The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 19, 1994 - 25
telephone calls to (eventually) the
ousing Security office they get
even or eight reports a semester of
such problems, but that most
roommate dispute claims like that
would be handled at the individual
dorm level. I would guess that most
students know of someone who was
unable to use their room for some
period of time because a roommate
was engaged in sexual activity. All
of that sexual activity would be
illegal under the statutes Regent
Baker urges be used by the
University. He wishes to make
felons out of most of the University
population if he wants the law to be
strictly enforced.
The obsession with restroom sex
of Regent Baker, and by implication
the Daily which wrote the longest
Story of the year on this topic, is
unwarranted and nonsensical. It
bothers me not where sexual
activity takes place, whether its on a
lovers lane just off north campus or
in a rest room in the middle of
campus, but rather whether I have
to be a witness to sexual activity. If
sexual activity is occurring where
others have to see it, then they
should complain to those involved
no matter where it occurs. I suspect
that is not the case in the restroom
sex issue, that if it is occurring it is
happening in a secretive and furtive
manner without others there to
witness it. Such activity is as
unimportant to me as the proverbial
tree falling in the forest when no
one is there. Perhaps we can send
Regent baker on a fact finding
mission to witness that tree.
DAVID PIONTKOWSKY
LSA student
Morality is an issue in
abortion debate
To the Daily:
In his letter to the Daily which
ran April 4, Bill Malone presents a
defense of the recent Pennsylvania
legislation which places regulations
on abortion.
I will not go into a lengthy
discourse on the subject, but rather
point out that there are a few
statements in the letter which are
not wholly accurate.
First, it's unclear what Malone
is referring to when he asserts that
parents' consent are required for
stitches. If a child busts his or her
forehead open, does Malone think
that nothing can be done until the
parents are reached (and their
consent is obtained)? "I'm sorry,
Tommy, but we're going to have to
let you bleed to death, since your
parents are on vacation in Europe."
For the most part, malpractice
suits occur in cases where consent
has been given, but something is
deemed awry. This, then, cannot be
considered a point in favor of the
legislation.
Whichever side you stand on in
the abortion debate, it would be
folly to deny that the issue of
morality is not a big part of the
"debate. The issue of having "the
patient's best interest at heart"
implies that the law was passed to
help the patient, rather than to cater
to religious lobbyists (or, more
simply, as the result of anti-
abortion legislators succeeding in
pushing through some restrictions).
This is all that needs to be
understood about this legislation-a
t bundle of restrictions. No grandiose
reason behind the legislation need
be imputed.
LOREN SHEVITZ
RC Senior
What are the real reasons
for SAT bias?
To the Daily:
Ms. Twenge, you seem to have
hit on some very interesting points
about the SAT.
However, before you crucify
ETS for writing a biased test
perhaps you should consider more
carefully the real reasons why
women, minor ties and the poor do
statistically worse on the SAT.
Areas with more money can
afford better schools with better
college prep programs. School
districts with less money are not as
capable at producing students who
are well prepared for entrance
exams. Also, because many of
America' minnritipe are
blame on an imperfect world where,
hopefully, everyday people
everywhere are taking steps to
correct the problems of racial,
sexual and economic inequality.
That is we have scholarships
directed toward minorities, the poor
and women. Until such a time when
we are truly equal, universities must
use the best tools available to
determine who is the best and the
brightest.
JOSEPH TIRRELL
LSA junior
Toy gives thanks
To the Daily:
It's been a great year! Thanks
to Regents McGowan and Deitch
and all others who voted for the
amendment of Regental Bylaw
14.06 to include sexual orientation
as a category protected from
discrimination. And to the 14.06
Task Force for their
recommendations in support of the
rights of the lesbigay members of
our campus community, and in
particular to School of Dentistry
Dean J. Bernard Machen for his
leadership of the Task Force. And
to Mark Zawisa, president of
Galens Medical Society, for his
timely and positive response to
concerns raised about the
homophobic content of the recent
Galen's smoker, and to all others
who offered their help in this
matter. And to the Daily reporters
and editorial staff who have been so
supportive of the lesbigay
constituency this year and for so
many years in the past. And to the
graduating students who have
contributed so much to our
community and to LGMBPO. And
to all defenders of our human and
civil liberties. Finally, for those
who would deny us equal rights,
especially supporters of the
statewide antigay ballot initiative:
liberty and justice are not a piece of
heterosexual property; they are part
of freedom's estate. That estate
knows no sole owner: we are all
entitled to share in that inheritance.
