THE MICHIGAN DAILY NEW STUDENT EDITION PERSPECTIVESTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994
Page_3B
Searching
Yor meaning,
Daily serves
vital mission
By DAVID SHEPARDSON
or several years now, this space has
been used to both introduce and
pre-emptively defend the Daily to new
readers. Part catharsis and part cater-
waul, this exercise is one in utility, a
quieting moment of reflection amid a
sea of writing not devoted to such
purposes.
Rarely do writers at the Daily look
inward publicly, with good reason.
The principal desire is to avoid eclips-
g the newspaper itself. If readers are
undated with self-recriminations or
congratulatory airs, then the message
inevitably is lost and the author be-
comes the story.
But self-examination may help
answer questions of meaning and pur-
pose for readers and writers on this
long daily journey into night.
Steeped in a slowly dissipating
*istory, the Daily is a uniquely inde-
pendent student voice, one of the few
collegiate papers to enjoy such broad
editorial freedom. Without an adviser,
journalism professor or outside cen-
sor, students are wholly entrusted with
the editorial content of the Daily. The
Daily's daily completion is, by most
accounts, a miraculous enterprise.
Students edit other students' stories,
dem what stories are important
ough for page one and make diffi-
cult decisions about what to print and
what not to print.
Like all things, the Daily waxes
and wanes with the tide of students
who walk in and out the door. The
Daily is as much about the people
who tote notebooks and take down
quotes as it is the stories printed.
Students are lured to the Daily by
Sass meetings, announced principally
through one column by two-inch "dead
ads" at the bottom of stories. These
Daily mass meetings typically draw a
couple of hundred people. (Be aware
that a U of M Bingo Club mass meet-
ing would no doubt draw 75.) Would-
be writers listen intently to off-the-
cuff presentations about each of the
sections, sizing up the gaggle of people
*at abound and, finally, are given a
te of another meeting to attend and
'-ire then sent on their merry way.
Those sent scurrying, along with
readers and friends, may question the
amount of effort exhausted in produc-
ing the paper, the sheer number of
hours spent in the building. What
motives govern our action, and why
do we spend much of our time in
college doing so?
* To some, it is a noble purpose that
guides our actions. A written daily
record of events on our campus is no
small feat. Without the constraints of
subscribers or a tenured, rankled staff
with a generational turnover rate, we
may ply the newspaper trade with ide-
alistic fervor, an individualistic sense
of fairness and a heavy dose of small
"d" democracy, for better and some-
dnes worse.
For the Daily serves a vital mis-
sion: to inform students about injus-
tice or indifference, the common and
extraordinary. While as students, not
professionals, we don't always fulfill
that mandate, it is our commitment to
do so that is so very important.
Certainly, there are less grandiose
reasons to join the Daily: a desire to
ain practical experience in journal-
m, get a few "clips," i.e. published
articles, cover Michigan football
games, rock concerts or even the presi-
dential inauguration. But the mix be-
tween the philosophical and the prag-
matic rationale is a personal one, de-
pending much on time spent at the
Daily, position held and invariably
shifting from one day to the next.
As throughout society, the level of
Ablic confidence in public institutions,
amely the government and the press,
is dithering downward at the college
level. Fed up by tabloidtocracy, a gov-
ernment racked by paralysis and pub-
See DAVE, Page 10B
University Activities Center
Activlties center organizes
campus events for students
By RANDY SCHWEMMIN
The University Activities Center
(UAC) has something to offer almost
everyone. UAC is made upof 20 differ-
ent committees that touch a vast spec-
trum of interests ranging from music,
dance and comedy to Homecoming,
College Bowl and Tech Cres.
UAC is found at only a few uni-
versities in this nation. Here at Michi-
gan it is the largest student-run orga-
nization on campus.
Its sole purpose is to produce pro-
grams for the students and many of
the productions are actually written
and performed by the students them-
selves. UAC headquarters are in the
Union, but the heart of this organiza-
tion is student involvement.
Those interested in the arts may
enjoy Comedy Company (sketch com-
edy written and performed by students
on this campus and at other Big Ten
schools), Impact Dance (a dance com-
pany for non-dance majors that holds
auditions in the fall and performs in.
the spring), or Amazin' Blue (a co-ed
a cappella ensemble in demand both
on and off campus for its rock, jazz
and blues numbers).
If you are interested in musicals,
get involved in MUSKET or Soph
Show. Each year MUSKET stages
two musical theater productions such
as "42nd Street" or "Fiddler on the
Roof," and the casts are open to all
University students. Soph show pro-
duces a fall musical but restricts its cast
to first-year students and sophomores.
Do you envision yourself as the
next Jerry Seinfeld? Laughtrack en-
ables you to be a stand up comedian or
to book a known comedian such as
Dennis Miller, who performed at Hill
Auditorium last October. M-Flicks is
a film group that presents sneak pre-
views such as "The Getaway" and
"The Bugs Bunny film Fest" (Kill da
Wabbit!). Eclipse Jazz and
Soundstage provide musical enter-
tainment'that includes local and stu-
dent musicians as well as groups from
From the Editor
College is only one cycle
in the evolutionary process
By JAMES R. CHO
Daily NSE Editor
Y ou were probably the top student in high school: valedictorian, national
merit scholarship winner, a tennis player with three state championships
under your belt, concert master of your orchestri, volunteer at your local
hospital and the prize possession of your family. 'Of course you were; the
University wouldn't have accepted you any other way.
Now you are a small fish in a big pond or like my friend likes to say, "a big
fish in a small pond." Either way, the University identifies you as a number,
a random, computer-generated assortment of infinite digits thrown in among
36,000 other students who all share the same ambition - to eventually make a
lot of money, to meet the long-desired dream date and to show a little compassion
along the way.
