A
4-- The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 20, 1995JmsBNAHTEPLMST
Ihe Sidtigun ttIg
420 Maynard'
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by
students at the
University of Michigan
MICHAEL ROSENBERG
Editor in Chief
JULIE BECKER
JAMEs NASH
Editorial Page Editors
JA~~sR. CR0BNAHF PI7ISS
Taking the long, slow
monorail to MSA elections
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.
Vote Wolverine
Christie, Holley would best lead MSA
In this year's campaign for Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly president and vice presi-
dent, differentiating among the candidates
has often been difficult. All are in agreement
on the major issues: They want to abolish the
Statement of Student Rights and Responsi-
bilities (the code), put a student on the Uni-
versity Board of Regents, improve campus
safety and reject Leadership 2017. Given
these similarities, the only way to choose
candidates is based on minor issues, experi-
ence and style. On the basis of these criteria,
the choice is clear: The best leaders for MSA
are Mike Christie, Brooke Holley and their
Wolverine Party.
In the 2 1/2 years
Christie has sat on the as-
sembly, he has worked
harder than almost any-
one else to improve stu-
dent life. As chair of the
Academic Affairs Com-
mission, he has been the?
driving force behind the
effort to lower textbook Chrste
costs, meeting with state legislators and pro-
viding an expert student voice on the issue.
He has also been a key actor in University
lobbying efforts, working to obtain the best
representation in Lansing for students. As a
current MSA member, Holley has also shown
herself to be hard-working and competent.
Her experience will be valuable in working
with representatives on issues of concern to
all students.
As the candidates agree on all major cam-
paign issues, it is on the smaller issues that
the Wolverine Party truly stands out. Christie
and Holley have made a commitment to
minority student retention. They have pledged
to reform the meal plan to increase conve-
nience for students. They also have vowed to
unite the various school and college govern-
ments to work together on academic issues.
Their platform contains a diverse set of goals
- some broad, such as working against
repressive policies, and some narrow, such
as modifying the meal plan. This wide range
of objectives is more creative than some of
the other slates, which in large part echo what
MSA has historically cared about doing.
In addition, Christie's and Holley's lead-
ership skills would greatly benefit MSA.
They have spoken about the need to elimi-
nate partisan bickering on the assembly -
and though they admittedly are heading a
party themselves, they are more removed
from the Michigan Party-Students' Party
squabbling than many of the other candi-
dates. They are also a well-balanced partner-
ship, differing on national political ideology
- not a concern in the present elections -
but united in their concern for students. They
have the most ability to do what MSA needs:
Get the job done.
For these reasons, Christie and Holley are
clearly the best candidates. However, other
teams have presented commendable plat-
forms and images. The Michigan Party,
headed by Flint Wainess and Sam Goodstein,
has shown enthusiasm and knowledge about
the issues. It also has history in its favor: In
the two years the Michigan Party has been in
power, its members have done more than
anyone in recent memory to improve MSA's
credibility among students and administra-
tors. Past Michigan Party leaders have con-
centrated on issues such as the code and
especially the student regent, bringing the
student body closer than ever to representa-
tion on the board. They deserve praise for
their efforts, and whoever is elected should
build upon the excellent work the Michigan
Party has begun.
However, Wainess and Goodstein have
been members of the Michigan Party for only
a few weeks. While they
obviously support the
party's platform and past
actions, they cannot be
elected on the accom-
plishments of their prede-
cessors. The two have no
experience on MSA, and
while their tenure as Daily
Holley editorial page editors has
made them knowledge-
able and passionate about student concerns,
it does not necessarily qualify them to lead a
student government. In addition, were
Wainess and Goodstein to be elected -
considering the bitter nature of the campaign
and the resentment their nomination has cre-
ated even among some Michigan Party mem-
bers - they would likely be hamstrung in
much of what they attempt to do. While this
is not entirely their fault, it is a concern
nevertheless.
Brian Elliott and Fiona Rose of the Stu-
dents' Party also care a great deal about
student-group funding and student rights,
and Rose is impressive in her knowledge and
speaking ability. While currently too young
and too caught up in ideology to be MSA vice
president, she is an articulate and intelligent
student who has the potential to be an excel-
lent leader in the future.
However, despite their good ideas and
their passion, Elliott and Rose have not dem-
onstrated an ability to go beyond ideology
and implement their proposals. They place
great emphasis on student outreach and mo-
bilization, but their ability to build a working
relationship with University administrators
is doubtful. In addition, the Students' Party
has behaved shamefully during the cam-
paign, playing politics of the dirtiest kind. It
is impossible to look kindly upon those who
appear more concerned with a partisan game
than with effective student governance.
