4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday,_January 11, 1995 ~Ijz 3d~i~rn Dair I M 8 APIk 00 M 2 SM AW 2 8 Wlk M 'We're done.' 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. - Ben Finestone, treasurer-elect of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity WELCOME TO H5TORY 300! iAY NAME 15. - " ma.SOnY tmich. . III 1E SOUR "PROFE5SOR T-15 'W ST EA'. - L ast in the Big Ten The quest for a student seat at the University Board of Regents table came a step closer to fruition at the December Board of Regents meeting. Michigan Student Assembly Presi- dent Julie Neenan discussed a proposal with the regents and executive officers, after now- Emeritus Regent James Waters broached the issue of the Board of Regents recognizing the MSA president as an official liaison between the regents and the student body. The topic was then tabled until the February meeting, when a new proposal will be considered and likely voted upon. In addition to Neenan's discussion with the board, other student leaders advocated a stu- dent liaison during the regents' public com- ments period. Even more impressive, around 20 MSA members and other student leaders came to the meeting to further demonstrate the student body's support for this cause. Such a student presence at a Board of Regents meet- ing is very rare, so it certainly did not go unnoticed. Now that Neenan and Waters have pushed this long-overdue issue to open discussion and imminent action, the other regents must seri- ously consider the proposal and vote to accept it at the February regents' meeting. There are many vital reasons that a student serving as an non-voting member of the Board of Regents would be valuable to the student body, the regents and the entire University community. First and foremost, the primary purpose of the University is to educate stu- dents -it is for the benefit of the student body that the University was conceived. Therefore, if the University is truly to fulfill its mission, a student voice must be heard at the highest levels of University decision-making, so offi- cials can better know how to serve their pri- mary constituents. Furthermore, contrary to what many say, every regental and University issue is a student Student representation: a Institution Student Rep? issue in some way. While many issues the board handles - such as incomprehensible bond issues or negotiations with a union - seem to be removed from the realm of student concern, this is not the case. Every issue the University deals with has ramifications for students and student input could help the regents legislate better on all issues. For ex- ample, the board's decision to rebuild Fuller Bridge and reroute University traffic on Fuller Road does not seem to be a student issue -yet hundreds of students traveling to North Cam- pus were affected every day due to the delays and new traffic patterns. Perhaps, if the regents had had a student's insight on the matter, they might have been able to make the effects of this important decision more friendly to the entire University community. The list of such issues could certainly continue. Finally, it would be commendable if the newest regents, Andrea Fisher (R-Birming- ham) and Daniel Horning (R-Grand Rapids), worked to ensure that the University caught up to the rest of the Big Ten. It should embar- rass the regents that the University is the only public Big Ten school that doesn't have a student regent; Michigan State University, for instance, has four such positions. Regents Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) and Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills), who diligently worked with the student body early in their terms, should join Fisher and Horning in a move that would be noticed and appreci- ated by the entire student body. It is past time for the regents to extend an olive branch to the student body and allow a student to serve in an ex-officio capacity on the board. Such a measure has precedent at other institutions and the overwhelming sup- portof the studentbody. Furthermore, it would also elevate the status of student leadership on campus. There is no reason for any further iTbk at the Big Ten* Voting Non-Voting # of student liaisons An apology: Dear readers, the one thing I never intended in my cartoons is offending any race, religion or creed. If my cartoon on Jan. 9 offended any Catholics, I deeply apologize for any harm it might have caused. Thank you for your concern. Jim Lasser Cartoonist LSA sophomore Daily misfires UNH case relevant to 'U' University of Illinois Yes X Indiana University Yes X University of Iowa Yes X University of Michigan No University of Minnesota Yes X Michigan State University Yes X Ohio State University Yes X Penn State University Yes X Purdue University Yes X X University of Wisconsin Yes X * Northwestern University - also a Big Ten school - is a private instit therefore is subject to different governing rules. S ave Ssame Stre 2 1 1 