You will probably have a few friends when you first come to the University;
friends from high school who you wish you never knew. You've come to the
University hoping to shed your "high school image" in search of a new image -
a new life. Your high school friends will only come to symbolize remnants of a
time you'd rather forget. Your next best friend will probably be your roommate
or that fellow next door who blares the Metallica at all hours of the day.
Your next three, four or five years "studying" at the University will be dubbed
by your parents, bank, financial aid officer or your conscience - whoever is
paying for your tuition -as an investment with guaranteed future earnings. Yet
the seasoned University alum will call your college life a "process of evolution."
You won't notice, but you will change as a person during your stay at the
University. You will change physically, psychologically, intellectually, sexually.
No longer will you think Beavis n' Butt-Head are funny - that was high school.
Life is about evolution and change-you don't need to take Bio.152 to figure
that out. And it all starts here.
While some changes will occur without your even noticing - you may start
wearing clean clothes for once simply because you want to impress that hot guy
or girl next door.
Others will occur after hours of contemplation, agonizing discussions witli
friends, culminating in a heart-wrenching decision. For example, you may decide
during your first semester after failing your first Fortran exam that aerospac4
engineering really isn't your cup of tea. You opt to study English instead and plaul
to eventually apply to Law School. When the report card hits home and yout
parents see English plastered at the top as your major, your dad - the NASA
consultant and vice president for Boeing-asks, "What the hell is this? What the
hell are you going to do with English?"
No one ever said change was easy.
Just ask the students and faculty members in the Department of Commu.
nication. In an unprecedented move in January, LSA Dean Edie N. Goldenberg
announced her intention to place the department directly under the control of
her office. This was the first step in what is expected to be sweeping reform
of the department resulting in the replacement of low-level teaching positions
with tenured professors. The move was met by fierce opposition from all parts
of the University, especially by members of the communication department,
See EvoLUTION, Page 10B
1~
EVAN PETRIE/Daily
Adam Sandler was one of the many performers the University Activities
Center brought to campus last year.
outside Ann Arbor such as Soul Asy-
lum. Special Events is responsible for
a potpourri of activities that range
from Roni Rom the hypnotist to a
Girbaud fashion show.
If you would like to be involved in
the traditional events of Homecom-
ing or Michigras (a spring celebra-
tion), those committees would wel-
come you. UAC offers enrichment ac-
tivities that include College Bowl (an
intramural "Jeopardy team" whose
champions compete in off-campus
contests during winter term), Mini-
Courses (non-credit classes ranging
from aerobics to wine tasting), and
Viewpoint (sponsor of a lecture se-
ries that brings notables such as Spike
Lee and Darryl Gates to campus).
--Schwemmin is president of UAC.
Project SERVE focuses on the community
ATrENTION DANCERS:
Learn the Tango,
Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz,
Cha Cha, Rhumba,
Samba and more!
Beginning Lesson at 7pm
General Dancing at
8pm at the CCRB
Main Dance Room
FREE TO ALL WHO ATTEND!
By DAVE WATERHOUSE
The mission of Project SERVE is to
foster, through community service and
social action, a student movement at the
University that thoughtfully addresses
the challenge that we face as a society.
Project SERVE is coordinated and
headed entirely by students. We strive
to empower students to work toward
real solutions to community prob-
lems through their involvement in
community service and social action.
Through Project SERVE, students
and student organizations have ac-
cess to information about ongoing or
one-time community service oppor-
tunities in more than 100 community
service organizations and social ac-
tion groups, both in the community
and on campus.
SERVE Work is a referral and
support service for students who are'
interested in pursuing careers, intern-
ships and long-term volunteer oppor-
tunities in non-profit and social change
organizations. The center includes
resource books, information from lo-
cal, state, national and internatignal
social change organizations and cur-
rent job postings.
Project SERVE networks collabo-
rate with many other service and so-
cial action programs on campus. We
can help you connect with service-
learning courses, student organiza-
tions and residence hall programs that
provide additional ways to become
involved in the community.
For information about community
needs and opportunities, watch for
the volunteer fair, bringing together
community agencies and students on
the Diag, Sept. 22.
For a one-day introduction to ser-
vice at the University, get involved
with "into the streets", a one-day pro-
gram that combines education, service
and reflection, surrounding important
social issues.
For a series of weekends that pro-
vide a continuing experience with a
community or an issue, take part in the
Alternative Breaks, working for change
within the communities of Ann Arbor,
Ypsilanti, Flint and Detroit.
- Waterhouse is a staff member at
Project SERVE
U N I V E R SI T Y O MI C HI G A N
40om
iaw e 6?6
BEGINNERS ALWAYS
WELCOME!
No PARTNER NECESSARY!
A
Take time out for service with
Alternative.,Breaks
By GREG SHANNON
For an intensive week-long experience that could change your life,
participate in an Alternative Spring Break. Participants work with and stay
in communities around the country.
Participants in the Alternative Breaks program not only talk about
the issues of hunger, homelessness, racism, urban violence, literacy, the
environment, sexism, health and mental health, but also take steps
toward doing something about them.
During spring break, groups have been located throughout the country.
This past year groups worked with a site in Minnesota, an AIDS hospice
in New York, a women's shelter in Washington, D.C., youth of a Native
American reservation in South Dakota, rural issues of Kentucky, flood
reconstruction in Illinois, Alternatives for Girls in Detroit and Central
American refugees in Chicago. On weekends, students also work with
Save Our Sons and Daughters in Detroit and HERO in Flint - HERO
works with homeless adults. Mass meetings will be Oct. 11 and 12, at
8 p.m. in the Pendleton Room in the Union. Contact Project SERVE
at 936-2437 for additional information.
-Shannon is co-chair of Project SERVE.
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