4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 19, 1994 bE Srilbigan & lg i i 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan UL2P. JOSH DuBow Editor in Chief ANDREW LEVY Editorial Page Editor 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. ( AND NOW 6KATINC-i.. 4NNCY KEA-.IAN { AII J Ll L LE HAMMER w NT ER. Oa .YIy.totG5 Protecting victims' rights U 'U' should support campus sexual assault bill i ER ecently a student at Michigan State was raped. It just so happened that this incident, and the tremendous traumatic, emotional, psychological, and physical suffering that went along with it, took place just before finals. The student took her exams and, as would be expected, did not do well. This "A" and "B" student was suddenly looking at something like a 1.7 grade point. After the semester ended, she spoke to one of her professors, explaining her crisis to him, hoping he would give her a way to raise her grade. But all he did was shake his head and say, "that's your problem." In the face of this and other such shocking stories, Governor John Engler's proposal to provide state- legislated policies for sexually assaulted victims brings welcome relief. The Michigan Campus Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights Act (MCSAVBR), a list of written policies protecting victims' rights, is to be taken up for consideration before the House Higher Education Committee. This Bill of Rights, if enacted, would require all state-aided higher educa- tion institutions to implement written policies that would enforce university protection for sexual as- sault victims. This bill would be crucial in providing victims with much needed help, care, and protection. Some of the requirements included in the bill would be that institutions inform alleged sexual assault survivors about available counseling or support group centers; to treat survivors with "seriousness and dignity"; and to give each student a copy of the Bill of Rights. The bill would also ensure that students have the right to report the crime, regardless of the "risk" to the school's reputation. Finally, under this legislation, institutions may not suggest that the crime was "somehow warranted by the individual." Many institutions, including the University, are opposed to the implementation of this bill. They are afraid of litigation, and afraid of having legal obliga- tions to their students. Western Michigan recently drafted a new document for its students that was written with wording almost identical to that in Engler's proposal. Most likely, this was done with the intention of rejecting the Governor's statewide, law-enforced plan by rationalizing that it does not need to implement that which it already has. The fact that these universities are trying to ward off this proposal is frightening - it suggests that they are more worried about being sued than they are about protecting their students. Rather than turning away, it is vital for the Uni- versity to applaud this proposal and to begin ac- knowledging not only that rape takes place, but also that rape victims need help. It is high time for the University to present students with their rights, and with the full truth of the crimes taking place on campus. Some questions still remain about the proposed bill, such as the time constraints on academic waiv- ers for students and which University officials have the right to make these waivers. But one thing remains certain: in a time when we all live in fear about a dangerous world-and at a time in which the number of sexual assaults keep rising -it is critical that we find a way to give sexual assault victims as much care and attention as possible. Sadly, this new proposal will not stop rape. But, at the very least, it will help victims, protecting them from further as- sault from an unsupportive and unfeeling Univer- sity. Black Americans should be thankful Equal care Clinton plan must include mental health coverage A recently released nationwide survey, led by University sociologist Dr. Ronald C. Kessler, estimates that approximately 48 percent of Ameri- cans have experienced or will experience a mental disorder sometime in their lives. This surprisingly high figure shows that there are many more people than previously thought who are vulnerable to the various symptoms of mental illness. This figure does not mean that all people with symptoms experience the severe disabilities that require prolonged hospitalization. However, it does reveal that many people are prone to problematic symptoms that can lower a person's normal capacity for functioning and impair one's perception of real- ity, among other things. It also reveals that mental disorders are not limited to such well-publicized cases asschizophreniaormanic-depression-rather, they can affect anyone, and for the most part, they lurk behind our collective consciousness. This study comes to our attention just as the national health care debate is heating up in Washing- ton. In light of the study's findings, and in the midst of the upcoming tumultuous political conflict be- tween competing lobbying groups around the health care issue, the conclusion should be clear: the new national health care plan must include coverage for mental health. Mental disorders need to have equal importance to physical ailments, which have usually been cov- ered by health care providers with less resistance, because both contribute to impairing