0 4 4 1 3 2 1 ution and in gun-control editorial To the Daily: I would like to comment on your editorial "Giving away guns" (12/1/94). As usual the Daily seems to have a mis- guided notion of how things work in this country. They seem be under the misguided notion that criminals obey laws. Such original thinking on the part of the Daily is astounding. The Daily first says that law- enforcement officers are quali- fied to decide one's compe- tency on carrying a concealed weapon. I would just like to, point out that no law-enforce- ment official believes that any ordinary law-abiding citizen should be carrying a concealed weapon in the first place. They fell they are the only ones trained and qualified to carry a weapon. This is questionable, however, if they felt differently, they wouldn't feel like theirjob is necessary. Next they say Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga has "noted" (what- ever that means) that "most" concealed weapon permits are not denied. This is patently un- true. Few concealed weapon permits are granted, as told to me by an ATF official. The few that are granted are given to those who are in law-enforce- ment and those who need to because of their jobs. In typical Daily fashion, the editorial staff says that some "applicants will spew racial or ethnic epithets. It is clear that granting an concealed weapon permit would be an invitation to danger." Brilliant! Why aren't they on the board? Better question is, when does this hap- pen? Ontheir application? Over the phone? Where do they make this stuff up? Cropsey's bill may increase the number of questionable people with guns. But it will also increase thenumberof law- abiding citizens carrying guns for protection. Studies have To the Daily: A matter of substantial in- terest to the faculty and stu- dents (and administrators) of our University deserves more attention than it has received. The recent controversy involv- ing Prof. Donald Silva of the University of New Hampshire will be familiar to most of us. Having used two innocuous sexual allusions in a class on technical writing, he was ac- cused by several students of "sexual harassment," where- upon, after ahearing, Mr. Silva was removed from his teach- ing post without pay by univer- sity officials. He was told to get psycho- logical therapy at his own ex- pense - and he sued the uni- versity instead. In court Mr. Silva has been fully vindicated, as one would expect, the uni- versity has been ordered to re- instate him and to give him full back pay. Civil damages may follow. All this is widely known. What is not so widely known is that the federal court found that in using "sexual ha- rassment" charges abusively, the public officials involved -the administrators who fired him, and the faculty members and students who served on the board that"jidged" his case- were not immune from per- sonal liability in this matter. The court pointed to Supreme Court precedents holding that public officials may be held personally liable if they act in disregard of "clearly estab- lished statutory or constitu- tional rights." Now Mr.,.Silva was fired because the content of his speech offended some students and university officials. But fir- ing him for that reason is plainly, manifestly, a violation of his rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Con-' stitution. And university offi- cials, as well as university fac- ulty members and students, have every reason to know, and may in such proceedings be expected to know, that rights under the First Amendment are "clearly established constitu- tional rights." So it may turn out that the abuse of sexunal harassment charges - abuse not unknown here at Michigan as well-may subject the abus- ers to substantial personal li- ability in court. This very real possibility may give pause to those who would use university policies in the effort to silence those whose speech they do not like. The University of New Hamp- shire has complained that this ruling on personal liability may frighten faculty, students and administrators from serving on harassment boards. It may. That is an outcome that may serve the interests of all mem- bers of the University from now Stomp in': a Canadian tradition Something festive and frolicsome to begin the New Year? Something about 800 words or so. Joyful and gay? That's it: The Amherst Stomp! As some of you faithful readers may know, Literate Hippo is of Ca- nadian extraction. Although most of the "Clan Marshall" are scattered up and down the Lake Ontario shore, the greatest concentration is in and near the rural community of Amherst Island. It is aquiet and peaceful place, about 12 miles west of Kingston. Some 400 souls make their homes there. Aside from he usual weddings, funerals and wakes, the island hosts two major social events each year: the Horse Racing Club' s New Year s Eve Party, and the Summer Street Dance, held in ... you guessed it! ... the street. (Yes they could hold it in Victoria Hall, but