Other candidates have presented interest-
ing ideas, but none has shown the slightest
ability to be effective and realistic student
leaders. On the contrary, effectiveness and
realism are the Wolverine Party's main
strengths. Christie and Holley would be the
best at pulling students together, creating
consensus and - above all - accomplish-
ing what they set out to do. They have shown
these skills in their time as representatives,
and would no doubt bring them to the execu-
tive officer positions.
For the best MSA leadership available,
the clear choice is the WOLVERINE PARTY.
It is often said that college is a world
within a world.
To some, college is a stepping stone.
Bill Clinton spent his days at Georgetown
University collecting names and phone
numbers and in turn recording them on
index cards. According to "First in His
Class" by David Maraniss, which
chronicles Clinton's rise from student body
president to leader of the United States,
Clinton had amassed thousands of names
by the time he made his unsuccessful run
for Congress in 1974.
To others, college is their Great Awak-
ening, full of kindred academic spirits and
powerful ideas that one day might change
the course of history. Some students go on
to be Rhodes scholars, others write ground-
breaking political science theses or hatch
chicken embryos. Others go on to gradu-
ate schools or write for newspapers.
And this is just the tip of the academic
iceberg. Among these students are a group
of ambitious seven "student leaders" who
want to dedicate a year of their life to serve
students as president of the Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly.
With less then 48 hours left before
students take to the ballot box to vote for
their friends in the upcoming MSA elec-
tion, candidates can be seen at dawn in the
Fishbowl plastering neon-colored cam-
paign posters replete with their photos and
cute slogans like "It's time for change" or
"Vote for me." In the evening, janitors tear
down all the posters in the interest of
maintaining campus cleanliness.
To the two candidates who awake Fri-
day morning as the newly elected court
jesters, two things: Pick up your new re-
sumes at Kinko's and work to change
MSA from the farcical and disorderly dog-
and-pony show to an intelligent body that
really works to change the face of this
world-within-a-world.
Focus on issues that really affect stu-
dents. Now to the "issues" and ideas some
of the candidates have been bouncing
around.
First: The Code. Every candidate is in
favor of abolishing it. Yet no one seems to
understand that there are only two ways to
dismantle it. First, stage massive student
protests in fervent opposition at a regents'
meeting or in President Duderstadt's 2068
Fleming Building office. (Please call ahead
to notify Walt or Brenna.) Second, ask
really nicely.
MSA PRESIDENT: Dr. Hartford,
please abolish the code. Please? Pretty
please?
HARTFORD: Well, I'm not sure. Let
me get back to you.
MSA PRESIDENT: Thanks, I got into
a "Private Ivy" law school. Have you seen
my resume? It has University of Michigan
Student Body President in 18-point type.
Second; Campus Safety. While many
candidates oppose the Department of Pub-
lic Safety, the body responsible for a safe
campus, many believe that all students
should be safe. I think this can best be done
by arming everyone or starting a campus
student police force. I believe they tried
that in China. It was called the "Cultural
Revolution." It wasn't pretty.
Third: Most-Favored Nation Trade
Status for China. While some MSA par-
ties believe that engaging the Chinese will
bring about democratization and human
rights improvements, other candidates see
Washington putting short-term economic
interests ahead of principle and good pub-
lic policy.
Fourth: Student "Bill of Rights,"
Office Hours and Monorails to North
Campus. Who cares? Students already
enjoy the protections of the Constitution.
Save the political stunts and vapid slogans
for when you run for Congress, County
Commission or the Bake Sale Committee
at your local house of worship.
And office hours are for TAs, not for-
MSA members. Is this to be a typical'
conversation?
STUDENT: I have a lot of problems.
No money, no food, I lost my loan and I'm
having trouble with Spanish 102.
MSA PRESIDENT: I feel your pain.
How much should I make the check out
for?
As for a monorail from North Campus
to Central Campus - not a chance. Why
don't you rejoin us here on the Planet
Earth? Save the monorails for
Disneyworld.
Fifth: Health Care. Lobby Congress
to transfer Medicare to MSA. Hey, even
MSA might do a better job on this one.
Despite the polemic pratfalls of MSA,
the petty partisanship and attention to
meaningless twaddle, there is a place for a
pro-active student government beyond
passing out money for T-shirts and self-
defense classes. But I've become jaded by
years of mind-numbing incompetence and
impotency. Candidates, remember that ris-
ing tuition pays for student leadership
programs. Remember that many students
are concerned about campus safety, health
care, curriculum and funding but there is
not much you can do about it. Pick your
battles. Find your issues and fight hard.
