Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Monday, November 2, 1992 ol te , tC ioMlt atlij 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 764-0552 Editor in Chief MAYTIEW D. RENNIE OpinionEditors 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. Deitch, McGowan for 'U' Regents Do You 7TH INK7 N k E -rWORK9GLLL Po j c T -r"Hg t-c-ow jWivNNERS 1-1rPoll AL~ri-uE Too FART-Y... OPEN t 1 .l l t n A /r r c1 / L . CoNS'uE,,v& - HA-T LS DON" r EVEN UN ~Tr L -roM'ORROW--. L CLLIGHrON AS THL-x7 EU. S. p fzE S IC>F"rl he final authority on all crucial campus con- cerns lies with the University Board of Re- gents. Over the past few years, the regents have grown isolated from students, resulting in a steady decline in student participation in campus issues. This year, students have a unique opportunity to fill two openings on the board with candidates who are truly committed to protecting student rights: Democrats LAURENCE DEITCH and REBECCA McGOWAN. McGowan has responded to long-time criti- cisms that the University administration has grown at an exponential rate by saying "the University must maintain a constant vigilance against the proliferation of layers of administration." She has pledged to make herself accessible to students on campus by meeting with campus groups before making a decision and then explaining her ratio- nale. McGowan is involved with Ann Arbor com- munity activities, including membership on the board of the University Center for the Education of Women. Deitch, an attorney and state Democratic party treasurer has pledged to make the regents account- able to students. He has urged cutting waste from the budget by increasing enrollment at the Univer- sity and looking at ways to cut costs. He is also committed to ensuring that due process rights be included in the code of non-academic conduct. Deitch argues that there is no place in the regents' room for regents who nap. This is a welcomed change from the regents who doze during the precedings. Both pledged to investigate the possibility of 0 r1 '-' ' .,.. . a.. -- . , r , . f . : a -- . .- r -- tiC#416A,0DA'ty "?2 . " (*I . - n%- A O U 2 U Q WAA \! T \ \ .................. r.". ' ..h "..."r.......... .:ti":.. ..5'::.: :::'." :': :. . :........:::.... :.Y': ..Y::. r ............... " " .......... r.. " . " " .1 ...... r ... r ............ . r'.'ii..:','::Y:: ' ":: r'.":."r'::: ii.4':: ': '. ;'::.,":''.' r:'ti4 :': r1':: :::.;::::::::::: :: . .. ..r ." . " .....................: r ':ri. .. "..." .':titi'n :1ti :' r{ti :' ::ti"i .. .. .. ..... . ..... .. ............. ....:".1 :r .. .. }:ti":.... returning University policing to the Ann Arbor police. Both are against the regents' repeated vio- lations of the Open Meetings Act. In addition, both have resisted making the politically popular pledge to not raise tuition. Incumbent Neal Nielsen is running for a second term. As a largely ineffective regent, Nielsen has rarely met with students on this campus. In an attempt to play on the fears of middle class voters, Nielsen has wrongly charged that the University was using financial aid to redistribute wealth. De- spite this, Nielsen pledged in a campaign advertise- ment, "With your help I will strive to maintain the accessibility of this institution for the residents of Michigan." This committment seems hollow, when Nielsen supports having campus police arrest home- less and other undesirables on University property as "trespassers." Republican nominee Nancy Laro is the spouse of a University regent emeritus. She has not pre- sented any new programs or new ideas to make the University more accountable to students. She asks to replace one of the foremost proponents of stu- dent rights on the board, retiring regent Veronica Smith (R-Grosse Ile). To all of the candidates on the board, Smith's dedication to student rights - even when it was unpopular - should be emu- lated. In a race that affects University students more than any other state residents, students must sup- port candidates that are dedicated to real reform. McGowan and Deitch are two candidates who will serve the University well - if they follow through on their campaign promises. n ;) O s 0 2. Daily ignores Bush To the Daily: In a front-page article purport- ing to cover appearances in Michigan by the two main presidential candidates ("Clinton, Bush court state Reagan Dems," 10/26/92), the Daily saw fit to devote virtually the entire story to the Clinton campaign. Bush's speech before the International Association of Chiefs of Police was relegated to four tiny paragraphs which failed to provide an accurate portrayal of the event. This is partly due to the unfortunate decision to send reporters to cover Clinton's event but to rely on the Associated Press's account of Bush's speech. It is no wonder that Bush com- plains that the media ignore his message. Nor is it any wonder that some students - I do not count myself among them - believe the Daily to be extremely biased. President Bush outlined his goals for reducing crime - none of which you printed - includ- ing: working for harsher punish- ments for sexual and domestic violence; stricter gun control; a national death penalty for those who murder police officers or commit grotesque