4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 13, 1995 AmUmbt d.ju & 41F This is not a bottomless pit. We can't cut every tax for everyone.' - State Rep. James Agee (D-Muskegon), on state efforts to lower tax revenues I 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. BILL, IF THE RFPU1LCANS J5UMPE D OFF A SCLIF F, MOUL D fBIL? I~Is ...-! ; r ,, We're sorry, but there is no column this weel$ Remembering Dr. King 'U' celebration based on compromise O n Monday, students, faculty and staff at the University will postpone their regular daily activities to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unlike last year at this time, the University is united in celebration of the holiday, offering a wide range of activities to commemorate the great civil rights leader. The theme of this year's celebration is "Conflict and Community - The Struggle for Racial Justice." This title is particularly apt, as the holiday itself has been the source of much conflict in recent years. The most severe strain came last year, when the Black Student Union staged a boycott of the University's MLK day activities. Calling the celebration "more aca- demic than activist," BSU members protested the University's perceived failure to focus on King's legacy of activism and on issues of concern to minorities. They instead organized their own activities, designed to honor the history o~f activism on which the holiday was established. While last year's BSU boycott may have been warranted, it was unfortunate. It served only to divide the University community, on a day designed to bring it together. It undoubt- edly confused many students, some of whom were experiencing their first MLK holiday - since the day is, sad to say, still not officially recognized in many areas. It pitted students against administration, group against group, on a day created to remember a man whose dream was to bring people together. Fortunately, it seems history is not about to repeat itself. The celebration this year is the result of collaboration between students and administrators, including the BSU-sponsored "Unity March" as well as University-spon- sored speakers and panels. For this, praise should go to Vice Provost for Academic and Multicultural Affairs Lester Monts and his office, including Michael Jones Coleman - the coordinator of the celebration - and the planning committee made up of faculty, students and staff. Those designing the commemoration have done an excellent job of cooperating with student groups to incorporate their ideas into the celebration. In addition, the BSU should be commended for its willingness to compromise and work with the administration for a day that all can partici- pate in and enjoy. "Conflict and Community" is a good way of approaching MLK day, since the struggle for racial justice in the United States has included - and still includes - elements of both. From slavery to the civil rights move- ment to economic disadvantage, Blacks have had to fight those who would prefer the status quo of racial discrimination. Yet the history of the struggle for equality is also one of cooperation among people who believe in equality, without regard for racial differ- ences. The BSU is correct in asserting that the observance of MLK day is a celebration of activism, as progress toward racial justice has been made at each and every stage only through the work of people - Dr. King foremost among them - who refuse to ac- cept the presence of injustice. The University's 1995 celebration recog- nizes this. With lectures on topics such as "Brown vs. the Board of Education-Histori- cal, Legal and Social Impacts of 40 Years of Desegregation" and "The Legacy of Student . Activism at the University of Michigan," stu- dents have a unique opportunity to learn about the significance of MLK day and of the history of agitation for racial justice. Along with sleeping in and enjoying a day without classes, students should take advantage of the day's events. -sy/ ' T w t+ 1 L 1 j r , _ c.1 ...17?/I Cartoon An end in sight? Rapist suspect arrested, but problems remain offensive to Catholics To the Daily: I am responding to the Jan. 9 depiction in the Daily of a Catholic priest surrounded by children. Although many forms of intolerance and prejudice seem to be diminishing, preju- dice against religious groups is as popular as ever. One could imagine the response to an equally offensive depiction of any ethnicity or race, for ex- ample. Ironically, prejudice against religious groups is so- cially acceptable. Catholic and Muslim bashing are especially in vogue. All persons, regardless of sex, ethnicity, race, sexual ori- entation, religion or any other category, should be treated with respect and dignity. I cannot accept jokes or cartoons that negatively depict people of color,'women, homosexuals or the physically challenged... Norcan I accept such insulting treatment of Catholics. "Prejudice ... 4. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived and unfavor- able conviction of another or others." - American Heritage Dictionary. Thomas A. Rodriguez Rackham student Female condom allows male irresponsibility To the Daily: Great news! Female condoms are here -I read it in the big half-page ad in the Daily on the 10th! Now guys like me can completely shift the last tiny piece of responsibility for safe sex and birth control over to women! Yahoo! Come on, that's ridiculous. Up until now, the one remain- ing method of temporary birth control that men use (besides abstinence) has been the male condom. But no, that wasn't enough! They were too uncom- fortable for us. We couldn't stand to have our precious schlongs humbly wrapped up like that. We had to make the woman wear it. The female condom, hah. Why isn't there a male birth control pill? Why isn't there a male hormone implant that messes up our chemistry, makes us gain weight and causes acne breakouts? Why don't men get comfortable method that lets the guy be a gentleman and bear the responsibility and cost of birth control for a change. The advertisement reads, "Now, even if he's not using condoms, you can." Girls, if he's not using condoms, DUMP HIM and find a real man. Bryan Theis Engineering junior Language shouldn't be hiring barrier To the Daily: As the founder and presi- dent of the Michigan Chapter of T.A.P.P. (The American Progressive Party), I want to congratulate you on your edi- torial entitled "Minority fac- ulty," printed 1/10/95. In order to foster diversity, increase equality and heighten minor- ity awareness, the 'U' must work diligently to hire and re- tain minority faculty. Iam writing on behalf of an academic minority that is grossly underrepresented as a percentage of University fac- ulty, because they are not fully able to speak up for themselves. The strict language require- ment imposed on incoming prospective faculty members clearly discriminates against multicultured linguists who are non-Euroamerican, and par- ticularly against scholars who do not require and therefore do not possess the ability to notate in written form. The obvious lack of profes- sorships being granted to these academics is appalling. I have first hand experience with one such professor who was clearly no master of the "English" lan- guage, but who was a brilliant mathematician, and while Iad- mit it made calculus a bitharder to learn, the extra challenge of a language barrier only added to my educational experience. I urge the 'U' and President Duderstadtto actively seek and employ these people, as the future educational validity of the 'U' depends on it. Jeffrey Gordon LSA senior Writer overreacts to bathroom signs To the Daily: Oh my God, the "Estab- lishment" is taking away the rights of the eole once again. Doesn't he think that DPS has more important things to worry about in public restrooms such as, say, violence and vandal- ism. Call me crazy, but it seems to me that those are the more likely reasons to post signs of this type. Again, this seems to be one of many instances where people rush to assume that the "Estab- lishment" is taking away their rights. Perhaps they should ex- amine the more logical and usu- ally more prevalent facts be- fore deciding. Chris N. Jamros LSA first-year student Counselor bids farewell To the Daily: The beginning of a new se- mester always brings mixed emotions: the relief that the previous one is over, the ex- citement of a new opportunity to learn with and from my stu- dents. Unlike previous years, this upcoming term includes a particular sadness. After over ten years with the LSA Honors program, Iam not returning to that counsel- ing cubicle which I have occu- pied for so long. This decision occurred late last semester and I did not have the chance to individually communicate it to the many wonderful students with whom Ihave had the plea- sure of working all these years. While I know this is not the same as a personal farewell, I do wish all of you a bounty of academic success and life ful- fillment! I am still around the Uni- versity (and on e-mail: dtburkam@umich.edu) and hope I do not lose contact with all of you. Good luck to all! David Burkam LSA faculty Write the Daily. The Daily wants to know what you think. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor 420 Maynard Ann Arbor; MI48109 or e-mail to: daily.letter@um Letters should be 300 words or less. The Dail reserves the right to edit over 300 words Dear editors, Sorry. I can't do the column this week. Too much stuff to do. I've got schoolwork up to my ears, which, quite frankly, makes it very difficult to breathe. So now I've got to go to the doctor. Also, I have this little thing I would like to do: sleep. I've heard good things about it, and I'd like t give it a try. I haven't had a good night's sleep since "Poltergeist" came out. Granted, for a few years, I was still freaked out by the movie, but I'm over that now. I'm not scared to sleep any more. To prove it, I'm going to sleep now. Anyway, it's nap time. Fill the space with advertising or something. - Mike Dear Mike, That's funny. Write the damn col- umn. - The editors Dear editors, I think you misunderstood my last letter. When I said "I can't do the column this week,"thatmeant "Ican't do the column this week." I can see how you took it to mean somethin different, like, "I would love to do the column this week." It was just a simple misunderstanding. In any event, I