4 The Michigan Daily - Thursday, December 8, 1994
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'If you can't say that God loves sinners, you can't
say God loves you.'
- Joel Perry, staff worker at Hope College's Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
420 Maynard
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan
Jessie Halladay
Editor in Chief
Samuel 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.
Immigration nightmare
INS ineptitude victimizes two 'U' students
FirsT LASS.
NO SASS.
/A4I/16MCGAN1 PA I i
n a debacle that could best be dubbed the
honeymoon from hell, former University
students Kevin and Sunny Kim Roest remain
in a state of immigration limbo spanning the
U.S.- Canadian border. They will have to wait
until January at the earliest for the government
documentation that could finally bring them
relief. This incident brings two major issues to
the forefront: the need for more and better
information to be made available to interna-
tional students by agencies such as the
University's International Center, and -even
more important - the overwhelming corrup-
tion and bureaucratic ineptitude that besets the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
When the Roests began their week-long
honeymoon in Canada, they had no idea that it
would create problems of this magnitude.
Unaware of the complex web of laws and
regulations controlling the activities of for-
eigners, they believed that Sunny's student
visa would still be valid after their wedding. At
the time, they were unaware Sunny needed to
file for permanent residency. The Interna-
tional Center was vague on this issue - how-
ever, the questions the Roests asked were also
vague, and were not answered in a detailed
fashion. Staff at the center gave the Roests the
information they thought the couple needed to
know, unaware that the Roests were planning
to leave the country following their wedding.
The International Center is in no way at
fault for the Roests' current problem, as immi-
gration laws are indeed - as the center claims
- so complex that the best way to provide
information is in answer to specific questions.
However, the Roests' problem could perhaps
have been prevented had the agency prepared
a pamphlet, or some other form of prepack-
aged information for international students,
outlining some of the possible legal tangles in
common situations such as citizen-noncitizen
marriage. Hopefully, such a pamphlet will be
produced in the future.
Similarly, in its actions toward Sunny and
Kevin, the INS is completely within the bound-
aries of the law. When a foreigner carrying a
student visa marries an American citizen, he
or she effectively announces the intention to
remain permanently in the United States.
Therefore, the temporary student visa expires
the moment the marriage occurs. When the
Roests left the country and then tried to reen-
ter, the INS was alerted to Sunny's new status,
and officials correctly followed the law against
letting a foreigner into the country without
processed papers.
However, while the INS is correct in fol-
lowing procedure, it is to be highly faulted in
its time frame. It is atrocious that a person
should have to wait six months to have papers
processed. "One of the most troubled agen-
cies in the federal government," according to
a New York Times study, the INS is beset by
bureaucratic ineptitude and corruption. Its
myriad of problems cause it to move at a
ridiculously slow rate, causing people like the
Roests - both of whom have had to drop out
of school while waiting for a resolution - to
put their lives on hold and simply stand in line
to be processed.
Despite efforts at reform, it is highly doubt-
ful that better service can be expected from the
INS any time soon. International students
would do well to remember that when they
deal with the INS, they are working with a
corrupt, bureaucratic organization that fol-
lows a bewildering web of regulations, and
that officials at the agency can make life very
difficult if their rules are not followed. Hope-
fully, better information on this subject will
soon be provided by the University. Until
then, the best course of action for international
students is to ask questions. Lots of them.
Racial harmon
To the Daily:
In response to Edward
Hoopman's letter in the De-
cember 5 issue of the Daily
("Students need to tackle rac-
ism"), I have a few things to
say. You, Mr. Hoopman, claim
that it is the students' responsi-
bility, not the administration's,
to create racial and ethnic un-
derstanding on campus. This is
infeasible, as the average stu-
dent does not care about minor-
ity issues because they feel that
those issues do not affect them.
