more than 230 student organizations and University departments (50 more groups than last year)! Despite the disappointment we felt for having to postpone Festifall and any hardships organizations faced, we were thrilled with the beautiful weather on Friday, Sept. 25. The feedback we received from the participants and organization representatives was overwhelm- ingly positive. We would like to request your assistance in evaluating Festifall, no matter your level of involve- ment. Significant changes to Festifall' s coordination have occurred due to feedback from the University community. Please share the areas you would like to see improved or the items that should be maintained by dropping by the Student Organiza- tion Development Center, 2202 Michigan Union, or calling 763- 5900. For those unable to attend Festifall who are still interested in learning of the breadth of involve- ment opportunities at the Univer- sity of Michigan, please contact the SPDC for your copy of the Student Organization Directory (it's free!) or to speak with an organizational consultant. Beth Adler Chrisann Newransky Festifall Co-Coordinators Stop perpetuating sorority stereotypes To the Daily: Like oh ... my ... god, I could just die, after reading Jim Chapman's letter "Greek brats noisy, obnoxious." Like how, Jim, could you even think that we sorority girls are like, so shallow and insensitive? Of course you, yourself seem like such a nonjudgmental and ami- cable individual. Tell me Jim, how did you become such an authority on Greek life and tradition? Further- more, how many women in sororities can you call friends of yours? Based on the stereotypical categories you described in your letter, I'd venture to say zero. Since you are obviously lacking in accurate information in regards to the sorority system, I'll attempt to enlighten you. It is true that women who join sororities embark on an odyssey. But it is not a "four-year odyssey of fake friendships, Stairmaster and holding sorority bonding sessions during Psych 172 lectures" as you described. Rather, it is a journey toward sisterhood, personal growth and a lifetime commitment to the rituals and traditions of the sorority. Yes Jim, some of these traditions may seem juvenile and disruptive to you. But to us, they are symbolic of continuity as new friends join in our enduring odyssey. If your life was so very disrupted by our 30 minutes of enthusiasm and exhilaration the day we handed out bids, then I apologize. No, not for the so-called "nuisance" we created. Rather, for your obvious mental instability which caused our nominal actions to so greatly interfere in the course of your daily activities and prompted you to write such an abrasive letter. Oh, and by the way Jim, I drive a Volkswagen Golf, not a Cabriolet. Sarah Rose Mendes Vice President, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Bush-Quayle failed American families To the Daily: I am responding to a response by Anne Arnold "Quayle has a point," (10/7/92). Sure it is better if there are two parents in a family - a child needs as much love and support that he/she can get. But, the way Quayle addresses the issues is the problem. I found the Murphy Brown episodes where she chose to and then gave birth to her baby very touching. I did not find her to be "glamorizing" being a single parent. It is a difficult thing to both decide to and to actually go through with raising a child alone. Quayle should have com- mended Murphy for showing that life is not perfect, but we can still have love and compassion for one another. Instead, he condemned Hollywood for glorifying unwed motherhood. He should have concentrated on all of the violence on television not scorn people trying to do the best they can with an imperfect situation. Quayle should also try to explain what the Bush administra- tion has done to keep families together and what it would plan to do - in light of the failure of their "attempts" for the past four years. Angela Nason 1992 University graduate I believe Anita Hill, Daily flatters itself To the Daily: You overestimate yourself. I am a Democrat and a sup- porter of Anita Hill. It is not gall you incite, but laughter. Can you spell potato, oh stuffy one? Julia Shin LSA senior To the Daily: This letter is in response to the article "Abortion is Murder" (10/ 13/92). We feel that a more inforned letter on the issue is necessary because the author misrepresented pro-choice. Fitst and foremost, the issue at hand is choice, not the morality of abortion. The fact of the matter is law makers are deciding for women what is an indelible and highly personal right. The woman has a right to choose her future and make decisions that will drasti- cally affect it. Having a child is a huge responsibility and decision. It is utterly astounding that some people can expect to tell a woman, whom they have never met, and whose life experience they have not shared, what to do with her body. The right to choose between adoption, abortion or carrying a child to term is innate and cannot be decided by anyone other than the woman facing this decision. Whether or not life begins at conception is not the issue. It merely clouds whether a woman has a right to choose. This is the real argument between pro-choice and anti-choice groups. As to the comments about Choice is a fundamental right pro-life groups giving help by providing clothes and food, that is true, however, so are the acts of violence committed against Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the nation. Pro-lifers use scare tactics to confuse the issue. Yes, we