4 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 3, 1994 ,A-d& A& -A&.1 'W INVWAWW 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan JESSIE HALLADAY Editor in Chief SAMGOODSTEm FuNTr WAMESS Editorial Page Editors Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of a majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters, and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. s i i Installing emergency phones in the Arb is necessary 'Cloquet hated reality but realized It was still the only place to get a good steak.' -Woody Allen Writer and producer 6 5I 65,1, -5 4511 yr - - - - iE~i. Tuition hikes in Regents' court The University's Department of Public. Safety (DPS) recently announced plans to install emergency phone services to users of the Nichols Arboretum-- affectionately known to most of us as the Arb - and the University's Matthei Botanical Gardens. Although the installation of these call boxes, which act as "the equivalent of 911," has been temporarily delayed due to technical difficulties, the University is to be com- mended for finally responding to ancient pleas to address some of the remaining safety problems on campus. Already implemented everywhere from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to New York's arterial highways, the University is slowly catching up with technological evo- lution. Installing the emergency phones on a "test basis," the University plans to install just two of these call boxes in the Arb and one in the Botanical Gardens. Reliable, in- expensive and user-friendly, the phones provide an economically feasible solution -at least in the short term - for the University to respond to sexual assault on campus, while simultaneously benefiting the campus community. In addition, DPS also benefits from the heightened accessi- bility and increased communication to these remote areas of campus. Providing emer- gency phones is a simple step that provides only positives. Fortunately the University is acting - albeit modestly - on this rare opportunity, which will hopefully precede a broader implementation of the phones, and more importantly, a more extensive response to the prevalent feelings of insecurity and vulnerability pervading the campus. According to University officials and campus organizations such as the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC), the outlook is positive. SAPAC Director Debi Cain believes that "there is in fact progress being made toward campus safety via Campus Safety Committee and an ad hoc advisory group convened by Maureen Hartford." Over a year ago, in the fall of 1992, a female jogger was raped in the Arboretum during broad daylight. Quite possibly due to insufficient safety mea- sures, her cries for help went unheard and unanswered. Had she been able to contact DPS, or anyone for that matter, the assault might have been prevented, or at least help might have arrived sooner. Finally, her screams for help are being heard. Although progress has been slow, the University has begun to follow through on a pledge to improve campus safety - made following several incidents that occurred earlier this year. In addition to the call boxes, outdoor lights have been installed, specifically in the Law Quad, to improve visibility and security. Granted, a perfectly safe campus is unrealistic in this imperfect world. But any attempts to achieve this ideal are to be loudly and heartily applauded. It must be remembered however, that this is merely a stepping stone to the greater goal of universal security. By STATE REPS. LYNN RIVERS AND MARY SCHROER While we agree with the sentiment embodied in the Daily's Jan. 7 editorial calling upon the Legislature to impose a "salary diet" for University administrators, we must point out that legislation could not produce the Daily's desired result. The Michigan Constitution of 1963 (and prior constitutions dating back to 1850) gives sole administrative power over the University's operations to the Board of Regents. Article 8, Section 5 provides: "Each board shall have the general supervision of its institution and the control and direction of all expenditure's from the institution's funds." Because the power of the Board of Regents is constitutionally derived, legislative action alone, without a constitutional amendment approved by the voters, would be ineffective. The authority of the regents is broad, exclusive Rivers represents Michigan's 53rd District and Schroer the 52nd District. and comprehensive. It extends to all aspects of the operation of the University and its property. Various attempts over the years by the Legislature to impose policies on the University over its objection have failed because of this extensive authority. These have included attempts to limit the numbers of out- of-state students, to set out-of-state tuition rates, and to limit building construction (Regents vs. State of Michigan, 1973). Our courts have also ruled that the constitutional. authority of the regents extends to sole authority over tuition and determination of residence (Schmidt