4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 3, 1993


Ije £tbiguniaitg

by Jim Lasser

fro% P n /_

420 Maynard
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed
by students at the
University of Michigan

JOSH Duow
Editor in Chief
ANDRmw LEVY
Editorial Page Editor

t

Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Daily editorial board.
All other cartoons, articles and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily.

M FA LL RASH10o9
? years OLD. VPOW 1
MolO1EO To its hens ! ' - CGo+ec. 774E LIBERA4L .£'PIAT
AnA ~5-to ,a-A1ed yGIw -CoL.L E AOW fAAJO:rcAW~
win wea -. - jxPEIZJmENrf1witf{FA((AL I4AIR
sr=Ous E #Ay, MWM oN'~r M4KF
(_N I taAN91W 4 " N T- S R IR l%1tt43 V ES N '
VL~it OWN JIIIE
SK~r-t'., WRAPPED AROLWD
I R4_ WAI ST. Ts T115
ktIlRTEVER t it LoSjE F:, irtNg!;-, L(/E JEANS.
MR.. AVtflIAANS HIP J40P VASflIot
"D~OC M"+1S"', 'ucKZS;,or
____________ -_ L wj~rICE LVTMr+9 6SW.
DPS 9statiiaA'tcs are not mileadin

*I

By LISA MARGULUS
A recent Daily editorial ("DPS
report card," 10/14/93) focuses on
the format the department uses to
disclose statistics. Your writer made
several accusations calling for
clarification.
You report "The first flaw is that
the statistics only show campus
crime that has been reported to
DPS." It is true that DPS only
included reported statistics, and this
is for a very good reason: it is the
only accurate and objective way to
assess crime in this area. They
cannot guess at how many
unreported crimes occur, if they did
then these statistics would be
subjective and inaccurate. The
Daily says "DPS does not
acknowledge these crimes."
Whenever speaking to members of
the 'U' community, DPS makes it
very clear that statistics cover
campus property only, not all of
Ann Arbor. DPS jurisdiction is
outlined in the Campus Safety
Handbook which is sent to students'
residence each year. This booklet
explains how certain crimes are
classified, such as criminal sexual
conduct, so that people understand
what the disclosed statistics entail.
DPS informs others on campus that
not all crimes are reported, although
it is strongly encouraged. The writer
does not seem to understand that the
department cannot force people to
report crime; rather they can only
emphasize its importance.
It does not make sense
combining statistics between DPS
and the Ann Arbor Police
Department (AAPD), the only
distinction being whether or not the
victim or assailant is a University
student. One cannot include
statistics in their records when they

have not dealt with or responded to
the incident. Departments are
responsible for incidents within
their jurisdiction. Your writer states,
"Before the deputization of DPS,
the Ann Arbor Police Department
had jurisdiction over the University
and thus University crimes were
separated and counted accordingly."
This statement is misleading.
Before jurisdiction split, AAPD
identified crimes occurring on
campus property, and did not
necessarily specify which of those
crimes were University Crimes" or
which were off-campus involving
students. It is still current protocol
for off-campus crimes involving
students not to be categorized in a
specific way. I suggest your writer
confirm facts before publication.
The editorial accused DPS of
being too caught up with the idea of
catching and punishing a person
who committed a crime against a
student. If the writer was a crime
victim, would they want action
taken against the assailant or rather
the issue be ignored? Catching
criminals and crime prevention go
hand-in-hand. If criminals face
consequences for victimization,
then others may rethink committing
a crime. If no action is taken, what
prevents someone else from doing
the same?
Crime prevention is a focal point
at the Department of Public Safety.
They work with several student and
staff groups determining ways to
provide a safe environment on
campus. Crime prevention efforts
include crime awareness
presentations to student groups,
residence halls and new student
organizations. In the past year they
sponsored free bicycle registrations
and vehicle engraving to deter cars
and bikes from being stolen. DPS
provides engraving equipment in

