Page 4 --The Michigan Daily- Monday, March 15,1993 c . E C t tgtt t tti1 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan JOSH DUBOw Editor in Chief ERIN LIZA EINHORN OpinionEditor a , EoPLE, THIiS TAN[)FF I" WIICO I-AS Io~W Eoi'J FAR Too LN6o ITr'S Ta".1EWE CALLEDZ fInlAN EXPFRm ON GHvT7i)\J6 bowN "THESEmYPES of M Li-rA P-S-r YLfWEAPONS' CoMouri& . iJAY ':-- , ; ( _ - . 0 7 Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily editorial board. All other cartoons, signed articles and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. al HOUSING DVISION Union requests look at CONTROVERSY CONTINUES TO surround the University Housing Division this week as the largest union on campus, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), filed a for- mal grievance. AFSCME has demanded an investigation of the work environment for gays, lesbians and bisexuals employed in campus residence halls. What began as a minor conten- tion -when seven housing employees wrote a letter criticizing the University's use of resources to "influence ... the sexual orientation" of stu- dents - has turned into a union battle that could damage everyone involved. While AFSCME's goals in this case are commendable, its tactics are poor. The union has askedin addition to the investigationthatthe seven employees receive suspensions. Instead of focusing on the work environment, union members have diverted attention from the issue at hand by demanding their co-workers receive punishment for thinking wrong thoughts. The seven employees' opinions expressed in the letter to the Housing Division signal a com- plete lack of tolerance. The employees wrote to "protest the promotion of gay/lesbian lifestyles" in campus residence halls. They complained atmopshere for gays that photos of nude models engaged in what looked like homosexual acts posted in several halls were sexually explicit and seemed to have the Housing Division's approval. But these pho- tos are no more explicit than advertisements for Calvin Klein clothing or Obsession fragrances placed in many magazines. If these ads had depicted a man and a woman, few would have even blinked an eye. The employees are entitled to their opinion, but it should be noted that these attitudes are homophobic and outdated. Fortunately, the Hous- ing Division responded succinctly and supported its multicultural programs. AFSCME filed its grievance because it con- tends that the employees' letter creates a hostile work environment for homosexual employees in the residence halls. Investigating discrimination seems to be a good idea, but AFSCME's com- plaint takes the wrong approach. AFSCME is filing the grievance against the Housing Divi- sion, ignoring the fact that the Housing Division has repeatedly stated that the employees merely offeredyrivate opinions. Clearly, somethingneeds to be done about discrimination against gay and lesbian employees at the University. But AFSCME is taking the wrong approach. /. _ , J.. CT- -T- 'U' unreasonable in GEO contract talks Detroit cops, media, Jalen Rose, 'U'foul out by John Devlin Rackham student, GEO member Last Tuesday the Daily published two comments reportedly made by first-year undergraduate students about the contract negotiations between the TAs and the Uni- versity administration. According to the Daily reporter, the students said: (1) Many TAs do not deserve a salary increase because they are unqualified teach- ers; and (2) TAs are not required to have a teach- ing license, making them students, notteach- ers. They are people who want to make money; they are not people who want to educate others. We do not know if the Daily's attribu- tions are correct. It is easy to be misquoted. Nor do we know whether, if made, these comments represent the considered opinion of the students named. Anyone can make an ill-considered comment in haste. In any event, some of these remarks are not worth a serious reply. But given that they have appeared in print, the time seems ripe for some clarifications. No one who teaches at the University is required to have a teaching certificate in order to do so. TAs are, however, the only people teaching at the University who re- ceive formal training before they undertake their duties. TAs do not receive this training because the University has insisted upon it, still less because the University has offered it. TAs receive this training on their own time and without pay because they fought for it at the bargaining table over the objec- tions of the administration. This does not speak well for the administration's com- mitmentto undergraduate education. Itdoes speak well for the professionalism and com- mitment of TAs. TAs are not asking for a raise. In fact, they have offered to accept a cut in real (inflation-adjusted) wages. What, then, is the issue? Under the current contract, TAs may choose from amongst ten indepen- dently managed health insurance plans. The choice of plans is important. It allows TAs to match their health insurance with their particular needs, which may vary depend- ing on, among other things, their age, sex, marital and family status, and medical his- tory. Moreover, the choice protects TAs from getting locked into a plan with declin- ing benefits or rising costs. If one plan ceases to be attractive, there are always nine others to choose from. Now the University is asking TAs to give up that choice and accept a plan de- signed and controlled by the administra- tion. They call this plan "GradCare." As presently constituted, GradCare would cost TAs more and offer them less than their currentoptions for health insurance. Worse, the administration would retain the