crimes; the elimination of gang warfare. Your article also failed to mention the two bills which the President signed into law after his speech, one of which prevents "deadbeat dads" from getting out of paying child support by crossing state lines. Likewise omitted was the response of the crowd, which was overwhelmingly favorable. This was proven when an audience member cried out, "God Bless George Bush," - for this remark received more applause than any other comment throughout the proceedings. Coupled with the fact that police in Clinton's own state have endorsed the Republi- can ticket, this leads one to the conclusion that Bush is the candidate with a better agenda for fighting crime. Gil Renberg LSA senior To the Daily: Lest ignorance be permitted to run amok, I write in response to Katherine Metres' column, "Clinton's pro-Israel bias hurts peace," (10/20/92). The crux of Metres' anti- Clinton prejudice lies in Clinton's statement that "Arabs are the obstacle to peace." Is Clinton's statement unreasonable? Israel is smaller in size than the state of New Hampshire. Yet the Arabs opposed peaceful Jewish settlements in Palestine before the creation of Israel, have waged five wars against the tiny state, have issued the famous "three-no's" resolution (no peace with Israel, no recognition, no compromise), have supported international terrorist activities against Jewish and Israeli civilian targets, and have invested over 500 billion dollars in armaments in the past decade. Metres also complains because Clinton referred to Israel Many reasons to support Israel as "a symbol of freedom, a home to the oppressed and persecuted." In Israel all citizens - Arab, Jewish and Christian - have a right to vote and to practice their religion openly. Moreover, Israel was not only the first country to grant asylum to Vietnamese boat people, but also airlifted tens of thousands of starving Ethiopians into its country, as well as war refugees from Yugoslavia and victims of anti-semitism from the former Soviet Union. Israel also has supplied food and medicines to the Kurds, the besieged population in Sarajevo, and earthquake victims in Armenia. Bill Clinton believes America should support the other democra- cies in the world, not the ruthless dictatorships. (Can you say "Syria, Iraq and Libya?") What do you think, Katherine Metres? Bradley Cohen Second-year law student Metres' assumptions faulty: i /% r+ l h /', , 1 J . I f : . !' \ .i Daily state and local endorsements 52nd STATE HOUSE: In this close race, North campus residents may provide the deciding vote. The candidate who provides the best plan for revitalizing the state's economy and meeting the :needs of students is progressive Republican can-. didate MARK OUIMET. ACity Council member, Ouimet has been active in the community, sup- porting the domestic partnership act and other progressive measures on the council. Ouimet wants to boost the economy by making state government -more inclusive in working with business, labor, and environmental groups that have traditionally been adversaries. t Ouimet is committed to reforming the state educational system by making funding equitable. He is in favor of raising some taxes to pay for the program. His opponent, aide to Sen. Lana Pollack Mary Schroer urges some reform of the system through cutting property taxes and raising the state income tax. She wants to cuts taxes on the wealthy, and raise taxes on the poor and middle class. She argues against the cuts in General Assistance, but is not in favor of reinstating it. This type of blatant pandering is misleading. 53rd STATE HOUSE: In the race for the 53rd house district seat between Democrat LYNN RIV- ERS and Republican Terrence Bertram, the clear choice for central campus voters is Lynn Rivers. As an activist for abortion rights as well as an advocate of budget and social reforms, Rivers will lead the state of Michigan in the right direction. The most glaring difference between the two #candidates is the issue of abortion choice. Though he now claims that his views on abortion "have been misconstrued," Bertram has come out against a woman's right to choose. Lynn Rivers, on the other hand, not only sup- ports freedom of choice, but has proved it by speaking about it repeatedly during the campaign, and participating in the Pro-Choice Week rally in the Diag last month. Rivers also seeks to reform the educational funding system by tax-based sharing. She would tnkL- the f;mrtz nnt of r3nw r thar than nrnnarto victims are not attacked in court and are only questioned within the law. He also advocates the innovative "weed and seed" alternative sentencing system for non-violent, young first-time drug of- fenders. His opponent, six month incumbent Kurtis Wilder, is an Engler appointee and has never repre- sented a client in a criminal case. 9th COUNTY COMMISSION: Voters should return incumbent County Commissioner GRACE SHACKMAN to office. As chair of the Commission's Ways and Means Committee for three years, Shackman has been a strong advocate for a clean environment, affordable housing, and alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders. She has also streamlined human service operations to reduce bureaucracy and administrative costs. 