agree that a seven- week aborted fetus isn't a pleasent thought. But neither is a seven- month old baby in an overcrowded shelter with no mother or future in sight. Pro-life groups continually impede access where women are seeking care, advice and informa- tion including alternatives to abortion. This is highly hypocriti- cal because terrorizing clinics is hindering women who are trying to make an informed and realistic choice. We are not condoning abortion, we are simply saying that pro-choice is just that: a choice. A choice no person has a right to make for someone else. To make laws prohibiting a woman from making her own choice is a disgrace to what the Bill of Rights stands for. Michelle Bens LSA junior Madelon Gauthier LSA junior No equating abortion, Holocaust To the Daily: David Dougherty's letter which compared an abortion to the Holocaust shows that he is not only anti-woman, but anti-Semitic as well. During the Holocaust, six million living, thinking, breathing Jews were slaughtered. To compare six million lives to a mass of cells which is not yet a life, is ignorant and offensive. The Nazis disregarded Jews' individual rights and personal freedom. Maybe it's time Dougherty and his anti-choice cronies take a long look in the mirror and then decide who is acting like the Gestapo. Katherine Rosman LSA junior t I U.S. should focus on world unity Racism at O'Sullivan's Bar To the Daily: On Oct. 7, an incident of great concern to the Asian-American community occurred at O'Sullivan's Bar. A party of three - an Asian-American male, an Asian-American female and a Black female - entered O'Sullivan's Bar. The bouncer then asked for a cover charge, which is not normally the case, so they decided to leave. When their backs were turned they heard, "Get your silly Asian asses out of here." Turning around to see who said it, they saw only the bouncer and other customers laughing at the remark. Many of you will regard this incident as minor and trivial. To do so is, in a sense, a greater injustice than to be the speaker of such racist remarks. By ignoring this incident or by laughing at it,r you allow it to perpetuate. Whereas the speaker only starts this chain of hatred, those of us who stand by in silence continue the chain. This letter is not a demand for an apology, for such an apology from an ignorant person is hollow at best. Instead, this letter is our statement of outrage over this incident and the countless other similar incidents that occur, yet go unnoticed and unheard. This harassment and hate speech will not be tolerated. Tait Sye Asian American Student Coalition Albert Chan Asian American Association and 13 other co-signers To the Daily: The time in history that I began to question the two-party system as a very unproductive way to represent the people as a whole was during the 1980 presidential election. I was well aware of the fact that the media weretrying to force me into believing that to become president you had to be affiliated with either the Democrats or the Republicans. It was also at this same time that I was introduced to the only type of political system that I will ever support: the independent system of govern- ment. During the presidential election of 1980, the independent candidate had the only voice that would capture my undivided attention. At the time I did not under- stand why the voice that I so desired to listen to got far less publicity than the voices that were affiliated with either the Demo- crats or the Republicans. Although the government is attempting to do the right thing in every single case, it seems to me that a lot of time and money is wasted with trivial disputes between the Democrats and the Republicans. I think it is close within our reach that the world will exist as a global community under one government - taking into account the morals and the ideals of all people from every walk of life. The biggest flaw that I can see with regards to the responsibility of the United States is in the term"foreign affairs." I believe the United States has the intelligence and the technology to play an integral role in aiding everybody. Redesigning the U.S govern- ment to place focus on unity will be the most important day in the history of mankind. Christopher Carl Warber Engineering sophomore The Daily encourages its readers to express their opinions. All letters should be 150 words or less. All op-ed pieces should not exceed 3,000 characters. Send all submissions to The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109. Or via MTS The Michigan Daily: Letters to the Editor 1 1 ...'I i ?: ' i;'''t.; ~ ii i:i3 >'+ ' i i i I II I 0 All. MWor l: The Investment Banking Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. cordially invites the students of THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN to an information session on careers in Investment Banking. We encourage all majors to attend!!! Monday, October 26, 1992 MICHIGAN UNION .-a11 -1 -r- -yc n 1 A a WRITE FOR THE MICHIGAN DAILY 764-0552 Ancient Formula Health Conscious Foods Your first job after graduation should offer you more than just a paycheck. We can offer you an experience that lasts a lifetime. In Peace Corps, you'll immerse yourself in a new culture, learn a new language, receive training and develop important skills...and help to improve the lives of others while at the same education, agriculture, health, the environment, and many other disciplines, Peace Corps projects around the world are bringing help to where it's needed...in - more than 70 countries in Latin America, Asia,