vs. Regents, 1975). The grant of "general supervision" and "direction and control of all expenditures" includes non-educational spheres as well: Michigan United Conservation Clubs vs. Trustees of MSU (1988) upheld MSU's prohibition on hunting or fishing on non-campus property owned by the university over objections that such a policy conflicted with legislative acts and Department of Natural Resources policy; Regents vs. State ofMichigan (1988) struck down the law precluding University investments in organizations operating in South Africa because it violated the constitutional autonomy of the Regents. Just as these legislative attempts to direct university policy over property management and investments have failed because they invade the regents' sole authority over "direction and control of all expenditures," so, too, would legislation to impose salary increase caps. The regents have sidestepped the issue of their responsibility for the raises by laying the blame for them at President Duderstadt's doorstep. Whatever administrative authority the president has is derived solely from the constitutional authority of the regents, and what the regents have given the president the regents may also take away. Should the regents so desire, there is no question that a decision by them to impose a administrative pay raise cap would be enforceable. And it is to those regents that faculty and students should direct their concerns. Hollywood meets the Holocaust Lately, there has been growing interest in the Holocaust. From the opening of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., to Bradley Smith's Holocaust revisionism bullshit to Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List," many have begun showing increasing interest in the massive genocide of over six million Jews, gypsies, political prisoners, etc. known as the Holocaust. I saw "Schindler's List" a few weeks ago. I went with my friend Kevin Weiner, who's Jewish. We're both taking a history course entitled "The Holocaust" taught by Prof. Todd Endelmen. With what little general knowledge I have about the Holocaust I expected some not- too-nice scenes. However, nothing prepared me for some of the scenes, many of which are still burned into my memory. The sobering aspect of the scenes is that these things really happened. People, young and old, were shot, beaten, degraded and humiliated by Nazi soldiers in this movie, and all this, and hideously much more, really happened just over a half- century ago. What really amazes me is that for all the rich special effects utilized to make this movie as realistic as possible, not even Hollywood could capture this event in full. None of the usual Hollywood "embellishments" were even nearly realistic enough when compared with the stories of Jews who lived, and miraculously survived, the true nightmare of the Holocaust. A Holocaust so hideous that its progenitor, Hitler, will be forever looked upon as Satan incarnate, so destructive that it leaves scars upon the hearts of men never to be healed, so inhumane that God Himself cried sweet tears of cooling rain and Mother Earth shook from the weight of her sobs. I remember looking away from the movie screen many times, overcome by the gruesome scenes before me. I also began to worry about my friend, Kevin. If I couldn't take looking at these scenes then surely he couldn't either. But, he was watching. Eyes unblinking, Kevin watched every scene. I don't remember seeing tears, but I do remember the blank expressions on his face. It was as if he were trying to rationalize the inhumane destruction of an entire generation of people - his people. For all the facts which support the Holocaust, there are still people who stubbornly refute the Holocaust's existence. Perhaps these people are going through a very strong case of denial and can't yet cope. Perhaps they are just really bored and have nothing better to do. Whatever the reason(s), all I can say is pray for them. The Holocaust is a painful reminder, also, of the holocausts of many different ethnic groups, including Blacks, Native Americans, Asians, Latinos and' women. The Holocaust is also a symbolic reminder of the tortures, both physical and mental, and many times rivaling the ordeals of Auschwitz and Dachau, which have affected these groups as well. I dedicate this, my first column, to myfrienddKevin. I dedicate it to Prof. Endelmen in hopes that his teachings of the Holocaust may pass from the 200 in his classroom to the 4 billion of the world. I dedicate it to the. 6 million dead. victims h° S0, Blockading clinics Court rules against violent The National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Clinton administration savored the sweet taste of long-awaited vic- tory last week as the Supreme Court im- parted a landmark decision endorsing the progress of abortion rights. After fruitless attempts with the lower courts, who had thrown out the class-action lawsuit that at- tempted to indict the pro-life forces from Operation Rescue and other militant anti- choice groups under