10th COUNTY COMMISSION:, Incumbent CHRISTINA MONTAGUE is facing a populist challenge from Republican Michael Dudzik. The main issue: Dudzik plans to cut what he calls wasteful spending, while Montague defends the county budget as helpful to the working poor. Montague has a strong record of public service, and she deserves a chance to continue her work. 11th COUNTY COMMISSION: One election where University students will be the primary determiners is the County Commission seat in this district. The district includes most of central cam- pus, and the Daily endorses DAVE MONFORTON for the job. A young and enthusiastic Democrat, Monforton is a fresh face to local politics. He has experience with judicial legislation, forming compromises, and working with competing groups through his job as aide to state Representative Perry Bullard. He sites as his main concerns Ann Arbor's lack of affordable housing, absence of effective solutions for mental health and substance abuse problems, and inadequate job training solutions. 11th ClTTNTV r(MAA41CTQCT - manntir in- To the Daily: I found the generalizations and false assumptions in Katherine Metres' column disturbing and lacking journalis- tic integrity ("Clinton's pro-Israel bias hurts peace," 10/20/92). Metres fails to substantiate many of her claims, and passes off her opinions as fact. The very basis of her argu- ment is groundless. She claims that Clinton "has actively sought the massive funds promised by the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)." As its name clearly suggests, AIPAC is a public affairs committee, not a political action committee. This is a very important distinction, federal law prohibits public affairs committees from either endorsing candidates or donating money to political campaigns. If Metres' assumption that AIPAC promised funds to Clinton's campaign is so obvious, then why haven't any charges been brought up against AIPAC by the Federal Election Commis- sion or by the Bush or Perot campaigns? Metres also asserts that Clinton's campaign is "top-heavy with AIPAC related managers." Although she gives no evidence to support this contention, I don't find it unusual or troubling that some of Clinton's campaign workers would support AIPAC. After all, millions of Americans support AIPAC. In fact, I am sure that both the Bush and Perot campaigns also have. many volunteers who support AIPAC. I am not sure how Metres' formed her assumptions, but wouldn't it seem prudent to do some basic research on the very organization she presumes to know so much about? 0 Eric Edidin Business School senior Changes may help better Greek system by John Lundin I am responding to your Issues Forum on Oct. 9 ("Greek system: What's it all for?") and to the letters that bashed the Greek system. I am not in the Greek system, but I feel that polarized views have ignored the middle ground of the issue. Ste- reotyping people in the Greek sys- tem is not at all helpful. There are many merits to the Greek system. Some good examples are friendship (brother or sister- hood), devotion to social causes, organization of social events and development of social and coopera- tive skills needed later in life. However, due to the nature of the selection process, the problems that exist in the system are not go- ing to go away. Many of the problemsrlevied against fraternities and sororities such as elitism, date rape, racism, homogeneity and divisiveness are surely not all pervasi:c or necessar- ilv the rdirect Aaft of the Greekr the group. No new news, likes at- tract likes. A manifestation of this is that people, both Greeks and non- Greeks, are often heard generaliz- ing about a fraternity's or sorority's members. I do not believe there is any- thing wrong with choosing who one becomes friends with, but,when entire groups have to choose who they want to surround themselves with, diversity becomes less of an option. I am not speaking only of racial or ethnic diversity, but diver- sity in attitudes and backgrounds. Without this type of diversity, nega- tive attitudes, beliefs and actions often go unquestioned. This is where the problems arise. One way to alleviate this prob- lem would be to change the present system or create a new one that places all those willing to join ran- domly in houses with others. Addi- tional houses could be rented if the needarose. This wouldbringpeople together from different back- opposite-sex perspective and pres- ence. Some national chapters are already thinking of moving in this direction. Working out, getting past and finally appreciating the huge differ- ences that would exist would be a trial at first, but the payoffs would be enormous. Learning to make a group like this work would be in itself an incredible growth experi- ence. A group like this would bring us to seek commonalties rather than accentuate what sets us apart. Any- thing beyond that would be agreed upon by the group. I can see no better means of acquiring the skills and knowledge needed for life than through a sys- tem where variety would not be stamped out or ignored, but cel- ebrated. Much resentment of the system by outsiders would be alleviated since anyone who wanted to join and play their part in shaping it, could do so. 0 a