you don't mess with tradition.) And here is where we do the Amherst Stomp. Canadians love to Stomp. I am convinced that it is part of our rich cultural heritage, along with Goose Potatoes (a natural culinarylaxative), Mounties, and the late John Candy. One of the best Stompers is a country singer named "Stompin' Tom Connors" "Stompin' Tom" is an unlikely star, a tallthin, Jean-Luc Picard clone in cowboy togs, who caterwauls mournfully as he strums his "gee- tar" and raises and lowers his right foot in a rhythm that only vaguely resembles the song's. He is a na- tional icon, and will probably be stuffed and displayed in the Museum of Mankind on his demise. Another one-time Stomper was k.d. lang, my favorite lesbi-vegan chanteuse. She does Cole Porter, now, but in her C and W days was a sight to behold as she leaped and pranced, skirts and Doc Martins flyin' in the wind. She once appeared on TV with Stompin' Tom, and I assure you it was an amazing performance. Butthe bestI haveever seen ismy cousin, Bruce Caughey. A dairy farmer in his 40s, he is a large man. But he is possessed of a nimbleness that belies his size and bulk. Capable of a formal and elegant step, usually with his wife, Sue, he is in best form leaping and hopping, huge and heavy farmer's boots rising, than crashing to the floor in a manner that surely registers 2.5 on the Richter Scale. The boots are almost mandatory to a proper Stomp, as k.d. shows. No one else does it so well, nor would dare to try, especially at more formal events, like a clan wedding near Niagara Falls several years ago. Most of the guests were from the eliteof Ontario Society: doctors, law- yers, war heroes, judges, even a na- tionally known TV anchorman and his author-wife. And then, therewere us: The Clan Marshall. The dancing had been fairly restrained, even on our part, for the first few hours. But after midnight, we got to Stompin' and Rompin'. And the Upper Crust cleared the way, either outof shocked bemusement, or for their own safety. Even the bride, a cultured lady with a law degree, and with very, very British manners, joined in with me Bruce, Sue and the rest of the cousins and assorted in-laws and out- laws. Lawws, but he wuz somethin'! It is a very physical dance, less violent than slam-dancing, maybe. But just as active. And not to be attempted by the faint of heart or lung. Fiveminutes are usually enough for me to need to reach for the nearest chair, my asthma spray and a good slug of Old PeculiarOak-Aged Single Malt. But then, I rarely have achance to perform, let alone work up the maniacal free-style that marks the true-blue Stomper-Romper. ,* 0 r T he country knew that a new Republican rCongress would scour the budget like hawks, seizing on any program that could be classified as welfare or handouts as a candi- date for elimination. Foreign aid, Aid to Fami- lies with Dependent Children, even the Na- tional Endowment for the Arts -- these were to be fair game in the mad rush to balance the budget. But "Sesame Street"? "MacNeil/ Lehrer"? "Masterpiece Theatre"? "Car Talk"? Was this the downsizing of government that the American people envisioned? By placing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting near the top of its list of pro- grams the GOP believes the federal govern- ment should no longer fund, the new Repub- lican Party has revealed its true stripes: Funda- mentally, it has become a single-minded party, valuing privatization at the expense of any program, regardless of its benefit. That is, unless that program happens to benefit corpo- rations or employers. As it has been through- out history, from Andrew Mellon to Ronald to a drop in the bucket of the federal budget. Without these dollars, non-commercial televi- sion might survive in some of the larger cities, cities where cable channels are abundant and "Sesame Street" would have a chance at get- ting picked up by the private market. But in small towns and communities, where public television and radio do the most good, survival would be almost impossible. Still, many have argued, why shouldn't these programs die? Don't they seem to have a liberal bent that taxpayers shouldn't be forced to subsidize? On an individual level, this could well be true. Perhaps National Public Radio does give more play to liberal points of view. However, it is not often noted that the longest- running show on PBS is the arch-conservative William Buckley's program,"Firing Line." A slate of other conservative shows graces the network daily. In the bigger picture, there is an even more important reason to protect the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Funding non-com- on. Carl Cohen Professor of philosophy Grievance action clarified To the Daily: I am writing in regard to a letter titled "'U' claims of ra- cial justice ring hollow" (1/9/ 95). In order to-assure the pri- vacy of the individuals involved in employment disputes, per- sonnel matters are not dis- cussed publicly by the Univer- .