one's normal functioning. Major depression or a serious personal- ity disorder can be severely debilitating, as it limits one's ability to function and be productive in daily life. Mental disorders have long been stigmatized, with disparaging phrases such as "it's all in your head" or "it's not a real disease," suggesting that the acquisition of mental illness is somehow a choice or a benign temporary setback. Other skeptics argue that because there is a limited amount of money available for health care, and because the health care fight will be brutal, Congress should funnel re- sources into the more 'serious' and 'preventable' physical diseases. In actuality, the only real differ- ence between purely physiological and psychologi- cal illness is that human physiological disorders or dysfunctions are more visible and more readily observable, while the psyche is not available to casual observation and analysis by the layperson. The American people and President Clinton must not allow mental health care to fall by the wayside, as compromises are thrown back and forth in the legislative process. Mental disorders are very real problems, and, the proposal to extend coverage most not be stripped from the original Clinton plan. It is time that we realize how many people suffer from mental illnesses, and how serious and urgent it is to cover mental disorders in the health plan, in order to relieve millions of suffering Americans. By ELDER LEVON YULIE In the next few weeks much will be said about the Black experience. I would like to join in the numerous voices, that will share their perspectives, relative to the Black experience. Here is my perspective. To say the least, the Black treasure from the cargo bay of the slave ships of the sixteen hundreds told a terrible story. This human cargo with manacled hands, and fettered feet, along with frightened eyes, and anguished groans, but only begin to tell the story of the experience that awaited these enslaved, wretched souls. The reality of the black slave, is most certainly among one of the darkest pages of American history. Human beings were relegated to the status of chattel. Abused, torn from their roots, sold like cattle, children snatched from parents' arms, and with no consideration for the broken hearts of despairing parents. Living in conditions that the master's pet did not have to endure. Poor diets, meager clothing and no education. It would appear that no people could survive such inhumane treatment, not even black slaves. But wait a minute, if we fast forward this terrible story, and look in on the descendants of these tormented slaves, what would we Yulie is Pastor of the Bible Church in Ypsilanti. Swim meet deserved attention To the Daily: It was a colossal match up, No. 1 in the country versus No 3. Fans had been camping out for the best seats, Dick Vitale was warming up his microphone and the campus was buzzing with "Will this be the year we finally beat them?" Unknown to most of the University, this weekend the No. 1 team in the country and defending national champions, the Stanford Cardinal, were in town to challenge the men's swimming and diving team. In my four years at Michigan I have run into many "sports fans" and most claim to be huge Michigan supporters. Yet if I ask them how many volleyball games, gymnastic meets, women's basketball games, track meets and swimming and diving meets they have been to, they usually mumble "none." What kind of sports fan is, that? Do only revenue sports count as being worth while of the attention of the students and the Daily? I saw last week there was one small article on the back page of the Dailyabout the upcoming contest. What great coverage! You have obviously recognized the importance of the meet with so many in-depth articles. There were current and future Olympic stars at this meet and those who did attend had a chance to develop an appreciation for the athlete who succeeds outside the spotlight. MATTHEW JAFFE LSA Senior Health care nackae see? Well, things are not totally as they should be. But wait a minute. Is that a black executive setting at the table with a white staff? Is that a black Mayor, with white people subordinate to him? Is that a black great granddaughter of a slave, teaching white children in a southern college? And most certainly that could not be a black millionaire with a white chauffeur. And could that be a black, serving as the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the American Armed Forces? Is it true that thousands of black progenies of slaves, now live in beautiful homes, drive expensive cars and do things their ancestors never dreamed of in their wildest dream. What happened? Well, what happened? Did the slaves organize in regiment splendor, and with guns blazing, and sabers flaying, conquer their white American oppressors? Were there ten thousand Nate Turners raging through slave quarters of this land freeing all the slaves? If the answer is no, well what did happen? What happened is that the mighty hand of God moved upon the hearts of a group of men (White) in 1776 (Declaration of Independence) to write a document that said all men are created equal. Another document was forged in 1787 called the Constitution. Ultimately this document was amended, and its Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments said slavery was wrong. President Lincoln reaffirmed the slaves' right to freedom in the