right to eliminate benefits or raise costs further at any time without notice and without nego- tiation. The day after TAs sign that contract, GradCare might be nothing more than an annual free blood pressure check-up in the Fishbowl. This is not a contract that TAs are going to sign. TAs are not interested in being forced into GradCare now, they are not interested in talking about it a year from now, and they will not be interested in bargaining over this issue when the next contract expires. TAs have demonstrated their flexibility at the bargaining table by accepting a cut in real wages at a time when the average TA makes less than what the University's Of- fice for Financial Aid estimates is required for survival. Flexibility on the part of TAs deserves to be met with fairness on the part of the administration. GradCare is not fair. Over the past few years, TAs have fought to improve the quality of under- graduate education. They have fought for caps on class sizes. They have fought for access to photocopiers and telephones for teaching purposes and for a place to meet with their students so that they can do their jobs better. Not all of these battles have been won. But they illustrate that the inter- ests of undergraduates and TAs are not opposed. To a large extent they overlap. The TAs have tried to negotiate with the administration on principle. They have tried to put the legitimate interests of both parties on the table so that the two sides might work hard together structuring a fair settlement. These efforts have been met with the re- buke: "We're not interested in that. You'll have your reasons for signing acontract and we'll have ours." It would be both disappointing and di- sastrous if TAs had to strike in order to give the administration reason to sign a fair contract. This letter was signed by 20 other students and GEO members. N 0 ONE CAME out a winner in last week's ugly JalenRose fiasco. Although at a press conference Tuesday Rose ad- mitted receiving a ticket for "loitering where drugs are kept or stored" in Detroit Oct. 4, the point guard for the Michigan men's basketball team had repeatedly denied his presence at the house where police found quantities of mari- juana and crack cocaine. At one point, he even claimed someone else had given Detroit police his name and address. The media, justifying its increasingly negative reputation, gave a remark- able amount of attention to a story that mostly amounted to a 20 year-old playing video games with childhood friends. But the biggest loser of all had to be the Detroit Police Department (DPD). By burying Rose's loitering ticket and failing to prosecute him, the department brought more notice to itself than it would have had it simply followed through on the charge. To criticizeRose forvisiting the house would be unfair. Anyone who has attended a party or has merely visited other people's homes may also have been guilty of "loitering" in a house where illegal drugs are present. No drugs were found on Rose's person, and he has never failed a drug test. Nevertheless, if police were to walk into a social gathering in Ann Arbor where drugs are sitting in a drawer and start issuing loitering tickets, those written up would have their day in court. They would receive little more than a stern lecture from the judge or perhaps be forced to pay a fine, but the criminal law system would have been carried through. But because Rose delights thousands of people with his playmaking and his trash-talking, the Detroit police decided Rose didn't need the hassle of going through this system. This sort of double standard feeds the belief that athletes are above the law. Preferential treatment for athletes and other public fig- ures has always been a prob- lem. Rose's story was not the 'only national news story last week about special privileges for athletes. University of Ne- vada-Las Vegas officials were accused this week of pressur- Roseing acommunitycollege teacher into giving current Runnin' Rebels' star J.R. Rider a passing grade so he could transfer to UNLV. Although both univer- sity and law-enforcement officials have pledged to end the practice of granting exceptions to celebrities, policies like these continues to pros- per. The two friends who received tickets with Rose Oct. 4 will both have to face the music for theiractions. Rose, a formerDPD employee, gets to move on without a blemish on his record. But by exempting him alone in this case, DPD did no favors for Rose. It attracted national publicity to a minor story. Maybe the next time an athlete has a problem with the law, the police will come to its senses and treat the offender like any other citi- zen. Unfortunately, history indicates this won't happen. HEALTH CARE Clinton should welcome AMA input Blatant bigotry against gays unnecessary To the Daily: What was Chris Lunt's point ("Debate about lifting ban breeds insanity," 3/4/93)? After announcing his blatant prejudices toward homosexu- als, African Americans, non- Catholics and vegetarians, and simultaneously isolating at least 95 percent of his audi- ence, he made no clear argument. What does he want the military to consist of - white Catholic mental-handicaps like himself? Give me a break! The military needs people who are physically and mentally able to preform their job. I think you and anyone that subscribes to "Chris Luntism" are the ones who are mentally unable to be part of the military. Stephanie Pinsky LSA first-year student To the Daily:. The letter the Daily printed, "Debate about lifting ban breeds insanity" (3/5/93), was a sarcastic piece. I apologize for not making the sarcasm more apparent. A