4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 18, 1994 aijz idi wu Nlg 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan JESSIE HALLADAY Editor in Chief SAm GOODSTEIN FLINT WAINESS 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. Lab fee hikes 11 don't know.' - Tonya Harding when asked by a Multnomah County (Ore.) judge if she had any emotional or psychological problems MARCH MADNESS Biology students get sacked The biology department's recent decision to counter a shortfall in funds by increas- ing lab fees from $25 to $70 leaves questions about how these new revenues will be spent. The department claims that the lab fees are necessary to cover consumable supplies, equipment maintenance and new devices for the laboratory. However, there is no guaran- tee that biology students' money will be used for lab expenses once it has entered the black hole of department funds. The biology department has stressed that the funds will go directly to laboratory ex- penses. Jack Warner, the administrative man- ager of the department, claims that the fees are necessary to offset the rising enrollment in biology courses. According to Warner, the biology department needs the increase in rev- enue to offset a 44 percent rise in enrollment. However, suspicions about the final destina- tion of the funds have been raised by the Senate Assembly Committee on University Affairs (SACUA), which is currently inves- tigating the issue. Specifically, SACUA is looking into the possibility that the fee in- crease is an attempt by the University to avoid a formal raise in tuition. The decision to use lab fees to keep the biology department's budget balanced comes just after the Budget Study Committee (BSC), which has been studying the costs of higher education, declared the University "on the high end" in both current tuition and the rate of tuition increase among the top 12 major public research universities in the country. The committee suggested that the University should slow its rate of tuition increases. If the biology department truly intends to Mail with a $ 45 rise in lab fees devote its lab fees to lab expenditures, then it should issue a guarantee to this effect. Despite assertions from department offi- cials, no one has issued this guarantee. The reason, perhaps, is that the department hopes to use the lab fees to fund its extensive research program and not the intended lab supplies. If this is, in fact, the case, then the department should obtain the necessary rev- enue from the University's general fund, which is supported by tuition rates. It is understandable that the University would not want to increase its tuition rates to support its research after the Budget Study Committee labeled it as one of the most expensive schools in the country. However, imposing an undue burden on biology stu- dents is an unfair solution. One thing the University can do to better handle their budget to avoid unnecessary increases in student costs and decrease their reputation as excessively expensive is to fol- low the BSC's recommendation that the university increase its tuition according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of annual inflation. It is inevitable that tu- ition must be raised, but tieing those in- creases to the CPI, as the BSC suggested, is the most sound and realistic way to deter- mine the rate of that increase. The University must make changes in the ways it gathers and allots funds and in its budget at large to ensure that the burden of research costs are not unfairly laid on a spe- cific group of students, biology students in this case. Research is an important part of this university, but making sure that students get the most for their money is as basic as the future of this university. LETTERS Transfer is loathsome in any direction To the Daily: "Transfer" is an innocent word made ominous in recent years by extremists who have called for the deportation of Arabs from Israel. It is an abhorrent idea to most people, and with good reason. It is therefore surprising to hear the editors of The Michigan Daily calling for the relocation of Jews living in the occupied territories to "the legal state of Israel" ["Hebron Massacre" 3/4/94]. Many of us have long advocated an independent Palestinian state in the land which was illegally occupied by Jordan from 1948-1967 and which was illegally occupied by Israel from 1967 to the present. But why should Jews be barred from residence in such a state? The idea of "transfer" is no less loathsome in one direction than in the other. MICHAEL BROOKS Director of Hillel Music causes problems To the Daily: Your column on March 8 seemed to miss a glaring possibility on why our generation is having such problems. I strongly disagree with your view that the music is simply inspired by our problems. Instead, the music is causing many of the problems. Humans learn from example, and if music talks of violence, then what are impressionable kids supposed to think? I am not supporting the '80s period of music either, but I can tell you that if you listen to many styles of music present since the Civil War, you will find the current one is the most violent. Furthermore, it is people like you who are giving our generation such a bad reputation. Yes, I understand the statistics, but if you take the time to listen to people who are members of previous generations, you you will hear our's referred to as a group of whiners. That is exactly what you are doing in these last two articles. So stop whining, and