Therefore, those of us that are
affected by the racial climate
and lack of minority represen-
tation on campus find ourselves
carrying the burden of righting
500 years of oppression. The
University administration loves
to play up "multiculturalism"
on campus. They are benefit-
ing from this image, while it is
the minority student communi-
ties who are actually working
towards it, often finding a non-
supportive administration in the
way. I can personally say that
as I work to better the campus
climate for Latino/a brothers
and sisters, my grades suffer.
For many student activists it is
a full time job. But you should
not expect this from students
like myself !who are here to
learn in a non-supportive envi-
ronment. After all, this is an
educational institution, one in
which we are paying to learn,
not to have a full-time job as
teachers of the student body as
a whole.
As to the "network of sup-
port" which I suggested was
necessary in the original article
on the Michigan Mandate, you
took the concept out of context.
Although it would be great to
have this "multicultural" sup-
port from all students, staff, fac-
ulty, etc. it simply isn't there.
This network of support that
Latinos like myself on campus
are searching for is a strong
network in our own Latino/a
community among ourselves,
because unfortunately we rec-
y on campus still
ognize that most others are not
willing to actively promote
change. That does not mean
we are necessarily excluding
others, it simply means the sup-
port is not there.
You also advise against
"blindly picking professors and
students based on the color of
their skin," which is what the
University has historically and
consistently done that has made
faculty, students and staff so
disproportionately white, until
student protests, such as the
Black Action Movements
forced the administration to
hire minority faculty. Although
BAM I and II were decades
ago, minority communities are
still fighting for equal repre-
sentation on this campus. Fur-
thermore, I do not suggest
"blindly picking" minority fac-
ulty and staff. The truth is, as
you mention, that there are
qualified minority scholars, that
are not hired due to the con-
tinuation of these subtle (and
sometimes not so subtle) racist
policies. I also have a problem
with your implication that
quantity minority faculty and
staff negates quality. This is
not only false, but it is an insult
to minority communities.
Large numbers of minority fac-
ulty, rather, would be more rep-
resentative of the real world
which University students will
soon have to face. I would as-
sert that it is very possible to
have both "quantity and qual-
ity" in a large, competent, mi-
nority scholar community.
You also write, "Inclosing,
I would love to see more mi-
nority students and faculty at
the University, but even more
so, I would like to see more
intelligent, open-minded and
outreaching individuals who
can cross the racial boundaries
and leave them behind." Now I
ask you, Mr. Hoopman, if mi-
nority communities are not rep-
resented in faculty, staff and
students, then who are these
"intelligent individuals who
a long way off
can cross the racial boundaries"
(read white individuals) going
to reach out to? That's not ra-
cial harmony, that's elitist white
separatism. The state of cam-
pus at this time is simply a daily
reminder that it is unrealistic to
assume that there are no racial
boundaries or that they are be-
ing successfully crossed. The
issues that I raised are some of
the many issues that concern
our community as a whole.
Sociological studies show that
students learn best when the
material relates to their lives
personally. That is why issues
such as Latino/a staff, faculty,
counselors, Latino/a Studies
courses and Latino/a recruit-
ment and retention are so im-
portant. The lack of Latino rep-
resentation on campus rein-
forces our "inferiority complex"
(although I assure you we are
far from inferior).
These concrete issues that
are so vital to our community
cannot be ignored, or substi-
tuted by some wishy-washy
phantasm of "a student body"
that "look(s) equally on each
other." I agree that would be
ideal, but it simply does not
exist and it ignores the real is-
sues. Maybe you, Mr.
Hoopman, should examine
more closely why this racial
harmony doesn't exist (which
it doesn't if you haven't no-
ticed) before you imply that
hiring more minority faculty
and staff would jeopardize a
quality education.
So, in the end, the move-
ment continues, with or with-
out your support Mr. Hoopman.
Thank you for doing your share
as, I assume, an "open-minded
and outreaching individual."
But to those who are more will-
ing to challenge administration
and tackle the real problems, I
say iViva la causa!.