large number of people have taken the letter seriously, and I understand their anger, but I ask that you discontinue making threatening phone calls to my home. You're driving my roommates up the wall. I am an ardent supporter of homosexual rights and African American rights - as evidenced by my two-year involvement in the Univer- sity Minority Recruitment student group (the Ambassa- dors). Reread the letter I wrote bearing in mind that it is sarcastic, and perhaps you will see the effect I was trying to communicate. The current argument against allowing homosexu- als in the military is that they will disrupt the integrity of the units. It was my intent to demonstrate that similar attitudes existed when African Americans were introduced into the military (in the form of integrated units) after World War II. It was my hope that seeing the argument against gays used in another context would show just how ridiculous those arguments were. Some people misconstrued the intent of my letter, assuming that it was an honest testa- ment from a riduculously bigoted person (really though people, "vegetable heads"?). It is my hope that in the future, people who have called my home to say "Fuck you, racist," and then hung up, will find a more effective way of challenging the forces that are working against the civil rights of all oppressed groups. If you channel your anger into more constructive efforts, the movement will benefit. Flying off the handle and making irrational judgements doesn't do any good. The person I wrote the letter in response to, Michael Wheaton, sent me a very civilized response over E- mail, establishing a means by which to have a civilized debate over the matter. As it is, Mr. Wheaton recognized the letter as satire, and we were able to discuss the original problem, that of the homosexual ban. I apologize if my letter was not obvious enough, but please, in the future, do not jump to conclusions. If we all pull together and tackle these problems like adults, there is hope yet. Chris Lunt LSA senior 0 0 Sarcasm intended in previous letter N A SURPRISING move last week, the Ameri- can Medical Association (AMA) asked the Clinton Administration for a seat on the President's Task Force onNational Health Care Reform. In return, the association promised to reverse its long-held objections to many of the initiatives Clinton hopes to create. However, the President, in an equally uncharacteristic action, denied the AMA and otherhealthcare organiza- tions access to the task force. While it is reason- able for Clinton to limit involvement of interest groups in the national government, the Presi- dent is ultimately depriving the task force of necessary input. The President's task force, headed by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, is in the process of drafting legislation that would greatly re- vamp our current health care system. The main goals of the administration's new policy are to keep health care costs down, alter insurance regulations, allow citizens more freedom in choosing physicians and increase the quality of health care on a national basis. This policy initiative is one of immense scale, considering +U,%+Ua on l, n~weirt .ns~ersvr tcQ -114 refuses to divulge their identities of the committee's 300 to 400 "experts" in the health care field. Moreover, administration officials have said the vast majority of the committee members specialize in health care education at universities. Thus, it is vague how many mem- bers have appropriate experience in managing health programs and caring for patients. This committee takes the risk of developing a health care bill simply out of touch with reality. Indeed the Clinton Administration's stance may be short-lived. A Federal District Court Judge recently ruled that all task force meetings must be announced in advance and information sessions of the task force must be open to the public. It remains to be seen how the task force will adjust to the new ruling. No one can deny that the nation's health care system needs drastic reform. With the inflation rate of doctors' fees and medical costs reaching three times the national inflation rate in 1992, the reform must begin as soon as possible. But President Clinton must work with and not around those organizations most affected by change. "i 6...A A - A J n flf __ e .L .- SO__1__A Societal tolerance, awareness of homosexual issues badly needed To the Daily: This is in reference to the letter by Maria del Coral Reed, "Homosexuals deserve tolerance, not endorsement" (2/16/92). Her letter was a subtle bashing of homosexual- ity by camouflaging her viewpoint using the word "tolerance." According to the Random U^'Ic 0^11 m a ini -s . words, her "tolerant" knowl- edge of homosexuality is in terms of promiscuity, child sexual abuse and bestiality. Also, she argues that the editorial "Tolerance in Birmingham," (12/10/92) was about promoting homosexual- ity in the school system. The article was really about giving a chi'jIce in the school's than by misconceptions and bigotry. Recent studies have shown that one third of all teen suicides are associated with sexual orientation (Washington D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, January 1989). Therefore, this concept in the school system could be a vehicle to diminish this tragic rate. This is what tolerance is for life is reproduction, so most homosexuals do not reproduce, but they get reproduced through their heterosexual relatives, because they share similar genes. In other words, genetic representation in future generations (Nature and Causes of Homosexuality: A Philosophic and Scientific Inquire, 1981).