4 The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 25, 1994


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'People who suggest that the chairman of the Banking
Committee is somehow under the direction of the [Democratic]
leadership do not know the chairman of the Banking Committee.'
-Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), speaking about
House Banking Committee Chair Henry B. Gonzalez (D-Texas)

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

JESSIE HALLADAY
Editor in Chief
SAM GOODSTIN
FuINT WAINEss
Editorial Page Editors

TrHEF MICH-ICAN jA -ETILTC ?T

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.
B. IA8C Ca
Bureaucratnic abyss
University administration needs streamlining

EQUIM'ENT
M6Jc-,
god

ATTORN~EY
L. A W4
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The Achilles heel of government these
days seems to be the endless expansive-
ness of bureaucracies. And the University is
no exception. With tighter budgets, an even
more concerned eye must be cast on the
amount of money that inefficient adminis-
trations spend each year. Such is the concern
of the Ann Arbor chapter of the American
Association of University Professors. In a
report issued this past February, its concern
over the burgeoning University administra-
tion seemed genuine. The critical report
stated that rapid tuition increases, which
have outpaced inflation, have been the re-
sult of steadily increasing costs from admin-
istration growth. This is a disturbing eco-
nomic fact of life at the University - a fact
that rests on tenuous grounds.
The report's findings are of grave con-
cern to students, because the growing costs
of higher education affect all but the most
affluent students. Reasonable increases are
a fact of life as inflation, less reliance on
state support and ever increasing costs of
academic related equipment all contribute
to a growing budget. If the University is to
maintain its position as a top quality Univer-
sity, investments in top faculty, student ser-
vices, plant maintenance and renovation and
academic resources are necessary.
However, with the raising of tuition, the
University cuts down on the eligible pool of
students who are able to afford attendance. As
that pool dwindles, so does the academic
potential with which the University may draw
qualified students from. If tuition rises are
indeed being appropriated toward the growth
of the University's administrative apparatus,
this is a dangerous trend that needs to be
reversed. While the University has fared bet-
ter than most during cost-cutting times, there
is no margin for inefficiency. We do not

have the resources to fund a luxury such as
this extensive "student support" adminis-
tration. The administration should take great
strains to keep its burgeoning institutional
body as efficient and lean as possible. In
what seems like an endless string of com-
mittees, departments and boards, the word
for the day should be streamlining. Statisti-
cally, for every professor, there are 3.7
support persons - of which most profes-
sors seem unable to identify or relate to on
a personal basis. In the period between 1985
to 1990, non-instructional staff grew by an
astonishing 22.7 percent, while instructional
staff grew by only 10.7 percent.
If these new administrative positions are
going directly toward student support ser-
vices - this being open to debate -- then
perhaps the administration needs a new prior-
ity. There is not much need for extensive
student services if most people can't afford to
come to the University in the first place.
There is no doubt that tuition is way too high.
The administration should take seriously
the concerns of the American Association of
University Professors and angry students over
rising costs and the counter-productiveness
of the growing University administration.
There are a number of options available, such
as contracting some activities to private out-
side firms. On the whole, tough decisions will
have to be made, but the administration must
be made to realize that its growth and con-
sumption of budget money is clearly taking
its toll on the aims and goals of higher
education. It is in the direct interests of
faculty and students, but the responsibility
of all of us to make the University the best
learning environment possible. How about
freezing tuition at the rate of inflation or
significantly expanding financial aid grants?
Now that would be truly revolutionary.

IN


[ -_____

Belief in God not
illogical
"What is the meaning of
human life, or, for that
matter, of the life of any
creature? To know an answer
to this question means to be
religious ... The man who
regards his own life and that
of his fellow creatures as
meaningless is not merely
unhappy but hardly fit for
life."
Albert Einstein wrote this
in 1934. For him, to be
"religious" - that is, to have
a deep concern for real
meaning in life, and even for
the reality of God -- was not
only an intellectually
respectable stance, but an
essential one. And this
conclusion is hardly
eccentric within intellectual
history. As Boston College
philosopher Peter Kreeft has
commented, "the idea of God
has guided or deluded more
lives, changed more history,
inspired more music and
poetry and philosophy than
anything else, real or
imagined ... if it is a fantasy,
it is by far the greatest
fantasy in history- it is
humanity's masterpiece."

But is belief in God even
an option for modern
thinkers? Any response will
have enormous impact -
even for those who flatly
deny God's existence. For
some, religious belief might
be dismissed as no more than
a psychological crutch. For
others, if true, the claims of
religious belief have
powerful import: objective
meaning for life exists; truth
is not arbitrary, but rather,
based on absolutes of right
and wrong; and we are
accountable to this God for
our existence.
It is popularly thought
that science, or perhaps
philosophy, has disproven
God, or at least made His
existence highly improbable,
But is this anti-religious bias
justified? The answers may
be surprising. As learning
has advanced, scholars
increasingly have become
convinced that there must be
more to reality than mere
physical processes. Dr.
Henry Margenau, physicist
at Yale University for over
40 years, and past president
of theiAmerican Association
of Philosophy of Science,
has remarked: "The leading

scientists, the people who
have made the contributions
which have made science
grow so vastly in the last
fifty years, are, so far as I
know, all religious in their
beliefs ... if you take the top-
notch scientists, you find
very few atheists among
them." And this interest in
rational theism is not limited
to science. As a Time
magazine article (Apr. 7,
1980) reported: "In a quiet
revolution in thought and
argument that hardly anyone
would have foreseen only
two decades ago, God is
making a comeback. Most
intriguingly this is happening
... in the crisp intellectual
circles of academic
philosophers."
Some of the many recent
currents of intellectual
thought cannot establish
God's existence, but they do
help dispel the myth that
belief in God is merely a
matter of blind faith and that
no thinking person can
believe in His existence.
Modern minds need not
sacrifice their intellect to be
religious.
ERNESTO GARCIA
LSA senior

ts a cool,
cool world
Yes, boys and girls, it's that time
of the year again. Students may step
outdoors being reasonably secure that
their ears and fingers won't snap off.
Sweaters are shed in layers. The actual
shape of a person's body is
determinable. And like a salmon's
natural instinct to swim upstream
during spawning season, students
commence in our own age-old ritual:
we head to the Diag.
The Diag, short for Diagnostic, is
the place to gowhen the sun is shining.
You can tell this justby taking a quick
glance around: all of the cool people
are here. Over the years, the Diag has
changed from becoming a microcosm
of the University to a microcosm of
Rick's. These are the people who
would not so much as spit on you in
high school because you weren't
popular enough. Of course, times have
changed: there are no lockers in
college.
I only thought it fair that I help
you, The Loser, break into this
exclusive club. With a few easy steps,
you, too, will soon be spitting on
lowlifes such as myself.
First, if you're a guy, buy a dog.
Dogs excrete a special chemical that
will attract every female within three
miles. It will also cause them to say,
"He's soooo cuuute." Ask any guy -
dogs are nothing more than chick
magnets that shit. You can look like
Lyle Lovett, and as long as you have
a dog, you will get more phone
numbers than Bob Packwood (how
do you think Lyle got Julia?).
Remember, it's not the size of the
leash, but what's on the end of it that
counts.
Second, accessorize, accessorize,
accessorize. If you're a girl, a leather
backpack is a must, as are black shoes
(Doc Martens or boots), a stretch top
(to accentuate breasts), tight cutoff
jeans or shorts, and a baseball cap. If
it's sunny, slip into something a little
more comfortable, like a 1995 Acura
NSX. Money a problem? Don'tworry
- just ask Dad for a few bucks. And
don't forget to break out the shades
(wouldn't want to damage those baby
blues). Guys, a flannel shirt tied
around the waist is primo, as is a
baseball cap, cutoff shorts and
Timberlands. If you want to say "I'm
laid back," make sure to rip that shirt,
and throw on a pair of Birkenstocks.
Now you're ready to rumble.
Third,'talktoeveryone. Remember
yourpurpose: tobe seen. Roam around
the Diag, speak to anyone that you
might possibly know, or a friend might
know. The more people that you speak
to, the more popular you are. Always
tell them that you're skipping class:
this makes you look ultra-cool.
Strapped for topics? Once again, I
gotcha covered. Just carry this handy
guide in your back pocket.
Cool toics
The bar (Rick's)
Latest no-fat yogurt at Peabody's
Jeremy Katz
Who's going out with who

Who's having parties
StairMaster routines
Rick's
Rick's
Rick's
Girls, begin all conversations with
the word "Ohmygod," and end all
conversations with "We've got to
have lunch," even though you have
absolutely no intention of doing so.
Also, don't (repeat: DO NOT) speak
to somebody who is not part of The
Scene. These people are usually alone,
and can be identified by their rapid
gaits, the studious looks on their faces,
and their lack of style (i.e. non-
conformists). These people are the
losers. They are the ones that think
the tri-state area is New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut, when, in
fact, you know that it's Stucchi's,
Amer's and Urban Outfitters. If you
see one, avoid them at all costs. Walk
past them and look in the opposite
direction.
Fourth (optional), play frisbee. It's
not enough that you want to toss
around a piece of plastic. You must

I

Renovate Tiger Stadium

he future of Tiger Stadium remains
N uncertain as the standoff between Mike
Hitch and Detroit city officials continues.
Ilitch has predicted that preserving Tiger
Stadium, in its present condition, will cost
him 10 to 15 million dollars a year. Detroit
should praise Ilitch for his efforts to restore
a sense of pride and community - however,
the recent push to build a new Tiger Stadium
near the waterfront area is a mistake. There
is no doubt that a new stadium would pro-
vide a major boost to Detroit's economy for
a few years, but similar benefits could be
obtained by renovation and investment in
the area. Although the new ballparks in
Baltimore and Chicago have shown what a
positive impact a new stadium can have on
the economy and the community, the long-
term ramifications of abandoning Tiger Sta-
dium outweigh the short-term gains of con-
structing a new stadium.
Ilitch's proposal is to build a new sta-
dium in the revitalized waterfront area. If
Detroit were to build a new stadium near the
Fox Theater (in hitch's proposed
"Foxtown"), it would probably provide at
least a temporary economic boom for the
region. Ilitch has offered to foot half of the
bill for a new stadium, but this forces the city
to raise the other half of the money. Now is
not the time for Detroit to gamble 200 mil-
lion dollars, especially at the expense of the
viability of Corktown - home of the Ti-
gers. Voters in Michigan agreed with this
opinion by a two to one margin, in a recent
poll published in the Detroit Free Press.
If Tiger Stadium is closed, the negative
economic impact. to the surrounding
Corktown neighborhood would be severe.
The businesses it supports and the historical
tradition it represents are essential to both
the welfare nf the ncal nmminit and the

city of Detroit. Rather than squander this
opportunity, the city should choose to per-
form whatever renovations are necessary to
make Tiger Stadium profitable.
For example, Ilitch has complained of
the lack of luxury boxes. To achieve this,
Tiger Stadium could be renovated at a frac-
tion of the cost of a new stadium (one
estimate is 50 million dollars). In addition,
the money saved could then be reinvested in
to the area. Plans have already be drawn to
add a shopping mall and other family enter-
tainment near the stadium. Building a new
parking structure near the stadium would
also be a good idea.
The final option is to relocate the Tigers
in a suburb of Detroit. Clearly, the Tigers
need to stay in Detroit. With both the Lions
and the Pistons now playing in suburban
arenas, the Tigers are the only pro-team that
attracts fans to the city proper. The Tigers
are essential to Detroit both financially and
psychologically. Financially, the Tigers of-
fer a place of employment for many inner-
city youths during the summer. Even more
important to the economy, Tiger Stadium
attracts people from the suburbs into the
city - people who have dollars to spend.
Ilitch's efforts on the waterfront are com-
mendable, but the region will continue to
improve with or without Tiger Stadium.
There is no reason that the revitalization
efforts need to be concentrated in one area
to the detriment of the Corktown commu-
nity.
The psychological impact of a sports
team cannot be dismissed. It might be lik-
ened to what coaches call intangibles. A
strong sense of community pride, leading to
economic and spiritual resurgence, can be
sparked by the Tigers, even without a new
stadim-

In defense of the libraries ...

The residence hall head
librarians feel it is
necessary to address the
points made by Vice
President for Student
Affairs Maureen Hartford
in the article, "Hartford
outlines plan to reform
dormitories" (3/8/94).
First, we strongly
object to the statement
that, in the libraries, "a lot
of the use is not what we
had in mind when creating
them." We wish to point
out that the residence hall
libraries were created not
only to serve the
educational needs of
residents, but to provide
for their social and
recreational needs as well.
In a residence hall, the
students learn from their
interactions with others as
much as, if not more than,
from any book or
educational program.
Fulfilling both the
recreational and
educational needs of
residents is the goal of our
libraries, and both are
valid parts of our mission
statement. However, this
is not to say that
recreational interests are
the primary focus of our
libraries. We also provide
a wide variety of

assistance; reference
services; and extensive
and varied educational
programming to meet the
academic, cultural and
social needs of our
residents.
Second, we take issue
with the statement that
"the libraries have become
primarily music and video
tape lenders." The
provision of a variety of
entertainment materials,
such as popular compact
discs and video tapes,
serves the recreational
needs of our residents and
is thus a valid part of our
mission statement.
However, we do not
purchase exclusively
popular items. We also
carefully choose compact
discs and videos that are
both educational and
entertaining, and that
allow residents to explore
the diversity of other
cultures, or that teach
them to appreciate
different forms of artistic
expression, including
foreign films, jazz and
classical music. The
purchase of compact discs
and videos is carefully
balanced by purchases of
books, magazines, and
newspapers, and the

some libraries have almost
identical rates.
Lastly, we wonder just
what is meant by the
suggestion that the
libraries should integrate
with "computer
technology." We have
worked very hard over the
last few years to bring
several forms of
technology into the
libraries, both to facilitate
our operations and to
better serve the
information needs of our
residents. Head librarians
have created, updated and
maintained their own
automated circulation.
system and an online
catalog: no small
accomplishment. We
provide numerous
computer terminals for
resident use, providing
access to e-mail, various
databases such as MCAT
and CRISPINFO, and,
most recently, to the
Internet.
The role of the
residence hall libraries has
changed quickly with the
arrival of new
technologies, and
educational and
multicultural initiatives.
Perhaps the speed with
which we have instituted