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. Independence Awaits You.,, Now that yw* in colege, NBD ha, just what yo need to help you open up a whole new wird of fnmalindependence, all aailale at a comwnient onampus location!i The NBI) Studnt kingPA*dgIIude Our student checking account features no monthly maintenance fees for your first semester of school! You can even add automatic overdraft protection to your checking account. Access your NBD accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at ATM's located throughout the Ann Arbor area and over 100.000 locations nationwide. :UI ENGINEERS: All Engineering majors are welcome to attend the Society of Wnmen Rnpineerp' annm121 fall . .