can't do the column this week. In other words, I can't do the column this week. - Mike Mike, We understood the damn messa which is more than we can say for an of your columns. We chose to ignore it, like we do with most of your col- umns. We don't care if you have your head caught in a waffle iron. You will write the column. You will like it. Sleep later. - The editors Editors, Look. I have been churning thel things out for you idiots every week for several months. For the most part, they have been of the highest quality, unless you consider "quality" to mean I see no reason why I can't take a week off. Michelangelo didn't paint every day. Einstein took vacations. Heck, even God sat down on the sev- enth day and relaxed in front of the T Bed, here I come. - Mike Moron, Is it us, or did you just put yourself on the same level as Michelangelo and Einstein? You have nothing in com- mon with either of them, except that you all have heads. Of course, they knew how to use theirs, you intellec- tual midget. 4 It's amazing that someone who would lose agame of Trivial Pursuit to a can of tuna would complain about not getting any vacation. Vacation? What would you callthose three weeks of winter break? - The editors Tyrants, I would hardly call winter break i vacation. I would be far more incline to call it an arbitrarily chosen time period when the University forces stu- dents out of their semi-permanent homes, leaving them out on the street to fend for themselves. In protest, I wrote columns every week over break. It's not my fault you chose not to run them. - Mike I 01 Finally, the Ann Arbor police have a sus- a pect in custody in the gruesome saga of serial rapes that have frightened the citizens of Ann Arbor for over two years. The suspect is Ervin D. Mitchell Jr., whom police caught Christmas Eve after an attemptedpurse snatch- ing on the city's west side. Preliminary DNA tests have provided evidence that Mitchell is indeed the serial rapist, and the police may charge him with at least four of the rapes within the next several days. As the city, its residents and University students breathe a much-needed sigh of relief, several issues must be addressed pertaining to the now- infamous serial rapist investigation. The police handling of the serial-rapist case must be seriously questioned. First, the Ann Arbor police did not inform the commu- nity that a serial rapist existed until after the fourth victim, University employee Christine Gailbreath, was raped and murdered in a field behind her residential neighborhood. It was only after this incident drew statewide atten- tion that the police allowed the public in on its little secret, the existence of a serial rapist in Ann Arbor. The police knew of the serial rapist for several months prior to this fourth rape and clearly should not have waited for another incident to inform the community of the threat. At the time, police claimed they had been quietly informing citizen groups of the serial rapist. Unfortunately, they ignored Uni- versity students - perhaps the largest and most threatened of all citizen groups in Ann Arbor. Second, while the police department con- force composed of both local and state offi- cials - the identity of the serial rapist rested untouched in the nearby city of Inkster. Mon- day-morning quarterbacking aside, it would seem that the police should have investigated potential rapists in surrounding areas; if the police had asked the city of Inkster, they could have had theirman months ago, saving one life and averting at least two rapes in the process. But perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from the seral rapist saga is that although Mitchell is currently locked away, the city of Ann Arbor, its residents and the students of the University are far from com- pletely safe in Ann Arbor. The city has its share of crime, and with the arrest of a suspect in the serial-rapist case, perhaps one more criminal has been taken off the streets. But that's it - only one. There is still a vast safety problem on and around campus, and the arrest of a rape suspect should by no means be an excuse to decrease work toward the protection of all citizens. Simply put, students must continue to pro- tect themselves both on and off campus. The threat is still there even though the serial rapist may not be. For example, a serial molester - known for breaking into local residences and assaulting his victims - is still currently at large and reportedly has been seen around North Campus. Students and Ann Arbor resi- dents must continue to protect themselves now and in the future. If the DNA tests continue to identify Mitchell as the serial rapist, this sad chapter in the city of Ann Arbor may be finally put 01 01 Nitwit, We don't know what kind of drugs you have been taking, but it wouldbe in your best interest to look into some serious rehab. Wadon't care what you did over break, although we hold a strong suspicion that you sat around becomingJell-O.Butthat's irrelevant. Write the column. - The editors Your holy incompetence, I'm sick of this kind of abuse. If I wanted abuse, I would lock myself in a room with Barry Manilow. Here's where I draw the line. I'm going on