Emancipation Proclamation. And a great black man named Martin Luther King, chose these three documents as his instruments of warfare. He so skillfully used these instruments, until many barriers of discrimination were toppled. And hundreds of thousands of black people moved into the ranks of middle class. As never before many young black people need to hear this side of the black experience of our sojoorn to America. In the last twenty years Dr. King's dream has been marred by some African American leaders who became apologists for riots, gang violence and host of other social ills plaguing our black communities under the guise of the racially oppressive or poor. This is tragic, because it gave many of our young people an excuse to fail. When in fact the record will show that the overwhelming majority of blacks in America, who are now successful, rose above poverty and racism to become successful. The annals of history have very few, if any epics any more astonishing than that of Black Americans, who now find cause as myself to now say, "Thank God for America." This is my perspective. Goodman puts it, "The end result of the abortion wars has been a two- tiered system. One for the poor, one for the rest. One that is public, and the other private." 1994 will be another watershed year in the history of reproductive rights. By including abortion coverage in a standard package of universal health care benefits, President Clinton and members of Congress have the opportunity to make reproductive choice a reality for all women. The alternative - a national health care package that excludes public funding for abortions - would continue the separate and unequal treatment of lower-income women now in place. It's up to us to make sure that our president and legislators do not make concessions in the health care debate that would compromise the rights of the poor. In order to establish a truly universal health care system, we must advocate a benefit package that extends reproductive health coverage, with all its options, to all women. REV. JODI BUSHDIECKER ATWOOD Co-Minister Guild House Campus Ministry Money is not the answer in fight against AIDS To the Daily: I believe Mark Chasteen's letter (as well as a few laughable obscene phone calls) begs a response. It would seem that Mark misinterpreted my statements coAncerningcrAID)S fu1nding 2as a yourselves be blinded to simple facts and answers. Both of your letters superficially appear to be cold, scientific analyses of fact and reason. But I'm afraid their content gives them away for what they really are: nothing more than political fear- mongering. i As far as the acceptability of mass suffering and death, let's face it, none of us is God. We can't eliminate suffering from the face of the earth. While I don't mean that we shouldn't try, we need to be ready to accept the fact that mommy can't fix everything. Now for the biggie. I find it amusing that you compare AIDS to teenage drinking. In your words, AIDS has the "potential for an exponential increase in new cases." For all his faults, at least a teen drunk driver isn't a "potential for an exponential increase in new cases." Finally, thank you to all of the people who are responsible for the prank phone calls. Many thanks to you for confirming my veracity TOBY BREVITi LSA first-year student King's dream included everyone To the Daily: Martin Luther King fought for equal rights for all people. His dream wasn't exclusionary. If we make the. - celebration of his birthday an Africa* American issue, we betray his vision of civil liberties. The wide variety of symposiums offered by the University is the one time each year when we step back and recognize all ethnic groups. If MLK day is dedicated to only one group's agenda College Roundup k The new semester has brought new rules to campus. A smoking ban is now in effect that prohibits lighting up in any "enclosed space, regardless of lo- cation," including areas directly out- side campus buildings. The policy also includes all campus vehicles. The only safe havens for smokers are in "specifi- cally designated private residential space and hotel rooms," according to the policy implemented Jan. 1. The decision to outlaw smoking on University grounds came from the Board of Trustees, which unanimously voted in favor of the ban. The conces- ban and cited a 1993 report to support the proposal. The report stated that secondhand smoke is a Class A (hu- man) carcinogen. While it is proven and undisputed that smoking is not a healthy habit, it is a legal right of all citizens who are 18 or older. No bureaucracy should be able to vote on whether to strip it away. If the University is so concerned with doing right by nonsmokers, then adequate alternatives should be pro- vided for smokers. Healthy U is taking a positive step by providing a series of programs to aid in stifling the habit, but manner and magnitude" as those who violate other University regulations. But no clear punishment has been re- vealed. Further, there are even stipula- tions for going outside to smoke. No one can smoke outside University build- ings within a minimum of 25 feet, and officials could require a greater dis- tance if they feel it necessary. It seems this ban has no limit on its absurdity. Who is going to enforce this rule or measure 25 feet? Also, if the rule is to be taken with any seriousness, a uni- form distance should be set for all buildings.