JIM TOY
Co-Coordinator, Lesbian-Gay Male-
Bisexual Programs Office (LGMPO)
Only Clinton is to blame
To the Daily:
"No one can figure out what the
Clinton administration's foreign
policy objectives are or what it
wants to accomplish in a number of
crises and conflagrations across the
globe. This is a frightening
development and a threat to peace
and stability ... Either Secretary [of
State Warren] Christopher should
be dismissed or the White House
should increase the attention the
President gives to issues of national
security." (Daily, 4/12).
It seems ironic that Clinton
became president in part because of
a pledge to focus on domestic issues
instead of on international issues,
and now is drawing criticism
because he is not spending enough
time on international issues. Or
was it that long ago that we were
told that the number one issue of
importance to Americans was the
economy?
I remember being extremely
disappointed at the lack of debate
about international issues during the
'92 election campaign. Perhaps now
we see the results of this lack of
discussion: our government finds
itself seemingly adrift in the world
of international affairs, with
policies that seem to change minute
by minute. We all bear some
measure of responsibility for this
state of affairs in that we allowed
the candidates in '92 to ignore
international affairs.
And while Secretary Christopher
and other White House officials do
bear some measure of blame for this
situation, the majority of the blame
must lie with President Clinton. In
one of the presidential debates, in
response to then-President Bush's
statement that James Baker would
be in charge of foreign policy,
Clinton stated that he would be
personally in charge of his
administration's foreign policy.
(Some may remember Bush's
retort: "That's exactly what I'm
worried about.") If indeed Clinton
is in charge, he must bear the
responsibility for this sad state of
affairs.
. . _ _ .r u
Michigan Daily has sought to
distort information which resulted
in a portrayal of my country as
nothing more than a nation run by
dictators, who have no other
business than oppressing its
citizens. I feel that the public should
know the truth before passing
judgment.
I refer to your article that was
published on the 13th of April,
1994. To set the records straight,
Michael Peter Fay was not visiting
his relatives at the time of his
offense. Rather, he had been
residing in Singapore for the past
two years and had been receiving
his education in the Singapore
American School.
About the case
Eighteen year-old Fay,
deliberately and willfully
vandalized 18 motor vehicles on a
10-day rampage. Amongst other
things, he threw eggs at cars,
switched their license plates, kept
stolen national flags, taxi signs and
various other sign boards. He was
caught and charged with 52 counts
of vandalism and mischief. He
admitted to 24 of them and was
acquitted for the remaining 28. He
pleaded guilty to two counts of
vandalism, two counts of mischief
and one count of dishonestly
retaining stolen property.
For that, he was sentenced to
four months' jail, a $2200 fine and
six strokes of the cane. He is
currently seeking for clemency
from the President of Singapore.
About the Judicial System in
Singapore
The Singapore judicial system
has a just and transparent legal
process. It seeks to protect the
public from anti-social behaviors
committed by criminals and
delinquents alike. This process does
not and cannot apply different
standards to persons subjected to
the same law. Fay was not the first
teenager nor foreigner to be given
the sentence of caning for
vandalism. Thirteen Singaporeans
and two foreigners, aged between
18 and 21, have been given similar
sentences for vandalism previously.
Furthermore, Fay was given every
chance to defend himself with
representation by counsel of his
choice.
About Life in Singapore
I am not sure if I will be able to
convince the die-hard ignorants, but
Singapore is not a nation of
oppressed inhabitants being ruled
by dictators.
An oppressed nation is not one
where its citizens enjoy one of the
highest living standards in the
world. Singapore enjoys a clean and
safe environment in which to live
and bring up their kids. They enjoy
such freedom as to walk safely
along any street at anytime of the
day. They have the free right to
vote. In terms of their dreams and
aspirations, they have only
themselves to limit their goals. An
oppressed nation cannot have one
of the world's largest per-capita
national reserves. Furthermore, no
truly "oppressed" citizen would
voluntarily come forward to defend
the actions ofvthe "oppressor" (the
Singapore government), as I am
doing now.
In the eyes of many Americans,
a one-party government, such as the
one we have, may seem like a sure
bet to a dictatorship. But it must be
brought to one's attention that since
independence in 1965, to date, this
single-party has led Singapore with
sound economic policies, built on a
sturdy foundation of law and order,
to become a vibrant industrial and
financial city-center of the East.
Free elections, without corruption
nor chaos, are held every four years
so that citizens can decide who they
want to govern their lives and
future.