do something about the problems. I intend to do this, and I challenge anyone who is brave enough to stand up to the stereotypes this generation has acquired (many well deserved) and do something worthwhile other than listen to bad music. NATHANIEL HANSEN Engineering first-year student A different celebration To the Daily: I appreciate the Daily's recognition of the collaborative effort of students, University, city, police, and our merchants in coordinating a safe and fun celebration in conjunction with our basketball team's "Road to the Final Four" ("No instant Replay" 3/15/94). But, I must stress - this is a collaborative effort. No single organization or person is sponsoring our upcoming programs. Jarman Davis and myself are the student coordinators of Michigan Madness '94, but it is by no means our project. Building upon our success last year, we know that such an effort can only succeed if it is everyone's project - every group involved wants our team to win and we all want to celebrate in the most fun and safe way. It is with such thought that all of our respective groups are meeting to plan the Michigan Madness '94 celebration. I look forward to seeing all of you at our first events on Thursday. The basketball games will be shown in the Tap Room of the Union and in the North Campus Commons. If anyone is interested in helping plan these events or has any questions, please call the Michigan Madness '94 In the regents' court Regents should change SSRR amendment process The Statement of Student Rights and Re- sponsibilities (SSRR) will not be amended through its student panelists, at least, not this term. A meeting Wednesday night fell a heart-wrenching two student panelists short of attracting the 26 necessary to formally consider amendments to the SSRR. This, the third failure of the SSRR's current amendment process, clearly shows that process is flawed. This leaves no other choice but for the University Board of Re- gents to take action on changing the SSRR themselves. Last month, the regents rightly voted to delay action on the SSRR until they could receive student input through the SSRR's own amendment process. At that time, there was still hope that the student amendment process could work - even if it took a third long try. But after another failure - a failure that didn't result from either Office of Stu- dent Affairs or general student indifference, but from an amendment process that has proven to be unworkable - the regents must, this once, act. It is wholly necessary for the regents to change this flawed amend- ment procedure as soon as possible, but it is also necessary for them to vote on the amend- ments to the code that have been stalled at the student juror level. Currently, amendments proposed by MSA, SACUA, executive officers of the University or a student-sponsored petition with 500 signatures can be considered by the student panelists. The new amendment policy should allow amendments submitted through these same avenues to be placed on the MSA ballot for a popular student vote. If a majority of student voters approve an amendment, then it should be forwaded to the regents - who ultimately have final authority. Placing these amendments on the ballot would allow the student body to have a direct voice in amend- The SSRR cannot be allowed to remain in its current form until Fall term. The SSRR, as it stands, usurps the U.S. legal system in an attempt to act in loco parentis. The SSRR must be amended, and the stu- dents who have worked to propose amend- ments deserve to have them heard. Still, this new amendment procedure cannot possibly be instituted in time to place amendments on the MSA ballot this term, and the amend- ments proposed by student groups this term must be given consideration before then. Thus, the regents must also take it upon themselves to consider them. The regents have been rightly hesitant in amending the SSRR without student input in the past (unfortunately, this is probably because some regents are happy with the status quo). However, the amendments which have currently been proposed have a de facto student mandate in that they are sponsored by student groups or by student petitions. The only amendments that do not fit this are the ones proposed by the Office of Student Affairs, and those mostly deal with technicalities in language. Many stu- dents worked very hard to draft amend- ments, collect signatures and propose them for consideration. This effort should not be wasted simply because the amendment pro- cess itself is flawed.' The regents' consideration of amend- ments during their April meeting would allow many of the technical changes to be made. If the regents are still concerned about receiving student input on the other amendments, they can always invite the sponsors of those amendments to attend the April meeting and speak on them. The SSRR must be amended. The re- gents are the only individuals who hold the power to amend the SSRR, since the current amendment process has proven to be com- pletely ineffective. Students who have of- hotline at 747-2606. CRAIG GREENBERG MSA president Israel's survival rests in peace process To the Daily: After reading Michael Castine's letter in the March 17 issue of the Daily, in which he states that Israel must maintain a presence in the Occupied Territories, I felt that some reply was necessary. While Mr. Castine shows that he is genuinely concerned about the state of Israel, the notion that Israel has a right to hold the Territories is