4 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 3, 1994
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420 Maynard
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan
Jessie Hallady
Editor in Chief
Samuel Goodstein
FlintWainess
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.
Ann Arbor is a nice place to live, especially com-
ing from New York.'
-Libertarian candidate for City Council David Friedman
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The state Legislature
For the state senate, Smith is the clear choice
hs fall, there has been a great deal of press
I coverage of the 1994 midterm national
elections. Polls, predictions and political com-
mentary fill the airwaves and newspapers. In
this media circus it is easy to lose sight of the
smaller races, elections at the state and local
level. In fact, these lower level government
officials have far more effect on our day to day
lives than do national senators and representa-
tives.
The race for Michigan 18th district state
senate seat has not been highly publicized.
Many students may have only seen a couple of
roadside signs or an uninformative mailer.
However, the position is probably more im-
portant for University students than that of the
highly publicized national senate race.
AlmaWheeler Smith is running, as aDemo-
crat, against Republican small businessman
Joe Mikulec. The choice could not be more
clear. Smith is running on her knowledge of
the issues and comprehensive solutions to
Michigan's problems. Mikulec's campaign is
based on little more then rhetoric and decep-
tive advertising. As far as University students
are concerned, he has been a veritable ghost
candidate. He has cancelled appearances at
University functions, failed to show up at a
scheduled interview with the Daily and done
almost nothing to reach out to students. Smith,
on the other hand, has been very accessible,
attending several functions and giving ample
time to explain her ideas and positions to the
Daily and students at large.
Smith has a very realistic view of govern-
ment policy. She believes that the state
government's overall role is to produce goals
and objectives, leaving it up to local commu-
nities to fulfill them. Her realistic attitude
carries over into her opinions on individual
issues.
On this election's hot issue, crime, Smith
realizes the necessity of tough action - but
more important, she advocates intelligent ac-
tion to go along with it. She would like to see
community service-oriented punishments for
first time nonviolent offenders instead of jail
sentences - so that criminals can pay society
back in service instead of society paying for
them. She disagreed with the recent "guns in
schools" measure passed in Lansing that would
expel children found carrying a weapon in
school, because she thought it did little for the
betterment of our state's children. She feels it
was designed to keep "punks" out of school,
not to help all of Michigan's children get
ahead.
Smith's education policies are also based
on the idea of putting Michigan's children first.
She supports choice in public schools within
school districts and, depending on funding and
transportation issues, may support choice be-
tween districts as well. This choice allows
parents and children to get the most out of the
state education system and taxpayers to get the
most out of their tax dollars.
Smith also has intelligent opinions on envi-
ronmental issues and strongly opposes Engler's
recent cuts in the state's Department of Natural
Resources. Shebelieves that thepolluters should
pay for their mistakes. Area small businesses
and individuals should not be made to pay for
big business' mess. Smith is pro-choice, and
although she says abortion is not something
she would choose for herself it is important that
every woman has the opportunity to make the
difficult decision for herself. She also favors
the right to die for terminally ill patients.
Joe Mikulec, on the other hand, through his
limited appearances in televised debates and
interviews, has shown very little knowledge of
the issues. He seems to be running on little
more than lack of political experience, calling
himself an "outsider." He is appealing to vot-
ers' most base instincts through deceptive ad-
vertisements painting Smith as a liberal, when
her views show her to be very moderate. He has
shown practically no interest in student con-
cerns and has done little to gain student sup-
port. Aside from one address to the College
Republicans he has not spoken on campus or to
students at all during his campaign. He has left
students completely in the dark about how he
would vote on issues important to the Univer-
sity and to Michigan as a whole. He has ignored
the University and does not deserve student
support.
Alma Wheeler Smith has overwhelmingly
shown her knowledge of issues important to
the University and to the state of Michigan. She
is very open minded and willing to consider
multiple options. Her bottom line has consis-
tently been doing only what is in the best
interest of Michigan residents: children, small
businesses and individuals, not just big busi-
ness and the rich. On November 8th we urge
you to vote for ALMA WHEELER SMITH,
Democrat for state senate.
Men must
stand up to
rape
To the Daily:
In response to Dave
Schroeder's letter of Monday
Oct. 31st ("All men not ac-
countable for all rapes), I find
definite problems with Mr.
Schroeder's logic and apathy
toward a problem that is seri-
ous, and growing more so. He
claims that it is unfair to hold
him, or any man accountable
for rape just because he is a
man. He goes on to say, "I will
not accept blame for my inac-
tion." I ask you Mr. Schroeder,
who is accepting responsibil-
ity for your inaction? Who is
fighting against these crimes
that your refuse to respond to?
