4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 8, 1994 U e £diga tdg 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan JESSIE HALLADAY Editor in Chief SAM GooDsmLN FINT WAINESS Editorial Page Editors 'The film has been denounced in Indonesia by a prominent organization of Muslim clerics, who said it was too sympathetic in its treatment of Jews.' -as quoted in The New York Times, concerning the banning of the film "Schindler's List" in several Islamic nations TH tN 1 _'HAT ARF WOKTH IN OTH tN G-N -FOD o 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. '! ,'191011 1'i0I: t A I 1l -.I I '-l4 I If MSU can do it, so can we Tuition cuts are viable, and "S tudents at the University of Michig- an, as well as other Michigan institu- tions, have experienced tuition hikes well above the rate of inflation for the last several years. In the last two years, there have been tuition increases of 10 percent or more at both Michigan and Michigan State University (MSU). In contrast, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has stayed constant at around 4 percent during this $time. This trend of the last few years has finally been broken at MSU. Next year, tuition will rise only 3 percent for our friends in East Lansing. Other Michigan institutions such as Central Michigan University and Western Michigan Uni- versity are considering increases of 5 or 6 percent. In July, the University Board of Regents will set the tuition rate for the 1994-1995 school year. It should pay :.special attention to several factors in snaking a decision. First, the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs' (SACUA) Budget Study Committee report should be con- sidered. This committee has studied why there is a trend of rising budgets. When this rate is compared to other institutions, it appears that the University has one of the highest cost increases per year. The reasons for this are not totally clear - however, the rapid growth of the adminis- tration is suspect. The recommendation of the Budget Study Committee with respect -to administration is twofold: first, the ad- ministration should be streamlined in or- der to cut costs as much as possible, the 'U' must realize this second, salary increases should be close to the growth of the CPI. In order to maintain student diversity, especially diversity of socio-economic status, tuition cannot continue to rise at a rate near 10 percent -- as it has for the past several years. If this trend continues much longer, many qualified students will not be able to attend the University simply because the costs are too high. Losing these students would seriously impair the University's commitment to diversity. Therefore, to maintain diver- sity, the University would have to pro- vide more and larger scholarships. In turn, these would require more funds that can only be obtained through higher tuition. This vicious cycle can only spi- ral upwards, putting a quality education out of reach for most students. Perhaps it will be argued that the Uni- versity needs such an increase in tuition in order to support the high level of educa- tion available to so many students here. However, other sources of funding must be found or the expansive growth of the University must be checked. President Duderstadthasenvisionedbudgetsoffour billion dollars within the next 25 years. Instead of this rapid expansion, the Uni- versity should realize that so much plan- ning for the future actually impairs the present. Tuition, as well as expenditures, should be kept as near as possible to the CPI. Any increases above this should be explained and verified. I3, 1'MI FL.G~ O 17f US A TBETAMA)C y I m ro 2. a i THE ifWELL.- VOUNL'ED OMAN - _-_ TGays in the military The courts have spoken, now the military must act arlier this week, a Federal district judge in New York delivered yet an- other condemnation of the U.S. military's policy of excluding gays and lesbians. In the first legal challenge to the new "don't -ask, don't tell, don't pursue" policy, the -judge barred the Defense Department from -investigating or dismissing six service members who filed suit against the policy -until their case was resolved. This ruling comes in the wake of several other recent cases, all filed under the old policy - in which recruiters routinely asked about a candidate's sexual preference -in all of which Federal courts declared the policy unconstitutional. Now, as the new policy is being struck down by the courts, the military and the American public must realize that this policy of exclusion is outdated, unconstitutional and must be abolished. There are several reasons why the "don't ask, don't tell" policy cannot hold up under constitutional scrutiny. First, like the earlier policy, it violates the prin- ciple of equal protection of the law, target- ing one specific group for exclusion with- out proving that there is a compelling national interest to do so. In addition, it goes against the guarantee of free speech, % since even a verbal declaration of one's homosexuality-unaccompanied by any proofofhomosexual activity-is grounds for dismissal. Furthermore, the policy calls : for dismissal if proof is found of off-base homosexual activity - a clear violation of service members' right to privacy. Supporters of the military's exclusion- ary policy argue that the policy is neces- sary, since homosexuality is "incompat- ible"with military service. This argument is blatantly ridiculous. If this were true, there would be an obvious, clear-cut dif- ference between the performance of ho- mosexual service members and that of heterosexual ones. This is not the case- on the contrary, many gay service mem- bers have held exemplary records, with absolutely no cause for dismissal outside of their sexual preference. Other supporters of the military's policy claim that to allow homosexuals to serve alongside heterosexuals would disrupt the camaraderie found in the military unit. They argue that to serve with a homo- sexual would make heterosexuals "un- comfortable" -an unacceptable risk in a profession where trust and cooperation are so essential to smooth operation. This argument sounds eerily like that of a half- century ago, when many made the same points regarding the racial integration of the military. Opponents of that action claimed that integration would cause dis- comfort for white servicemen and would lead to the destruction of trust and com- radeship within the unit. However, 46 years after the executive order mandating integration, it is clear that these fears have not come to pass, and most recognize these old arguments as the racist relics of another time. It is time to view the current debate in the same light. Admittedly, the military is not a testing ground for social experimen- tation - but it has an obligation, legally and morally, to not accept blatant and pointless discriminatign. For far too long the military has targeted, tormented and excluded people based on their sexual orientation. At long last, the courts are coming to reject that exclusion, condemn- ing the new policy as strongly as they have the old. It is time for the military, the Clinton administration and the American public to take heed of this, and abolish what may be the most blatant form of official discrimination left in our society. Dean Edie Goldenberg contradicts herself To the Daily: Dean Edie Goldenberg's April 6 letter properly pointed out the achievements of former LS&A commencement speakers, alums Lawrence Kaskan (B.A. English '70, M.A. Education '72), Carole Simpson (B.A. Journalism '62) and Cathy Guisewite (B.A. English '72) and their "mark on our society." But she fails to note that all three are professionals in the field of qualitative communication, namely film, journalism and graphic arts and commentary. This is curiously ironic. Qualitative communication - particularly film, journalism and cultural description and interpretation - is precisely the area of study that Dean Goldenberg is aggressively purging from the Communication department she has taken over. Kasdan, Simpson and Guisewite have distinguished themselves and brought honor to this University in fields that Goldenberg is essentially trying to destroy at the University. Goldenberg copiously lauds these qualitative communication professionals. But how many of their potential successors will be prevented from making similar "marks on our society" because of the dean's autocratic and politically charged destruction of scholarship in their fields here at the University. In terms of the value and worth of qualitative communication and its practitioners and scholars, one wonders about the hypocrisy of the dean's letter. SCOTTBERYMN Rackham Graduate Student Review responds to charges To the Daily: In light of Dr. Thomas Landefeld's letter to The Daily, we at the Michigan Review feel compelled to offer a response to his criticism of our publication. In our February 16 issue we ran a front page story detailing the controversy surrounding a professor within the Department of Pharmacology, Dr. William Pratt, who stands accused of racism by two sources in the department, Dr. Peggie Hollingsworth and Dr. Landefeld. In his letter, Dr. Landefeld claims that the Review printed confidential and incorrect material in our article. Landefeld, however, the article before publication. He denied this request except to confirm that he had testified in a grievance hearing formed in response to Dr. Hollingsworth's accusation of Dr. Pratt's racism. Other than that brief comment, he declined to speak to the Review further. Only now, nearly two months after our story broke, does he criticize the Review with unfounded claims of irresponsibility. As to claims of confidential material being used in the article, our information was obtained from various sources in the department. Nothing was obtained through confidential or coercive channels. Nor was any attempt made to breach the integrity of the closed hearings that the Medical School was conducting. Our only hope in bringing this story to light was to publicize the closed-door meetings that the Medical School was conducting as a result of the accused Dr. Pratt's purported racism. Furthermore, we hope to open up discussion of racial politics on this campus by offering a voice for the accused, a voice that many ignore as soon as someone cries wolf at this esteemed university. CHRISTOPHER BARRETT Editorial Staff, The Michigan Review The Ramones are a joke To the Daily: Gather around boys and girls and let us tell you a story about a music reviewer with the intelligence of lint, Matt Carlson. In his recent article on The Ramones, Carlson attempts to praise this no- talent band of British punk wannabes by discrediting such influential artists as Led Zeppelin. Well Mr. Carlson, let us explain a few things to you. The Ramones entered the rock'n'roll world in the heyday of such great bands as Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the many up and coming British punk bands. Aware of their obvious talent deficiency, these four middle-class suburban New Yorkers combined inane lyrics with three-chord guitar playing and a single variated drum beat. Sure, this sound was popular for a little while, but then again so were the New Kids on the Block. Jimmy Page was an accomplished artist and successful session guitarist even before the founding of Led Zeppelin. Further, while Carlson bashes the classic rock greats, he fails to pay attention to the words of the very band he praises. In are looking down in disgust and saying "Why don't these losers hang up their instruments, take their brainwashed groupie Carlson and beat it!". MATT MCALPINE LSA sophomore TIM ROSS LSA junior Skip graduation To the Daily: I just finished reading Dean Goldenberg's letter (4/6/ 94) about this year's LS&A commencement speaker, Cathy Guisewite, and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. If the University's administrators, speaking through Dean Goldenberg, are such simpletons that they would believe even half of what was in this letter, then I have no trouble understanding why the University's academic ranking continues to plummet every year. If, on the other hand, the Dean was engaging in the insulting, two-bit spin doctorism that I suspect she was, then the administration must not think very highly of its ability to educate, to assume that anyone would believe such tripe. I can only wonder what ludicrous propaganda next year's graduating class is going to be fed ("...by exposing the foibles of policemen whose tendencies to break out in song are like our own, the producers of Cop Rock have helped us laugh at ourselves and our pretensions ... For any of us prone to self- aggrandizement, Cop Rock provides an antidote ..."). As other letter writers have pointed out, Cathy Guisewite may be an engaging and intelligent speaker with a profound message to help guide us into our post- graduate lives. If her so-called comic is any indication, however, the graduates can expect to learn all about the perils of dating, bathing suits that are too small and other such weighty topics. Then again, maybe she can teach us all how to become wealthy and famous through dull mediocrity. I urge anyone else who is disappointed by the University's handling of our graduation to not bother going - spend the time getting a good seat at a restaurant with your family. It will probably be time better spent. MICHELLE CATHERS LSA Senior Women 's Fib As a student at the University, I have learned many things: beer can be consumed at virtually any angle; columns on masturbation will not necessarily earn you respect. Most importantly, I have finally begun to unlock the door to one of life's great mysteries: women. I used to think that women and men were equal, with a few basic exceptions, like men are smarter. But noooo - if nothing else, my experiences showed me that there are important differences between the sexes, differences which I will relate to you now. Come, walk with me: Women are better cooks than men. This is true because on the Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore always had dinner ready and waiting for her hubby. Therefore, by deductive reasoning, all women must be able to cook and serve "their man." Women are genetically predisposed to wash dishes. One need only look at history to prove this. About 200 years ago, when man still lived in a cave and hunted buffalo, women stood by the kitchen sink and washed the Tupperware. Over the years, their fingers evolved so that they could reach into those little cups. This also explains why women are terrible drivers - because back then there were no cars withwhich women could practice their driving. Women are emotional basketcases. How else can you explain the success of Ghost and Sleepless in Seattle? Do you think men watch this stuff? Our emotions are securely planted in the bedrock of stability! Men watch Movies Where Things Explode. We are rational, thinking machines. Women are bad at sports. Virtually every sport has some type of "ball" in it, which obviously alludes to a man. Ever play basket-ovum? Didn't think so. Women do not have gas. Ever hear a woman just rip one in class? Neither have I. Only men have the complicated gastronomic physiology necessary to achieve this feat. Naturally, this indicates that we are smarter, too. (On a side note, I actually started a small fire once because I was with a girl for three straight days without a single opportunity to pass gas. When I was finally alone, the Ann Arbor Fire Dept. received a call about a one alarm fire at my house. I told them I dropped a cigarette.) Women like cuddly shit and things named "Barbie." Men like stuff made of steel and things named "Ferrari." Since things made of steel are tougher than cuddly shit, men are tougher than women (if S > Cs, then M > W. Have a physics student do it for you, dumb-ass.) Women are not allowed to enjoy sex. This is because they would be sluts. Butmen can enjoy sex, because then we would be studs. This makes perfect sense. Women like malls. Especially the ones with clothes in them. Haven't you ever read those nutty bumperstickers, "Shop 'till you drop," "Professional shopper on board," "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping," or my personal favorite, # "Shopaholic?" (Which always made me wonder: is there a cure for this? Does your insurance pay for your treatment? Is it hereditary?) By the way, you will hear many of these cute phrases, some verbatim, by "Cathy," the crazy cartoonist speaking at graduation. Better make your reservations early. Women do not like it when you talk aboutyour excrement. I hate to generalize, but yes, it's true. No need to go into details. Women are always on some sort of a diet. Once again, I will refer to "Cathy" and her zany S S Sl I .