each residence hall so students can
mark their valuables to prevent
theft. They also implemented
bicycle patrol so officers can get to
parts of campus not accessible by
car. These are just a few of
numerous services community
members can utilize to help prevent
crime.
The Daily repeatedly declines
DPS attempts to provide crime
prevention information through its
publication. Since the paper is a
major medium for students to hear
about services, the Daily's lack of
cooperation has not been helpful
with crime prevention efforts.
Your writer remarks about the
non-professionalism found at DPS.
Officers intensively train and
consistently rank among the best in
all categories at the Washtenaw
County Police Academy. Un-
professionalism is hardly a word I
would choose to describe such an
outstanding record and proven
ability.
A few weeks before publication
of your negative editorial against
DPS, the Daily wrote an editorial
praising the fact that campus crime
statistics declined. The Daily
appears inconsistent in its position,
and critical of its own reporting.
The Department of Public Safety
strives to continue providing
valuable services to the University
community. In the future, I hope the
Daily and DPS work together in
fighting crime on this campus.
Editor's note: The Daily has
not written an editorial praising the
Department of Public Safety for a
decline in campus crime statistics.
The article the author refers to was
a column written by Amitava
Mazumdar entitled "Looking back
on 'No cops, no code!"' (9/14/94),
and does not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the Daily.

Margulus is an LSA senior.

College Rotdupd

U' supports Adelman
To the Daily:
Your recent editorial ("Whistled
Down," 10/4/93) criticizes the
University's support for Institute of
Gerontology Director Richard
Adelman during the Carolyn
Phinney lawsuit and urges the
University administration to take
action against him.
To the contrary, we believe that
Professor Adelman made an
appropriate and good-faith effort to
initiate an inquiry into a complex
situation.
WALTER HARRISON
Vice President for
University Relations
Student supports
Republican posters
To the Daily:
I am writing in support of the
College Republicans' recent poster
campaign concerning morality, and
to defend them against the
criticisms made by the Daily, James
Blenko, and Michelle Tepper in a
recent issue (10/20/93).
Both the editorial by the Daily

make the use and abuse of illegal
drugs safer and easier?
I will refrain from sex until I am
in a monogamous relationship
within the confines of marriage
with someone that I completely
,trust. And I will not, at any time,
use intravenous drugs, or any other
kind of illegal drugs for that matter.
I do not live in fear of AIDS. Can
you say the same?
ADAM McGRUTHER
LSA first-year student
Daily fails to cover
ROTC blood drive
To the Daily:
I am writing in response to your
recent front-page photograph (10/
18/93). I found it especially
humorous that you published this
photograph. At least you realized that
it needed no following article to go
along with it. This photo goes to
show that as long as you are a
practicing member of the liberal
left, you will get your name and
.photograph in the Daily. However, I
noticed a conspicuous lack of
coverage of the recent ROTC blood
drive. I don't recall seeing a front-

Somalia is nothing
like Vietnam War
To the Daily:
This letter is in response to a
cartoon published recently in the
Daily which tried to equate the
current situation in Somalia with
the Vietnam War.
The war in Vietnam was a battle
against the spread of communism.
Our presence in Somalia is
completely different. We are there
to save lives.
One of the few parallels that can
be drawn between the two is the
loss of American lives.
Unfortunately in Vietnam, many
soldiers didn't know why they were
risking their lives. On the other
hand, I'm sure that upon seeing the
dire conditions dominating urban
Somalia, American and U.N.
soldiers have no doubt that their
presence is urgently needed. How
can your compare the carnage that
took place there with the undeniable
good that our intervention in
Somalia is producing?
Is it worth losing one American
life to save 1,000 foreigners' lives?
I believe it is, and that's why I have
troubhle seeinig this humanitarian

The power to make a difference is
once again in the hands of students.
This year, seniors can leave a lasting
impression by providing the university
with an extended-hours reading room
in Pattee Hall.
Three choices grace the Class of
1994's ballot for class gift. Seniors can
vote for the reading room, "You Are
Here" campus maps, or a Career
Voicelink Telephone System in coop-
eration with Career Development and
Placement Services. Although all three

An extended-hours reading room
would provide students a service they
can't get elsewhere. The room would
have a computer lab and a general
reference section, and would increase
convenience by remaining open after
the rest of the library closes. Because
Pattee expansion would provide extra
opportunity to enhance all students'
educations, it is by far the best choice.
In contrast, the two other options
provide information that can easily be
found from other sources. The tele-

- similar to those in shopping malls
- might be attractive and convenient,
but anyone can easily look at a campus
map to find their way. The maps would
be more beneficial to visitors than stu-
dents, and anyone can just ask one of
more than 30,000 students (not to men-
tion staff and faculty) roaming the area
for directions.
But no matter which gift is chosen,
seniors should contribute more than
just their votes. The Class of 1993
tripled its original goal of $30,000 in
Adnticnnc The rkac of 1994. an heat