anti-racketeering leg- islation, the high court ruled that protesters who block access to abortion clinics or in any way conspire to stop women from hav- ing abortions may be sued under an already- existing racketeering law. The decision, satisfying the anxious an- ticipations of the nation's pro-choice advo- cates, permits federal courts to terminate illegal protests at practicing clinics. Con- trary to the moot free-speech concerns brought up by some anti-choice supporters, this is not a case about curtailing activism. This is a case that centers on whether lawful citizens should be able to exercise their legal right to have an abortion, free from physical harassment. According to the Supreme Court's deci- sion, anti-choice groups and individuals sued successfully for their actions can be forced to pay three times the price of their conse- quent damages. The leaders of anti-abortion groups successfully sued for illegal conduct can be singled out and sued as conspirators even if they are physically absent when felonious acts occur. The decision also means that federal judges may enforce federal Racketeer Influ- enced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) legislation in order to cast injunctions against the blocking of access to abortion clinics or conspiracies to prevent women from obtain- ing abortions. "pro-life" conspirators disturbances, rioting and protests that have become both verbally and physically vio- lent. Abortion seekers, clinic workers and medical professionals have been made tar- gets of attack by the voices and hands of rallying abortion opponents. Last year, Dr. David Gunn of Pensacola, Fla., was gunned down by an anti-abortion extremist because of his involvement in abortion practices. These events catalyzed NOW's fervent push for the criminalization of such anti-abortion actions, actions that maliciously infringe on an individual's rights. An enraged opposition to the court's decision comes from members of Operation Rescue and similar organizations who be- lieve that the government is attempting to stifle their cause by denying them the op- portunity to protest freely. Angered, they accuse the government of trying to elimi- nate "pro-life" ideology by outlawing forms of their civil disobediences. The court's decision has not impounded "pro-life" activities and by no means has outlawed a "pro-life" ideology. This is sim- ply a progressive move to protect individu- als who have the lawful right to obtain an abortion. The decision does not constitu- tionally violate personal rights or dictate the conformity of a civil ideology. It is merely the line that needed to be drawn between making a point and going too far. Anti- choice disciples have every right to express and no one is telling them they can't. However, they now have guidelines that they are required to follow in order to guar- antee an individual's protection against ver- bal and active violence. It is a sign of hope for our nation that the judiciary can place a roadblock in front of the imposed morality certain special inter- est groups wish to promote. The ruling was not only a victory for NOW, it was a victory I wanna be on Jean's team By ROBERT WRAY Regardless of papers, exams and research, I grab the Daily every Tuesday and Thursday. On Thursdays I plan my weekends with the paper (thankful for Cinema Guild) and, on Tuesdays, I look for Jean Twenge. It could be simply because we both migrated from similar places (states that begin with the letter 'T') to the urban North and then to Ann Arbor at the same time, but, since I read the first one last September, I have enjoyed Twenge's columns - and her insights. I recognized her dismay in finding home a place that really isn't home anymore. Or the joy of escaping the confines of academia for a fleetingsbut liberating weekend. And especially closely, I thought her observations were consistent with my own -- the media, fueled by our society's voracious fascination with perfection, does seem ready to crucify anyone who challenges conventional stereotypes (just take a look at what Michael Jackson has had to endure). But the responses to her column seemed particularly severe. Football may have rules 'against intentional injuries but I doubt there are many coaches (and players and fans) who would lose sleep over a clip that took out an opposing team's star player fortthe rest of the game. Twenge doesn't display a lack of. knowledge of football's involved" in Kerrigan's attack. However, by accusing Twenge of intolerance and hypocrisy (admittedly less directly than the byline suggests), it was actually Mr. Jacobs' letter that induced me to respond. In the columns I have read, Twenge has always struck- me as a keen observer and a seeker, asking why instead of proposing inviolate rules, searching for explanations in a confusing world rather than forcing her own interpretations upon her readers. Her openness to wonder rules out intolerance; her willingness to search for answers instead of pulpitting someone else's makes the accusation of hypocrisy almost laughable. "