incorrect. The fact that Israeli soldiers every day kill Palestinian teenagers in street clashes is worse for Israeli society than not controlling the West Bank and Gaza. Statements such as, "it was a tragedy when Dr. Goldstein went on his shooting spree," ring hollow when the people saying it support Israeli army and settler presence in the Territories, the very factors that lead to the infrequent massacres that occur on both sides. I do not mean to imply that supporting the state of Israel is wrong, since I too strongly support Israel, but only to say that being across the ocean from Israel makes it easy for us to ignore the problems there. I have also, "personally visited Israel," as Mr. Castine writes, and oppression of the Palestinians there is obvious to any who choose to see it. Israel's security would still be maintained without the Territories, and Israel's society would be improved by ending the ongoing presence in the Territories. As someone who also cares about Israel, I feel that the only way for Israel to survive as a just state is through the peace process, and giving the Palestinians self-determination in the territories. EZRA COHEN LSA first-year student all, leave alone a comparable response, after any Arab terrorist attacks. This was the point of my article. Mr. Bustany then suggests that I was "very obviously misrepresenting myths as facts surrounding the Hebron massacre." I did not discuss the details of the attack, and the other facts that I did mention were well researched and substantiated. The polls that I mentioned concerning the leanings of the Israeli and Palestinian populace were broadcasted on CNN and published in several major newspapers. The chants of "Kill the Jews" I have heard with my own ears during the last year, which I spent in T0..nl T mot nkn~ar,..1.,ac Bonding Due to my Newfound Popularity, a number of you have written letters to my attention. The Daily has become a virtual warehouse for all of my mail. As a matter of fact, last time I heard, the editors were thinking of changing the name of the paper from The Michigan Daily to Jeremy: A Celebration of Life. I thought it would be fun to read some of these morsels to you, the Avid Reader (translation: I have no good topic to talk about this week). So without further ado, let's reach into the ol' mailbag and pull out a few, completely at random: Jeremy: You are so funny. Please call me this week. - Eileen Katz What an odd coincidence - a letter from an adoring fan with the same name as my mother! Next time, leave a number, Eileen, and I'd be more than happy to oblige. Mr. Katz: Once again, I must request that you stay AT LEAST 50 yards away from my son. While the court order states 30 yards, I would feel more comfortable if you made it 50. - Name withheld due to attorney's advice This is, eh, obviously a sick joke. Jeremy: Please join me for dinner. (This part handwritten at bottom of letter): And maybe later we'll pull bong hits. - B. Clinton Sorry, Billy, but I have to decline. My loyalties lie with The Michigan Daily, and due to the fact that I receive NO MONEY from them, I cannot possibly afford to travel to D.C. Jeremy: Please bear my children. - C. Crawford Ladies, while I'm certainly flattered that you would like me to supply my seed for your hungry loins, I cannot help but to feel like a cheap slut, used solely for the purposes of sex. Now if dinnerwas included, then we could talk. Mr. Catss: Congratulations! You are one of the 10 finalists for our $10,000,000 sweepstakes. - E. McMahon Just one of the many perks of being a Daily columnist. Mr. Katz: I find your humor gross and inappropriate. Please quit it. - H. Stern I sincerely apologize, Mr. Stem. I will stop at once. Jer: I've never read a writer with more insight into the life of a young adult. Every time I read one of your clever columns, I think to myself, "that was me growing up." Keep it up. - J.D. Salinger Thanks, J. I'd say the same thing about "Catcher in the Rye", but I'd only be lying. Racquetball at the usual time? Jeremy: I cannot remember what you said about the "bending throbber." Is this done with or without handcuffs? - Dr. R. Westheimer Ruthie, I'm getting a little sick of constantly doling out free sexual advice. Aren't you supposed to be the expert here? Anyway, to answer your question, the "bending throbber" is done with a pair of chopsticks, three 1* A little clarification... To the Daily: Before anything else, I must profusely apologize for a generalization which I made about Arabs in my March 9 viewpoint. Instead of suggesting that Arabs who support terrorism have a different version of the Qur'an than other Muslims, I made the statement inclusive of all Arabs. Although my intentions were to the former, I said the latter, and for that I beg forgiveness. I do not, by any stretch, believe that all Arabs are bound by those who preach terror. However, the primary purpose of this letter is to concentration camp executioners of different ethnicity." An interesting analogy, however totally irrelevant to my viewpoint. In describing the crime committed by Goldstein, I used the terms "massacre," "madman," and "sacrilegious." Does that seem excusitory to you? The difference which I suggested was that such incidents among Jews are far less common and far less accepted. Note the Jewish response since the Hebron massacre. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis marched on Tel Aviv to protest the incident and demand peace. In American terms, that is comparable to 0 0 I i