In Retrospect
In this "global" world, it is all
too easy for nations to begin
imposing their standards and beliefs
on other nations, especially so,
when the initiator is a large and
powerful nation. Global
understanding and tolerance are
imperative in promoting
international harmony and
cohesion. Foreigners visiting any
country should always conduct
themselves with integrity and in a
responsible manner. Without
exception to any nationality, race or
creed, any persons arriving on the
shores of Singonnnre shouild alwav
of 17, every male citizen is trained
to carry arms to defend our
homeland (unless he has a valid
reason to postpone his enlistment),
such inane acts as spray-painting
and throwing eggs at cars, cannot
possibly be passed off as
"schoolboy-pranks". Just as I am
obliged to observe American laws,
people who reside in foreign
countries must make it a point to
familiarize themselves with the
different cultures and laws of the
country. This obligation lies with
them. He or she should bear all
responsibilities for his or her
actions. And no one else.
TAN, ENG SIM
President, Singapore Students'
Association
Congrats Greek Woman of
the Year
To The Daily:
I had the distinguished
opportunity to work closely with
this year's Greek Woman of the
Year, Colleen Sirhal, for the last six
months. I feel that no other
individual deserves this honor as
much as Colleen. She is thoughtful,
understanding and above all an
extremely hard worker. Between
her involvement on the Panhellenic
Association to her two years of
service to Greek Week, she has
done it all! I know that the Greek
system will be hard pressed to find
anybody who can compare with
what Colleen has done with her
years here at the University of
Michigan.
BRAD KOCH
LSA Senior
Mason Hall story raises
many serious questions
To the Daily:
I have several problems with the
article on sex in the Mason Hall
bathrooms (April 11).
First of all, I am surprised that
Jim Toy would say that because of
society, "men are forced into these
areas" for sex. Since he is the co-
ordinator of LGMBiPO, he should
know of many other resources for
gay men to meet each other in Ann
Arbor otherthan anonymous sex in
the Mason Hall bathrooms. If a gay
person who is not yet out read this
article, they would be led to believe
that "The University does not
provide the gay community here
with a safe enough environment
where we would feel comfortable
meeting other people publicly." The
LGMBiPO has names and phone
numbers of many resources other
than public rest rooms. There are
social and support groups for
everybody, and even if one doesn't
meet the man of their dreams at one
of those groups, they can meet
people who know other people and
eventually meet a lot of gay people
to have possible relationships with.
I feel that the Michigan Daily
should have explained that there are
indeed many other options for gay
students in Ann Arbor other that
anonymous sex.
Second of all, I cannot
understand how Eastern Michigan
University solved this problem, but
the University of Michigan cannot.
Why don't they just do what EMU
did?
Also, I cannot understand why
Regent Deane Baker is so
concerned about this problem. He is
the one regent who desperately
wants to get rid of all the gay social
and support groups on campus, and
then wonders how to stop sex in the
bathrooms.
Furthermore, what's with
Maureen A. Hartford, vice president
for student affairs, saying, "I'm still
relatively new to U-M ... It would
be difficult for me to comment on a
situation I know nothing about."
Excuse me, but I can't think of any
other job where after two and a half
years you can still use the excuse
that you are new. How long do they
let people work here before they're
expected to know something?
There are other ways to meet
men than in a public bathroom. I
believe that two consenting adults
should be allowed to do anything
they want in private, but once they
take sex into a public place, they are
violating other people's rights. If
you are just coming out, try
checking out the LGMBiPO or
signing on to the LGM computer
conference or calling the Ann Arbor
branch of Parents and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG) or
going to the Nectarine Ballroom on
Boy's Night Out. The Michigan
Daily may not report these
alternatives, but they exist.
KEVIN RUTKOWSKI
Engineering Senior
Write the Daily
Read the Daily
Recycle the Daily
Write for
the
Summer
Daily
If you are going
to be spending
your summer
bummin'
around Ann
Arbor, why not
write for the
Daily?
If you are
interested give
us a call at
76-DAILY or
stop by 420
Maynard.
Ask for:
News- Ronnie
or Lisa
Arts- John or
Ted
Sports- Ryan
Editorial- Pat
or Jason
I 1
LS&A COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION
April 30, 1994
MICHIGAN STADIUM (Rain or Shine)
12:00 NOON
Ticlket
lsiirlbeut iona
Students will receive 10 tickets each. Distrihution will take
place from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., beginning Monday, April
25 through Thursday, April 28.
LSA DEVELOPMENT
350 SOUTH THAYER
(Corner of North University and Thayer)
Lower Level, below Comerica Bank
** Please remember that all students must wear academic dress to
participate in Commencement.
II