It is thousands of sexual as-
sault victims and innocent
women who are accepting the
responsibility of your disinter-
est and callous lack of con-
cern. You say you, "work,
study, live your own life, have
your own triumphs, have your
own problems ... you don't
have much time to think about
rape." Well, perhaps you
should realize that there is a
large segment of the popula-
tion that has all of these prob-
lems and affairs going on, just
as you do, but they don't have
the luxury of "not having time
to think about rape." It is sadly
a factor of life that women are
now forced to face every time
they must call a friend just to
walk them home at night, or
whenever they feel unable to
take a simple walk around the
neighborhood because it is
unsafe. So not only are women
the overwhelming majority of
rape victims, they are also the
victims of the psychological
power that it holds over the
community. While women are
forced to protect themselves
and much of the time deny
themselves independence in a
trade-offs for feeling "safe,"
man are still able to assert their
autonomy, and feel relatively
secure walking home when-
ever they please, without the
need of depending on another
to give them that feeling. So
Mr. Schroeder, while you claim
rape is "not your problem be-
cause your are a man," I won-
der what kind of man are you,
that can sit idly by and not feel
the need to do all you can to
stop this thing that wields its
power over half of the popula-
tion. Men need to step up and
take responsibility forrape, not
just because they are men, but
because what is happening is
To the Daily:
The University Activities
Center would like to thank the
Michigan Daily for helping us
identify ways in which we may
better serve the University of
Michigan community. How-
ever, we respectfully disagree
with the opinions presented in
the editorial printed on Tues-
day, Oct. 25th ("University
activities?"). UAC believes
that the editorial grossly un-
derestimated the many valu-
able programs we sponsor and
thereby misrepresented our
role in campus activities. Our
umbrella includes 17 standing
committees that offer a wide
range of entertainment. These
include, but are not limited to,
mini-courses; College Bowl;
the MUSKET, Comedy Com-
pany and Impact dance per-
forming arts shows; Amazin'
Blue's annual concerts; M-
Flicks' movies; Soundstage,
Laughtrack and Eclipse Jazz's
concerts; the Michigras and
Homecoming celebrations;
programs for underrepresented
cultures sponsored by our
Multicultural Programming
Board; and even speakers spon-
sored by Viewpoint Lectures.
The editorial directed most of
its criticism at the speakers we
have (or have not) brought to
campus, which may be valid.
We would like to remind the
"recent memory" of the
editorial's author of the Meese
/ McGovern and Strossen /
Gates debates we sponsored in
1993, as well as the speeches
by Lonise Bias, Dave Pallone,
and Dr. Betty Shabazz that we
hosted in 1993. The reality is
that students are largely un-
willing to pay to see speakers'
and their fees have escalated
astronomically, even for those
who have political agendas.
The simple economics have
made bringing them to campus
difficult.
We would also like to take
particular issue with the
editorial's reference to Home-
coming. The Daily did not par-
ticipate in any part of the Home-
coming committee, and there-
fore has no first hand knowl-
edge of how its dynamics de-
veloped. We question on what
authority it based its claim that
UAC is looking to "take all the
credit" and how diligently the
editorial's author pursued all
sides of the story.
Again, UAC is always in-
terested in learning how we
can better serve the University
community. We are dedicated
to the notion of continuous im-
provement and welcome any
further suggestions.
Randy Schwemmin
Engineering Senior
President, University
Activities Center
Campaign '94
Like the know-it-all Rotisserie
man of baseball George Will and the
goggle-eyed establishmentaran@
David Broder I as your very own in-
house prognosticator of prognostica-
tors, will guide you through the mo-
rass of political campaigns that have
plagued us since Labor Day. Let's
dabble in the horse race, if you will.
Michigan: First of all, Howard
"office hours" Wolpe and his side-
kick Debbie Stabenow will get kiked
back to Kalamazoo by Michigan'*
own family man, new age Christne
Todd Whitman Republican. Although
Mr. Engler thinks it is should be legal
for kiddies to play with semiauto-
matic weapons and state tax dollars
should go to the local St. Mark's
private school, Engler will win easily
next Tuesday, by at least 10 percent-
age points. Engler's national aspira-
tionsreachepic proportions and hope-
of doing what the elder Romney could
not, so tocelebrate he takes his family
out to Bill Knapp and treats himself
to some fine chocolate cake.
On to the Carr-Abraham race for
the open senate seat. Some polls show
the pseudo-Democrat, card-carrying
NRA member Carr and the morally
centered Abraham to be neck and
neck, and other polls show Carr be
hind by as many as 12 points. Damn
that Jon Coon. This race is essential if
the Democrats are able to deny Bob
Dole, and his contract with the dfefi-
cit, control of the campaign reform-
less Senate. Unfortunately, Carr has
so farrun a lackluster campaign; only
recently has he begun to point out that
his opponent is not only out of touch
with Michiganders, but also has cons
structed a religious shrine to J.
Danforth Quayle in his living room.
Make up yourmind, Mr. Abraham. Is
it Spenceor Spencer? You say Spene,
the papers say Spencer. I can't make
an informed decision until I know.
My prediction: sadly, Abraham by a
slim, very slim margin. An ode to
Lana.
Othercrucial races across thelandg
Texas: The elder Bush son will
win the Governor's race, over-the
witty, silver-haired, bad ass Ann
Richards-again by a slim, but solid
majority. Ex-cheerleader Kay Bailey
wins with ease, adding to the attrc-
tiveness quotient in the flabby-legged
Senate.