Lisa Quiroga
LSA senior
President, Alianza, The
Latino/a Student Alliance
'Off on a
tangent
LOOK OUT FOR A NEW MU-
TA TION IN THE POLITICAL CUL-
TURE: Coming soon to a legislature
near you, a phenomena so outra-
geous that it was even studied by
Charles Murray-Newtoids. Clearly,
the College Republicans are caught
in the lustful gaze of the Newtoids,
'cause Newtoids despise liberals (and
liberal newspapers) and they always
love a good fight. The collegiate
among them always dress sharply,
wear ties to lectures and never miss a
Sharper Image catalog. On their cof-
fee tables one can find the newest
issue of the Economist, as well as a J.
Crew catalog, but certainly not
Kramer's coffee table book. Unlike
the tousled-haired George
Stephanopolous,the druggies and the
McGovernites of the Clinton admin-
istration, Newtoids abhor an un-
shaven face, long hair, social pro-
grams, Hollywood and Murphy
Brown. Unfortunately, they have a
religious-like attachment to the pre-
civil rights, pre-Roe v. Wade 1950s
-a social eradestined for the dustbin
if it weren't for Jack Kerouac, Nike's
William Burroughs and Allen
Ginsburg, who by the way is now
peddling a 3-disk CD collection,
banned by the FCC.
The Newtoids, led by their fear-
less leader "The Grinch," a promi-
nent historian from U.S. News and
World Report's 225th ranked West
GeorgiaCollege, have dreams of dis-
mantling the welfare state and estab-
lishing a national network of state-
run orphanages. So maybe the party
of the donkey should throw a tantrum
and filibuster, like the GOPdid about
midnight basketball. Newtoids don't
have to be from Georgia though, but
they are mean and short, and may
resemble Gremlins. Even Bob Dole
is frightened when in the presence of
a Newtoid. DNC-promoted anti-
Newtoid sprays, repellants and
zappers are now on sale, and projec-
tions are that such products are going
to have a banner year. More on the
GOP victory:
1. If "gays in the military" got Big
Bill in trouble the first week of his
presidency way back when the Dems
weren't an endangered species, then
the Newtonians deserve to be vilified
hard for the "orphanage" issue. This
is the answer to welfare reform? My,
are the Newtoids andhis Armey scary.
2. For all the bluster of the Con-
tract on America, a vote on a consti-
tutional amendment to institute con-
gressional term limits and another
equally dubious one to sanction "vol-
untary school prayer" don't stand a
chance of passing this GOP Con-
gress. Wake up people, a moment of
silence is already widely recognized
as legal and constitutional.
3.1 hate to say it, but Bob Dole is
now the hero of the almighty Center.
When can we begin to say presiden-
tial candidate Dole?
NOW SHOWING AT JASON'S
QUADAPLEX 9:
*A ri* to "Pulp Fiction," by
Quentin Tarantino: Maybe I'm the
shepherd, you're the evil man and
the Democrats left standing and the
righteous ones.
n* 1n/2 to the return of the
"Lion King:" Simba and Nala are
way cooler than Demi Moore and
Michael Douglas. Whoopi Goldberg
as the hyena majority whip is hilari-
ous.
**C* to the new "Star Wars"
Energizer commercial: But where's
Bib Fortuna, or Chewey for that mat-
ter? Anything with James Earl Jones'
voice rocks.
***1~'l/2 to the recent Beverly
Hills 90210 episode, in which Black-
Jewish campus relations were re-
sponsibly addressed. I was shocked
too. But Dylan is still- haunted by
drug-induced nightmares.
&-BOYCOTT THE DAILY?: I'd
say the Daily, minus the crossword
puzzle crowd, is already being boy-
cotted by a good 20,000 or so stu-
dents each and everyday. And a little
piece of advice, to the anonymous
author of the anti-Daily manifesto,
1pr hn n iv tol~, enfl f v i nc r
Reproductive rights
Republican takeover promises further restrictions
0
0
0
W hen the newly elected legislators take
their seats in January, those who favor
abortion rights will find themselves with little
hope of support from the Federal government.
If the Republicans have their way, federally
funded family planning groups may once again
be forbidden from mentioning abortion as a
possible solution for an unwanted pregnancy.
This so-called "gag rule" leads the list of
restrictions on abortion which may make a
comeback in the Republican-dominated 104th
Congress. Although many Republicans swept
into office on the economics-oriented Con-
tract With America, their victory last month
was also a coup for anti-abortion activists.
"The pro-life side had its biggest victory in the
history ofthe movement," claimedRep. Chris-
topher Smith (R-N.J.). Smith co-chairs the
House Pro-Life Caucus, a group which will
most likely grow in numbers come January.
In addition to reinstating the gag rule, Re-
publicans are likely to chisel away at other
abortion rights as well. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-
N.C) offered an amendment last year which
would cut off funds to international family
planning organizations; he will likely offer it
again as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. Such an amendment would jetti-
son badly-needed population control programs
in countries already overburdened with hun-
ger and poverty. This is merely one example of
Helms' shortsightedness, but in a Republican-
controlled congress it may well become law.
RU-486, the so-called abortion pill now in
Ainionl trials in iathe nit+-d CtonPis alcn in
danger from abortion foes in Congress. Al-
though not necessarily an easier form of abor-
tion, it accords the woman more privacy and
provides a much-needed alternative to surgi-
cal procedures. Already used in Europe for
several years, RU-486 would give more free-
dom to the women who have made the diffi-
cult choice of abortion. Furthermore, RU-486
has been shown to have the potential to de-
crease the effects of diseases such as breast
cancer - yet pro-life forces oppose its use in
the United States at all because of its status as
"the abortion pill." This refusal of such poten-
tial benefits is inexcusable.
Also at issue areMedicaid abortions, which,
under the Hyde Amendment, are now allowed
only to save the life of the woman or in cases
of rape or incest. This policy is likely to
continue or be further tightened next year,
serving only to continue the cycle of poverty
and increase the welfare burden the Republi-
cans so detest. Shortsightedness strikes again.
With the Michigan state legislature and
governorship squarely in Republican hands,
women can look to little protection at the state
level. Nor can they expect legal recourse, as a
majority of Supreme Court justices have
proven all too willing to approve restrictions
on the right to an abortion - if not eradicate
that right altogether. Voters swept the Repub-
licans into office in November with a desire
for change. Unless we watch carefully, fight
restrictive measures and vote out anti-abor-
tion politicians in 1996, we may get more
chanoe than we harainr fnr .
Schauber's roommate defends 'U' actions
To the Daily:
I am disheartened by the
amount of space that Marc
Schauber and his case have re-
cently received in the Daily,
both on the front page and on
the editorial page. One of
Marc's primary goals at the end
of last year was to give the
University as much negative
press as possible, and I must
say, the Daily has certainly ac-
commodated him with its re-
cent feature ("Stalking case
takes 'U' student out of dorm
and into courtroom" 12/1),
T~ T1Nle n AT [BT .AvFT)M AA'
the one in which Marc alleg-
edly threatened his fiancee in
her room is extremely difficult
to resolve, because the Univer-
sity has only the conflicting
testimonies of the two parties
involved to try to decipher. Sec-
ond, consider that the Univer-
sity was placed in a damned-if-
you-do, damned-if-you-don't
position. It was threatened with
legal actions by the woman's
parents if Marc was not re-
moved, and threatened with
legal action by Marc if he was.
Now if that position doesn't
ensure impartiality, I don't
son, and perhaps more).
The fairness of a case such
as this, where the facts are so
opaque, is certainly difficult to
determine, and can never really
be resolved without a doubt. I
commend the University for
acting to protect one of its stu-
dents from the possibility of
harm, and I hope that the final
outcome of this case will not
prevent the University from
guaranteeing the safety of its
students in the future.
And just one more thing I'd
like to add. "Anyone who
I