But remember that you are here first as a
student. A title worth infinitely more than
president.
0
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JIM LASSER
1991-1995
The struggle to
the top alone
will make a
human heart swell -
Albert Camus
SHARP AS TOAST
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NOTABLE QUOTABLE
"We're rebuilding
Shapiro mainly
because it was
the UGLI because
it was ugly."
- University Regent
Laurence Deitch (D-
Bloomfield Hills)
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11
LFTmx~s
On-line
ADVICE would
benefit 'U'
To the Daily:
Lou Stefanic needs to read
the Students' Party budget pro-
posal more carefully. Regard-
less of his perception of Brian
Elliott's and Fiona Rose's pro-
posal, the intent is not to cut
ADVICE funding but to save
$5,000 by moving it off paper
and on-line.
ADVICE Magazine has been
historically touted as a great
service MSA provides for stu-
dents. In theory it is a good idea
- that there should be a service
listing student evaluations of
courses for students during
CRISP. It has typically been
printed twice a year. In general,
it is done in first-rate fashion,
and Lou and Lauren should be
lauded for their hard work.
However, the true test of a
product lies in its results. AD-
VICE publishes the results of
year-old evaluations. In a year,
there can be a large amount of
turnover in departments and
courses. Some courses are not
nfaA afllnl. nro n.. arc nra
licly-accessible database
through the MSA computer net-
work. Alternately, it could be
arranged with ITD. It is likely
that more students would read
ADVICE, especially if it could
be accessed 24 hours a day like
e-mail. It would be especially
convenient in light of the num-
ber of people who use UM-
CRISPINFO.
Bales of current and past
ADVICE issues litter the MSA
offices, and these in themselves
are evidence of the fact that we
must take a hard look at how to
make ADVICE more accessible.
Dante Stella
LSA representative
Daily ignores
non-revenue
sports teams
To the Daily:
I am writing as a student
athlete at the University of
Michigan. Over the past few
weeks, I have been shocked by
the lack of coverage of non-
revenue sports. Over spring
break, four different sports
teams (men's and women's
cxvmnn'n,.nr..~'c arnd stinmsn'c
at NCAAs. Kevin Sullivan be-
came a national champion, yet
he was hardly mentioned in the
small track article on the first
page. Instead, readers had to dig
to page 6 to read about his ath-
letic achievement. The Daily
should be committed to report-
ing about all outstanding ath-
letic achievements, not just
those accomplished by the bas-
ketball or football teams. These
revenue sports have failed to
produce even a Big Ten title this
year, not to mention an NCAA
title. Perhaps the Daily and this
University's students should
support some of the teams that
have accomplished this feat.
Alecla Humphrey
LSA senior
Member of the Michigan
women's swimming team
Music review
shows Daily's
incompetence
To the Daily:
I have been reading the
Daily's brilliant critiques of the
latest released albums -for the
past four years now and have
finally felt compelled to write
to differ remarkably from mine
and from the many hard rock
fans in the country. Brian
Gnatt's critique of Van Halen's
latest record Balance in the
March 7 edition of the paper is
typical of many of the Daily's
musical reviews. If a band is
popular, successful or liked by
more than a few people then the
Daily will be relentless in its
criticism, while groups with
little musical or singing talent
are placed on the mountaintop
of the music industry.
The latest Rolling Stone gave
Balance 3.5/4.0 stars. For the
Daily, I will equate this into a
grading scale. This is some-
where between a B+ and an A-.
I understand the Daily does not
know what these grades are be-
cause it has been an "F" paper
for the past four years. The
musical review is just a part of
the trash. I think I will trust
Rolling Stone with reviews of
albums before the Daily. On a
final note, if the Sgt. Pepper or
Led Zeppelin IV albums were
released contemporaneously,
they would probably be por-
trayed as musical garbage by
the esteemed Daily Music Re-
view.
Editors' Note
Over the past few weeks, various people on campus have questioned the Daily's position on
this semester's MSA elections. Because the Michigan Party's presidential and vice-presidential
candidates, Flint Wainess and Sam Goodstein, are former editorial page editors of the Daily,
many assumed we had a conflict of interest.
Some said we would definitely endorse Wainess and Goodstein because of our previous
relationship with them. Others said we would not endorse them because we feared the
appearance of bias.
The reality is neither.
When the Daily makes endorsements, our only consideration is who the best candidates are.
We do not endorse people because of our personal relationship with them, nor do we shy away
from that relationship and endorse someone else.
Wainess and Goodstein are highly respected at the Daily, and they have many friends here.
However, that respect and those friendships did not have a bearing on our endorsement.