Florida: Lawton's the man -
soft-spoken, DLC-type Democrat
who kicked Clinton's policy toward
both Cuba and Haiti in gear. Lawton
by a couple points over Jeb, who
would prefer to turn all of the Sun-
shine State into amaze of prisons and
bible study courses. After defeat, Jeb
and his family move to Houston, to
mourn with dad and the cast of Satur-
day Night Live. Bar consoles him.
California: A biggie. A
bellweatherof things to come. A most
important state for Democrats, since
with its 52 electoral votes, to win or
lose California in '96 spells cham-
pagne with the Thomases or Al Gore
in a drunken stuporandJamesCarville
shouting obscenities. Thanks to the
never-say-die nanny issue, Rick
Riordan and Huffington's own card-
board cutout personality, Dianne*
Feinstein seems poised to retain her
Senate seat and beat back Mr.
Huffington's inane millionaire boys
club challenge. Huffington promises
that if won, he would fling spitballs at
the pro-tempore every time she at-
tempts to call a quorum question,
thereby shutting down the Congress.
And Gov. Pete "I'm tougher than
you" Wilson has devastated his
Democratic opponent by claiming
that while he owns 20 military-style
assault weapons and some claymore
mines, Kathleen Brown - a diieci
descendent of Moonbeam - oniy
carries on her a machete and a sinipe
pistol. But her boy was mugged!
Virginia: Here's an unpopula
choice, but action figure Ollie North
will be the first convicted felon to Ie
elected to the Senate. Since fighting
communists in Latin America is-a
whole lot more popular and gung ho
than cheating on your wife, Ollie
turns back the President's new-found
friend ChckRAhb Algn nalls aross
Brater; Schroer best choices in state House
n Michigan's 53rd state House district, vot-
ers should return Democrat LIZ BRATER
to elected office. Brater, a former Ann Arbor
Mayor, would be a fine advocate of the Uni-
versity and its student body and would work
hard to improve educational issues in Michi-
gan. Brater recognizes that the University is
the flagship school in Michigan and, there-
fore, is entitled to a special status in the state's
budget. Also, Braterfavors restoringthe Michi-
gan Educational Trust program. Renewing
this program would allow Michigan families
to pay the future tuition for their children's
higher education at the rate of the year they
pay. This program is beneficial for the state,
allowing it to retain more of its students at in-
state institutions, and beneficial for families
who can save a lot of money by prepaying for
their children's higher education.
Brater also stresses the need to better deal
with crime prevention by mandating tougher
sentences and funding crime prevention pro-
grams. Overall, Brater's knowledge of her
constituency and ideas for reform make her
the best choice for Michigan's next Represen-
Schroer should be reelected to her seat. Over
the past two years, Schroer has proven herself
to be accessible to students and an advocate for
them. Schroer also has a daughter attending the
University of Wisconsin and is continuously
reminded of the needs of college students. Her
ideas to continue improving Michigan's edu-
cational system are very commendable. Schroer
opposes unjustified outrageous yearly tuition
hikes and favors expanding the definition of an
independent student, so more needy students
can receive adequate financial aid independent
of their parents' income.
With regard to decreasing crime, Schroer
supports funding prevention programs, pass-
ing truth-in-sentencing laws, and increasing
community policing efforts, like Ann Arbor's
foot patrol and bicycle officers. Schroer is also
pro-choice, and is an important vote against
restrictive abortion measures.
Finally, Schroer's experience as a state
representative and as a former aide to Lana
Pollack are assets which better allow her to
pass legislation favorable to Ann Arbor, the
University and the student body. On election
i
Monforton:
Christie is
wrong choice
To the Daily:
While I've been out cam-
paigning for reelection to my
county commissioner seat, the
11th District, comprised of
campus and downtown, I've
been impressed with students'
general interest in broad issues,
such as homelessness, environ-
mental protection, health care
andreproductive freedom. I was
elected in 1992 on these issues,
and have a record of advocacy
and accomplishment on them
over the last two years.
I find it interesting that my
opponent, Republican Mike
Christie, has made his status as
a student the sole focus of his
campaign. I've found that my
constituents are not monolithic,
go beyond simple labels and
want to hear what a candidate
stands for. He ignores this and
insults the voters with his lack
of respect for their intelligence.
Why doesn't he talk about
the issues we deal with at the
county? Why doesn't he pro-
congressional candidate who
is anti-choice, against separa-
tion of church and state, against
the assault weapons ban, and in
favorof a thoughtless GOP plat-
form that would give more tax
breaks to the wealthiest people
and corporations, increase
wasteful defense spending, and
continue disastrous Reagan-
Bush policies that would drive
the budget deficit and national
debt up, rather than down as
the Democrats have done over
the past two years. My oppo-
nent supports this candidate and
these policies.
I trust my student constitu-
ents to think, and not to blindly
follow like sheep. Too bad my
opponent doesn't share my
view.
Dave Monforton
County Commissioner,
Democrat, District 11
Columnist
errs in
calendar
count
To the Daily: